Ceremony Archives • Page 2 of 4 • White Rose Ceremonies

Sand Unity Ceremony jar with candles and flowers

Rain on your Wedding Day? No problem!

31 March 2017/in Celebrant /by Rebecca Waldron

Rain on your Wedding Day is considered lucky in many different cultures because it represents cleansing, renewal, fertility and unity. We don’t particularly like it though if it interferes with our carefully planned outdoor wedding!

Before we go on – did you know that a Celebrant will work with what you have planned, regardless of the weather? If you have a Registrar, they will decide where the ceremony will take place, regardless of your wishes!

So obviously – a Celebrant is your best option for an outdoor ceremony!

Outdoor weddings can be AMAZING whatever the weather. We have a lot of experience regarding what does and doesn’t work so here are some hints and tips.1. Try not to let rain ruin your day. There is absolutely nothing you can do about it.

2. Always have a plan that includes an indoor ceremony area otherwise your guests, particularly elderly relatives, will be wet and cold and they won’t enjoy your Ceremony at all.

3. White Rose couples consider the ‘inside’ option to be Plan A and then, when the weather is exactly as they hoped for, they are happy to opt for going outside – Plan B! Ta-dah!

4. Provide lots of big umbrellas that cover each person. Make sure they are transparent so that even when the rain is falling, your guests can still see what is happening. You don’t have to buy them – they can be hired in. Take a look here as an example!

5. Cover all chairs and hay bales with waterproof covers that your ushers can whip off just before the guests are seated.

6. Provide coconut matting or more robust flooring for your guests to walk on.

7. You may love that beautiful wedding dress with the long train but it’s not going to work for an outdoor wedding if it’s raining. However, if that’s what you still want, talk to your bridal shop. They are the experts when it comes to hooking your dress up so that it won’t get wet and muddy.

8. And those beautiful wedding shoes! How about having some fabulous wellies on standby?

9. Make sure your sound system and electrical cables are suitable for outdoor use. Delegate this task to an expert!

10. Also check that your Marquee or Tipi’s are waterproof! This might seem obvious but check all the same.

11. If there is high wind as well as rain on your wedding day then do everything indoors. There is nothing worse than rain AND wind!

12. And finally, keep your sense of humour intact and enjoy your Wedding Ceremony, whatever the weather!

Conduct your Wedding Ceremony, Outdoor Wedding Ceremony, Rebecca Waldron, Civil Celebrant, White Rose Ceremonies

You CAN have an outdoor wedding ceremony!

5 February 2017/in Celebrant /by Rebecca Waldron

You can have an outdoor wedding ceremony in England and Wales. Just open your mind to a slightly different way of doing things! Outdoor wedding ceremonies are not limited to venues that have a license for a ceremonies in their grounds.

Think outside of the archaic marriage laws that exist in the UK and you can have the ceremony of your choice.

Many of our brides have had their outdoor wedding ceremony in gardens, in fields, by lakes and by the sea. They were more than happy to complete the “wedding admin” beforehand. They then had a completely bespoke wedding ceremony in a place of their choosing.

They chose to share their personal and unique promises of love with their families and friends through the very personal service that we provide. You won’t know who your Registrar will be until your ceremony starts, but you will always have developed a friendship with us, your Celebrants.

All you have to do, after completing the notice requirements, is arrange to go to the Registrar’s Office with two witnesses. There you can complete the legal administration of your marriage. You don’t have to pay extra for a Ceremony Room, you have the right to request the basic package and use a Registrar’s Office. (You will find that availability is limited. Your local council wish to make as much money as possible through use of the Ceremony Rooms).

After that you can have your outdoor wedding ceremony wherever you want! And it will be completely unique to you. We had our wedding ceremony on a beach in North Norfolk and it was so wonderful that we started our business!

If you have any questions about this please do get in touch. There is no obligation to book through us, we are more than happy to talk about what celebrants do and how they do it!

Planning your Wedding? Plan your Ceremony!

