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Outdoor Wedding Ceremony

12 September 2017/in Celebrant /by Rebecca Waldron

You have the picture in your head of your outdoor wedding ceremony. A bright, sunny day, a light breeze, hay bales, bunting and happy laughing guests. There will be beautiful flowers with dancing heads, the happy clink of Pimms or champagne glasses and candles lit in the warm balmy evening.

And yes, your outdoor wedding ceremony can be absolutely wonderful. To help you achieve this and, based on our experience, we have compiled a list of things to take into consideration.

Noise!

If you are having your wedding in a barn and/or field on a working farm then get comfortable with the fact that there will be NOISE. Tractors, geese, donkeys and even a light aircraft taking off just 200 feet away are just some of the noises we’ve had to contend with at White Rose Ceremonies!

Have a chat with the owner and tell them that this isn’t just a wedding reception. Tell them that you are actually having an Outdoor Wedding Ceremony and it would be great if tractors, combine harvesters and planes could be kept under wraps for 30 precious minutes.

And if it is windy the voice of the officiant, the bride, the groom and anybody who is reading will be swept away.

So regardless of what the noise is, some of your guests won’t hear anything. Having a good sound system for your ceremony MUST be part of your budgeting. It’s a great shame if your guests can’t hear your vows and they will probably mention it to you afterwards.

If you decide to have your ceremony in a Barn, you may still have a tractor or two driving past. We’ve even had wheat being harvested!

Additionally, if you have a mobile bar inside your barn, tell the supplier that they must not set up their bar while the Ceremony is in progress. The noise of clashing bottles, unwrapping plastic beakers and the squashing of empty plastic bottles is distracting, to say the least.

Rain!

If it is drizzling or raining, don’t assume that a “bit of rain won’t hurt anybody”.

If you want your Outdoor Wedding Ceremony to be exactly that – outdoors – regardless of the weather, provide a big basket full of umbrellas. The umbrellas should be big enough to cover the whole guest, not just their head.

Have tarpaulin or plastic covers to cover hay bales or seats before the ceremony. You can delegate the removal of them to your groomsmen, family or friends before the guests sit down. Sitting on damp hay bales or wet plastic chairs is not a pleasant experience for anybody.

You might be completely engaged in what’s going on but your guests will be wondering how they can keep warm and dry. They certainly won’t be focussing on you as a couple and your carefully written vows. You really do need to have a Plan B!

Just remember – a soggy guest is not a happy guest!

The Sun!

Think also about heat. Will your guests be in full sun when your ceremony takes place? Advise them to bring sunglasses, a cover-up for shoulders, maybe a hat.

Consider having your ceremony under trees or big parasols so your guests have some shelter from bright rays. Even in the British sunshine the heat can be uncomfortable and having the sun in your eyes rather than a perfect view of the happy couple just spoils the experience.

Footwear!

It might seem obvious but, if your outdoor wedding ceremony is in a field on a working farm, make sure your guests know that they should wear suitable footwear. High heels and fields don’t work – broken ankles are not great on a wedding day. And if the field is normally used by sheep, cows or geese then somebody really does need to get a spade out to clear up before you get ready for the ceremony!

If you are having your ceremony on a lawn, think about providing heel protectors for all those who wear high heels. Even a little rain can make grass difficult to walk on. Otherwise your guests really will get that sinking feeling.

Enjoy your outdoor wedding ceremony!

If you take a little extra time to plan for these eventualities, your Outdoor Wedding Ceremony really can be every bit as happy and fabulous as you imagine. Just make sure your guests can hear what’s going on and that they are sheltered and comfortable.

We hope these hints and tips help and finally, here are ‘our’ geese! Have an absolutely wonderful day!

Burwash Manor, White Rose Ceremonies, The Secret Garden Marquee Wedding

English Country Garden Wedding

20 August 2017/in Celebrant /by Rebecca Waldron

Katie and Mat’s English Country Garden Wedding ceremony was held in The Secret Garden at Burwash Manor, near Cambridge. The setting was beautiful and reflected the natural and relaxed theme that Katie and Mat had chosen.

Our lovely celebrant Pam conducted their Wedding Ceremony. When she first met Katie and Mat, it was clear that they had already put a lot of thought into their special day. They wanted it to be one that they would always remember. They also wanted their guests to have a wonderful time celebrating with them.

Katie’s family had flown over from Canada to attend. Other friends and family also travelled fair distances to be there. They enjoyed the ceremony amongst the apple and plum trees, typical of an English Country Garden Wedding and with jars of country flowers lining the aisle.

By meeting with Katie and Mat, Pam was able to deliver a truly personal ceremony.

And it was a ceremony which included everything that Katie and Mat wanted. Before the Ceremony began, all of the guests held the wedding rings, sealing them with their love and sending their love and good wishes to Katie and Mat.

The ceremony began with two little flower girls scattering rose petals down the aisle and the bridal party following. Katie looking stunning in her strapless and beaded ivory dress and spent the whole ceremony beaming with happiness.

Katie and Mat combined the traditional with some quirky ideas and they both wrote simply beautiful vows, which were individual and meaningful. Katie’s vows even included a promise to make better tea!

By surrounding themselves with their family and friends, from around the world, in a beautiful quintessentially English country garden, they created their perfect day.

We at White Rose Ceremonies wish them a long and happy marriage and thank them very much for allowing us to be part of their special day.

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

Sand Unity Ceremony jar with candles and flowers

White Rose Ceremonies

Rain on your Wedding Day? No problem!

31 March 2017/in Celebrant /by Rebecca Waldron

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

You CAN have an outdoor wedding ceremony!

5 February 2017/in Celebrant /by Rebecca Waldron

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Planning your Wedding? Plan your Ceremony!

29 January 2017/in Celebrant /by Rebecca Waldron

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

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

But what about the perfect Ceremony?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Katie Deverell at www.ceremonydesigner.co.uk

Ellie Farrell at www.alternativeceremoniesuk.com

Katie Keen at www.trueblueceremonies.co.uk

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

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

Chris Taylor Photography

Celebrant Wedding for Your Special Day

11 January 2017/in Celebrant /by Rebecca Waldron

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

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

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

Read on to find out how we do this…

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

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

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

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

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.

Anisah & Nadim, Girton College Cambridge, White Rose Ceremonies

Anisah and Nadim, Girton College Cambridge

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Venue: Great Hall, Girton College, Cambridge

Celebrant: Pam McCarthy of White Rose Ceremonies

Photographs: David Waldron of White Rose Ceremonies

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