top of page

Search Results

5 items found for ""

  • Non-traditional wedding ceremony ideas

    Opting for a celebrant-led wedding allows you to incorporate a meaningful symbolic ritual into your ceremony. This can be a beautiful, interactive experience that resonates not only with you as a couple but also with your friends and family. Many of these rituals have been practiced for centuries, offering a unique and personal touch to your special day. If this idea appeals to you, explore the possibilities and share your thoughts with your celebrant, who can tailor the ritual to reflect your preferences. You may choose a tradition that connects to your heritage or beliefs, or opt for something rooted in love and creativity. Whatever you decide, it will add a distinctive and deeply personal element to your celebration. Here are some of my favourite rituals: Handfasting Handfasting is an ancient Celtic tradition dating back to 7000 BC. Long before formal marriage ceremonies became common, couples would symbolise their union by having a braided cord or ribbon tied around their hands – representing the binding of two lives. This meaningful ritual can be tailored in many ways. Traditionally, the couple places their palms together while the celebrant wraps ribbons or cord around their joined hands, accompanied by heartfelt words. Some choose to incorporate vows or a ring exchange into the ceremony for an even more personal touch. When selecting ribbon colours, consider their symbolic meanings to make the moment even more special. Each colour holds significance, allowing you to personalise the ceremony in a way that reflects your love story. For more inspiration and a beautiful selection of ribbons and charms, visit Intertwined Handfasting Cords . Lighting a Unity Candle This is a popular ritual and often included in a wedding ceremony. In addition to the symbolism of unity it holds for a couple, it’s also a lovely way to show the joining or blending of families. Each person involved will hold their own lit candle that they then combine to light another candle. Sand Ceremony The Sand Ceremony is a beautiful and very visual ritual that symbolises unity and connection. During the ceremony, the couple pours sand from two (or more) vessels into a single container, representing the blending of their lives. You can use coloured sand or even sand from a location that holds special meaning to you. This ceremony can also include family members, making it a beautiful way to honour the blending and joining of families. Rose Ceremony The ritual of the rose ceremony is most often used in two different ways. However, like all the symbolic rituals, it can be adjusted to work for any situation that feels appropriate. If both members of a couple are close to their mothers, a rose can be presented to them as a symbol of their eternal love and gratitude. The rose signifies the acknowledgment of the love and sacrifice their mothers have given them all their lives. Another way to use the rose ceremony is for each partner to present the other with a single rose after their vows. This symbol of love represents the first gift to each other as husband and wife. Ring warming I especially love the ring warming ceremony. As the wedding unfolds, the couple’s rings – symbols of their lifelong commitment – are passed among the guests in a small pouch, tied with ribbon or in a box. Each person holds the rings for a moment, offering a silent blessing or well-wishes. By the time they return to the front, just in time for the vows and exchange, the rings are infused with the love and support of everyone present. For loved ones unable to attend, the rings can be taken to them beforehand, allowing them to be part of this meaningful tradition. These rituals are a few of many that are available. Your celebrant will be able to guide you through others that might resonate with you, and a look online will help you discover more.

  • When the runway became the wedding

    Jordan Bowen and Luca Marchetto, the designers behind fashion label JordanLuca , suprised everyone when they married at the end of their show at Milan Fashion Week. They made fashion history, saying "I do" in the most stylish way possible. The event went viral. I was their celebrant – an honour they bestowed on me back in October last year when I received a WhatsApp message from Jordan saying "we've got an idea for our show in January we'd like to run by you". I've known Jordan and Luca for many years and they always think out of the box, but I couldn't imagine what on earth they'd want to be running by me, so I called Jordan immediately and he told me they wanted to get married at the end of their show. It was brilliant! Typical of them – completely bonkers. I treated it as I would have any wedding, we had a meeting and then I sent through the questionnaires, asking them to fill them in independently of one another. Their responses were hilarious and formed the basis of their love story. There wasn't much back and forth because other than the story I was going to tell, we weren't quite sure how it was all going to pan out. There were various ideas and we firmed things up the week before. They wrote their own "vows" although they were keen to focus on love and how it is a verb that works best in action. After 14 years together they didn't feel the need to make promises to one another. I flew out to Milan on Friday, with Jordan's mum Lisa who happens to be one of my greatest friends, and we went straight to the studio where the models were having fittings. Jordan and Luca had family and close friends walking in the show and it was so fun being surrounded by all the activity. On Saturday morning we headed to the venue where the show was being held. It was extraordinary – a cast of hundreds: models, hair, make-up, production team, designers, stylists, dressers, a choreographer.... I was immediately whisked away to have my hair styled. Not by one, but by three people at once. Over the next couple of hours I watched as the scene was set and as models were transformed. I was so impressed by the efficiency that everything was run with. I didn't get any indication of stress, everyone was calm and things happened on time. I changed into what I was wearing – a JordanLuca blouse and a Jasper Conran skirt – and was miked up, ready to go. Strangely I didn't have any nerves, despite never having done anything like this, certainly not in front of press and such an enormous crowd. After the models had all walked in together to stand around the stage, it was my turn, and before I knew it I was walking on the catwalk. It all felt so surreal and the best part was that no-one in the audience had any idea of what was happening. Their invitation to the show was a packet of tissues and the show's title was The Wedding, but I don't think anyone would have imagined they would be witness to a real wedding. Jordan walked in on the arm of Lisa and Luca followed, holding hands with his father, Claudio. Slowly, slowly people were realising what was happening. "We all know Jordan and Luca like to challenge the “normal” and they’ve excelled themselves this time. You're in for a treat. Something completely unique and unusual, much like Luca and Jordan themselves… Is it real? Is it imagined? What is this? Well let me tell you, the show is the wedding, and the wedding is the show." After I said these words there were huge cheers, it really was completely wonderful. Everything went smoothly, there were lots of laughs and some tears. I'm told even the most fashion-y of fashionistas were seen dabbing at their eyes (under their sunglasses of course). It will be hard to top, I loved every second and feel extremely lucky to have been part of something so unique and historic.

  • What's the difference between a Wedding Celebrant and a Registrar?

    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. Consider this: when you are born; the birth gets registered, when you die; the death gets registered; and in the same way, when you marry it needs to be registered. 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.

  • Questions You Should Ask a Celebrant

    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.

  • Q&A with a Kent Wedding Photographer

    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.

bottom of page