Civil Ceremony Archives • Page 3 of 4 • White Rose Ceremonies

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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.”

Photographs: David Waldron, White Rose Ceremonies®

Celebrant: Rebecca Waldron, White Rose Ceremonies®

Dress: Ribbons & Pearls, Cookham

Shoes: Pink Paradox

Flowers: The Flower Room, Radcliffe-on-Trent

Hair & Makeup: Nicola Hodgkinson

Venue: Colwick Hall Hotel

#andyfountainphotography #lgbtwedding #lgbt #celebrant #equalmarriage #aliceandjoanne #longstowehall #whiteroseceremonies

Alice & Jo’s Same Sex Wedding, Longstowe Hall

25 June 2016/in Celebrant /by Rebecca Waldron

Alice and Jo’s same sex Wedding Ceremony took place at the stunning Longstowe Hall in Cambridgeshire. Set in beautiful gardens, Alice and Joanne’s Wedding Ceremony was held on the Gazebo Island on the lake.

Having contacted White Rose Ceremonies in September last year, we met with Alice and Joanne several times to create a ceremony that reflected who they really are. Their wedding rehearsal was held at a location close to Longstowe Hall. We had a wonderful time with them and their families at the rehearsal, spending time walking through the ceremony so that they were completely comfortable with it.

The sun shone on their Wedding Day, guests were seated and the bridal parties arrived. Joanne walked with her father and bridesmaids first. Alice followed with her bridesmaids, escorted by her mother until she reached her father’s wheelchair. He was determined to walk his daughter to meet Joanne and to everybody’s delight, he did this. A very happy and touching moment that left us all with tears in our eyes.

Alice and Joanne’s Wedding Ceremony was emotional and funny in equal parts. Their rings were held closely in the palms of each family member to wish Joanne and Alice love and support in the marriage before being placed on their fingers. With beautiful readings and a signing of a commemorative certificate, Alice and Joanne’s happiness was there for all to see.

We had the perfect day with Alice, Joanne and their families. It was with great sadness that we learned of the death of Alice’s father just three weeks after the wedding. He was a very special man and we were so glad that he found the strength to be there for Alice and Joanne on their happy day.

A poem for Giles – ‘He is Gone’

You can shed tears that he is gone,

Or you can smile because he has lived.

You can close your eyes and pray that he will come back,

Or you can open your eyes and see all that he has left.

Your heart can be empty because you can’t see him,

Or you can be full of the love that you shared.

You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday,

Or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.

You can remember him and only that he is gone,

Or you can cherish his memory and let it live on.

You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back,

Or you can do what he would want: smile, open your eyes, love and go on.

By David Harkin (adapted)

Photographs courtesy of: Andy Fountain Photography

Venue: Longstowe Hall

The Secret of Getting ‘The Kiss’ Perfect

5 January 2016/in Celebrant /by Rebecca Waldron

Planning ‘The Kiss’ and getting it perfect is as important as planning everything else. Your first kiss will be photographed and remembered by many people for years to come. And it’s very easy to get it wrong!

We witness many kisses as Celebrants and thought it worth sharing our experience of the kiss with you. Should it be a quick peck? Full on and passionate? Let’s talk about ‘The Kiss’.

A quick peck can seem cold, as if you are too uncomfortable to kiss. A full on and passionate snog will leave your Celebrant and your guests completely embarrassed. And, quite frankly, we all just wish it would stop.

Here are some ‘’no-no’s” that we have actually witnessed ourselves. Read these before we give you the absolutely perfect wedding kiss:

No dry pecks (very disappointing)
Absolutely NO tongues (it’s really not pleasant to watch)
Don’t go on kissing for ages (we get bored easily)
Don’t kiss each other so hard that lipstick is spread all over your face (you will be upset by the photographs afterwards)
No bent-over-backwards-tango kisses (losing your balance is very easy to do)
Don’t grab the veil or yank your partner’s head backwards (that hurts)
No panting or moaning (honestly, that is REALLY embarrassing)
No munching (yes, really, no munching)
And no dribbling (what can I say…)

So, what is the perfect wedding kiss?

The best kiss in our opinion is the ‘linger’. A soft linger on each other’s lips is romantic, loving and perfect for all those watching.

For those who want the technical details, a ‘linger’ is lips closed and pressed warmly on those of your partner. Linger there for about five seconds then break away. It looks so lovely that your Celebrant and your guests will be more than happy for you to have two or three more lingers. It’s very romantic, it’s loving and it expresses just the right sentiment. It’s great for the photographers and it’s not embarrassing for anybody who witnesses it.

So there you have it, ‘The Kiss’. And one final hint. It really is worth practising ‘The Kiss’. Take it from us, it’s great fun! And, what’s more, you’ll be more relaxed about it on the day.

Enjoy!

