Derbhile Graham is a creative celebrant based in Tramore, Ireland.
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She delivers baby naming, vow renewal, wedding and funeral ceremonies filled with honesty, passion and splashes of humour. .
How I would love to deliver ceremonies Lafcadio Hearn Japanese Gardens Tramore. Also a beautiful spot for funeral ceremonies. https://www.lafcadiohearngardens.com/weddings/
The perfect location for an outdoor wedding. Beautiful Gardens Weddings, Japanese Gardens, small weddings, large weddings, Exotic Wedding Location, Intimate
I've a picture in my head of myself in front of this couple. I know their real names, but for now I'll call them Maggie and Lorcan. I'm helping them renew their vows. The vow renewal ceremony is happening in a place that they have chosen and they are surrounded by people they have chosen to surround themselves with. The ceremony features the music they want and the readings they want. I tell a story that celebrates their love.
This is what I aim to achieve for people as a vow renewal celebrant. Not a trace of Hallmark sentiment in sight – just words that are true to them, words that make the couple think, wow, look how far we have come.
Like the sound of a vow renewal ceremony like that? Check out the Vow Renewal section on my website. Link in the bio.
Photo Description: A couple stand side by side, linking arms. She wears a flowery dress; he wears a suit. He has white hair and a white moustache, and she has flowing ash blonde hair and glasses.
Now this is how to organise an inclusive ceremony - love this! https://www.boredpanda.com/autistic-adhd-couple-had-sensory-friendly-wedding/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=BPFacebook
After sharing how they managed to throw a sensory-friendly wedding, honeymoon wasn't the only thing this neurodivergent couple got to celebrate.
In my last video for 2022, I share my recipe for a perfect Christmas.
What ingredients make a perfect Christmas recipe for you? Feel free to share in the comments below.
Happy Christmas/holidays and New Year.
Not all disabilities can be seen. There are thousands of people living with invisible disabilities of all kinds, and they have needs too. As a celebrant, I'll accommodate whatever needs they have for the ceremonies I plan for them. And I'll follow the golden rule when it comes to planning an accessible ceremony – just ask.
I've chosen a pic of a sunflower to go with this post because the sunflower is the symbol for invisible disability. The sunflower is a way for people with invisible disabilities to be seen.
For people who use wheelchairs or other mobility aids, finding a ceremony venue that's accessible can be a challenge. But it need not be. With a ramp, smooth flooring and plenty of space between chairs, people with physical disabilities can move easily around any space.
The good news is that there are venues that are committed to accessibility, and those venues have signed up to a service called Mobility Mojo. Hotels can evaluate their accessibility and if they meet the right standard, they get accreditation as an accessible venue. The Dalata Hotel Group in Ireland, which includes the Clayton hotels, has earned Mobility Mojo accreditation for its hotels.
If you'd like to find out more about my accessible ceremonies and accessible venues I recommend, call me on 0876959799.
#2-23Weddings
This is how to say I Love You in Irish Sign Language. I'm committed to making my ceremonies accessible to couples, families and anyone who's a guest at the ceremony.
For people who are Deaf or hard of hearing, I would make my ceremony script available to whoever is signing it, so they can sign it easily. I would learn a little sign language myself to include it in the ceremony. I would speak clearly. And I would follow the golden rule – Just Ask.
If you would like me to deliver a colourful, creative and accessible ceremony for you, give me a call on 0876959799.
#2-23Weddings
Here's another way to say I Love You – in Braille, the written language that helps blind people read with the touch of a finger. The National Council for the Blind offers Brailling services, so I would get in touch with them to format my ceremonies in Braille.
I'd make ceremonies available in large print, or at the very least in a clear and well-spaced font. I'd also video myself reading parts of the ceremony – when your sight is impaired, your voice has greater power. These little adaptations would also go down well with people who have dyslexia.
If you're curious about my accessible ceremonies and would like to find out more, please drop me a direct message (DM).
#2-23Weddings
In this video, I'm speaking about something that's very close to my heart – delivering ceremonies for people with disabilities. Have a watch of the video to find out more. And if you like what you hear and you'd like me to deliver an accessible ceremony for you, give me a call on 0876959799.