29 January 2017/in Celebrant /by Rebecca Waldron

Planning your Wedding? Plan your Ceremony! Start your special day with a Wedding Ceremony that will really ‘wow’ your family and friends!

We know that there is a lot to think about when planning your wedding. The venue, the dresses and outfits, photographer, caterer, entertainment, flowers, wedding favours. You spend all your time on Pinterest creating mood boards for the most perfect wedding.

But what about the perfect Ceremony?

Imagine your guests focussed on you both, laughing, clapping! Probably shedding a happy tear and totally engaged with you as share your promises of love with each other.

Want to sing? Well, let’s sing! Want to remember a loved one who has passed away? Let’s light a candle. Want your pet to be the ring bearer? Yes – let’s do it!

When you plan your Ceremony with a Celebrant, they provide you with a fresh and unique approach. Celebrants get to know you. They write your script and weave the story of your journey as a couple throughout the Ceremony, making it completely personal to you. Your script will never be the same as another couple and that is guaranteed!

Celebrants also have great ideas when it comes to including special people too! As for your venue, it can be wherever you want it to be. Inside, outside, at home, at a formal venue, in a tipi, marquee, in a forest, by the sea – anywhere you want.

And the legal paperwork? Just complete it with two witnesses in the basic ceremony that all registrars should offer. You don’t have to use a special room. The legal documentation can be held in the registrar’s office. Our couples at White Rose Ceremonies call it the ‘admin appointment’!

We love our team of Celebrants at White Rose Ceremonies but there are other fabulous Celebrants out there as well. So wherever you live, you can have an amazing Ceremony conducted by a Celebrant.

You can plan your Ceremony with us, of course! But there are also other amazing Celebrants who we highly recommend:

Katie Deverell at www.ceremonydesigner.co.uk

Ellie Farrell at www.alternativeceremoniesuk.com

Katie Keen at www.trueblueceremonies.co.uk

Judy Mansfield at www.cherish-ceremonies.co.uk

So – planning your Wedding? Plan your Ceremony! Have the most fantastic start to your wedding celebrations! We wish you lots of love, joy and happiness x

Chris Taylor Photography

Celebrant Wedding for Your Special Day

11 January 2017/in Celebrant /by Rebecca Waldron

Looking through the photographs of our weddings, we realise how privileged we are to become friends with many of our lovely wedding couples. And this is what happens when you book a Celebrant Wedding.

It’s important to form this relationship because ,when it comes to your big day, you want a friendly face and somebody who knows exactly what you want for your celebration.

Whether your celebrant wedding is on a farm, in a Labyrinth, at a formal venue, or in your garden, we make every effort to make sure that you feel comfortable with us and that you trust us to conduct the ceremony that you want.

Read on to find out how we do this…

We visit you several times and, without being intrusive, we get to know you. As part of your package you receive our Wedding Book. It’s full of resources that provide you with lots of choice for your ceremony such as unity ceremony, handfasting, rose ceremony and many other ideas.

We have lots of lovely ways to include special people – grandparents, children, friends and even your pets…

We include a rehearsal so that you become familiar with where to stand. We also talk to your ushers and bridal party about where they should be and, if they are not at the rehearsal, we will talk to them before the ceremony starts.

After your celebrant wedding ceremony, we wish you all the very best for your married life and that we hope to keep in touch. And we are so very happy that we do exactly that – keep in touch. Enjoy your day!

Anisah & Nadim, Girton College Cambridge, White Rose Ceremonies

Anisah and Nadim, Girton College Cambridge

14 September 2016/in Celebrant, uncategorised /by Rebecca Waldron

Following a week of Indian wedding celebrations, the beautiful Anisah and Nadim enjoyed an essentially English wedding ceremony at Girton College, Cambridge.

Having met while on holiday with their families, Anisah and Nadim became friends who fell in love. Their wedding ceremony took place in the historic wood-panelled Great Hall in Girton College and was conducted by our lovely celebrant, Pam. The Great Hall was full of colour with a mix of traditional and contemporary dress for family and friends from India, UK and other countries across the world.

