Many moons ago, Arabella, Claire and I met in a noisy bar near Liverpool Street Station

to begin to plan for their wedding.  On Saturday it all came together like a dream.

The family home is a Grade II listed building, built in 1607.   The garden is acres of lawn and woodland. And in a woodland glade where we held the ceremony – the walk through the woods was strewn with flower petals and marked by glass jars containing wild flowers. The ceremony site was at the edge of the wood with beautiful trees which umrella’d an arch decorated with flowers and ivy and from the trees hung white origami birds and white paper lanterns  https://www.youtube.com/upload  .  It was perfect.

Freddie and Gavin played the guests in with ‘Teddy Bear’s Picnic’ then Arabella walked in with her dad, followed by Claire and her dad.  We had already clocked the lachrymose ability of Claire and her family and so there were plenty of tissues to hand!  We had very special readings – a poem read by Claire’s mum, a reading from Terry Goodchild and Philip Pullman and by Amber and Andrew and another read by Freddie.

As part of getting to know the couple I often ask them (separately and by email) what they love about their partner.  Arabella and Claire’s responses were so personal and moving,  that it seemed right that they read them to one another.  Not a dry eye in the house!

We finished, after signing the certificate, with a 50′ confetti shower as the couple walked through their guests who were lined up back to the path leading through the woods.

The setting was perfect and the wedding was declared perfect by the brides and by the guests.  The only exception to the perfection was my toe – and thus the shoes were abandoned as soon as the ceremony was finished – but the less said about my toe the better!

If you’d like to hear the brides talk about their ceremony, click here https://youtu.be/wbbbiHjOuN8 and here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmMcAbkrVn4&feature=youtu.be

and a guest   ……..   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2b63nPcNTw&feature=youtu.be  and the photographers  http://www.rolandblunk.com   who were a joy to work with  ….  https://youtu.be/uJ_LSVSYvdI

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!

Clogs, Dogs and weddings

My lovely couple are marrying in October. In a field. They are clog dancers. They want to bring their dogs.

They have made arrangements for a platform – like decking – for me and for them. Oh, and eight clog dancers.

Not quite sure where the dogs fit in at the moment – but I am really looking forward to a bit of clog dancing.

I thought I might wear these…..