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You've made the decision to use a Celebrant, now what? You're bound to have lots of questions. Here's some suggestions to get the conversation going: Will you help us write our wedding vows? Of course. If you need my help or some prompts from me, I’m more than happy to help. Writing your own wedding vows brings a whole new level to the ceremony. Publicly declaring your love for one another in front of your family and friends is a beautiful experience you will remember forever. What kind of wedding ceremony can we expect? Every ceremony I write is unique to the couple. We can follow a traditional structure or create something completely different. I spend as much time as needed with a couple in order to really understand them, their story and what type of ceremony they are after. Can you include cultural rituals, symbolic rituals or traditions? There are many options available to couples now and I am happy to work with you if there is a particular ritual or tradition that you’d like to include in your ceremony. Among others, rituals include hand-fasting, the sand ceremony, ring warming, unity candle and the rose ceremony. Can we include loved ones in our ceremony? Yes! Restrictions on who you can include in your ceremony have changed hugely in recent years. The old tradition of the bride walking down the aisle on her fathers arm is no longer a requirement. Families and couples are all different and the most important thing is that you include who you want in your ceremony. If you’re a blended family you might want to include children in a ritual to symbolise two families uniting, or you may prefer to be walked down the aisle by a sibling, or friend or alone! Will we see a draft of our ceremony script? Absolutely. We can either meet to go over it or I can send it through to you to proof and approve. Some couples like to be surprised by the ceremony which I am happy to do, although I will confirm any specific details so there are no errors or unexpected surprises. Everything is planned, agreed and signed off long before the big day. It’s very important to me to get things right and I take the research part of the journey very seriously. That begins with my initial meeting with the couple when we will get an idea of one another and I will ask questions relevant to what type of service you’re after etc. Next I will send over some questions for both in the couple to answer separately – this is really helpful and will form the foundation of your ceremony. A month or so before the wedding date, I will send a provisional plan of the ceremony for review. We can make any last minute changes and finalise any decisions based on anyone participating in the ceremony. What are your fees and what do they include? Fees can vary depending on what’s involved, but as a general rule, my fees start at £850 for a full wedding ceremony. This includes all meetings and consultations, questionnaires, unlimited contact with me in the lead up to the wedding, help writing vows, and full script writing and approval. Additional costs can include: * Travel to the venue * Rehearsal * Use of a PA system What happens if we cancel or postpone our wedding? I take a 50% non refundable deposit upon booking and the final 50% is due approximately three months before the wedding, at the same time as you see your script. All details are in the contract and on my website. When will you arrive at the venue? I will be at the venue about one hour before guests are due to arrive. This is so that I have time to familiarise myself with the venue, go through the service and set up a PA system and any other props being used.

Quite possibly the most important supplier at your wedding, and the creator of lifelong memories; a wedding photographer carries huge responsibility and needs not only talent but a cool head! I had a chat with Kent based photographer Tom Keenan who shared some of his thoughts. What drew you to wedding photography? When I launched my business in 2012, I was initially drawn to fashion and editorial photography, working with modeling agencies and even having the privilege of having a few of my shots featured in Italian Vogue. One of my first wedding bookings I even had a bride tell me she saw one of my images printed in Italian Vogue. However, my first wedding booking that same year marked a turning point in my career. I was struck by the beauty of capturing the love and joy of couples on their special day, and I found that marrying documentary photography with natural, editorial aesthetic portraits brought me deeper joy. I had previously seen wedding photography that depersonalised the couples by making them act like models, and other styles that were purely documentary. What resonated with me was being able to blend these two approaches. I believe that this unique fusion allows me to tell a couple's story in a way that is both authentic and visually stunning, capturing the uniqueness of their love and the emotions of their special day. Do you have an ideal couple “type” or do you enjoy shooting all weddings? I wouldn't say I have an ideal couple, but ideally the couple really values having lovely wedding photography! My ideal couples want documentary wedding photography & natural portraits with stylish, editorial aesthetics. What this means is couples that are happy to enjoy their day with the ones they love instead of lots of posing, whilst also getting some cool authentic portraits of themselves. Being a luxury wedding photographer in the UK means that most of my couples have their weddings at purpose built wedding venues or higher-end settings. The couples that choose me to photograph their wedding understand that the relationship with their photographer has to be comfortable and trustworthy, knowing they spend a large portion of their wedding day with me. My favourite type of weddings are smaller, in a beautiful setting with awesome places to explore for couple photos. What advice do you have for a couple choosing a photographer for their big day? When choosing a photographer for your special day, I recommend selecting someone whose style and personality align with yours. This is crucial because photographs