If you would like more information about the services we offer, please use our Contact Page or call us on 07725 795316.

Have the Wedding of Your Choice!

1 January 2016/in Celebrant /by Rebecca Waldron

You can have the Wedding of your choice. The only thing that you have to do is to make sure your marriage is legally binding. Traditionally this has presented you with only two options. To have your Wedding at the Register Office or to be married in church where the church ceremony reflects your faith.

If a standard Register Office or a Church Wedding is not for you, consider the third option – using the services of a Civil Celebrant.

Every Wedding is unique. No two people are the same. The circumstances in which you met are not exactly the same as anybody else. Your life ahead will not be the same as anybody else’s and so there is no reason why you should have the standard script delivered at the Register Office or Church.

We love beautiful weddings that ooze tradition but we also love alternative weddings that ooze individualism. Whatever your preference, imagine your Wedding guests leaving at the end of the day with praise on their lips about your special Wedding day.

We can help you achieve that if you can change your perception of a ‘real’ Wedding. Change it from a Register Office or Church wedding to one that is conducted in a location that you connect to emotionally, such as in a forest, a field, a beautiful formal venue, your home or a beach.

Your ceremony will be much more significant to you as a couple because you have been involved with your Celebrant in writing your Wedding script. And so, your ceremony will be much more meaningful, emotional and joyful than a standard ceremony.

We must emphasise that, in England and Ireland, you do need to go to the Register Office with two witnesses to complete the legal marriage. At the time of writing this blog, this takes 15 minutes and costs £46. This can be special in itself. Go with close family or friends in jeans and t-shirts or make it part of your celebrations and enjoy a lovely meal afterwards.

Then prepare for your wonderful ceremony with as many family and friends as you wish in the location of your choice. You can have a unique Wedding Ceremony that reflects who you really are.

Your New Year’s Resolution? To have the Wedding of your choice! Contact us for more information via our website at White Rose Ceremonies, email us at whiteroseceremony@btinternet.com or call us on 07725 795316.

Photos courtesy of:

Bill Bowman Photography

Yokan

David Waldron, White Rose Ceremonies

Chris Taylor Photography

Rebecca Waldron Civil Celebrant Naming Ceremony

Finlay’s Naming Ceremony

30 September 2015/in Celebrant /by Rebecca Waldron

We first met little Finlay when we met his parents to discuss his Naming Ceremony. He was five months old and full of adorable smiles. Finlay’s parents wanted to formally welcome him into their family and circle of friends. They were keen to ensure that the Naming Ceremony was all about Finlay.

They also wanted a joyful, happy ceremony that would reflect their love for him and the family values that were so important to them. We provided Finlay’s parents with our Naming Ceremony Book which equips our families with lots of resources for each part of a Naming Ceremony. We then met with them to discuss what they would like in the script and worked on it to ensure it flowed well. We also wrote specifically about what was important to them and what they hoped for Finlay in the future.

The hall was festooned with banners and lots of family and friends arrived to support Finlay and his parents. Candles were lit to remember much-loved grandfathers who were no longer alive. Finlay’s Naming Ceremony included sincere and expressive parental promises and loving commitment from Godparents and Grandparents to support Finlay in the future. Finlay’s uncle read a very special poem that he had written specifically for Finlay and the family were surrounded by friends who gladly supported them.

Finlay’s Naming Ceremony ended with a lovely poem that included the line ‘Sleep with the moonbeams and play in the sun’, which suited little Finlay completely.

He was perfectly behaved and gave us all lots of beautiful smiles throughout the ceremony. It was a real privilege to conduct the Naming Ceremony for Finlay and we received a wonderful testimonial from his parents. We wish Finlay lots of love, luck and happiness in his life ahead and many days, months and years of happiness for his parents.

“Hi Rebecca, we just wanted to provide some feedback on Finlay’s naming ceremony and say a BIG thank you to you for all your planning to make the ceremony absolutely perfect and completely how we hoped it would be if not better. So many people who didn’t know what a Naming Ceremony was commented on how lovely you were and how personal you made it for everyone. It was great that you went above and beyond thinking of extra special touches to make the day such a success and we are so grateful that we can treasure the memories and the photos taken on the day. We honestly can’t thank you and recommend your service enough.”

Thanks go to David Waldron of White Rose Ceremonies for the photographs.

Labyrinth Wedding Ceremony

7 September 2015/in Celebrant /by Rebecca Waldron

Astrid and Patrick held their Labyrinth Wedding Ceremony at the beautiful Tofte Manor in Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire.

A Labyrinth Wedding Ceremony is of special significance. Astrid and Patrick entered the Labyrinth and then each took a separate path, meeting again in the middle, symbolising the different paths they had been on before they met. They embraced the present as they celebrated their wedding vows and celebrated their future together as they left the Labyrinth on the same path.

