Laura Gimson Humanist Ceremonies

12/06/2022

24/05/2022

We may only be 5 months in but Vicky and Tim's wedding already ranks as a 2022 highlight - mainly because they had the BEST anecdotes and stories!!

After years of admiring one another from afar and countless opportunities to tell one another how they felt, they finally confessed their feelings in A&E after Vicky face-planted over a gate!! Here's the moment her mum hears the truth about that scar on her daughter's face!

Vicky said: "One of the best decisions we made was having a celebrant led ceremony.

It was one of my fave parts of our wedding. Thanks for doing such an amazing job you smashed it! You nailed it from the first draft of our script to the actual day and perfectly captured our story ❤️

NB: I did give permission for Laura to reveal the true story behind the scar on my face 😄😅 soz Mom."

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15/02/2022

There's nothing quite like the agonising wait for feedback once you send a ceremony script off! Will they love it?? Did I get them right?? Is this the one where I finally go and drop the ball!? 😱

Well, just imagine the relief and the joy when Sami and James sent me this message on Friday...>>>SWIPE>>>

I love my job.

📸 (who I can't wait to work with in May!)

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09/02/2022

"The date started with tennis. Sophie told me she’d never really expected to find romance but as soon as they hit the court, it was electric! She saw a whole new, powerful side to Scotty and his passion really re-awakened her own excitement for the game. I mean, they say you should never fall for someone who’s into tennis because ‘love’ means nothing to them (!)…but clearly they chose not to heed that advice! Just seven weeks later they were engaged and living together. It was game, set and match!"
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I'm here all night people! 😆

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01/02/2022

Rather than sharing a review for here's a clip of an unexpected moment that made my heart skip last week. An extract I wrote for 'The Little Book Of Humanist Weddings' was quoted by labour MP, Rachel Hopkins, in Parliament.
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On Thursday, Cross-party MPs urged the government to legally recognise humanist marriages in a Westminster Hall parliamentary debate. In addition, 53 MPs and peers also signed a letter of support in favour of this recognition. have been tirelessly campaigning for years now for Humanists to be given the same rights to a values-based ceremony as religious groups enjoy. It sounds simple. It sounds fair and reasonable. In fact, it's exactly what is already happening in Scotland, Northern Ireland, Jersey and Guernsey and the sky didn't fall in there! But for England and Wales, fighting for this parity has been a SLOG. We're not there yet. But every opportunity we have to apply pressure on the Government is valuable. And even though the part I've played is only veeeerrrry tiny, I'm honoured to have my name included in the fight 🎺

If you can spare a minute (literally 1!) to offer your support, there's a link in my bio to email your local MP.

31/01/2022

A humanist wedding doesn't *just* have to be a celebration of a couple in love. There's room for all kinds of delicious extras! Tonight I'm planning a wedding for a couple who, after several postponements, have ended up with an extra guest - their 8 month old son! We'll be looking for ways to make sure the whole family is celebrated in a kind of wedding/naming ceremony hybrid! That's the great thing about having something which is written just for you. Your wants and wishes don't have to fit into a tidy old tick box. It's lucky really, because little ones tend to bring their own special kind of chaos and I LOVE IT!

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Image description: Photo of bride, Jess, and groom, Mark, standing outside their wedding tipi on a windy day. Their 3 children surround them. Their youngest son is peeking out from under Jess' dress looking very cheeky!

18/01/2022

Gosh that week went quickly! But here we are again 🎺🎺🎺

Swipe to have a peek at the lovely things Michelle had to say about their wedding ceremony 🥰

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17/01/2022

Oh, so the ceremony is the boring bit you say??
🚫 NOT ON MY WATCH! 🚫

Photos of Kate and Rich taken by the gorgeous

13/01/2022

Photo 1: The series.

