How to describe Guy and Kat’s wedding at Mettingham Castle on Sunday?  Festival vibe.  Fun. Upbeat. Authentic. Romantic. Full of love. Lots of surprises. Hot. Sunny. Thunder. Informal.

First the venue – at Mettingham Castle, the home of a friend. A perfect setting for a wedding with a festival feel.  Epic background. A camping field. Tents and pods. Flags. Bunting. Trees festooned with lamps and photos. From start to finish it was epic. And everyone agreed.

When I arrived I was ‘kidnapped’ by small children who were in charge of face painting.  My blue and silver glittery stripes with little silver dots on my cheeks stayed on all day, as I promised I would not wash it off!

Guy emerged down the lane and walked toward the gatehouse with his crew with ‘Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I’m Yours’ belting out and to much applause from the guests.  Then he turned to greet Kat and her crew taking the same route.  There were many magical moments in their ceremony but this was a heart-stopper.  The guy watching his girl walk toward him in the most beautiful dress I have ever seen in my life. I hope someone video’d that moment. Then they gathered their guests  and led them through the vegetable garden (much, much grander than it sounds!)  preceded by Troubadour Toby the guitarist (whilst I, in my stacked soles, legged it round the back of the marquee to the ceremony site by the Folly).  As they all sauntered in, the guests sat on straw bales and blankets, and little ones wandered around. Little girls in dresses with net skirts and sparkly shoes. Little boys all smart/cas in their linen and braces. Pink, purple and yellow flags fluttering in the breeze.

The informal vibe continued – small children investigating the site whilst we carried on with the ceremony, occasionally gathered up by parents, only to wander off again – readings and music and the couple’s little one perched on Kat’s hip whilst the ceremony continued. Kat and Guy wrote their own vows and then, whilst Polly sang ‘Satisfied Mind’, we created a quiet and intimate moment as they exchanged rings, just speaking quietly to one another.  It was so moving.

More upbeat, we introduced some humour with the Bell of Truce – or the Reality Bell, as some call it – which is a Celtic ritual reminding the couple to ring the bell (in this case a Tibetan singing bowl) sooner rather than later to end an argument. It’s a signal to make up.  There was a lot of laughter at this point and the bell was rung vigorously. At which point children wanted to join in too.

More music  – guitarists and singers gave a rousing rendition of  The Ronettes ‘Be My Baby’.  To be honest, we all sang it. Backing vocals. Hand movements. The lot.  Maximum output!  At the end, we all walked to the woods where Kat and Guy had started a fire pit, and every guest laid a piece of wood on the fire to be lit at midnight, the 10th anniversary of their first date.

The surprise element was a ‘fly-past’ by a vintage bi-plane which then proceeded to do terrifying loop-the-loops, sky dives and death-rolls.  It was spectacular and I will never forget the sight of all the guests sprinting out of the woods onto the meadow, shielding their eyes from the sun and pointing to the sky, watching to  plane banking, rolling and diving through the sky. Lots of oooo’s and aaaaa’s and applause.  A spectacularly (and, I would guess, typical) magical and thoughtful touch by Stuart and Polly.

The party began immediately afterwards just as the thunder and rain started.  In no way will a little summer rain dampen the memories of an amazing day and so many guests said it was the best wedding they had ever attended, they loved the little touches, the laughter and the quiet moments, and that we could create small and intimate moments in an out-door ceremony. Most of all though, they said it truly represented the lovely couple, which was so gratifying. And I had a ball!

This chap was a bit quiet though!

I am always interested in what guest make of a Humanist ceremony – especially older guests.  What they say afterwards is a good indicator.   On that day it was “I have never been to such a beautiful wedding”, “you captured them perfectly”, “it was all about them”, “I loved those small quiet moments in amongst the fun”.  Job done. I shall remember it for a long time and it was a great privilege to work with such a gorgeous couple

Photo by www.stuartbeardphotography.co.uk

Handfasting Photo www.stuartbeardphotography.co.uk

Saturday was Kleenex Day! Not a dry eye in the house for a vow renewal for a very special couple for whom life had thrown in from leftfield more than is fair.  Most people would have buckled, but they just buckled their belts tighter and got on with it.  I have to admit to sitting in my car afterwards, with a box of tissues. I was ok until they gave me flowers!

They had been married for 25 years. Their son composed music for the event and their nephew a poem.  The most special element, and that which drew most comment afterwards, was including the couples’ parents in a handfasting as a way of expressing appreciation for the love and support given and of binding them all together in love.

At the end it felt triumphant. Heavy with symbolism, we used an arch decorated with flowers through which they passed into the ‘new normal’ of their future. Moving from the challenges of the past few years into a future they would control. What more can I say?  This was one of the most moving ceremonies I’ve conducted. Wowser.