Nicki A Weddings

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Nicki A Weddings

Humanist wedding celebrant based in North West. I also conduct namings and funerals.
(2)

27/08/2024

It looks like little Ada was worn out by her naming ceremony! She's not quite as smiley as usual in this picture!

But it was a lovely ceremony with many highlights, not least a family candle lighting and a presentation of favourite children's books by her four carefully chosen guide parents.

It's such a privilege to work with parents to help them formally welcome their children to their community of family and friends in a way which is more meaningful to them...and MORE FUN!

15/08/2024

Jodie and Tom and Michael and Dean are celebrating their first anniversaries this week. Gosh, the last twelve months have absolutely flown by!

Delighted to hear that all are enjoying married life and have lasting memories of their wedding ceremonies.

I know for a fact I will always remember collaborating with them with great fondness.

Don't forget guys, you qualify for mates' rates for a vow renewal when you're ready!

06/08/2024

I had such a lovely time helping Nichelle and Vijay plan their wedding ceremony!

But when they say they want it to be predominantly entertaining and amusing, they probably didn't realise what they have unleashed in their chosen celebrant!!

Of course there will be heartfelt and strong emotional content, not least when Vijay and Nichelle deliver their personal vows...but their couple's story will be in an entirely different vein.

I'm sorry guys, but I can't promise not to tease you a little...maybe a lot...you've given me such great material to work with and I won't be able to resist!

wedding

29/07/2024

Really love doing naming ceremonies for slightly older children like Cora!

There's a different vibe when you can involve the star of the show more directly in what's going on. It's great to see their reactions to stories about what they were like as babies, for example!

And it's really lovely to see them standing up at the front holding hands with their parent/guide parent as solemn promises are made.

So, if you were too busy to organise a naming ceremony when your child was tiny, remember, it's never too late!

Drop me a line and let's get planning!!
[email protected]

25/07/2024

Just love this picture of a sheep farmer in her woollen wedding dress which got me thinking about how much your favourite animals can add to your ceremony.

Alpacas, dogs, cats ( well that last one would depend on your feline's attitude), cows, camels...Or just imagine arriving ay your wedding on horseback. Or your pet hawk swooping down to deliver the rings at the appointed time.

OK, I'm getting a bit carried away now but do remember that you are more likely to be able to have more of what means the world to you in your wedding ceremony if you have a celebrant led one.

Not least because of the time factor. I only ever commit myself to one wedding per day, so plenty of time to wrangle those animals if they're being a bit... wayward.

I draw the line at anything too scary though!

22/07/2024

Happy first anniversary to Hayley and Nick!
How quickly that has come around...

Theirs was a fabulous wedding with lots of fun packed moments including making their own meaningful cocktail ( their first drink together as a married couple), and live music provided by the amazing .

Congratulations, guys!

18/07/2024

Ada certainly doesn't miss a trick! During the naming ceremony planning meeting with her mum and dad, she was wide awake, alert, and totally captivating with those huge eyes and winning smile.

No doubt who will be the star of the show when her big day arrives! And that's exactly how it should be...

16/07/2024

Sebastian's naming ceremony was fab, with a lovely assembly of friends and family helping Rachel and Mark formally present him to the world!
He's only tiny as you can see, but we hoped to give him a chance to feel part of his own ceremony. So...lights were dimmed as we all sang Twinkle Twinkle with twinkly fingers whilst a light show played.Hopefully deep down, Sebastian will retain the vaguest memory of being seranaded on his special day.

14/05/2024

Delighted to receive these lovely words from a brilliant mum and dad who understood the difference there is in a celebrant led naming ceremony.

I loved helping them realise their ambitions for Rhiannon's special day and was pleased I could also throw in some ideas they hadn't previously considered.

Also...they understood that it's so important to choose the right celebrant for your own family circumstances...That makes all the difference on the day!

Have a look on the Humanists UK website next time you want to plan a ceremony. Obviously, I'd hope you'd choose me 😁 but if not, there are a range of my colleagues, all rigorously trained by ceremonies and subject to ongoing quality control to choose from!!