Having navigated the rabbit warren of stairs and corridors, I've finally found the bridal suite. Away from the hustle and bustle of guests arriving downstairs, my bride, Sophie, is having her own party, featuring 80s pop, expensive champagne and so much laughter! It's just over an hour until hers and Scotty's wedding. We've had a rehearsal the day before so everyone's feeling relaxed and confident about the ceremony but I just want to make sure Sophie hasn't got any last minute questions or worries. She hasn't, but she's excited to see me and starts introducing me to everyone in the room! I met most of them yesterday. Her bridesmaids are lovely -  a crack team! Her mother is a sweetheart too. She and I had a long chat about Sophie's dad who passed away not long ago so I pop over to see how she's doing. She proudly shows off her manicure - she doesn't usually paint her nails.

The hotel has been battling power cuts all morning because of the snow but Sophie's unphased and as effervescent as ever. She holds my hand and insists that Richard, the photographer, takes a photo. We giggle about hers and Scotty's plan to set a new speed record for their legal ceremony which is taking place just before mine. The venue staff had let slip that a paralympian had recently set the bar at 15 minutes. Sophie is determined to smash that! In her words..."The quicker we do the boring bit, the sooner we'll be able to have our proper ceremony with you!"

📸 Richard Shephard Photography

11/01/2022

I'm starting as I mean to go on with ! 🎺🎺🎺 Here's the moment that Alex and Miles' tied the knot... followed by the words they shared about working with me.

Expect to see more from this beautiful pair. Their wedding photos, shot by the talented , are so romantic and ethereal. I can't wait to share more!

11/01/2022

From this day forth, my Tuesdays [when I remember!] will now be known as - a day for sharing reviews, pats on the back and general nice stuff people have said about my work! I can vouch for the fact that I've never started a trend before so don't worry, I'm not expecting this to catch on and take the internet by storm. *BUT* if you fancy an excuse for a humblebrag, then feel free to toss a out into the ether!

My husband often jokes about how lucky I am to get such public and positive feedback. He works just as hard as I do, locked away in the office for hours on end, often back-to-backing Zoom meetings. No one writes him a review at the end of a tough day. No one massages his ego with superlatives! He's right of course. But in the world of self employment, the kind words shared by the people I work with are what inspires confidence in other couples still looking to tie the knot. It's no exaggeration when I say the future of my business hinges on them. That's why I never take those glowing endorsements for granted. Every word of them is a gift. So thank you to every person who takes the time to write one.

📸 by my talented wedding pal  and featuring actual trumpet blowing from

10/01/2022

Oh hiiii 👋 Happy new-ish year! My inbox has been positively brimming with enquiries from lovely couples this week. Clearly the post-lockdown rush isn't over yet! Sadly (and of course happily too!) I'm fully booked for 2022. I limit the number of weddings I do each year so I know I can give my couples and their ceremonies the attention they deserve. With that in mind, if you're thinking of getting married in 2023, now's the time to get in touch to guarantee I can be part of your dream team!

03/12/2021

Becky and Charles, it was an absolute hoot to share your story! Here's a little taster of what had them looking all sheepish!

For a long time, Becky remembers thinking that she needed to find someone just like Charles - but not Charles - a tricky conundrum because everyone else she met that was a bit like Charles, wasn’t like Charles enough. Meanwhile, he clearly had feelings for Becky because when he found out she was going to be moving into his uni halls, he baked a welcome cake in her honour – and it’s the only cake he’s ever made!

Each evening the two of them would watch movies together in the communal kitchen, their chairs inching closer night by night. But it wasn’t until Charles flooded his bedroom that romance really blossomed. Having unwittingly left the shower on while he slept, he woke up to discover his bedroom floor under several inches of water. Everything he owned had to be washed and dried so Becky volunteered to help him carry all his things over to the laundrette. And there, surrounded by Charles’ damp pants, they shared their first kiss!

22/10/2021

10 years ❤ Here's to the same again!

16/10/2021

That post ceremony glow!
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Incredible photos by .co
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Stunning venue
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Image description: Image 1: Beautiful bride and groom, Aimee and Richard, leaving their ceremony under a flurry of petal confetti. They're laughing! Image 2: Aimee and Richard, arms around each other, smiling as they're walking away from their ceremony and guests. Image 3: A black and white shot of beautiful bride and groom, Aimee and Richard. They're standing under a flower arch and holding up their hands cheering at the end of their wedding ceremony.

