Liverpool Celebrant: Lorraine Hull

11/08/2024

9th August 2024
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Congratulations to the newlyweds!
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What a phenomenal day, filled with love, laughter and happy tears. Captured wonderfully by
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Thank you SO MUCH & Sean for choosing me as your celebrant and entrusting your ceremony to my care. My very best wishes to you both for the future
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It was great to be at , Zara & her team are fab, lovely to meet , Alex, Jess, Jesse and the happy couple’s families and friends
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Days like this are why I love my job and why I am always grateful to the people who invite me to be part of their milestone moments…
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10/08/2024

8th August 2018
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Happy 6th wedding anniversary to Sally & Brian
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The very first funeral that I conducted was for Sally’s stepfather, Billy, in September 2012.
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You can’t imagine how privileged I felt to be asked to conduct her and Brian’s wedding, almost six years later.
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Their wedding was a celebration of love, family, friends and community and I can still feel the love that was between, and all around, Sally, Brian and their little boy - it was phenomenal!
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Their nearest and dearest were included in a handtying. They each held a ribbon while the happy couple made their vows and were then invited to place it across the bride & groom’s crossed wrists
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A special ribbon warmed by the heat from a candle, lit in Billy’s memory, was also added, and their little boy was delighted to bind his mum and dad together with one final ribbon
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Lots of love Mr & Mrs M, you know how special you are to me. I hope you’ve had a great day
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(📷 by )
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29/07/2024

It’s the 29th July, so there are two wedding anniversaries today
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7 years ago Chris & Lisa were the first couple to hold their wedding on the ‘Garden of Eden’ roof terrace of the Shankly Hotel (with the Liver Birds watching from a distance)
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And 6 years ago Issy & George were also at the Shankly, but held their ceremony inside, surrounded by the grandeur of ‘Baby Eden’
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To symbolise their commitment, Lisa & Chris snapped a ‘love lock’ padlock (engraved with their names and the date🔒) to a rail on the roof and attached the keys to balloons, before setting them free🎈🎈to symbolise their togetherness
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Issy & George ‘tied the knot’ with a Handfasting at the end of their ceremony and walked back up the aisle with their hands still bound together🤝(they also had a videographer recording a ‘Marryoke’ with them and their guests - it was hilarious and absolutely brilliant 😂)
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Happy Wedding Anniversary to Chris & Lisa and George & Issy
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I hope that you all feel as happy, loved & in love, today as you did on your wedding days
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The fabulous photographer (for both weddings) was the talented and delightful - who is always a joy to work alongside and creates great memories!
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07/07/2024

22/06/2024

I can’t recommend Art and Relaxation with Emma Coyne highly enough.
Emma is a great teacher and a fabulous human! I love going to her classes and I’m so thankful for everything that Emma has taught me, for her support and friendship and for the improvement and my increased confidence in my art…

31/05/2024

Slightly early happy 5th Anniversary to Caron and Craig
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They made their marriage vows in front of their family and friends at Merrydale Manor on the 1st June 2019
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Their bespoke ceremony included a lovely reading from Caron’s sister and I told their gorgeous love story (including details of the proposal).
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Craig chose not to receive a wedding ring so Caron presented him with a wedding golf club instead (much to his delight and everyone else’s surprise).
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At the end of the ceremony I placed love letters, that they had written to each other (that morning), in a wooden crate (with a bottle of Champagne) and tied a personalised ribbon around the crate.
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They pledged to open and enjoy the contents of this wedding day memory box on their first wedding anniversary. I wonder what they have planned for this year?
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Caron and Craig, I’m sending lots of love, I hope that you have a great day
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Photos of Caron writing her letter & presenting Craig with his golf club by
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25/04/2024

Just over five years ago I had the honour of conducting Mia and Wayne’s wedding ceremony, in an Executive Box, at Anfield
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The happy couple had flown over from their home, in Perth, Australia. There were just two guests, Wayne’s dad, Gordon, and step-mum, Joan.
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Liverpool FC is really important to the couple and a lovely day was had by all - even though I’m an Evertonian!
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My husband and I are currently in Australia, on holiday. So, today, we met up with Mia and Wayne in Perth. We had a fabulous afternoon together (after we got the small matter of the result from last night’s Derby out the way - my husband is also a Liverpool fan so I was the only one happy with result, but I was also more than happy to internalise my deep joy 😇)
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Wayne is now a Celebrant himself so it was great catching up and chatting about some of the differences between how celebrants operate in England and Australia
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On to Melbourne tomorrow, I wonder if I’ll bump into any of my couples there?
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First two pictures are of me, Mia and Wayne now and then, and the third is my gorgeous granddaughter last night - what a cute Evertonian
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15/04/2024

