CHRISTINE O'MALLEY
 Whether you are outdoors in indoors making the space your own is very important when thinking of the area your ceremony will take place in. Above you can see a beautiful arch created within an orchard. A table was included so that a certificate could be signed. As guests walked through the orchard they were drawn to the area in which the ceremony was to be celebrated. 
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A gift given within any ceremony can have a special meaning and will be a keepsake of the day.
The gift may be a simple flower or feather or it may be something of greater monetary value. Gifts can be used to express love. When considering a Renewal of Vows ceremony, for example, different anniversaries have different materials associated with them. A fourth wedding anniversary is associated with flowers or ripe fruit. This represents the comfort felt by the fourth year together. The couple have established themselves within their relationship and feel settled. A gift given within any ceremony can have a special meaning and will be a keepsake of the day. The gift may be a simple flower or feather or it may be something of greater monetary value. Gifts can be used to express love. When considering a Renewal of Vows ceremony, for example, different anniversaries have different materials associated with them. A fourth wedding anniversary is associated with flowers or ripe fruit. This represents the comfort felt by the fourth year together. The couple have established themselves within their relationship and feel settled. Giving a special gift to a child as a memento of their Naming day is a wonderful way to remember the happy occasion. It also means that as the child grows older the significance of the gift can be explained. This is an extract from a ceremony I conducted in which a gift of a silver thimble was given. "In the story of Peter Pan, Peter and Wendy meet for the first time when Peter is attempting to reattach himself to his shadow. Since his attempt to stick it back with soap fails, Wendy offers to sew the shadow onto Peter with a needle and thread. Once it is attached she offers to give Peter a kiss and he holds out his hand. Not wishing to offend him Wendy places her thimble in his hand. So the thimble becomes a symbol both love and the capacity for compassion in a child." Couples wishing to celebrate a Civil Partnership may wish to do so with a Celebrant led ceremony following the completion of the legal declarations at a Registry office. Within a bespoke ceremony you can express your commitment to each other, make promises for the future and exchange rings, gifts etc. You may also choose to use traditions and symbolic actions from a range of different cultures, beliefs or trends. Giving a special gift to a child as a memento of their Naming day is a wonderful way to remember the happy occasion. It also means that as the child grows older the significance of the gift can be explained. This is an extract from a ceremony I conducted in which a gift of a silver thimble was given. "In the story of Peter Pan, Peter and Wendy meet for the first time when Peter is attempting to reattach himself to his shadow. Since his attempt to stick it back with soap fails, Wendy offers to sew the shadow onto Peter with a needle and thread. Once it is attached she offers to give Peter a kiss and he holds out his hand. Not wishing to offend him Wendy places her thimble in his hand. So the thimble becomes a symbol both love and the capacity for compassion in a child." There is no reason why you cannot have a Celebrant led ceremony at a licensed venue. The venue has paid a fee to hold Marriage Services which are conducted by a Registrar. This fee should be stated separately to other costs, as different Local Authorities make different charges and you can opt out. A Celebrant led ceremony can be conducted anywhere within the venue meaning you are not restricted to the areas which are licensed. So if the venue has woodland area or grotto or fabulous garden these can be used (weather permitting). Please remember that to ensure your Marriage is legal you will need to undertake the legal requirements at your local registry office, before your Wedding celebration. All offices conduct statutory services which are very simple, cost effective ways of undertaking the legal requirements. I would suggest contacting your local authority for an informal chat. Choosing a Celebrant is a very personal choice; if you are able to speak to a couple of Celebrants before making a decision then do so. I would advise you to do a little research. Qualified Celebrants have had to undertake an extensive course and demonstrate that they can create and perform ceremonies to a high standard. However, currently there are no requirements for Celebrants to have completed an NVQ L3, so you may wish to ask. Personally I would try to avoid “script only” services. These companies offer an off the shelf ceremony which can then be read by a friend or member of the family. Using a friend or family member to conduct your ceremony can add pressure to your day for you and them. I would also advise that you use a Celebrant who belongs to a recognised Professional Association. Most of all the person needs to be someone you feel understands what you want from your ceremony and works with you to achieve this. |
AuthorChoosing a Celebrant to help you create that special ceremony is an important step towards making your occasion a really memorable one. Why not take advantage of the free initial meeting I offer ? I believe it is important to meet informally to discuss your ideas and what I can offer. Meeting also gives us an opportunity to explore the type of ceremony that would best suit your needs. Archives
May 2025
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