23/09/2021

The Little Book of Humanist Weddings is an uplifting, honest and celebratory account of love and marriage, and a great source of inspiration.

21/09/2021

Fran and Wai went through the mill with their wedding planning. They postponed twice. And with a 3rd date finally set to go ahead, the so-called 'Pingdemic' caused several friends and loved ones to bail last minute. They could have been miserable. They could have been a nightmare to work with because of all the stress. Instead, they were an utter delight.

Planning a pandemic wedding is undeniably nightmarish but Fran and Wai never lost sight of what really mattered. Yes the big party was going to be a hoot but more than anything, they wanted to be husband and wife!

Here's a taster of their story - the moment they crossed paths online thanks to a rather excellent Star Wars pun...

"Francesca was about to give up on finding love on the web. She’d been on her fair share of bad dates, and being ghosted by a bell ringer she’d been chatting with was pretty much the final straw! That was, until, she spotted one more profile with a name that piqued her interest – a certain Obi-Wai-Kenobi!

The two of them hit it off instantly. After exchanging messages and texts for a couple of weeks, they scheduled their first date for the 13th February, because Valentine’s day would have been too high pressure! And this was back in 2016…I know that because Francesca seems to work out all important dates according to Star Wars movie releases! So just for context, this was right after The Force Awakens came out!"

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07/08/2021

Things that happened at today's wedding...
Katie managed not to nervous giggle the whole time.
Stuart happy cried at the sight of his 4 year old son in teeny tiny page boy shorts.
The rain thundered down on the roof of the prettiest ever polytunnel.
The donkeys looked almost as gorgeous as the newlyweds!
Katie and Stuart, it was a blast!

07/07/2021

Me when you share the really juicy bits about your relationship!
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The last few months have been a whirlwind of ceremony writing but I'm so excited that on Saturday I'll finally be back doing what I love - marrying people!!! Aaaahhhhmaaahghaaaad!!!
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Now...can someone remind me how to do the whole smart, groomed, celebrant thing please!? The last year and a bit has kiiiiinda taken its toll. (Disclaimer: these photos were taken by lovely  before the pandemic aged me by about a decade 🤪🧟‍♀️)

23/06/2021

I'm hopeful that I'm on the cusp of having real life actual weddings to post about soon! But in the meantime, here's Olive.

05/03/2021

You know a couple is fully committed to making their ceremony incredible when they book you *before* they're actually engaged! But this week, at beautiful Chesterton Windmill, Claire made it official and proposed to Ruth.

Congratulations ! I cannot WAIT to marry you next September! My first ever windmill wedding 💕


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Chesterton Windmill

We did a thing..... 💍 to my love.... my official wifey to be.... thank you forever, for everything to come. Thank you to everyone who has helped make today perfect ♥️ especially for capturing everything so wonderfully!

27/09/2020

Yes, this photo is slightly blurry. And yes, there's some awkward social distancing going on. But I don't care!! I'm sharing it anyway! Because this moment captured how it felt to pull of planning and writing a gorgeous ceremony with just four days notice! And oh, just to be briefly back in the game was 🙌💛🙌💛 Thank you Becky and Martyn. That was a wedding I'll never forget. X

23/09/2020

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AUTHENTICITY + INCLUSION ❤️ We have a very special wedding inspiration shoot on today. It tells the story of the beautiful Neve, a little girl with cerebral palsy, + her sister Tiegan who helps with Neve's care. Neve is unable to walk + needs a wheelchair. Their Mum, .my.cakery, is getting married soon + is desperately trying to find a venue with accessibility so she can accommodate to Neve’s needs. Sadly, she is finding it a huge challenge. Having heard their story, wanted to put together a swoon worthy shoot that captured Neve + Tiegan’s very special relationship in a wedding setting in the hope that it will inspire suppliers to become more inclusive and diverse + to change this industry for the better 💪🏻. June wrote...

"My heart aches when I think of the lack of inclusivity of disabled models or those who don’t quite tick the ‘editorial’ look. Let me introduce my beautiful little bridesmaid model Neve - a gorgeous little soul, with a smile that melts your heart, a cheeky giggle + a wheelchair that will take your toes off if you’re not careful!