8 years ago today, on the 27th anniversary of the Hillsborough Disaster, Craig and Joan were married.
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Craig was a massive Liverpool fan and he was due to go to the 1989 FA Cup Semi Final match, in Sheffield, with his friends, but he missed his train. One of Craig’s very good friends was one of the Liverpool supporters who died at Hillsborough.
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Craig, Joan, and their guests, released 96 balloons to honour those who went to a football match and never returned home (the 97th person to pass away was Anthony Devine, who died in July 2021, as a result of catastrophic injuries sustained at Hillsborough)
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My thoughts and love to everyone affected on and by that day, and by everything that has followed.
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This was the first ceremony that I conducted through the charity
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Quite simply, the charity is about bringing joy, love and happiness, to those with a terminal or life-shortening illness. They do that by gifting wedding services and vow renewals to people regardless of age, race, religion, gender or sexual orientation with the help of the UK wedding and hospitality industry, kind donors and volunteers all around the UK
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Sadly, eight months later Craig died, in his loving wife’s arms. Joan said that their wedding day made their dreams come true and gave them wonderful memories, which she treasures
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Every wedding is special and I never fail to feel, and appreciate, how much of a privilege it is for me to be part of a couple’s wedding day; but I hope that you understand that some days are embedded in my heart a little bit deeper
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This was also the first time I worked alongside the utterly awesome Kimmy and Ant of .co - they found a place in my heart that day too (along with Patricia, at GOAW, and these gorgeous people 👇)

Photographers: .co
Videographer:
Cars:
Hair:
Make-Up: Rachel Garside
Flowers: Your Floral Touch
Saxophonist: Paul Heptinstall Smooth Sax
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11/04/2024

For anyone who needs it…
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Written by
Photo by Ella’s
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10/04/2024

Lots of love to Vicky, and her and Ben’s families
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If you’re able, please consider a donation to this wonderful charity (be that money, goods, services, or your skills)

If you know someone who would benefit from the Gift of a Wedding (GOAW) PLEASE share…

I have had the privilege of gifting wedding ceremonies for couples supported by this amazing charity since 2016. In addition to the awesome, and awe inspiring, couples that I have met through GOAW, I have worked alongside many fab fellow wedding suppliers (and made some gorgeous friends!)

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05/04/2024

Good news about Independent Celebrants (hopefully, our top spot will be retained and sustained!)

Wondering what the biggest wedding trends will be for 2024 and beyond? We've got the biggest wedding trends for the year ahead right here

29/03/2024

Happy 5th Anniversary to Mr & Mrs Eadon
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There were only two guests at Wayne and Mia’s wedding at Anfield, home of Liverpool FC.
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They (and I) had a fabulous time - proof (if any was required) that you don’t need hundreds of guests to have a perfect wedding (of course, if your ‘perfect’ IS hundreds of guests - we can, and will, do that!)
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At their wedding, I told the story of how Wayne was born in Burma, moved to Croydon and then emigrated to Australia and became a HUGE Liverpool supporter thanks to the 1974 FA Cup Final
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I also told how Mia, who he met in Australia (who had also lived in Croydon, but their paths never crossed in the UK) knew that there was only one place, in the world, that they could exchange their wedding vows...
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So, they flew over 9,000 miles and asked an Everton supporter to help make it happen…
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We’ve kept in touch and there’s been a bit of banter about me maybe being the only Evertonian that has been immortalised in the LFC Photomosaic Wall of Champions!
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Wayne has since become a Celebrant himself, in Perth, and I love seeing his career flourish and photos of him and his happy couples…
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Have a great day Mr & Mrs E, lots of love from your Evertonian friend

17/03/2024

Two years ago, today, we said thank you and farewell to Ishbel, who was 92 years young
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To say that Ishbel lived a full and meaningful life would be a massive understatement!
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I only met her once (she interviewed me, the summer before she died, for the future role of celebrant at the celebration of her life) and I spent a wonderful couple of hours in her company.
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I was instantly in awe of her achievements and attitude - and zest for life!
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She worked tirelessly within her community and beyond and was a founder (and still active) member of the ARM (Association of Radical Midwives)
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She wrote two books chronicling her long and interesting life (both are fabulous reads!) and encouraged others to write through the Ormskirk Writers and Literary Society (OWLS)
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She played violin in an orchestra and was a member of several choirs - she was still singing at the local ukulele club every Thursday
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She had an open door policy at her home and welcomed family, friends and strangers at their happiest times, and when they needed sanctuary
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She had much to be proud of but what she was most proud of was her family and they are all extremely proud of her and the legacy of hope, good deeds, improved lives, and happy memories that she has left behind
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Ishbel took her final journey in a cardboard coffin (decorated with handmade bunting and photographs)
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While a slideshow of her life played, family and friends wrote messages on heart shaped post-it notes and left them on her coffin - and took a bag of bluebell bulbs (Ishbel loved bluebells)
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I planted my bluebells, in memory of Ishbel, in our garden. I was delighted to see them push through the earth and and brighten our garden, last spring (and this), just as Ishbel brightened my day when we sat in her garden in the summer of 2021
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30/12/2023

