Family Archives • White Rose Ceremonies

Beach Ceremony, Rebecca Waldron, White Rose Ceremonies, Celebrant

Beach Ceremony, Norfolk

21 August 2018/in Celebrant /by Rebecca Waldron

We had the happiest of days with our lovely couple, Wendy and Mark, when we conducted their beach ceremony in Norfolk. Having discounted the sterile Registry Office option, they had been unable to find a venue that suited them. Wendy and Mark were blown away by the photographs of our own beach ceremony that we displayed at a wedding fair, run by the amazing Stephanie and her team from Truly Scrumptious Weddings and Events.

We met with Wendy and Mark for a consultation meeting in their home to discuss their ceremony. Choosing what they wanted and approving the wedding script that we wrote was all part of the fun and excitement in the build up to the happy day. We ensured they had the words they wanted, along with a few lovely surprises along the way.

The day was sunny and bright and, surrounded by friends and family, they exchanged their promises of love and commitment. These were emotional moments, full of love. Their children played an important part in the ceremony and all took part in the Sand Unity Ceremony, symbolising the individuality of each person, yet also symbolising the blended family unit.

Their beach ceremony included the signing of a commemorative certificate, the all-important kiss and applause all round. Wendy and Mark then hosted a reception on the beach with Prosecco, fish and chips and lots of love and laughter.

We had such a wonderful time and felt so privileged to be part of their happy day on the beach. They left us a truly wonderful review on our Guides for Brides page, and here is part of it:

“We were simply blown away by Rebecca and David from White Rose. Being a second time wedding we were worried that our options would be limited but on meeting them we realised that all of our dreams of a relaxed beach wedding in Norfolk were completely possible. From first meeting to the big day their service was truly outstanding. Our ceremony was beautiful and we went on to have a sand ceremony to unite our blended family into one which made all of the children feel that it was a really special day for them too. Our wedding only took place yesterday but we’ve already received lots of messages today saying that it was the nicest and most personal and touching service people had ever attended. Rebecca and David had us completely at ease, I don’t think We’ve never smiled quite so much. David’s photography is truly amazing and he’s given us beautiful photographs to remember the day. I wish there were more stars I could award to Rebecca and David, they’re not just celebrants .. they’re dream makers!”

Thank you so much Wendy and Mark! We wish you many many years of love, happiness and fun as a couple and with your gorgeous family.

Photos provided with kind permission of David Waldron, White Rose Ceremonies

White Rose Ceremonies

French Chateau Wedding Ceremony

30 May 2017/in Celebrant /by Rebecca Waldron

Lilie and Scott had a beautiful wedding at the French Chateau du Val in Brittany, a country that they love and have visited many times. We spent plenty of time with them in the UK before the wedding, to develop their unique and personal ceremony script.

Their ceremony was held outside at The Chateau du Val in early May, on a bright and breezy day. Lilie and Scott were framed by a beautiful flower arch as they exchanged their vows.

Family joined in with readings and their wedding rings were sealed by the love of their grandparents. Everybody sang their hearts out to “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Elvis Presley. A really beautiful Ceremony!

Lilie wore an exquisite Mark Lesley dress from the wonderful Shades of White in St Ives, Cambridgeshire.

She and her bridesmaids carried silk bouquets of peach and dusky pink from Judy Kennedy. The bridesmaids were dressed in elegant shimmering and soft grey dresses. Lilie’s little flower girl shone in white and carried a wand.

The Groom, his Groomsmen and the pageboy were all very smart in navy suits and grey ties, with the groom wearing a white tie.

The Chateau hosted a wonderful wedding reception in the beautiful summer room. This room is particularly stunning with its classic look and chandaliers. The tables were decorated with homemade favours and named after places that Lilie & Scott had visited in France.

Their super wedding breakfast was enjoyed with background piano music. The evening celebrations continued with a disco and dancing in The Lodge and a spectacular display of fireworks, organised by the Chateau.

Lots of family and friends travelled over to the Chateau du Val in Brittany. With fifteen rooms available to them, they spent a few nights in the Chateau, including the Wedding Day. They were all able to take advantage of the swimming pool, the beautiful grounds and the surrounding area.

We were so pleased to be part of Lilie and Scott’s wonderfully happy day and we wish them lots of love, joy and happiness!

Here are the fabulous suppliers!

Wedding Venue: Chateau du Val

Celebrant: Rebecca Waldron, White Rose Ceremonies

Wedding Dress: Shades of White, St Ives

Bridesmaid Dresses: DIY Dress

Hair and Makeup: Natalie Daniels

Groomsmen’s Suits: Moss Bros

Flowers: Judy Kennedy

Catering: Mark at Cerise Catering

Cake: Martin Fisher at Petits Anglais

Pianist: Iain Dunnet

DJ: Arnaud

Stationery: Point Graphics

Blog Photographs: David Waldron, White Rose Ceremonies

Official Photographer: AG Photography

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!