25/04/2024

Am absolutely ADORING this look from Chanix Millinery!

And you can hire this amazing red hat for your special day which means you can enjoy wearing it and send it back for someone else to enjoy when you're done.

Normally, big hats like these are labelled as "mother of the bride/groom" hats, ( and I know I'd want to "go for the max" if ever i found myself in that role), but looking at the model in this picture, it occurred to me this is also a fabulous look for an alternative bride.

One brave enough to defy convention and stand out in scarlet !

23/04/2024

Congratulations to Caroline and Phil on their first wedding anniversary! I can't believe it's been a year already...

Theirs was a rustic-themed wedding set in the romantic atmosphere of Alcumlow Barn in the wilds of Cheshire. We had a handfasting ritual and a junior security guard taking care of the rings in his little black case. We had a story which honoured the sense of delight Phil and Caroline share in each other's company, and their gratitude for being allowed to find each other.

It was a pleased and a privilege to be allowed to share their story and I wish them every happiness for the future.

18/04/2024

Such an incredible honour to receive this review. I'm so happy Manisha and Andrew have such wonderful memories of their wedding ceremony!

This couple were a delight to collaborate with!

From the outset, they told me they wanted a "celestial " theme which meant friends sharing witty and wise words about love, marriage and our place in the universe...( Everything from Hitchhiker's Guide to Sagan and Einstein).

The atmosphere created by set dressers and the lighting effects by .picture was sparkingly magical.

(Holmes Mill is such a wonderful blank canvas for your original wedding and worth a look, by the way).

Like Andrew and Manisha's wedding guests, I can claim that this certainly was one of the most unforgettable wedding ceremonies I've been privileged to lead.

11/04/2024

Vik and Ryan were inspired by their friends' fabulous humanist wedding ceremony and so I hope theirs reaches the same fabulous standard!

Judging from the lively planning meeting we've just enjoyed, I don't think there's any cause for concern! We've delved into the possibilities of including cultural references, symbolic actions and even soft toys in the telling of their live story. ( Final decision:no to the cuddly toys!)

I was asked only the other day why I became a celebrant. Apart from my background in writing and teaching English and Drama, Iike Ryan and Vik, I was inspired by the difference I found in ceremonies led by Humanist UK celebrants.

If only I'd known what the options were when I got married, instead of plumping for the old traditional style with a formulaic script which ( to us ) was full of meaningless verbiage and a council registrar on a meter with two other weddings to rush to after ours.

It will take me a couple of weeks to find tune Ryan and Vik's personal script. And I can't wait to get cracking!

04/04/2024

Such a pleasure to meet Kiki and hear her ideas for her very own naming ceremony!

Whilst there are many good reasons for having a ceremony to formally introduce a babe-in-arms to the rest of the family, there is also much to be said for delaying it a few years.

Kiki's opinions about who should be her guide parents have been taken into consideration, and it's clear that she fully understands the significance of the promises they will make.

Not only that, but I have promised to write a script that will include some of her favourite music, a secret letter to her mum and dad, a presentation to her guide parents and an unforgettable finale.

Drop me a line if you'd like me to design an original naming ceremony script for your child...no matter how old they are!!

01/04/2024

I'm so delighted that we managed to find ways to engage young Coby at his own naming ceremony!

What's the point of being the star of the show if you can't follow any of what is being said? So...it's important for those slightly older children to be able to also EXPERIENCE their ceremony.

One of the highpoints of Coby's ceremony was a sand blending featuring a record breaking FIFTEEN people. During this, Coby sat on the table, transfixed, as each person came to pour in their layer, each one representing a specific wish for Coby's future happiness. And when it came to HIS turn...let's just say he was the most excited and enthusiastic participant in the blending...his face when everyone clapped was a picture of pure contentment. I'd like to think a little bit of a sense of the warmth and love shown to him at that moment will stay with him forever, even if just in a corner of his mind.

21/03/2024

It was lovely to meet with James and Lisa to plan their wedding ceremony. And I'm looking forward to starting work on their script!

