Weddings Archives • Page 3 of 4 • White Rose Ceremonies

Geraldine & Vincent’s Wedding Ceremony

29 May 2016/in Celebrant /by Rebecca Waldron

Geraldine and Vincent’s love story began on 14^th May and they kept true to that date when they held their Wedding Ceremony at The Bell Inn, Thetford.

Their love for each other and the importance of their families was the key message in their ceremony. Throughout their ceremony, their family and friends heard their unique story. Geraldine and Vincent’s support and friendly rivalry between Tottenham Hotspurs and Manchester United was cheered – and booed!

Their Wedding Ceremony included the lighting of a candle. This was a symbol of their newly combined family unit. It also acknowledged the love for Geraldine’s son who had sadly passed away some years ago.

Their candle was presented by Vince’s grandson, aged only three years old. This was a heartwarming and touching moment.

Geraldine’s friend read ‘I Like You’ by Sandol Stoddard and Vincent’s daughter read Captain Corelli’s Mandolin by Louis De Bernieres. Geraldine and Vincent’s wedding vows were exchanged, they gave and received rings and signed the commemorative certificate. With photographs taken, the wedding ceremony was closed with a lovely poem by Terah Cox.

Friends and family cheered and clapped as Geraldine and Vincent joined them to enjoy champagne and celebrations. Photographs were taken in the lovely gardens across the road from The Bell Inn before everybody took their seats for the Wedding Breakfast.

It was a real pleasure to conduct Geraldine and Vincent’s Wedding Ceremony. We enjoyed getting to know them and creating their ceremony script for their special day.

We wish them lots of love, luck, laughter and happiness in the world as they continue their journey together.

Photographs: David Waldron, White Rose Ceremonies

Venue: The Bell Inn, Thetford

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

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

Where will you hold your Wedding Ceremony?

15 July 2015/in Celebrant /by Rebecca Waldron

A Debating Chamber, a field, a labyrinth, a supermarket, Cambridge University Colleges, an Inn, a Mansion House, a barn, a privately owned old hall, a working farm, village halls, a family home – these are just some of the locations we have delivered unique wedding ceremonies. Where will you hold your Wedding Ceremony?

We are contacted by many people who are frustrated not just by the standard script that’s delivered at ‘normal’ wedding ceremonies, but by the lack of opportunity to hold their Wedding Ceremony at a location that’s special and personal to them. Provided you complete the legalities at your local Register Office, we can then deliver your wedding ceremony wherever you want it. OK, we don’t jump out of planes, bungee jump or get naked, but other than that we are very flexible!

We also provide our lovely wedding couples with our unique White Rose Wedding Book which has over fifty pages of ideas for your wedding ceremony. How to involve special people, wedding vows, ring vows, different ceremonies to consider and lots (and lots!) of readings and poems. We include those special moments where you say “I do” in all our ceremonies. We deliver very special traditional wedding ceremonies but we can also mix it up, ensuring your guests are intrigued and engaged throughout the whole ceremony.

As well as providing you with a super copy of your Wedding Ceremony Script and Certificate afterwards, we also bring our own wellies, umbrellas and spare outfits to cater for all weather conditions!

Our focus is on you and what you want in your ceremony – and where you want it. We can deliver your Wedding Ceremony outside in the fresh air or inside at your home, local hall or at a formal venue. Here are links to some of the stunning venues where we have delivered ceremonies:

Tofte Manor, Bedfordshire

The Old Hall, Ely

Nonsuch Mansion in Surrey

Downing College in Cambridge

The Cambridge Union (Debating Chamber)

Still feeling frustrated by lack of options? We have more unusual locations for our wedding ceremonies coming up in the next year or so. Contact us for more information by using the the contact page on our website, calling us on 07725 795316 or emailing us at whiteroseceremony@btinternet.com.

Happy planning.