Entering to the beautiful track of ‘A Thousand Years’ by Christina Perry, Anisah and her father were preceded by two page boys and a flower girl weaving around them all with a magic wand. They were followed by the bride’s sister dressed in lemon and blue, flanked and followed by bridesmaids in full-length plum coloured dresses.

The ceremony included gifts of roses, a symbolic handfasting with plum, pink and blue ribbons, vows and exchange of rings. Specially selected readings were read by family and friends, including this beautiful passage:

“The minute I heard my first love story I started looking for you, not knowing how blind that was. Lovers don’t finally meet somewhere. They’re in each other all along.”

After signing our Commemorative Certificate Anisah and Nadim left to applause and the track, Glory of Love by Pete Cetera.

It was a real privilege to be part of Anisah and Nadim’s lovely day and we wish them a long and happy life together.

Venue: Great Hall, Girton College, Cambridge

Celebrant: Pam McCarthy of White Rose Ceremonies

Photographs: David Waldron of White Rose Ceremonies

Alice-in-Wonderland Themed Wedding

3 August 2016/in Celebrant /by Rebecca Waldron

Kim and Ched’s whimsical Alice-in-Wonderland themed wedding at Fen Farm, Lincoln, was a fairy-tale affair full of fun, eclectic details.

Kim looked stunning in a short ivory lace wedding dress with shoes from Irregular Choice. She had made exquisite paper bouquets for herself and her bridesmaids who were dressed in blue and white dresses. The groomsmen wore light grey suits with light blue accessories and matching boutonniere.

The three page boys were dressed in matching outfits of shorts, striped socks, light blue blazers, bowties and trilbies, a fabulous interpretation of Tweedledum and Tweedledee.

Kim and her brother arrived on a carriage pulled by The Mad Hatter and The White Rabbit – of course! Before the ceremony started, guests had written their good-luck messages on white stones and these lined the aisle where Kim met her groom, Ched.

An Oathing Stone was used when Kim and Ched’s repeated their wedding vows. In true Alice-in-Wonderland style, a little White Rabbit looked on throughout the whole ceremony. Readings were given by friends and the rings were presented by one of Kim and Ched’s dogs who both played key roles in the ceremony.

The celebrations then kicked off in style with a bar available from the 1966 vintage bus bar from Route 14 followed by a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party in the barn and a hog roast in the evening.

Kim and Ched’s Alice-in-Wonderland themed Wedding was full of love and laughter and we were very happy to lead the ceremony for them. They put a lovely review on our Facebook page, which we also show below:

“Amazing job done by Rebecca and David. They are terrific, wonderful, kind and friendly people that were confident and calming, and helped us create a ceremony from scratch, that was us through and through. Top of our list if we decide to have a naming ceremony for little bump! And a few fantastic photos as well. Thanks guys! Take care of yourselves.”

Kim and Ched – it really was our pleasure.

Photographs courtesy of David Waldron, White Rose Ceremonies

Kais & Chloe Golf Club Wedding, Rebecca Waldron, White Rose Ceremonies

Kais & Chloe’s Golf Club Wedding Ceremony

29 July 2016/in Celebrant /by Rebecca Waldron

Kais & Chloe’s Golf Club Wedding Ceremony was a celebration of their legal marriage in Turkey. They had married in traditional Turkish fashion with family and Turkish friends, followed by a quintessentially English wedding ceremony in St Ives Golf Club, Cambridgeshire.

With the room flooded by light from the golf course, the chairs were decorated with white covers and lilac and mint green sashes, matching the bridesmaids dresses. In recognition of the importance of parents, both Chloe’s father and her mother gave Chloe away to Kais. Chloe’s dear grandfather was also mentioned in remembrance.

Rings had been exchanged in Turkey so Kais and Chloe chose to have a wedding ceremony in the UK that included hand-fasting. The hand-fasting included the colours blue for tranquillity, patience, devotion and sincerity, lilac for power, piety, sanctity, sentimentality and white for purity, concentration, meditation and peace.

