Oxford Ceremonials

30/04/2024

What a lovely day for a bit of Wedding Industry networking with Guides for Brides at this lovely venue I had never been to before!
New mixed in with old and such a pretty Riverside outdoor ceremony area!
Met some very useful new contacts to follow up with too!
Danesfield House
Wild Thyme & Honey
Warbrook House Hotel

03/03/2024

The Thames running bit high still!

03/03/2024

After such awful weather of late - so chilly and wet it could almost be August - this lovely venue on the banks of the Thames in Abingdon is bathed in sunlight!
The Meet n Greet outside is a bit chilly though!

31/10/2023

A pleasure to be asked by Julia & Faye at White Rabbit Events to be Toastmaster at delightful multi cultural wedding for Aaron & Gemma.
Have known the venue from when I used to live nearby but my first gig here.
White Rabbit Events were meticulously organised down to the minute on paper, so it was my job to make sure it all happened on the ground on the day.
And guess what? Despite the weather challenges, table plan roulette & unexpected guests - it did!
@

19/01/2023

Amazing Church Topiary!

19/01/2023

A Dragon themed wedding 💑 and an actual Mother of Dragons!

19/01/2023

Another busy wedding at Dallas Burston Polo Club. As usual no expense spared and 709 people to coaxe and cajole from A to B to C

19/01/2023

A look back on some 2022 weddings! The Groom is the Tom Cruise of Bollywood !
I will make you famous in India he said+

18/01/2023

It's always tricky doing funerals for friends who have lost loved ones as you have an emotional connection which means as the so called 'professional in the room' you can't lose it as everyone looks to you. There you are at the front with the microphone. Everyone hanging on every word. What they see (barring the occasional barely suppressed wobble) is cool calm and collected, whereas underneath you have a turmoil of emotions, terrified of looking someone in the eye in case you look into their soul and vice versa. It was like that today. You see people just feet from you in such pain and you just want to reach out to them and say it will be OK.
Then to be told by a grieving widow as she gave me a big hug and said " you captured the absolute essence of my husband". There is a lot in this life that does not matter. A little thing like that matters a lot!

28/05/2022

Such a wonderful eclectic wedding: One of my Pagan specials, mixing the ancient with the modern with Viking over tones!
A one of ceremony for a one off couple !
I did enjoy cake cutting with a Viking Axe!

01/05/2022

How lovely that at Suzanne & David's wedding day, their dogs met them at the church as a suprise.
Their dogs were the reason they met - randomly on the beach in Cornwall whilst walking their respective dogs.
So fitting for them to be part of the big day!

01/05/2022

https://viamedia.news/2022/04/30/to-love-and-to-cherish-according-to-our-beliefs-and-lifestyles/

by Stephanie Pywell, Professor of Law and Social Justice at The Open University Law School The last 20 years have seen a very significant increase in the number of couples who opt to have celebrant…

20/02/2022

Well it was a wet and windy day but it did not deter a very high turnout of prospective Brides & Grooms to the Wedding Fair at Cosener's House in Abingdon.
On this occasion I was Meeting & Greeting in my full Toastmaster outfit giving people warm and enthusiastic greeting, getting them signed in and pointing them in right direction.
It certainly worked well as it enabled Lauren the Wedding Coordinator to focus on more detailed discussions.

A great little 'boutique' style venue in the heart of the historic part of the town. According to many of the couples I spoke to who have done the venue rounds, it's also very good value!
So get in quick!

18/01/2022

Your wedding doesn't have to be traditional, with 'all the trimmings'.
It can be stripped down, unique & magical.
After Covid made the original classic Cotswold wedding a challenge, Madison & James did an 'Elopement Wedding' in Lapland.
The Ice Hotel. Wedding night igloo. Reindeer Sleigh.
The brides outfits were designed & made by herself and the groom's was supplied by 'The Suave Owl' in Bath.
And the best bit?
Madi is my daughter!!!
One little girl thought she was Elsa from 'Frozen'!!

17/01/2022

Wonderful day hosting the Crazy Bear Wedding Fair at Stadhampton. This time as The Greatest Showman. Last time I did it I was the Mad Hatter.
A delightfully quirky wedding venue for those wanting small, intimate & unique venue with a unique Master of Ceremonies to look after you!

26/09/2021

Another Civid delayed wedding done & dusted. This time as both Celebrant AND Master if Ceremonies, tasked with delivering on the day the wedding plans that Lydia& Jeff had been planning this last 2 years.
Despite the many curved balls thrown at me the whole 10 hour day only ran 5 mins over the planned timings we set out!
Loads of people asked for my details and one guest said "I have been watching you all day; constantly on the move meeting g and greeting and ensuring everyone having a good time and in the right place at right time. Every couple should have you at their wedding because you take all the pressure and anxiety away"!

Could not ask for a better recommendation after 2 years of nothing!

I did love the wedding cars though. All owned and restored by the Father of the Bride!

02/09/2021

A busy week as personal chauffeur to ABBA around the launch of ABBA 'Voyage'.
First new album in almost 40 years and a new avatar based holographic show created by Simon Fuller the man who invented the Spice Girls.
It's going to be a long day leading up to the global reveal at 1745.
Long night too with star studded after party!

02/08/2021

Such fun hosting the Kirtlington Park Polo Ball as The Mad Hatter!
All the beautiful people - and me!
Mind you they all wanted a picture!
Everything went smoothly and The Hat even got the Party started!

17/07/2021

Very warm wedding in the most beautiful part of Kent. Master of Ceremonies duties to ensure Catering, photos, ceremony all happen when they should. It was a full on day with all sorts of dramas that were all solved without the Bride & Groom ever being aware!
THAT is was why a Master of Ceremonies is essential - just like a Butler in a big house!

To informal a venue for full on Toastmaster gear so picked up this number at The Ballroom in Oxford, my go to place for the unique and unusual gear!

24/06/2021

Well exciting new Post Pandemic opportunities are bubbling!
Covid blasted my Weddings & Events business for six. By way of 'contrast' my Funeral work hit new heights sadly.
This summer I will be creating a new sister company as an extension to my Event Hosting services, providing chauffeuring & concierge services to Shooting Syndicates, Equestrian sports such as Polo, Eventing & Racing with other Sport & Leisure enquiries also looking interesting.
Watch this space!

17/06/2021

Despite 'relaxing the rules' for weddings, things are not that simple. Many rules do have an impact on Receptions in particular - no dancing or singing is but one! Maintaining social distancing is another as is venue capacity and what can be done I side vs outside, so my role as a Master of Ceremonies is fairly critical to this!

Venues are under huge pressure to conform as were pubs when they reopened and local authority and police will be visiting venues during weddings to check on compliance!

Weddings at private addresses it is less complicated!

Still, at least I have some exciting news coming up on the Corporate Events side - starting with 4 days at the Goodwood Festival of Speed!

10/02/2021

In all my different Master of Ceremonies guises; I think my Victorian Gothic Mad Hatter is one of my favourites:

Adds a bit of theatre to a Wedding Day - especially for the evening Reception!

28/01/2021

Well it seems my Easter weddings are being pushed back again, understandably, so funerals are continuing to pay the Bill's.
Lovely family today; Mum caught Covid in hospital. Emotional day for all but despite the Funeral Director being out of the area was able to familiarise him with the way Oxford Crematorium works.
Family loved my choice of arrangement of Jerusalem and my Commendation poem.

It was one of those funerals you invest a particularly large amount of emotional energy in so I feel quite wiped out now !