Many couples choose to renew their vows, and for a number of reasons………..  number one reason is that they still love one another.

Some feel that their original wedding ceremony belonged to their parents, not to them.

Some say that they were too young to promise the things they promised and they now feel sufficiently ‘grown up’ to repeat them with meaning.

Some express regret that they never got to say what they really wanted to say on that day.

Others feel that whatever the ensuing period between original vows and renewal of vows, their feelings have strengthened, their partnerships is more meaningful and has stood the test of time.

A few have experienced really tough times and they have come through it thankful and enlivened.

A small number have nearly lost one another – through neglecting one another, through illness, accidents and traumas – but have ‘found’ one another again.

So many are bowled over with the love they encounter in middle and late middle age, renewed love and commitment coming as a surprise to them. And a delight.

Working with couples on their vow renewals is a huge responsibility – to make sure that the story I tell is authentic, to convey the real meaning of this day to them, to maintain a sense of dignity and to control my own emotions and to ensure that their day is a significant marker – and revealing the strength of the human spirit and the enduring nature of love finding a way through all that life throws at us.  I think I love vow renewals best of all.

For many couples their animals are as much part of their relationship with their partner as their children or their home.  At the moment we have Nibs the Bengal cat and Crumpet the neat little terrier, Rex the Irish Wolfhound, Orla the magnificent grey mare and Jill the Shetland pony all featuring in the thinking about wedding plans. Whether they will appear remains to be seen, and it is for the couple to decide.

What I know works beautifully is an owl ring bearer. They add a touch of magic, mystery, broad beaming smiles and the element of surprise to a ceremony. and at the same time they are dignified and somehow aloof which is a beautiful contrast to the intensity of emotion that emerges  during ceremonies.  The Owl Ring Bearer Company in Harleston, Norfolk offers such a service (other owl ring bearers are available!)

Nothing need be ruled out when planning your wedding – all things are possible!

At the moment, weddings booked for next year are 50/50 indoors/outdoors.  The conversations about outdoor venues are more intense, more detailed.

First there is the weather – unpredictable is 100% certain, so how to accommodate the possibility of rain, wind, fog, cold into your wedding plans?  I guess in the UK  the obvious answer is to always have a back-up. Wherever your venue, what is the onsite alternative – a marquee, a barn, an arbour?  Couples should always speak with the venue organiser so that the alternatives are covered and if last minute changes need to be made then the logistics already planned can seamlessly come into play.  The important thing is to know what you are going to do, how long you will wait until you decide, and who is liaising with the venue so that the bride and groom do not have to be encumbered by last minute panic decisions.

Last year at Charlie and Mark’s wedding the rain was belting down until about 12.45. the ceremony was due to start at 13.00.  However we had agreed that one friend would liaise with the couple who would have the final say. We agreed to go ahead just as the rain eased off – seats were wiped down and confetti buckets uncovered!  However just as the vows were to be spoken it rained again but Uncle Tom came up trumps with his massive umbrella….. perfect!

Second there is a small matter of preparing your guests – let them know it is an outdoor ceremony and suggest they bring umbrellas and wellies just in case.

Third there is uneven ground.  Outdoor ceremonies are simply gorgeous. But sometimes not so easy for those with spiky heels, mobility issues, wonky legs, weak ankles, wheelchairsand zimmers.  Think about the route to the seating area and whether this can be chosen with the terrain in mind.  I have witnessed a few granny-tumbles before and after a ceremony. And many a heel laced with mud and grass cuttings.

How about providing some ‘heel savers’ for the spiked heel brigade – it will raise a laugh if nothing else!

Fourth is space.  Being outside is gorgeous but the space is inevitably not as ‘contained’ as having a ceremony in a building so you have to bear that in mind when choosing the space you will use.  Think about how the seating will be planned – conventional straight lines, a horseshoe, a circle?  In what direction will the sun be shining – if you have your backs to north and the sun is full on then you will be looking south direct into the sun and your photo’s will be ‘squinty’! Try and view the venue at different times of the day and watch how the shadows fall as the sun moves around.  Also think about sound. Sound resonates in a building, but outside the human voice can drift away so this might dictate how you manage your seating – probably better to have fewer but wider rows, with a curve to contain the bride and groom and ensure your friends can hear you.

Fifth there is photography.  Outdoor options give your photographer loads more scope for creative and naturalistic shots. But talk with the photographer about what are those options, and include a contingency for weather.  A good photographer will raise this with you when you do your preparation with them but if they don’t then don’t forget to ask.