Kais and Chloe exchanged wedding vows and signed a commemorative certificate with friends. Also included in the ceremony was the beautiful “Doves Poem”, read by one of their bridesmaids:

Two doves meeting in the sky,
Two loves hand in hand, eye to eye;
Two parts of a loving whole,
Two hearts and a single soul.
Two stars shining big and bright,
Two fires bringing warmth and light;
Two songs played in perfect tune,
Two flowers growing into bloom.
Two doves gliding in the air,
Two loves free without a care;
Two parts of a loving whole,
Two hearts and a single soul.
Two dreams found before too late,
Two lives together bound by fate;
Two people cling to one another,
Two people in love with each other.
Two doves, can you see them soar?
Two loves – who could ask for more?
Two parts of a loving whole,
Two hearts and a single soul.
Author unknown

Kais and Chloe’s Golf Club Wedding Ceremony was full of love and laughter and we were so pleased to be part it. Their friends and family were very happy to be present with them at their ceremony. We could see this happiness, clearly reflected in the smiles and tears of all.

We received a lovely testimonial from Kais and Chloe and we wish them every happiness in the future.

“Rebecca is so lovely and made me feel very comfortable and calm with the ceremony in her hands, from the moment we met on skype to the actual wedding day. The ceremony was absolutely perfect, many of our guests said it was the nicest one they had ever heard. Thank you for everything guys, we had the most perfect day, which you played a huge part of”.

Venue: St Ives Golf Club, St Ives, Cambridgeshire

Photographs: Used with kind permission from Kais & Chloe

Rebecca Waldron, White Rose Ceremonies, North Devon, Cambridge, Birmingham

Heather & Geoff’s Outdoor Country Wedding

24 July 2016/in Celebrant /by Rebecca Waldron

Heather and Geoff’s outdoor country Wedding Ceremony was held in a beautiful cobbled courtyard surrounded by stunning thatched cottages, decorated with bunting.

The groomsmen wore tweed jackets with burgundy bow ties and the Bridesmaids wore blue tea-length dresses with polka dot bodices, edged in red.

Heather was escorted by her mother and made her entrance in a beautiful gown and shoes from Irregular Choice. The track ‘Lover of the Light’ by Mumford & Sons was played. There was such a lot of love for Heather and Geoff from their select group of guests, reflected in the smiles and tears as Heather joined Geoff.

Heather and Geoff put a great deal of thought into their Wedding Ceremony and wanted it to reflect their love of each other, the earth, nature and the wonder of the universe. Geoff adapted the ‘Blue Dot’ reading by Carl Sagan which painted a perfect picture of where we, the Earth and love fit into the universe.

The ceremony included a Handfasting using the colour blue, representing sincerity, peace, honest and open communication, loyalty and patience. Green, representing physical health, affection, compassion and a sense of caring and gold, representing energy, intelligence and longevity.

Heather and Geoff wrote their own vows and promises of love to each other and Geoff’s brother presented their wedding rings in a rustic ring box, provided by White Rose Ceremonies.

After signing their commemorative certificate there were a few final words. Heather and Geoff then left to the music of ‘Ho Hey’ by The Lumineers.

A few drops of rain fell during Heather and Geoff’s outdoor wedding ceremony but that didn’t affect the enjoyment or happiness of the Ceremony itself.

We had a really super time with Heather and Geoff and thoroughly appreciated the thought and care they put into their Wedding Ceremony.

Their connection was real and their love for each other was there for all to see. It was a real privilege to be part of their love story. We thank them for that and the wonderful testimonial below.

Testimonial

“White Rose Ceremonies have been one of our favourite wedding suppliers to work with. We’ve enjoyed our planning sessions as Rebecca and David have taken the time to get to know us and provided a personalised script unique to us. There have been lots of laughs along the way too, they’re great fun! On the day the blessing was everything we could have hoped for and our guests commented on how touching the special words were. Thank you for helping us to make the day we’d dreamt of.”