A slightly more personal question for this poll, but an important one nonetheless. What belief system would you like to see underpinning your wedding?
Spiritual (any faith)
Secular (completely secular, humanist)
Mix of spiritual and secular.
If you'd prefer to answer me by private message, please feel free to do so.
I offer vow renewal services and I've done a beautiful virtual vow renewal, but I do wonder whether people still think it's something that only celebrities do. So I thought I'd ask: Would you consider renewing your vows?
Yes
No.
I love the idea of delivering ceremonies in unusual venues, like deconsecrated churches, arts centre or restaurants. I wanted to see whether you feel the same. So, please let me know which of these lovely venues you would consider for a wedding ceremony, or what kind of venue you had your ceremony in. Here are the choices.
What type of venue do you think is the perfect fit for a wedding ceremony?
Hotel (incl boutique hotel)
Boutique Wedding Venue
Community venue – arts centre, theatre, community hall
Former church
Your house
This week, I've decided I want to get to know you all better, so I'm going to be asking you wuestions about wedding ceremonies. It's really because I'm nosy and I love finding out about people's weddings. You can answer these questions if you're dreaming of a wedding, planning a wedding or have already had a wedding.
First up, what number of guests do you feel is right for a wedding?
Less than 50?
50-100?
100-150?
150+
Whatever you're having yourself.
Stick your answers in the comments, or any alternative answers you might want to give. Or WhatsApp me with your answers. I'd love to hear from you.
There are loads of rituals you can do to demonstrate family unity, and the idea of people coming together as one. One great way of involving children in a wedding ceremony and celebrating the family you've created is a handprint ritual. I'm going to suggest this to my June 2022 wedding family.
It's a messy but fun ritual. You dip your hands in paint and then press your palm onto a sheet of paper, to show your hand print. I should add that I won't be suggesting the family do this on the day! They can do it at home, frame the sheet of paper and bring it to the ceremony. And I'll say some words I've created especially for the ritual, about how everyone in the family as an individual, but they're also united in their love.
If you'd like me to perform colourful rituals for your ceremonies, give me a call or a WhatsApp on 0876959799.
At this wonderful wedding ceremony I'm delivering next June, there'll be lots of colourful rituals. But I always make room for words. As this'll be a very family oriented ceremony, I'm planning to suggest a reading that captures the joy and adventure of being part of a family and invites us all to explore the wider world. It's 'The Places You'll Go' by Dr Seuss.
This Dr Seuss quote was designed by a social media guru with great visual flair, . There's alt text embedded in the photo for my visually impaired followers.
If you'd like me to suggest joyful, poetic or reflective readings for your wedding ceremony, and plan the rest of the ceremony while we're at it, give me a call or a WhatsApp on 0876959799.
I'm delighted to say I'll be delivering a wedding ceremony June 2022, for a quirky, creative couple. It'll celebrate not just them, but the beautiful family they've created. The wedding will be at a glorious Georgian venue, in Co Meath. It's a place that specialises in creating tailored weddings for every couple. A mere seven months to go and I'm excited already.
If you'd like me to put together a quirky, creative wedding ceremony for you, give me a call or a WhatsApp on 0876959799.
This week, I thought I'd share the values I bring to the ceremonies I deliver as a celebrant. In the word clouds I've created, you'll see lots of words that I believe sum up my ceremonies. Today's word cloud is all about weddings and vow renewals.
If the words in this word cloud chime with you, why not send me a WhatsApp on 0876959799.
Photo Description, I've created a word cloud in pastel colours containing these words: values, words, love, laughter, celebrate, joy, spirit, meaning, creative, professional, delivery, natural, true, authentic, passion, humour, stories, writing, committed, music, readings, family, ritual, colour, accessible, disability friendly, happiness, freedom, choice
I'm back with my celebrant videos, and this week I'm going to give you the inside scoop on the wedding ceremony I delivered for Jenny and Phil on 21 August 2021 at their home in Fenor, Co. Waterford. It was full of random, special moment.