With Neve and her big sister Tiegan joining the shoot, we all stood in awe as she swooned at the camera, flirted with the groom and stole our hearts and the show!

It’s sad I’m even having to write to highlight how amazing Neve is, as sadly, as we know with the current global situation, we are more acutely aware of how our industry isn’t as inclusive or authentic as it should be. So here I am, being honest and open with you, to offer an album full of wonderous Neve in all her glory for you to share with the world.

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Hit the + be prepared to be charmed by Neve's irresistible smile 😍

Styling, Concept + Stationery:
Photography: .shot
Venue:
Flowers:
Drapes + Linens:
Plants + Props:
Dresses:
HMUA:
Hair Accessories:
Cakes: .my.cakery
Grazing Table:
Celebrant:
Leather Jackets:
Blankets:

27/07/2020

It's one year today since I got to marry this beautiful pair! What a first year!? Zara and Katie both work for the NHS 🙌🌈 When the pandemic rolled in with full force and despite being ridiculously busy, they still found time to send me regular, positive and reassuring messages to help me through my virus-related anxiety. Thank you both. You're diamonds 💎💎💎 Happy Anniversary!! xx
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21/07/2020

Two years 💖 Happy anniversary Marc and Jakub!! X

19/07/2020

01/07/2020

It feels pretty amazing to FINALLY be able to share a bit of good news! So...
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On July 7th & 8th, six couples are going to the High Court to take a landmark challenge over the legal recognition of humanist marriages in England and Wales!
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Swipe for the details and there's a link in my bio for the full story.
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📸 First photo (C) Good Good Good

17/06/2020

🙌💫🙌💫🙌

Reposting this image and these heartfelt words from 💖
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As members of the LGBTQ+ community, we owe the liberties we have today to the Black Trans and Q***r heroes who came before us 🖤
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Without Marsha P Johnson, Stormé DeLarverie and Sylvia Rivera fighting for equality at Stonewall 51 years ago, we wouldn’t be where we are as a community. So it pains me more than anything to see white cis gendered gay men and women excited for pride month, yet saying and doing very little to support the Black Lives Matter movement.
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The fact that the life expectancy of a transgender woman of colour is 35 is not okay. The fact that 3 Black Trans lives have been taken from us in the span of 2 weeks is NOT okay!
The fact that the media barely covers these murders is NOT okay!!
The true spirit of pride has never been stronger than it is right now, we as a community need to step up more than ever to protect ALL Black lives!
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some amazing Black Trans and Q***r led organizations you can help support 🌈






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***rLivesMatter

15/06/2020

Happy 1st anniversary Claire and Will! One of the happiest, weepiest, raniest weddings of all time! Sending love and hoping you're weathering the endless storm of 2020! 🥴🥰 (📸 ) @ Talton Lodge

04/06/2020

Love is universal. Joy is universal. It's not an exclusively white members club. But spend a few minutes flicking through a wedding magazine or scanning instagram for inspirational wedding photos and you'd assume it was. It's not good enough. And I have been complicit in this white wash. I've shied away from dealing with how narrowly I've represented who my ceremonies are for through fear of making mistakes or seeming tokenistic. Quietly doing nothing is the easy, lazy, cowardly option that white privilege has afforded so many of us. But our inaction is not harmless. It's not subtle. It loudly promotes the exclusion of black and brown people. It helps to perpetuate an industry that so often fails to celebrate diversity. And it fuels the far greater inequalities that exist in a world that is still inherently racist.
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It's pretty messed up that it's taken George Floyd's murder and the subsequent protests to shake us into this current melee of 'wokefulness'. Racism isn't new. And yet here we are.
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Personally, I will do better. I will listen, learn, research and examine. I will do the work to become proactively anti-racist and anti-hate. Professionally, I want to make sure that going forward my business celebrates love and joy and talent in all its forms. So far, the weddings I've worked on offer a lovely but nonetheless, limited snapshot of a world that is so much richer and more diverse. It's time to step up.