Photographs: David Waldron of White Rose Ceremonies

Boho Farm Wedding, Rebecca Waldron, Handfasting, Sand Unity, White Rose Ceremonies

Sarah & Ben’s Boho Farm Wedding

10 July 2016/in Celebrant /by Rebecca Waldron

Sarah and Ben’s Boho Farm Wedding was a colourful ceremony, full of love and symbolism. The trees were decorated with pompoms and family and friends were seated outside on chairs and hay bales. An arch complete with bunting and flowers formed the ceremony area and this was where we stood to await the bride.

Sarah’s stunning Boho wedding dress was teamed with a dark green crocheted shrug and a beautiful bouquet of roses, calla lillies and eucalyptus. Sarah and Ben’s children formed the bridal party, a cheerful procession of white dresses, deep-berry shrugs, happy smiles, skipping steps and sunflowers.

The Wedding Ceremony included an emotional reading by the Groom, hand-fasting and exchange of vows and rings. Sarah and Ben also took part in a sand ceremony with all their children, symbolising the unity of their newly formed family. ‘Happy Together’ by The Turtles was played while three different colours of sand were poured into the jar in beautiful layers and ending with combined colours, bringing together the united family. Even the short deluge of rain didn’t succeed in putting a dampener on their happy day. The sand, together with the hand-fasting ribbons made by White Rose Ceremonies® provide Sarah and Ben with wonderful mementos of their happy day.

The colours of the sand were of special significance to Sarah and Ben. Green representing the family’s connection to the earth, growth and new beginnings. Blue sand, representing truth, moderation and sincerity. And pink sand which symbolises love, tenderness and acceptance.

Bouncy castles, a hog roast and even a steam engine formed part of the celebrations after the ceremony and festivities were enjoyed long into the evening.

We had a lovely afternoon with Sarah and Ben and thoroughly enjoyed preparing their completely unique Boho Farm Wedding Ceremony!

Photographs: David Waldron of White Rose Ceremonies®

Celebrant: Rebecca Waldron of White Rose Ceremonies®

Venue: Sarah & Ben’s farm

Dress, flowers, hair and makeup: Made with love by friends

Coloured Sand: Confetti.co.uk

Hand-fasting: White Rose Ceremonies®

#whiteroseceremonies #rebeccawaldron #celebrant #colwickhall

Carole & Peter’s Wedding, Colwick Hall

9 July 2016/in Celebrant /by Rebecca Waldron

Carole and Peter’s Wedding Ceremony at Colwick Hall, Nottingham, was happy and emotional. With a sumptuous purple and ivory colour scheme, the ceremony room was all set to receive family and friends.

Carole and her bridesmaids entered to the haunting melody of ‘How Long Will I Love You’ by Ellie Goulding. The Wedding Ceremony focused on the love that Carole and Peter have for each other, which was reflected beautifully in their wedding vows. We enjoyed the story of how they met and laughed when we heard that Carole slept through a Guns & Roses concert.

Their wedding ceremony included hand-fasting with beautiful purple, cream and white ribbons signifying spirituality, balance and devotion. After the exchange of vows and rings we all sang ‘Stand By Me’ and were treated to Peter doing a little dance with Carole. And through it all, Peter never took his eyes off Carole.

After signing their commemorative certificate, everybody stood for their marriage blessing. Their final piece of music was ‘Mr Blue Sky’ by E.L.O and they left to congratulations and happy applause.

We had a wonderful time with Carole and Peter, getting to know them and being allowed the privilege of leading their Wedding Ceremony. Carole and Peter have given White Rose Ceremonies a wonderful testimonial which we hope you enjoy.

“Thank you so much for a beautiful wedding ceremony last Sunday. Everything was perfect. Both Pete and I knew from the very first time we met you that we wanted you to perform our wedding at Colwick Hall in Nottingham.

You encouraged and helped us to create a truly individual and very special ceremony that we will remember for the rest of our lives. All our guests were just blown away by the personalised words and readings and said how perfectly the ceremony reflected and symbolised our love for each other.

We are so glad that we chose White Rose Ceremonies for our wedding as together we created an amazing and very special day. Thank you once again Rebecca and also thanks to Dave for the fabulous photos.”