Big congratulations to Phil and Jenny, and thanks so much to them for choosing me as their celebrant. It was my honour.
If you'd like me to create a ceremony filled of random special moments, email me, Derbhile, on [email protected].
Phil and Jenny, the couple I married yesterday. Pic taken by Manu Lopez, .ie
Photo Description: a bride and groom stand with their heads together in a garden. She has red hair and he has dark hair.
These Russian dolls are helping me get ready for the wedding ceremony I'm delivering on Saturday. They act the parts of the bride and groom, celebrant and helpers, and I get a picture of how the ceremony will flow on the day.
If you'd like me to create a ceremony that flows for you, please get in touch on [email protected].
There are five coloured wooden dolls on a sheet of paper with markings on it. They are arranged in two groups, a group of three and a group of two, as they will on the day.
Would you look at this tray my wedding couple are using to bring up the rings? Handcrafted with love by the bride!
Photo Description: On a table there is a green tray in the shape of a heart. It is fired in clay.
I sent my wedding ceremony script to my August wedding couple last week. It's always a nervewracking moment. Will they like it or will they tear it to shreds? Thankfully they liked it. They liked it so much that they didn't want to change a think – they just asked me to take out one small section – result!
The centrepiece of their ceremony will be the Celtic Handfasting. The couple are choosing to have their hands bound with cords in the Waterford GAA colours – blue and white. They want to honour the county they've chose to settle in. There'll be a few more tweaks to the script closer to the time, but for now we're good to go.
Would you like me to write and deliver your very own personalised wedding ceremony? Send me a DM or give me a call on 0876959799.
Photo Description: Here I am in my pink celebrant suit, doing a Celtic handfasting for a couple: the groom on the left in a pinstripe suit and the bride on the right in her wedding dress. Their hands are clasped together and tied with blue ribbon, and my hand is over theirs. There is a blue pattern in the background. Photo Credit: Dermot Byrne Photography.
Just in case any of you were dying to know how I got on with that Network Ireland Women in Business awards nomination that I mentioned last week, you're about to find out. I didn't win. But I also didn't lose. In a time when ceremonies have been shut down and celebrants are struggling to keep themselves motivated, the awards process was a flame that kept my business hopes alive.
It was great to have an opportunity to share my mission as a celebrant and raise awareness of what celebrants do. And I got a rather delicious goodie bag too. Thanks to all who posted nice comments.
If you do want to find out about what I do as a celebrant, you can have a look at my website, celebrantderv.ie.
Photo Description: This is a picture of me and two other awards nominees receiving our goodie bags. We got our pictures taken separately but they were rather cleverly woven together. I'm in the centre, wearing a red jumper, with gloriously untamed curly hair.
Wow! I've been nominated for an award for my celebrancy. It's the Network Ireland Waterford Branch Businesswomen of the Year Awards. This organisation provides great support to women at all stages in their quest for business success.
As I set up my celebrant business in the last three years, I was eligible for the Emerging New Business category, and I'm in with six very strong contenders. Best of luck to us all. I entered the awards because I wanted to make a splash for celebrancy, and I want to thank Network Ireland for giving me the opportunity to do that.
I also want to thank Network for the bag of goodies that arrived at my door this morning. I was gobsmacked but very grateful. The vegan peanut butter chocolate thingy from Bernie Murphy Eats is already gone. Big love also to Cantec Waterford, YouMe.ie, Monkey Cups, Legacy Irish Cider and Marco Cocoa.
Photo Description: This is a poster in the Network Ireland colours of green and purple advertising the awards. It says Businesswoman of the Year Awards Emerging Business Category, and there are pleasing circular images of the seven finalists with our names and business underneath. I'm there on the bottom left in my pink celebrant suit.
I was fierce excited to do an actual face to face consultation with a wedding couple. They're having their wedding this August - just 3.5 months away!
We walked around the garden and talked about places to hold the ceremony. Then we sat down at an outdoor table and had a thoroughly enjoyable chat over tea about what they wanted for their ceremony.