What they don't know is that when I was at their house, in addition to making notes on what they told me, I was soaking in little details just from sitting in their front room!

I like to visit couples at their own place, partly because it puts them at their ease ( certainly after the initial welcome beverage and general chat ...mine's a coffee with a dash of milk and no sugar by the way...)

And partly because there are visual cues EVERYWHERE which prompt me to ask the right questions to get all those little extra bits of info to work into their TRULY ORIGINAL wedding script.

Not because I'm nosy!!

So...I learned from our meeting that Lisa and James are REALLY INTERESTING people! Felt example, Lisa met me at the door wearing a St Patrick's Day hat. Fabulous! So that means we will be highlighting fun and friendship. That intriguing African mask? Travel is important to them...must reference that. Half a dozen empty Fortnum and Mason hampers ...note to self then, temper the "fun" element with a sense of romance and class ...

You see how it works? My thorough training with Humanists UK taught me to be alert when talking to couples about their ceremony. ( Not a question for me of filling in a questionnaire which I will cut and paste and force into a wedding template I prepared earlier...)

If you're thinking of getting married, please do consider booking a celebrant for your ceremony. It will make all the difference!

14/03/2024

If I had my time again, I might choose a woodland wedding with a nod to A Midsummer Night's Dream.

I can see myself in this gorgeous Bottega dress striding towards my Oberon as he waits by the wise old oak tree.

And those appliqué butterflies make me think of my fairy attendants with flowery head dresses and rose petals...

Just rechannelling my Drama teacher days here 😃.

But there is a connection between my old profession and my new one as a wedding celebrant. I work hard to create the right atmosphere for whichever couple I'm working with at the time...

So whether you fancy a bit of Shakespeare magic on your big day OR would prefer a more down to earth venue like...a microbrewery....or...a pie factory ...I can make your dreams come true!

I promise to rise to the challenge!

And, as a humanist celebrant, I literally can conduct your wedding ceremony literally ANYWHERE!!!

💍

11/03/2024

I'm so thrilled to be celebrating Cora's naming ceremony soon. What an honour to be allowed to formally present her to her community of family and friends!

And right now, I don't know how this little one is going to be celebrated because we've not had our planning meeting yet.

Someone suggested to me recently that naming ceremonies must be easier to write than other types of ceremony because they are basically all very similar. WRONG!

Well, certainly wrong if you choose a celebrant trained by ! We are taught to explore the uniqueness in every family we work with. And from Day One of a child's life, you can gather lots of rich nuggets to start to tell their little story. Which fits into the broader family framework.

We can also work out how to make the ceremony memorable and FUN in so many different ways. Roll on the planning meeting!

07/03/2024

I'm fascinated by how different one year olds can be when I pop round to visit for their naming ceremony planning meeting.

Each little one is already starting to develop their unique personality and there is always lots to say about them when I tell their story thus far.

Rhiannon, for example, is a strong and feisty one who seems destined to become a girl warrior!

She's loud and proud and particularly loves singing and banging percussion instruments to music.

I guess her ceremony will be a very noisy one!!

I can't wait to tell her story.

04/03/2024

Really lovely wedding planning meeting with Sammy and Josh. I can't wait to tell their story in the summer!

As an ex-teacher, I adore the fact that they met at school, their love flourishing during GCSE English lessons where they say next to each other . ( That's Romeo and Juliet for you)!

Despite being apart geographically through the university years, Josh and Sammy's relationship has gone from strength to strength, so that marriage seems the natural next step.

And it's lovely that I will be with them on the day to officiate. Such a privilege!

29/02/2024

Ladies, it's a LEAP YEAR! So SPRING into action and PROPOSE to your sweet baboo! What are you waiting for?

And when s/he has said yes, I will be here to help you create a fabulous wedding ceremony which will properly reflect the unique couple you are.😀

💍

26/02/2024

Such a delight to be the celebrant at Felix's Naming Day and First Birthday Party in Egerton!

