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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!

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.

Scottish Australian Fusion Wedding

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

Sarah & Joshua’s Scottish Australian Fusion Wedding was held at The Great Barn at Manor Farm, Bourn in Cambridgeshire. Built in 1266 The Great Barn was dressed in festival lights and candles, providing a beautiful and atmospheric environment for the ceremony.

With Sarah’s Scottish background and Joshua’s Australian background, this wedding was destined to be an interesting fusion of both cultures. There was a wonderful mixture of traditional Scottish kilts and contemporary short-sleeved shirts, braces, bowties and boutonniere of Scottish thistle.

The bridesmaids wore pink while the flower girl wore white and carried bouquets of white gypsophila. Mitsie, the Puppy Bridesmaid, wore a garland of pink and white flowers.

The Father of the Bride looked resplendent in ceremonial Scottish dress complete with bearskin hat as he escorted his beautiful daughter up the aisle.

Sarah carried a delicate bouquet of blue, pink and white flowers. She wore a stunning sleeveless embellished dress with a long veil edged with lace which floated behind her as acoustic guitar was played during her walk to meet Joshua.

The groomsmen and bridesmaids flanked Sarah and Joshua throughout their wedding ceremony. The ceremony included everything that Sarah and Joshua wanted. This included a lovely reading by their seven year old flower girl. With vows made, rings exchanged and the commemorative certificate signed, the final words were said and the happy couple left to applause and congratulations.

Sarah and Joshua’s Scottish Australian Fusion Wedding celebrations continued long into the evening at The Willow Tree in Bourn. After their wedding they provided us with a lovely testimonial:

“The service we received at White Rose Ceremonies was absolutely fantastic. Rebecca and her team were extremely supportive, whilst at the same time kind, caring and patient. My new husband and I cannot thank Rebecca, Pam and Dave enough for giving us the ceremony we have always hoped for and it was perfect. This was thanks to all of their time and dedication in tailoring it to how we wanted it. I would highly recommend White Rose to anyone looking for a top class and customised service.”

We had a wonderful time with Sarah and Joshua, preparing their special ceremony. We wish them lots of love and luck and every happiness in the future.

Celebrant: Pam McCarthy, White Rose Ceremonies

Photographs taken by: David Waldron, White Rose Ceremonies

Ceremony Venue: The Great Barn, Manor Farm, Bourn, Cambridgeshire

The Wedding Reception: The Willow Tree, Bourn, Cambridgeshire

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®

#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

Naming Ceremony Cambridge Birmingham North Devon White Rose Ceremonies

Conor’s Naming Ceremony at Quy Mill Hotel

12 June 2016/in Celebrant /by Rebecca Waldron

Conor’s Naming Ceremony at Quy Mill Hotel & Spa, Cambridge, was a truly lovely ceremony that included family and friends. Conor’s parents, Yvette and Paul, were married in the same venue six years earlier. They thought it a wonderful place to celebrate the arrival of their baby son and to welcome him into their family and circle of friends.

The Garden Room at the Quy Mill Hotel was the perfect venue for their guests. After all the rain in the week leading up to Conor’s Naming Ceremony, the sun came out to shine for him.

But what really shone through was the love everybody had for Conor and the love and support for his parents.

Conor is such a dear little boy and he enjoyed cuddles with lots of guests. We were able to sneak a few cuddles with him too!

With promises made by Conor’s parents, his Godparents and Grandparents, a reading by a much-loved family friend and a hissing balloon that had everybody in fits of laughter, it was a perfectly happy day for all.

Conor’s parents provided us with a lovely testimonial that explains the process we used to ensure that Conor’s Naming Ceremony was exactly the ceremony that they wanted:

“My husband and I wanted to have a naming ceremony for our son Conor. We were recommended White Rose Ceremony by the venue. I wanted the naming ceremony to be personal and to show the love and happiness that Conor has brought to our family.

We were given a booklet with lots of wonderful sayings and ideas that we could use on Conor’s day. We met Rebecca and Dave about a month before the naming ceremony, as soon as we met them we knew we had made a good choice.

They are lovely people and they sat us down and went through the booklet with us, allowing us to personalise it to make it more special to us and to Conor. They came across as wonderful caring people who just wanted to make the day as special as we did.

They went away and a few days later Rebecca emailed over a draft of how the ceremony was going to go. I cried with happiness, Rebecca had managed to get everything that I had wanted onto paper and it was beautiful to read.

On the big day Rebecca and Dave were there and they helped us to see how the day would pan out before all the guests arrived. It was a beautiful ceremony, the words that were chosen expressed our love for our son and our family.

It was an amazing day and Dave took some beautiful photos, which were emailed to us that evening. It means that I can look back on that magical day for years to come, knowing that Rebecca and Dave made it all possible.

Thank you both so very much. Yvette and Paul and of course Conor x”

It was a great pleasure for us to be able to lead Conor’s Naming Ceremony at Quy Mill Hotel. A special family occasion in which we were made to feel very welcome and one that we thoroughly enjoyed. The Quy Mill Hotel provided wonderful service and were attentive throughout.

Please do contact us if you would like to talk to us about a Naming Ceremony for a baby, a child or several children in your family. With a team of fantastic Celebrants, we now offer ceremonies in Cambridge, Birmingham and NorthDevon.

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