are a visual representation of your wedding, and you want to feel comfortable and at ease with the person capturing your memories. As someone who loves being the couples' friend, I've had the pleasure of staying in touch with many of my clients after the wedding. It's not uncommon for us to remain close long after the big day! While it's true that the wedding cake is a delicious indulgence that's savoured on the day, it's also fleeting. On the other hand, your photographs will be cherished for years to come. That's why I believe it's essential to invest in a high-quality photographer who will provide you with authentic + timeless memories. So, don't be afraid to prioritise your photography budget and choose someone who makes you feel confident and relaxed in front of the camera. I know that the photography at a wedding is one of the most important elements, because you’re obviously capturing memories that will last a lifetime. It must be exhausting for you. Do you work alone or do you have an assistant? It's interesting, since having a child I don't find weddings too exhausting! However, for long wedding days over 8 hours or with guests over 80+ I do recommend adding a second photographer to the package. Though I have a few packages to offer clients, my couples often create bespoke arrangements to suit their unique needs. Like in my fashion photography days, it's always fun when I work in a team. Whether that's with a luxury wedding planner, fly-on-the-wall videographer or an associate photographer. Team work makes a dream work right? What do you love most about what you do? It feels like I am doing my bit to celebrate a couple in love, freeing them to feel and be their authentic selfs on their wedding. Other than getting to party and celebrate on the day, my favourite part is getting to deliver timeless photographs where they can relive the celebrations. Seeing their reactions to their wedding photographs never gets old. It's a genuine privilege to bring peace to couples on their wedding day, as often anxiety can creep in and I'm quite good at bringing the calm when needed. I love that. I also cherish the fact that my work allows me to spend quality time with my loved ones. As I only take on a limited number of weddings each year, I'm able to give each couple my full attention and dedication that hundreds of weddings wouldn't allow. If you're looking for a photographer to capture your day, do take a look at Tom's website and send an enquiry. He's one of the lovliest people I've met and you won't be disappointed! TOM KEENAN, WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER Tom Keenan is a professional wedding photographer based near Margate, Kent. He captures modern luxury weddings with a documentary approach, showcasing genuine, editorial portraits that tell the story of your wedding.

There is still much confusion surrounding the difference between the two, and the majority of engaged couples have never heard of a wedding celebrant and do not understand the pivotal role they play in a wedding. This sadly means that there are many missed opportunities for couples who are looking for a meaningful and inclusive ceremony. Registrars are permitted by law to officiate a marriage via a civil ceremony which must be held in a licensed area. The format of the ceremony is dictated by legislation and cannot include any religious or spiritual content. Any reading must be seen and approved before the ceremony. A registrar is employed by the local authority and may perform up to 4 wedding services in a day, this means you will be given a time slot and it’s unlikely that you’ll meet them before the day. A wedding celebrant can assist and guide a couple in completing the necessary requirements for the marriage license, but they are not able to perform the legal part of the ceremony. Wedding celebrants are empathetic and creative people who are professionally trained and who specialise in creating and conducting bespoke ceremonies, tailored specifically to a couple’s preferences and beliefs. Their approach is flexible and personalised and they collaborate with a couple to create a ceremony that is true to their personal story. Wedding celebrants come armed with the ability to connect with people and tell a good story. They are skilled at creating a ceremony that will leave a lasting impact on everyone in attendance. Whether you want a non-religious ceremony, a fusion of different cultural traditions or a ceremony that includes symbolic rituals, wedding celebrants can bring your vision to life. The other huge benefit of working with a celebrant is the personal touch they bring to the ceremony. They will have spent time with a couple, getting to know and understand them and their journey together. A wedding celebrant will adapt their style to match the desired tone required by each couple, whether that’s lighthearted and humorous, romantic or more solemn. Using a celebrant brings more flexibility in terms of location and timing. Wedding celebrants can officiate a ceremony anywhere from a private garden to a beach or a stately home. This means the couple can pick somewhere that has special meaning to them. Some couples choosing a celebrant-led wedding tend to get the legal part out of the way a few days before, leaving them free to enjoy their wedding day as they truly want it. This can give them more days of celebrations. Other couples want to keep the legal part low key and choose the cheapest option, which is the 2+2 Ceremony. What is a 2+ 2 Ceremony? The 2+2 is a short ceremony that includes the legal elements needed to perform a marriage. The only people to attend will be yourselves, your two witnesses and the registrar. It only includes a declaration, contracting words and an optional ring vow, chosen from a short standard selection. Separating the legal side of your wedding ceremony, enables you to have a bespoke ceremony that is truly unique and memorable. A ceremony that truly reflects who you are as a couple and incorporates your ideas, values and personalities. A celebrant gives you the freedom to hold your ceremony in a place that’s significant to you, whether that’s a beach, a forest, a bluebell glade, or your own garden.