What is your most memorable wedding?
Every ceremony is memorable for different reasons. The very first one I conducted, for Harriet and James, was of course memorable for being the first but also because it was held in a theatre and the ceremony was written as a three-act play. The children at the ceremony sat enthralled as I told the story, there was laughter along the way and, of course, a bit of theatre. Fabulous.
Describe your style in 5 adjectives.
professional, calm, authentic, fun, creative
What about your business are you most proud of?
Not sure if proud is the right word, but I love it when I get thank-yous from couples - not because I like the praise but because it means that I got it just right for them and made their day even more special and memorable
What is your No. 1 wedding planning tip for couples?
before you start planning, sit down together and think about what you want on the day - how does it look and feel, what would make it special to you - and then focus your planning on creating that, there are so many possibilities it's easy to get side-tracked.
What is your favourite personal touch you have seen at a wedding?
Caroline and Mark's woodland wedding was full of personal touches - they involved family and friends in preparing and decorating the woodland space so everyone felt involved in the ceremony
Describe your typical process with a couple.
Once a couple have decided that I'm the right celebrant for them, we begin with a meeting (which could be in person or could be by Skype or WhatsApp video) so that we can talk about their ideas for the ceremony and for them to tell me their love story (I love that bit). I then take some time to write their ceremony, incorporating their ideas and weaving in their story. This initial draft may need tweaking and I keep in constant contact with the couple until the ceremony has been agreed. If the wedding is some time off then I'll keep in regular contact until nearer the day, when we'll have a final check to make sure everything is still ok. On the day of the ceremony, I arrive early to check that everything is ready and I lead and conduct the ceremony.
What is the most unusual thing you’ve been asked to plan?
Nothing too extreme - there was the bride who was allergic to jewelry and who, after some discussion, had a handfasting as part of her wedding ceremony.
How do you ensure a stress-free wedding?
For me it's attention to detail. I love the creative process at the beginning but once the ceremony has been agreed I like to focus on the fine detail and, where possible, have a talk-through with the couple before the actual day. If everyone knows what to do and what to expect it's less stressful. For the couple, I advise them on the day to just focus on themselves, breathe deeply, and everything else will fall into place.
What do you love most about your job?
I love meeting couples for the first time, the excitement when we talk about their ideas for their ceremony and the smiles when they tell me their love story.
What is your favourite moment at a wedding?
When one partner walks into the room, or up the aisle, and the other partner turns to see them - that is always a magical moment, you can feel the love.