Vows That Wow

14/08/2024

A mixed-faith ceremony can work very simply, if you're open to compromise. https://vowsthatwow.co.uk/mixed-faith-minefield/

06/08/2024

Crying at ceremonies - is it OK, or just wet?

Emotions can run high at ceremonies. Not just at funerals, but also at celebrations. Weddings, fairly obviously, but also at namings, vow renewals – or at any public occasion. But is it OK to cry in public? And does it make a difference at what sort of occasion you find yourself overcome? And does...

30/07/2024

Rituals can make such a difference to your ceremony

Rituals can add a spiritual dimension to a ceremony. They can also offer an interesting cultural element. And, simply enough, they are often beautiful in their own right. There’s nothing to stop you incorporating rituals from other cultures, if you so desire. Your celebrant will be able to make su...

23/07/2024

How much consideration do you give to your wedding guests? https://vowsthatwow.co.uk/all-about-wedding-guests/

16/07/2024

Those wedding vows really do make a difference - get them right!

Most wedding services contain wedding vows recited by the couple. These may be traditional or novel. The traditional ones will be of the “for better or for worse” type. The novel ones can be personal and unique (“I promise to walk the dog every day”), maybe with some humour. The personalised...

08/07/2024

The low-down about hiring a civil celebrant

Unless you’re lucky and have personal knowledge of a celebrant, or you’ve seen them in action, you may well be in the dark about celebrants. Clearly, they should have a website and this should give you an idea of what they look like and, possibly, sound like. You may be able to get an idea […]

01/07/2024

There are ways to cut those wedding costs https://vowsthatwow.co.uk/saving-money-on-weddings/

25/06/2024

Wacky? Woo-hoo? A civil celebrant ceremony doesn't have to be way out. https://vowsthatwow.co.uk/not-so-woo-woo-after-all/

18/06/2024

What is the place of religious services for weddings? https://vowsthatwow.co.uk/is-the-religious-wedding-a-thing-of-the-past/

10/06/2024

You never can predict what will happen in my job!

Being a civil celebrant has its challenges. I never know quite what to expect when I contact my next client. It may be relatively simple. The client is looking to mark a major event in a joyous way. Or fairly solemnly. Or even a mixture … The point is that the client has expectations and, […]

03/06/2024

Some surprises in my career ...!

Of course I’m not alone in failing to find my vocation at first. I started my working life (apart from student jobs) in a merchanting company. I was singularly unsuited for this, in truth, and lasted about 18 months. I then became a teacher. While I was at university, the only career direction I h...

27/05/2024

Can you keep those wedding costs from spiralling?

Almost by definition, weddings don’t come cheap! Indeed, for a wedding guest alone (in the UK), average spend is currently several hundred pounds. Don’t ask what it may cost to arrange a wedding! One reason for the high expense rate is that you are likely to need a lot of suppliers. And all need...

21/05/2024

You never know what's around the next corner! https://vowsthatwow.co.uk/speaking-many-tongues-not-forked/

06/05/2024

A mixed-faith wedding looks like a recipe for disaster, but it can turn out to be quite wonderful!

Of course a mixed-faith ceremony frequently is beautiful, inspiring and enjoyable. However, such a result doesn’t just happen; it has to be worked at. That means, not only seeking harmony among your family but also putting together the right service. Finding a happy medium can certainly be challen...

30/04/2024

People don't always get what a civil celebrant is all about

I’ve been a Civil Celebrant for some 11 years now. Up until about 2009 I don’t think I had even heard of the profession, far less knew what a civil celebrant actually did. So it doesn’t surprise me that there are a lot of people out there for whom the job of civil celebrant is […]

23/04/2024

Handfastings are beautiful but not well understood.

Quite a lot of people seem to have heard of the term “handfasting”, but considerably fewer know what it is. Enlightenment is on its way! History Handfasting originated in pagan times, and it gained force in medieval days. It was a way for peasants – mostly – to afford a wedding. Clergymen wo...

