It's becoming very popular to send "save the day" cards to alert guests about your planned wedding celebration.

Once you have all your plans finalised you then need to send a more formal invitation.  The invitation should state your venue, date and time and information about the reception.

There is also the question of who will be hosting the celebration.  Some couples follow a traditional route and the bride's parents host the wedding, especially if the bride's parents have made a major financial contribution.


Alternatively you may prefer to send the invitations from you as a couple.

When composing the wording for your invitations you can use the word "Marriage" if the Registrar will be present alternatively if the ceremony is Celebrant led then "Wedding Ceremony" is more descriptive.

​Bringing family and friends together is a wonderful way to introduce your new child to the wider community in which they will grow and thrive. The ideal way to do this, if you do not wish to have a religious ceremony, is to have a naming ceremony.

There are a number of reasons why you might choose a Celebrant led ceremony. The naming of a child establishes their individuality. Within a Naming ceremony parents dedicate themselves to the upbringing of their child and make promises regarding their future hopes. There is also an opportunity for other adults to make promises of special concern for the welfare of the child as they mature into adulthood. 

For family and friends who witness the ceremony it is a time to reflect on the part they may play in the child's life in the future.

The most common types of Celebrant led ceremonies are Weddings, Namings, Commitment and Renewal of vows.
 
Weddings and Civil partnerships

These ceremonies are undertaken after a legal declaration at the Registry Office

There a number of reasons why you might choose to undertake the legal obligations and then have a  ceremony,  chief amongst this is the freedom to celebrate where, when and how you wish. 

Every ceremony I conduct is tailor-made to each couples requirements.   The ceremony can be held in a location of your choice, at a time to suit you and there are no limits to the number of people who can be present.

Your choice of music, poetry and readings can be woven into the ceremony.

Actions such as exchanging rings, lighting candles, a sand ceremony, releasing doves, exchanging love letters  or creating unique items to cherish are just a few of the things that can be included.

If you choose an Independent Celebrant then you can also include some religious elements, if you choose.


Naming Ceremonies and Welcoming ceremonies

A naming ceremony is suitable for children of all ages.  It is an ideal way of bringing family and friends together to formally welcome the newest member or members to the family.  It is also an appropriate way to welcome an adopted child or children from a previous partnership.

During a Naming ceremony parents make promises to their child or children and share their hopes and dreams for their futures.  Other adults too can pledge their support some as Supporting Adults who will play a significant part in the child or children’s lives or Grandparents.

A naming ceremony is a wonderful family occasion and can include elements such as tree planting, lighting a candle, a circle of support or gifts.

A Welcoming ceremony is very similar to a Naming ceremony and such ceremonies are often used to welcome an older child whose has been adopted. The aim of the ceremony is to acknowledge the new relationship and for the child  or children to be welcomed into their new family and community.
 
 
Commitment Ceremony

A Commitment ceremony is very similar to a Wedding ceremony in its structure and can be offered where a couple wish to acknowledge their love and commitment to each other without undertaking any legal contract. 

A Commitment ceremony can also be conducted before a legal marriage has been undertaken and may be used in situations where one partner may be still technically married.
 
 
Renewal of vows

Ceremonies can take place where, when and how you wish.

Where a legal marriage has taken place a couple might choose to have a Renewal of vows ceremony to celebrate a significant wedding anniversary.
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A Renewal of vows can also be incorporated into a family occasion to celebrate a Marriage which may have taken place abroad, normally more than twelve months previously.
 
 
 
 
 

Many couples choose to live together rather than marry; by doing this they may forfeit their legal status as a couple. So if you do not wish to marry then a Civil Partnership may be the answer.

Couples who enter into a Civil Partnership are regarded in the same way as a married couple. The position of civil partners in relation to financial arrangements mirrors that of spouses. 

The laws governing wills, administration of estates and family provisions applies to civil partners in the same way as to spouses. 

Although we rarely like to consider what will happen when a life partner dies it is worth discussing the financial position.  When a person dies without a valid will their property must be shared out according to certain rules.  These rules are called intestacy.

Only married couples or civil partners and some other close relatives can inherit under the rules of intestacy.

Cohabiting partners who are neither married nor in a civil partnership cannot inherit under these rules.