Astrid and Patrick were surrounded by family from America, Denmark and England for their wedding celebrations.

There was a wonderful atmosphere at the rehearsal with happy greetings, smiles, laughter and sharing of memories.

A beautiful High Tea was provided and, after our rehearsal we slipped away, leaving the family to spend their evening visiting some beautiful local hostelries.

The wedding day was hot and sunny, the guests were dressed to impress and the Labyrinth was decorated with beautiful flowers.

White chairs had been placed around the edge of the Labyrinth and a harpist, flautist and violinist played music as the guests took their seats.

Astrid arrived with her father, looking positively ethereal in her beautiful gown and with flowers in her hair. She and Patrick walked the Labyrinth with their flower girls and their ceremony began after they met at the beautiful crystal stone in the middle.

There was laughter and tears, an emotional exchange of vows and rings, readings by family and a beautiful rose ceremony. The guests formed an aisle which Astrid and Patrick walked through as they left the Labyrinth and confetti flew high in the air.

Celebrations followed on the lawn in front of the house with champagne, croquet, giant jenka, an ice-cream van and flags symbolising each nation represented by the bridal party and the guests. A delicious wedding breakfast was served after which the guests danced the night away.

It was a real privilege to lead this wonderful Labyrinth Wedding Ceremony and we can’t thank Astrid and Patrick enough for asking us to be part of their wedding celebrations.

Photographs: David Waldron

Location: Tofte Manor, Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire

Mark and Brent’s Wedding Ceremony

13 August 2015/in Celebrant /by Rebecca Waldron

Mark and Brent had the complete support of their family and friends as they prepared for their wedding ceremony. They conducted the legal side of things in a routine appointment at their local Register Office two days previously, saving their wedding vows and exchange of rings for the ceremony conducted in the Social Club of HMP Whitemoor.

The main room of the club was transformed into a beautiful venue when decorated in sumptuous blue, white and silver. Tall and luxurious flower arrangements were displayed on each table and an aisle had been created with lavish candelabras, lit with blue and silver candles.

The Grooms were in long-tailed jackets with royal blue cravats and there was a great sense of excitement as the guests waited for them to arrive. Mark and Brent entered through separate doors, meeting at the beginning of the aisle before the wedding ceremony began.

Mark and Brent had thought long and hard about their wedding ceremony, using our White Rose Wedding Book for inspiration. They had all the elements of a traditional wedding ceremony and included handfasting to signify the bonds they have between them.

Two friends read poems which Mark and Brent had chosen from the extensive resource we offer. They also lit a candle to remember Mark’s father, a very emotional moment.

There were more tears as Mark and Brent exchanged their vows and you could hear a pin drop in the room, such was the attention of everybody there. After they signed the certificate which celebrates their marriage we closed the ceremony and they left to cheers and applause.

Celebrations followed with drinks and photographs outside, a bouncy castle, speeches and a disco that had everybody dancing into the night.

It was a wonderful day and we were overwhelmed by the love and support for Mark and Brent. It was a real privilege to be asked to conduct their wedding ceremony and it’s one we will remember for a long time.

Photographs taken by David Waldron of White Rose Ceremonies.

Vow Renewal – Kim & Nigel

27 July 2015/in Celebrant /by Rebecca Waldron

The Vow Renewal Ceremony for Kim and Nigel was a complete surprise for them. Planned down to the last detail by their daughter Nikki, who was ably supported by their youngest daughter JoJo, it was held in a very quaint village hall with bunting, cakes and lots of music. A break in the torrential rain from the previous day meant that the afternoon had a magical and exciting feel to it.

Kim and Nigel were driven to the hall by their friends in silver cars emblazoned with purple ribbon. Thinking it was a surprise birthday party, they were greeted with the announcement that they were about to take part in their own Vow Renewal. A fabulous couple, they took it all in their stride and were surrounded by their family and friends as the ceremony took place.

We spent time with Nikki before the ceremony talking about Kim and Nigel, finding out what was important to them and what they loved about each other. We also provided Nikki with our Wedding Book which contains many wonderful ideas while she was thinking about the ceremony.

We used a specially prepared script to make the Vow Renewal Ceremony personal to Kim and Nigel and included a Hand Ceremony using beautifully vibrant purple and red ribbons and a re-dedication of the wedding rings they have worn so lovingly for twenty years. The vows were written and read by their daughters and were very special, tender and meaningful.

It proved to be a wonderfully emotional, yet happy, ceremony. There were tears, cheers, laughter and applause throughout and the celebrations continued into the evening with singing and entertainment provided by all.

Nikki sent us a wonderful message the following day: “Thank you so so much for yesterday and everything you have done. It was perfect and the photos are amazing! I honestly cannot thank you enough and everyone kept saying how amazing you were, so thank you xxx”.