It is a massive privilege to be asked to be part of any of life’s milestone moments. It is also a big responsibility, one that I never take lightly…
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As we come towards the end of the year, I’d like to say how grateful I am to everyone who has put their trust in me - not least those who have allowed me the honour of helping them to say ‘thank you & farewell’ to their loved ones with a funeral, celebration of life or memorial service.
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Also a big thank you to the funeral arrangers & directors, crematoria & ceremonial hall staff, and printers & videographers that I have worked alongside - and a gratitude-filled shout out to my fellow celebrants for their friendship and support…
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My love, respect, and best wishes to you all.
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I hope that the following words bring comfort to those who they resonate with:

Still (written by Char March)

Listen.
There is this silence now.
This stillness.
Gradually we will get used to it.
But, for now,
It is strange.
You have left such a gap.

Our world is in shock, holding its breath.
But listen closer – all your laughter, all your love
Is still ringing out.
Still holding us.

All our memories of you are still with us.
All the love we shared is still in every one of us.
And although we ache from the loss of you,
You will always be here – as still and steady,
And fierce, as any star.

Look.
You are shining
Bright through all our skies.
Thank you
For being here with us.

Thank you.
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09/11/2023

Huge wishes for an extra happy anniversary to Lynsey and and Dan
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This was 4 years ago today and I have never seen the West Bay at the Titanic Hotel look any prettier
(thanks to 🍁)
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Lynsey and Dan’s ceremony had many special moments, not least the lighting of a candle of love for Lynsey’s mum, several exquisite readings (including and extract from ‘Cosmos’ by Carl Sagan and ‘The Present’, written by Michael Donaghy), sublime personal vows, and a handfasting (which involved all of their guests)
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The guitars, at the top of the aisle, were a perfect touch. Music is a shared passion; the happy couple met at a gig and Dan proposed in Las Vegas - shortly before a Guns N Roses concert
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My very best wishes and lots of love to Mr and Mrs B! I hope that you have had a fabulous day (and had lots of cake!) ###
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📷 by the ultra awesome
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(By the way, Carl Sagan was born on this day, in 1934)
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30/10/2023

Posted & love •

☆ Emma & Jake ☆​​​​​​​​
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What a gloriously colourful and fun-packed wedding this was last week! 🌈​​​​​​​​
There was so much going on including a traditional German sheet cutting during the ceremony, a murder mystery with guest particiaption (definitely a first for me!), some beautifully personal vows, the groom serenading his new wife AND an incredible confetti toss! 🎉​​​​​​​​
Swipe through to see just a tiny snippet of this wonderful day!​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
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Hair and MUA ​​​​​​​​
Dress ​​​​​​​​
Flowers ​​​​​​​​
Cake ​​​​​​​​
Celebrant ​​​​​​​​
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18/10/2023

Happy 4th Wedding Anniversary to Jessie and Alfie.
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Their Big Day was at The Sefton Park Hotel - which is a stone’s throw from where they first met, at the cafe, in Sefton Park.
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Jessie walked down the aisle, towards her Alfie, as her very good friend, Jennifer, sang ‘The first time ever I saw your face’ (it was beautiful and SO EMOTIONAL).
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Their lovely dog, Milo, followed, with the wedding rings, and looked very handsome in his tartan coat.
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Jessie and Alfie are both very proud of their ancestry and their ceremony celebrated their Scottish, French, Welsh, English and Irish roots
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Towards the end of the ceremony the happy couple drank from a quaich, which was passed to each of the guests to take a sip of kindness and toast new beginnings, as we heard this wonderful poem, written by Aberdeen born poet Sheena Blackhall. The writer said that she began this poem by looking up the birds that mate for life and took it from there...
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A Wedding Toast (the anglicised version):
“Be as the swans that shimmer on the lake
Wedded for life, until Death does them part.
Be as the turtle doves, that life-long court
Their lovers, with a sweet and tender heart.
Be as the eagles, fierce but ever loyal,
Far ranging, yet with a returning wing.
Be as the barn owls, cuddling in the loft,
Inside their nest, for comfort see them cling.
As river seeks the sea, as trees seek air,
The marriage of a man and wife should be,
As merry’s blossom in the aspen’s hair,
As joyful as the rowan on the lea.
It marks the start o’ sharing life’s long road,
When two lie down to taste life’s sweets together.
So let the bells ring out, the whisky pour,
Let all good wishes bless this pair forever”
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Lots of love Mr and Mrs McLachlan Arands, thank you for inviting me to be part of your special day, I wish you good health and much happiness; may you be forever blessed.
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08/10/2023