First came the ceremony which included Felix's life story so far ( including how Ziggy, the family cat named in honour of David Bowie, had become Felix's best friend who would often be invited to share his lunch when mum and dad weren't watching) and contributions from his guide parents including a presentation of their favourite children's books along with a few words about why they found them inspiring and hoped he would do the same.

As Felix's mum and dad ( Rachael and Dave)had booked a space themed party for Felix and his other little one year old pals, it seemed eminently appropriate to end the ceremony with a shower of bubbles as dad Dave flew Felix the little spaceman through the air to the strains of Bowie's Starman.

And then...the effervescent Rae from Baby Gaga threw open the doors to the sensory room and singing, led us into the wonderful space world she'd created. Seeing all those little ones enjoying the colours, the sounds and the different textures of the toys took me right back to when mine were tiny. I will admit to joining in with Rae's excellent rendition of Uptown Funk with my ribbon on a stick with gusto!

Such a great place for a naming/party combo. And only half an hour from South Manchester...

20/02/2024

So enjoyed the planning meeting for Felix's naming ceremony!

Rachael and Dave gave me so much excellent material to weave into their son's little life story thus far. ( It's amazing how much there is to say when you ask the right questions!)

I can't wait to share it with his family and friends on the big day...a double bubble big day as it's also his first birthday!!

15/02/2024

Congratulations to Barry and Helen on the eve of their first wedding anniversary. What an amazing couple!

I absolutely loved helping them create their ideal ceremony which included promises made holding a stone from one of their favourite lakeside spots, beautiful musical contributions from family members and LOTS OF LAUGHTER.

Thanks, guys, for making my job such a pleasure. I wish you every happiness in your second married year and for many years to come!

12/02/2024

It's always a lovely idea to combine a naming ceremony with a first birthday party! And I'm honoured to be invited to lead Felix's ceremony in a few weeks' time.

This combination brings a double excuse for a celebration! And there are additional benefits too.

Many parents have told me they think choosing to formally welcome their child into the world once they have had time to establish a family routine made it all the more enjoyable for them.

Some also said they appreciated the extra time to select their child's guide parents.

But of course, it doesn't have to be a first birthday party! I've conducted naming ceremonies for children up to and including the age of 12. And for some parents who have waited until their family is complete before having a ceremony for all their children at once!

If this is something you're considering, send me a message and we can have a no obligation chat.😀

08/02/2024

It's another grey winter day. Relentless drizzle and the threat of snow to come. A perfect time then, to think of warmer and sunnier times and a celebration for family and friends to look forward to.

Which is probably why there's been quite a few naming ceremony enquiries this week.

Remember that a humanist naming ceremony can take place absolutely anywhere, and we can include lots of different elements to reflect the kind of family you uniquely are.

And we will tell your little one's story thus far, before wishing them well as they set off on the exciting journey that is life.

Rhiannon Rain's ceremony in the spring will raise everyone's spirits. I'm looking forward to it already!

05/02/2024

Wonderful testimonial from a mum who was a joy to collaborate with!

It was an absolute pleasure to hear her and Eddie's dad talk so lovingly about their experiences of becoming parents in such a vibrant way that writing the first chapter of their little boy's life story and sharing it with all their family and friends was an absolute delight!

Please DM me if you are interested in an alternative naming ceremony for your child. ( Incidentally, they don't need to be "babes in arms". Last year I did several ceremonies to coincide with birthdays, including a lovely one for an 11 year old girl who felt she'd missed out as she hadn't had a ceremony when she was little!)

01/02/2024

Honoured to be appointed mentor to Cami who is training with in weddings.

In addition to five days of thorough in person training and several really tricky written assignments, Cami will have to observe some of my work as well as that of other celebrants in our network.

And meet regularly with me until we can give her provisional accreditation to go ahead and lead her own ceremonies.

And THEN, she will be observed to get full accreditation.

And THEN there will be regular peer reviews and the requirement to be involved in meaningful CPD.

I love the fact that even someone like me, fully accredited in Weddings, Funerals and Namings gets ongoing support from the Humanists UK network.