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

Festival Wedding

3 May 2015/in Celebrant /by Rebecca Waldron

Emma and Dan’s Festival Wedding was a riot of sunshine, laughter and love. A sensational field setting with bunting, flowers, hay bales, a beautiful willow arch, vintage ice cream van, tractor rides, saxophonist, pizza oven, a marquee, pom-poms and some specially selected tableware provided a wedding that was delightful in every sense.

Emma was committed to the the tradition of keeping her nervous groom waiting and arrived very sedately in a vintage VW Camper Van. Guests who had been chatting and laughing together while waiting were all up on their feet, eager to get the first glimpse of the beautiful bride.

Bridesmaids entered the ceremony area first with Emma and Dan’s gorgeous baby girl which brought a few tears to Dan’s eyes even before he saw Emma. The wedding ceremony included a touching hand fasting, readings, music and promises of love.

We ended with signing of the certificate, a marriage blessing, cheers, applause and hugs all round.

The afternoon celebrations included Pimms, icecream and music. The wedding breakfast commenced after the speeches from the best man, the bride’s parents and, of course, the groom himself. Pizza was served from the mobile pizza oven. Dancing went on late into the evening with a silent disco finishing the celebrations.

We had a fabulous time leading the celebrations for Emma and Dan. It was a truly happy day for a wonderful couple, their family and friends.

Emma and Dan gave us a super testimonial:

Thank you thank you thank you!! You were amazing from the moment we met you. Everything was perfect and you made our day so special, we couldn’t have asked for more…xxx”

Acknowledgements:

Yokan Photography

Elsie’s Ices – Ice Cream Van and Bike

David Waldron of White Rose Ceremonies

We had a really fabulous day – thank you so much to Emma and Dan for asking us to conduct their Wedding Ceremony!

Barn Wedding Ceremony Civil Celebrant Rebecca Waldron

Romantic Barn Wedding

14 April 2015/in Celebrant /by Rebecca Waldron

We were absolutely delighted to be asked to conduct the Barn Wedding Ceremony of Lindsey and Matthew on Valentine’s Day this year. They chose to hold their romantic wedding ceremony in the beautiful Cromwell Barn, St Ives, Cambridgeshire. The barn had been dressed by their families with red berries, candles and ivy, lending itself to a sophisticated yet atmospheric Ceremony.

We all waited in anticipation for Lindsey to arrive and, when she made her entrance with her beautiful daughter, her smile dazzled everybody. Lindsey wore a long dress of sumptuous red, while Matt looked just the right side of nervous in a smart black suit with red tie and cream waistcoat. The fun and laughter present on the day was infectious, while the love felt during the Ceremony was not lost on anybody there. Neither was the celebration or sense of occasion.

During the Ceremony we conducted a handfasting with wedding vows and readings by friends and family. There were tears, cheers, laughter and applause during this very happy and celebratory Ceremony yet we still found time to remember those special people who had passed, a touching and poignant moment.

We spoke during the ceremony about Lindsey and Matt’s relationship, what was important to them and how much they appreciated all the support from their family and friends. This is just one of the ways we make our ceremonies completely unique to each couple. When we announced Lindsey and Matthew as man and wife, the barn erupted with cheers and applause and they left, dancing down the aisle, to Plan B. For a Valentines Day Wedding, this was a romantic, loving, fun and happy ceremony that everybody felt part of.

We thoroughly enjoyed working with Lindsey and Matthew and they gave us this wonderful testimonial…

“This lady is truly fantastic, she is so lovely and does such a fab celebration, Rebecca and Dave thank you for everything, you were totally wonderful and made our day so very special. It was an honour to meet you and an absolute privilege for you to say yes to do our ceremony, what a truly lovely lovely couple xxxxxxx”.

For more information about our ceremonies please contact us via our ‘Contact Page’ or call us on 07725 795316.

The beautiful Cromwell Barns isn’t advertised on the internet so it really is a hidden gem. We have the contact details if you would like to have them.

Photographs courtesy of David Waldron at White Rose Ceremonies.

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