Today, on Isla’s anniversary, we remembered Isla and all the stars of Team 1C.
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It was a pleasure to meet the cardio family and (who sang and played beautifully)
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Family and friends planted an English oak, and it will be there forever, if anyone needs a place to go.
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As well as Shan’s music, there were two poems and a Celtic Blessing for the tree
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At the end of the ceremony, everyone made a circle around the tree, held hands, and passed a heartbeat, to symbolise their love and support
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Thank you to Harry and to for nurturing and providing this beautiful space
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Lovely to meet (Kate & Lisa), who captured everything
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One of the poems:
The Oak Tree
(by Johnny Ray Ryder Jr.)

A mighty wind blew night and day
It stole the oak tree’s leaves away
Then snapped its boughs and pulled its bark
Until the oak was tired and stark

But still the oak tree held its ground
While other trees fell all around
The weary wind gave up and spoke.
How can you still be standing Oak?

The oak tree said, I know that you
Can break each branch of mine in two
Carry every leaf away
Shake my limbs, and make me sway

But I have roots stretched in the earth
Growing stronger since my birth
You’ll never touch them, for you see
They are the deepest part of me

Until today, I wasn’t sure
Of just how much I could endure
But now I’ve found, with thanks to you
I’m stronger than I ever knew
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06/10/2023

Happy 5th Wedding Anniversary to Mr & Mrs D
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We had a little bit of Liverpool and a LOT of Yorkshire in Cumbria, for Linds & Matt’s 2018 Wedding.
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The forecast was dire but we didn’t need to use the tipis, or the umbrellas for the ceremony. Despite what the weather people had predicted, the sun shone brightly!
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We had plenty of love and laughter (and a few happy tears). Their personal vows and the perfectly chosen readings, shared by family and friends, were at the very heart of the ceremony.
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The happy couple said that they wanted “the words to be the stars” and they were - but the brightest stars were Mr & Mrs D and their Best Dog, Frank...
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Congratulations and thank you, once again, for choosing me to be your Celebrant...
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(📷by me & a guest)
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30/09/2023

Fabulous photos of the utterly gorgeous Glovers! What a family! It was a pleasure to be back at Hope Street Hotel for Lindsey and Matt’s big day - with the great big bonus of working alongside the awesomely talented Emma Hillier Photography 💙

24/09/2023

Two weddings and a naming ceremony in nine pictures…
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How gorgeous did look on Friday? (VERY!)
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Lindsey & Matt’s wedding was relaxed and fun - even though Lindsey decided against me telling the Shaking Steven’s anecdote (WYKYK)
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We had a reading from one of their sons’ and their other son was ‘Lord of the Rings’ and demonstrated how to warm and bless his mum and dad’s wedding rings (both boys were absolute superstars!)
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At yesterday’s wedding, Emma & Tom wanted their ceremony (at the very lovely ) to reflect their Welsh heritage, acknowledge some of the ups and downs on the journey to their wedding day, and to express gratitude to those who love and have supported them
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Following a little Welsh (from me) and deeply personal vows from Emma and Tom, the bride and groom had a handtying (Katie, their Border Collie was ‘Lady of the Ribbons’)
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The newlyweds LOVE cake, so we incorporated the cutting of the cake (and first bites) into their ceremony
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Today, we welcomed Harper into the world at
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His mum and dad wanted to reflect his Irish heritage and the importance of family/clann (both born into and chosen)
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Guideparents were nominated, promises made, and readings were shared
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Harper’s parents, grandparents, aunties, uncle, and guideparents added layers of sand to a bottle of love, and guests made silent wishes (which they are going to write down, for Harper to read in years to come)
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Three very different ceremonies, for three very different couples and their families (and one VERY happy celebrant who fell in love with her job even more this week)
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Thank you to Lindsey & Matt, Emma & Tom, and Lauren & Kieran for entrusting me with such special moments in your lives, and all the best for the future
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01/09/2023

Yesterday, I received this lovely email:
”Hi Lorraine,

I trust that all is well with you and your family? I imagine you've worked at many weddings but hopefully you still remember ours back in 2019 at Meols Hall in Southport (23rd August).