Sand Unity, Swynford Manor, Newmarket, White Rose Ceremonies

Sand Unity Wedding Ceremony

20 October 2016/in Celebrant /by Rebecca Waldron

Our lovely celebrant, Dionne, officiated at Sarah and Jason’s Wedding Ceremony including a Sand Unity Ceremony, at the beautiful Swynford Manor in Newmarket.

With fresh, bright decor in the room, Sarah entered on the arm of her proud father, followed by her bridesmaids who were dressed in navy. As well as exchanging vows, Sarah and Jason wanted to focus on their family.

They presented white roses to each other’s mother and the ceremony included a Sand Unity ceremony, also known as a Family Blending Ceremony, using coloured sand.

The colours used were red for life and warmth, turquoise for communication and peace, orange for enthusiasm and creativity and gold for wealth and success.

Sarah, Jason and their children took turns pouring sand into the jar while “Better Together” by Jack Johnson was played. The result was a gorgeous blend of colours symbolising the happy and newly-united family.

The words for Sarah and Jason’s Wedding Ceremony were chosen specifically by them. The guests enjoyed a wonderfully happy and meaningful ceremony. It included vows of love, laughter, tears and lots of applause. Sarah and Jason signed our commemorative certificate, after which Dionne delivered the final words and announced the happy couple to their guests.

It was a real privilege to be asked to officiate at Sarah and Jason’s wedding. We had a lovely time working with Sarah and Jason and we wish them every happiness in the future.

Our Suppliers

Officiant: Dionne Broadfield of White Rose Ceremonies

Photographs: David Waldron of White Rose Ceremonies

Venue: Swynford Manor, Newmarket

White Roses: Madeleine Bradley Floral Design

Coloured Sand: Confetti

Love & Laughter supplied by Sarah & Jason’s guests.

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

Naming Ceremony Rebecca Waldron Civil Celebrant

Zachary’s Naming Ceremony at Paddocks House

16 January 2016/in Celebrant /by Rebecca Waldron

Zachary’s Naming Ceremony was conducted at Paddocks House, Newmarket. A real cutie who was a much longed-for son, he was full of wriggles, dribbles and lots of cuddles. We met him when we first met his parents and fell in love with him. His parents wanted a truly eloquent Naming Ceremony that celebrated his arrival and welcomed him to the whole family. They also wanted a Naming Ceremony which promised him love, support and guidance throughout his life.

Zachary’s parents put a lot of thought into the Naming Ceremony. They were aided by the Naming Book provided by White Rose Ceremonies®, which is full of ideas for each part of the Ceremony. After meeting with them, we put the script together and we ensured the script expressed what the family wanted it too. We also made sure it was relevant to Zachary and meaningful for the whole family.

Guests were very close family and friends. We lit candles to remember those who have passed away and those who were not able to be there. Poems, promises and the gift of a beautiful silver bracelet to Zachary were included in the Ceremony.

Zachary’s parents, guideparents and grandparents were given certificates to commemorate the day. A special certificate was given to his Great-grandmother, who was so very proud to be there.

Beautifully wrapped tissues were thoughtful additions as tears flowed throughout the Ceremony.

The sunny room in Paddocks House was beautifully decorated by Zachary’s parents. A white and blue theme gave a distinctly fresh and sophisticated feel to the room. White trees were hung with white hearts, birds, ribbons and entwined with sparkling lights. Ivy was looped around the table and fireplace. Candles enhanced the atmosphere with a beautiful photograph of Zachary and plenty of extra touches around the room. An exquisite cake was themed to reflect the special saying between Zachary and his parents.

At the end of the Naming Ceremony we welcomed Zachary with applause and hugs.

It was a real privilege to conduct Zachary’s Naming Ceremony and we had a thoroughly lovely time. We wish him lots of love, health and happiness in his journey through life.

We would also like to thank Zachary’s parents for this lovely testimonial:

“We always knew that we wanted to make our child’s day a very meaningful and intimate affair. White Rose Ceremonies was recommended to us by the venue and from the very first email it felt right. We set about organising the date and we were given a Naming Ceremony book to help guide us through the different elements of the day. It offered variations of text, readings and some lovely ideas to make the ceremony extra special. We met with Rebecca to share our ideas and she went away and brought our wishes and vision to life. On our second meeting we also met the lovely David who has such creativity and, like me, thinks outside the box.

The special day – where to start – it is so difficult to put the perfect day into words. Our little boy was welcomed with so much love, the ceremony was stunning. All our wishes and feelings were put across by Rebecca in such a genuine way. She understood us perfectly; there was kindness, humour, respect and thanksgiving. Not a dry eye in the room it meant so much to every single one of us. Rebecca truly is a beautiful person inside and out.”

Venue: Paddocks House, Newmarket

Photographs by David Waldron, White Rose Ceremonies

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.

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