I guess that's why they are the gold standard in training and ongoing quality management.

Meanwhile, I know I'm going to enjoy helping Cami achieve her ambitions as a celebrant. And what's more, I already know, over a couple of pots of glorious tea ,she's going to be FANTASTIC!

29/01/2024

Really enjoyed leading Eddie Hendrix's rock n roll naming ceremony. Here I am with dad Mark who plays guitar in a band. Mum Helena is also a musician so I knew we were going to be collaborating creatively to make a memorable occasion for all present.

So many highlights including...Jimi Hendrix's "Sweet Angel" playing as Mark and Helena lit candles to signify the start of the ceremony and Mark playing "316" live, the track Eddie Van Halen wrote for his own newborn son Wolfgang, as friends and family came to the front to light candles to represent their hopes and wishes for the newest recruit to little Eddie's community of family and friends.

Also, a pleasure to work alongside . Really looking forward to seeing all those happy pics!

25/01/2024

It's a great joy to me that I get to help families welcome their little ones into their community of family and friends. Such happy occasions!

And such fun, too, when the star of the show is a little bit older. Lots of opportunities to really make the ceremony about them.

Including favourite nursery rhymes (I'm happy to lead the singing) and perhaps a tunnel of bubbles at the end!

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http://humanist.org.uk/nickialderson

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It's been my privilege to lead several naming ceremonies for adopted children and, as I have personal experience of the adoption process, I feel a special kind of connection to families wanting to welcome their child to their "forever home". How do these ceremonies differ from ones where I collaborate with birth parents? Firstly, there's the way you tell the story. There's clearly been a tricky start to this youngster's life and so we probably won't be starting with the day they were actually born. The adoptive parents won't be able to tell me the circumstances of their child's adoption; that part of the story belongs to the child alone and must be told only when they are ready to hear it. There may be some contact with birth siblings, grandparents...how do we acknowledge this? It's really important to try to create tangible memories for the child being welcomed into a new community of family and friends. In times of uncertainty, that house-shaped memory box containing best wishes from all present at the ceremony or looking out at the tree planted by the family in the garden on that day, might offer the kind of encouragement to make all the difference. I'm taking bookings now for summer namings. Please get in touch if you'd like to chat. #nickiaceremonies #humanistceremonies #humanist #celebrant #namingceremony #nonreligious #adoptiveparents #guideparent #godparent #adoptionmatters #newparent

With their love of 80s music dovetailing very nicely with mine, I can't wait to get started on helping Neil and Andy create their perfect ceremony! One thing's for sure...this is going to be one very unique and memorable wedding!! #nickiaweddings #manchesterwedding #lancashirewedding #cheshirewedding #2024weddings #2025weddings #hesaidyes💍 #shesaidyes #weddinginspiration #alternativewedding #lgbt💛💙💙🏳️‍🌈🇨🇴💗 #nonreligiouswedding #celebrant #humanist https://www.instagram.com/reel/C3pRyPcsFXF/?igsh=MTMxdjBwdW95dTBiYg==

Enjoy the infectious joy in Manisha and Andrew"s confetti tunnel experience...my gift to you! Also an opportunity to see the wonderful @madison.picture in action! #lucycantdance #editsuits #humanistceremonies #nonreligiouswedding #rocknrollbride

Can't believe it's been a whole year since Amy and Peter's wedding! Happy first anniversary, Mr and Mrs Holland! It was such a happy and meaningful occasion with a meaningful candle lighting ceremony to symbolise the joining of two families as well as two individuals. And the live music you chose was absolutely beautiful! Thank you for embracing the possibilities in a Humanist celebrant led wedding ceremony! I loved helping you create the most significant part of your day. #humanistceremonies #weddingcelebrant #lancashirewedding #manchesterwedding #cheshirewedding #2024weddings #2025weddings #justengaged #nonreligiouswedding #statelyhomewedding #philipburkephotography