09/04/2024

Don't let butterflies spoil your big occasion. https://vowsthatwow.co.uk/facing-up-to-wedding-day-nerves/

26/03/2024

Who says you need an independent civil celebrant?

People don’t always get it. It’s true that you can do without a civil celebrant for your life-cycle event – depending on what you are looking for. You can have a full-religious ceremony in church (or an equivalent). Or, if you’re looking for a simple wedding ceremony that is 100% secular, yo...

19/03/2024

Weddings are always such happy events ... Or are they?!

In my experience (10 years as a celebrant), I have been involved in a few weddings from hell. True, the vast majority of these events have been delightful, happy, beautiful occasions. But a few stick in the memory for entirely different reasons! Sometimes, thoughtlessness or stress have been the mai...

11/03/2024

What readings should you include in your ceremony?

Whatever the occasion you are marking, the event can be appreciably improved depending on the texts you use. People often assume that they need to follow a standard liturgy for ceremony readings. Obviously, this is the case, if you’re having a church ceremony. Otherwise, this does not have to be t...

05/03/2024

How to make a civil celebrant work for you

A lot of people don’t think of using a Civil Celebrant. One reason is that they don’t know how to make one work for them. There is a lot of misunderstanding about what a celebrant does (or does not) do. No two celebrants are the same  – and that is part of the beauty of […]

27/02/2024

A nerve-wracking marriage proposal

Thursday sees that relatively rare event – the extra day added to our calendar to mark Leap Year. It’s a correction to counter the fact that Earth’s orbit isn’t precisely 365 days a year. It gives rise (for some reason) to “bachelor’s Day”. This is an Irish tradition for Leap Day in wh...

19/02/2024

Can you afford to host a ceremony?

Finances are not easy for many of us. We are often reluctant to spend. It’s natural to want to hold on to what one has got. Organising an event, even with the help of professionals, can be daunting. And expensive. So why bother? The Attractions One reason for a celebration is precisely because we ...

13/02/2024

Time to sort out the roles at a wedding

Just as there may be flexibility about the roles at a wedding so there is often a little confusion. Let’s see if we can uncloud the waters. As far as one can generalise, here are my guidelines. Bride The star turn – everybody looks forward to the bride walking down the aisle. In essence, looking...

06/02/2024

It's so important to choose the right wedding venue

Let’s set aside cost for the moment, shall we? What (else) is going to make you opt for one venue over another? It’s important to get this right, as so much will depend on the venue. Obviously, location, atmosphere, facilities and accessibility are likely to enter into the mix. So , once you’v...

30/01/2024

It's so pleasing when hard work pays off! https://vowsthatwow.co.uk/making-it-all-worthwhile/

23/01/2024

It IS possible to reduce costs on your wedding - without losing out on quality

Weddings can cost a shedload of cash, of course. You may well choose to use professionals, and, as their name suggests, they’re going to want paying. It’s not unreasonable, as they will be giving up time and drawing on valuable experience and expertise, not to mention training, to ensure your ev...

08/01/2024

Why not look forward to 2024 with some optimism?

Welcome to my first newsletter of the year! May your year be exciting and full of good health, prosperity and contentment. I wonder whether you go in for New Year’s Resolutions at all? It’s quite a good idea to reset your targets and aim for new, beneficial challenges. But it won’t work if you...

02/01/2024

Well, it's been quite an eventful year ...

It’s the season for reflection and stock-taking. Perhaps you’d be willing to hear about my year? Health issues dominated, as in 2022. Almost a year ago, I had successful cataract eye surgery. Less good news was the fact that I have also had to undergo quite a few tests to explain why I have been...

18/12/2023

There's a lot of unhelpful thinking out there about what a Civil Celebrant can offer

One of the hardest battles that confront me is persuading couples to use my services! Not that I am not a good celebrant (I believe most would say I’m a very good one!). But the real reason is that, if they’re not having a church wedding, they assume that they can only have a register […]