We've just come across our 4 year anniversary and after looking back at that special day for us this is just another simple thank you for the amazing part you played on that day! We will never forget it and will look to tell our daughter (18 months now) when she's old enough, thanks again and take care
Damon and Lê”
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Thank you: OF COURSE I REMEMBER!!!
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Wow! What a wedding that was…
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Damon and Lê were brought together by chance (and a shared love of football) but promised to stay together by choice (and because of their love for each other).
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Meol’s Hall Tithebarn looked stunning - gin bottles and candles provided accents of colour and light.
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There were three entrance songs (Damon led the wedding procession, coming in with mum, followed by the ushers and maids, then the little ones with Lê’s mom and finally Lê and her dad - he could not have looked more proud!).
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Lê and Damon wrote personal wedding vows that brought tears of joy and roars of laughter (you can see evidence of the latter in the first photo!)
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There were so many special touches, not least a beautiful poem by Vinicius de Moraes (the bride, and the poet, are from Rio de Janeiro).
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The poem was read, in Portuguese, by the Maid of Honour (guests had a printed copy of the original, and the English translation)
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No ‘confetti shot’, the happy couple exited to a cloud of bubbles (while their guests sang along to ‘All You Need Is Love’)
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Damon & Lê, Congratulations, Parabéns!
Thank you for your email, it meant so much. Lots of love to you both, and to your little girl ###
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📷 (& me)

12/08/2023

Happy Second Wedding Anniversary to the unforgettable Mr & Mrs M
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I loved being part of their celebrations at the Liver Building.
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Their love story will always make me smile (and I still laugh out loud at the thought of Simon hiding in Emma’s wardrobe - and their guests reaction when the secret was disclosed!)
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I undoubtedly have the very BEST couples and they seem to always choose the very best venues, photographers and other suppliers.
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Emma and Simon’s wedding was no exception and I was lucky enough to be at one of my favourite venues ( is arguably the most iconic building in Liverpool) with one of my favourite photographers & humans: the utterly amazing
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All the best Emma & Simon, I hope you will both be dancing tonight…
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06/08/2023

I wish the happiest of celebrations for Alex & John
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It’s always an honour to be asked to be part of one of life’s milestone moments, but to be entrusted with my friend, and former colleague, Jan’s precious daughter’s wedding ceremony at was extra special
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What a glorious day…
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Wall to wall sunshine…
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Family & friends pouring their love upon the happy couple…
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Fabulous outdoor and indoor spaces to celebrate in…
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So many moments of joy & raucous laughter (and a few quieter moments too) all captured by their utterly great photographer (choose a GREAT photographer people, it makes a HUGE difference!)
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Happy paper anniversary Mr & Mrs M. Sending lots of love, I hope you have something wonderful planned
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23/07/2023

Happy Anniversary to to Cloe and Josh who celebrated their marriage with family and friends two years ago, today.
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Baby Eden looked stunning - but not as stunning as the happy couple.
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There was lots of laughter throughout their ceremony, just as they hoped for
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The love and pride that they have for each other and their daughters filled the room.
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Their love story and aspirations for the future are awesome and it was a privilege to share them
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It was brilliant to be working alongside again (I swear she’s got ninja skills - you know she’s there but you don’t see or hear her!)
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Backdrop and exquisite venue decoration by
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Thank you Mr & Mrs T for entrusting me with your wedding ceremony. I hope you’re having a great day…
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16/07/2023

I can’t believe that it’s a whole year (and two days) since we said thank you and farewell to the loveliest, funniest, most caring and inspirational woman I have ever met
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Chris was the life and soul of every party and she planned her final party down to the last detail!
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She always laughed first, loudest, and longest, and thanks to a video of her dancing while twirling the tassels on a blow up doll (before family and friends danced out to her favourite song, Wimoweh/The lion sleeps tonight) she also had the last laugh…
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Chris was known for many things, including her love of raspberry sambuca and she had left strict instructions for everyone to be provided with a shot of the distinctively flavoured pink stuff as they got outside
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In December 2017 I had the privilege of leading a vow renewal for Chris and Bill’s 40th wedding anniversary, the plan was for us to all go their favourite place, Benidorm, and do it again for their 50th!
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Sadly, that won’t happen but Chris and Bill’s friends in Benidorm were able to watch Chris’ celebration of life service, thanks to a livestream
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Hundreds of people came to pay their respects to the phenomenal force that was Mrs Fyles and to support Bill and the family
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Chris, thank you for entrusting me with your farewell, it was an honour…
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As ever, the team at Rainford were fabulous and it was lovely to work alongside Chris’ good friend James from Garvey & Young Funeral Directors
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