Can't believe it's a year since Bex and Hannah's wedding! Loved leading this ceremony, not least because we turned lots of elements on its head. Firstly,we decided to switch round the usual seating arrangements ( thank you, University of Manchester staff for being so accommodating). And then we started with the guests enjoying champagne in the foyer while Hannah and Bex had a private moment together In the ceremony room. I had to lead the guests up one of those gorgeous Victorian staircases and then the ceremony began! One of the most joyous weddings I've led, with plenty of impish humour and ad libs, not just from me. And everyone dancing out at the end. Brilliant! #nickiaweddings #nickiaceremonies #humanist #nonreligiouswedding #manchesterwedding #lancashirewedding #cheshirewedding #2023weddings #2024weddings #justengaged #celebrant #engaged2023 #hesaidyes #shesaidyes #lesbianwedding #yourweddingyourway #weddinginspo

Such a privilege to conduct Lee and Debbie's wedding,a lovely story of young love deepening over the years...

Can't resist a cheeky weekend break. It was 32 degrees in Palma yesterday...lots of walking , lots of red Vermouth . So important to spend quality time with the hubster!!

Really honoured to receive some lovely feedback from Ricky and Charlotte today. It was a pleasure to help two people who cared so much about words and their meaning to create their ideal ceremony. They had advice on how to have a great marriage from both sets of parents; these and Charlotte and Ricky's personal promises were delivered with the right blend of humour and emotion. #nickiaweddings #nickiaceremonies #nonreligiouswedding #humanist #humanistceremonies #northwestwedding #manchestercelebrant #,cheshirewedding #lancashirewedding #2023weddings #2024weddings

@imagefink Julie and Steve's vow renewal was a joyous occasion! So many memories in this opportunity to share the ups and downs in a remarkable couple's story. It was my privilege to help them express their feelings about each other with the people in the world most important to them. #nickiaweddings #humanist #weddingcelebrant #northwestwedding #manchesterwedding #cheshirewedding #lancashirewedding #2023weddings #2024weddings #vowrenewal

Maggie and Paul's Wedding

By popular demand, here is the moment when Maggie was surprised by the arrival of some special guests during the signing of the wedding certificate with new husband Paul. #nickiaweddings #nickiaceremonies #northwestwedding #humanist #humanistcelebrant #manchesterwedding #lancashirewedding #cheshirewedding #lovemydog🐶

Grange Barn video part 2. The interior. I was so thrilled to conduct Hannah and Alex's vow renewal in such an amazing venue! Lots of room to do your own thing. #grangebarn #nickiaceremonies #humanistwedding #northwestwedding #cheshirewedding #cheshirelife #2022wedding #2023wedding

I made this little video of the Grange Barn wedding venue while I was waiting for the guests. It's a lovely place and I look forward to celebrating there again one day! @grangebarn #nickiaweddings #northwestwedding #humanistwedding #nonreligiouswedding #weddinginspirasi #2022wedding #2023wedding #grangebarn #cheshirewedding #countrywedding #weddingbarn

This is NOT the most exciting video ever made of a celebrant in action but worth sharing to give you a tiny insight into the relaxed way we can chat about your wedding on a no obligation Zoom call. I love meeting lots of different couples and going from an empty page to a few general scribbles to a full personalised script delivered in a memorable and unique ceremony. Incidentally, you can see from the state of my messy office that I'm far more interested in my work than housekeeping! Don't they say that the most creative people are untidy? 😄😄😄#nickiaweddings #humanistwedding #humanistcelebrant #nonreligiouswedding #northwestwedding #manchesterwedding #cheshirewedding #lancashirewedding #2022wedding #2023wedding #engaged #yourweddingyourway #weddingplanning

Gorgeous lunch at Mitton Hall today with one of my couples. The wedding's not until next year, but there's no harm in staking out the place well in advance. What a venue! Think English Country House with a modern feel. What a lucky celebrant I am! With apologies for wild windy hair .. haircut next week #nickiaweddings # nonreligiouswedding #humanistwedding #northwestwedding #lancashirewedding #cheshirewedding #manchesterwedding #2022wedding #2023wedding #engaged2021 #mittonhall