We were made to feel very welcome and had a fabulous time with Kim and Nigel, their famiy and friends. We wish them many more years of love, happiness and laughter together.

“Just as this circle is without end, my love for you is eternal”.

Photographs taken by: David Waldron of White Rose Ceremonies

Location: The Millenium Hall, Horningsea

Charlotte’s Naming Ceremony

30 May 2015/in Celebrant /by Rebecca Waldron

The Naming Ceremony conducted by White Rose Ceremonies for baby Charlotte was a wonderfully emotional and happy affair. The Village Hall was full of balloons, cupcake, chatter and excitement.

Arriving flush-faced from her afternoon nap, the beautifully dressed Charlotte was soon in the midst of her adoring family and friends. She treated us all to the cutest of toothy grins and give us all her characteristic little wave.

As family and friends took their seats for the ceremony, Charlotte and her proud parents took their places at the front along with Charlotte’s guide-parents.

A much longed-for and much loved baby, Charlotte was welcomed with open hearts. Charlotte’s parents made very special promises to her and her guide-parents happily confirmed their commitment to support Charlotte and her parents.

The reason her name was chosen was shared with all before Charlotte was formally named. Everybody shared in the joy of
Charlotte and everybody’s encouragement and love was thankfully acknowledged by Charlotte’s parents.

Certainly from where we were conducting the Naming Ceremony, we could see how much love there was for Charlotte and her parents. Smiles, tears and laughter, with everybody focussed completely on Charlotte.

The words of the Naming Ceremony had been agreed with Charlotte’s parents in consultation meetings with them before the Ceremony itself. We talked about Charlotte’s little character, the precious little baby she was and how her parents lives had changed from being a married couple to that of being a family, with all the chaos and fun that brings.

Including this information in the Naming Ceremony made it completely unique and personal to Charlotte and her family.

Certificates were presented to Charlotte’s parents and Charlotte’s guideparents before the ceremony was closed with love and many sincere wishes for Charlotte’s future. A toast was made and family and friends then gathered to congratulate Charlotte’s parents followed by lots of cupcakes, laughter, music and love.

We were so privileged to lead the Naming Ceremony for Charlotte and we received a wonderful testimonial from her parents:

“We were so pleased with the ceremony that was conducted by White Rose Ceremonies for our daughter’s naming. We hadn’t attended a naming ceremony before so were not sure what to expect! The service was absolutely beautiful. Rebecca worked with us to get the wording and sentiment just right. It was very personal and in the end quite emotional. It was the little touches that made it so special. We would definitely recommend White Rose Ceremonies to any of our friends who choose to go the same route. Thank you so much Rebecca and Dave – you helped make this special day a reality.”

Photographs taken by David Waldron.

Civil or Christian Ceremony?

11 May 2015/in Celebrant /by Rebecca Waldron

I was a little surprised recently by a friend who said they “can’t relate to a Civil Ceremony” as they are a Christian. So many people don’t understand what a Civil Ceremony is. A religious ceremony is presided over by a priest of the religion involved and the service is mainly about giving thanks to a higher deity. A Humanist ceremony is presided over by a Humanist Celebrant who believes that life only exists when we live it and does not believe in anything spiritual, or life after death.

A Civil Ceremony takes into account the individual’s beliefs, whether those beliefs are quite religious or not religious at all. When we write scripts for weddings, funerals or naming ceremonies, we talk about what makes the people involved tick. Their qualities, their likes and dislikes, what’s important to them, what they truly strive or strived to be in life, the imprint they make or have left on other people’s hearts, the love they have been part of.

Am I a Christian? Yes! Do I go to church? No! Does that make me any less of a Christian? No! I am a vicar’s daughter but I strongly believe that we create our own form of Christianity through the way that we live our lives. Being honest, loving, welcoming, thoughtful, hard- working, giving – these are just some of the attributes that so many of us have. I have seen many people do their best to live their lives within a framework of traditional values and principles, with family and love being at the root of everything they do. Many of these people do not go to church yet it is obvious that they live a christian life.

So let’s get this clear, you can be a fully paid-up member of any religious organisation or have your own particular and singular beliefs yet still have a civil wedding, funeral or naming ceremony that meets your spiritual needs (whatever they are) and which particularly focusses on the person or people involved. Organised religion will provide comfort to those seeking interaction with like-minded people on a regular basis but you can get the same affirmation and sensation of togetherness at a line-dancing club – both are spiritually uplifting because of the people you are with, the music and the focus on one particular thing. Civil Ceremonies are all-inclusive regardless of your beliefs. The testimonials we receive reflect how happy people are with the services we provide as Civil Celebrants – take a look on the pages on our website.

Civil Ceremonies don’t discriminate and, please be assured, control of your own spiritual needs is still safe in your hands. Happiness and blessings to you all x

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