It was a heap of fun. Now I just have to write the ceremony.
If you want me to create a wedding ceremony that's filled with laughter, passion and meaningful moments, please get in touch on 0876959799.
Photo Description: There's a hedge with red leaves and behind that there's a hill. The sky is white with clouds but you can see the sun behind the clouds.
This week, I went to a meeting of the Association of Funeral Celebrants Ireland, which I'm a member of. After we qualified in March 2020, our class group set up the AFCI to raise the profile of funeral celebrants.
At the meeting we heard about all the plans the society has to get the message out there that funeral celebrants can do any kind of ceremony you want. We want to give people control over how they say goodbye to their loved ones, and even to plan their own goodbye.
Here's the AFCI website which will tell you all you need to know about funeral celebrants. https://funeralcelebrantsireland.com/ #:~:text=We%20are%20a%20group%20of,that%20are%20available%20to%20them.
Welcome to the website for the Association of Funeral Celebrants Ireland (AFCI). We are a group of independent professional funeral celebrants who are accredited by the Irish Institute of Celebrants (IIOC). We have come together to offer people greater choice … Continue reading →
Happy news this week. I got a second wedding booking in a month! Pretty remarkable for these times, and shows that couples are still dreaming big, even in these restricted times.
This wedding is in just a few months, August 2021, and it'll be a small wedding in a back garden just ten minutes from my home. The wedding is small enough and outdoorsy enough that it's almost guaranteed to go ahead, which will be great for the couple – and great for me.
Big thanks to , who gave me details to this lovely couple. Looking forward to getting started on the planning.
If you're dreaming big and would like to talk to me about booking a wedding ceremony, call or WhatsApp me on 0876959799 or email [email protected].
Photo Description: It would be cool if the wedding I'm doing in August looked like this. It's a bride in a white dress sitting on a scooter. There are autumn leaves on the ground and trees behind her too.
Any of you have a look at Prince Philip's funeral? I thought it was fierce impressive. The way he planned every element of it himself – including the Land Rover hearse, which was rather cool. It made me wonder: would any of you consider planning your own funeral?
Planning your own funeral is not as morbid as you might think. I know this because I had to write my own funeral when I was training to be a funeral celebrant. Drop me a DM with your thoughts on this – I'd love to hear from you.
Photo Description: This is a picture of the Land Rover hearse that Price Philip designed himself. It's a dark green vehicle with thick tyres and the back of it has been flattened out so that a coffin can be placed onto it.
I really, really love talking about being a celebrant. Any chance to talk about celebrancy and I'm off. This week, I got a chance to let off steam and share my passion with three lovely ladies at a virtual coffee. And far from being bored, they appeared to be just as enthusiastic as I was.
I can only hope I returned the favour and was just as enthusiastic about their great businesses. Thanks to Eleanor Roche Travel Counsellor, Sue Pamment, The Website Chef and Monica More Than A Bookkeeper Forde for chats, laughs and inspiration.
I'm just mad to chat to anyone at all about celebrancy, so if you're curious about ceremonies, or about what a a celebrant even does in the first place, drop me a DM and we'll get a conversation going.
Photo Description: A screenshot of a Zoom screen with four boxes. I'm on the top left, beside me is Eleanor Roche, just below me is Sue Pamment and on the far right is Monica Forde.
Excited that I got the ball rolling this week with my 2023 wedding couple. We'll have lots of rituals that will celebrate their love as a family and as a couple. One of the rituals we discussed was a rose petal ritual. Usually, the bride and groom would give each other a rose, or give their children's rose. But we reckoned it would be cool to get everyone involved, with the flower girl giving every guest a flower petal just before the ceremony. You can't get a more powerful symbol of love than a rose petal.
Want to hear about lovely rituals I can help you put together for your wedding, baby naming or vow renewal ceremony? Drop me a DM and I'll be happy to chat to you about it.
Photo Description: A little girl holds a bunch of dark red rose petals in her cupped hands. Image sourced from .ie
I'm fresh from a fun and stimulating chat with my fellow celebrant colleagues. We're all members of the Irish Ethical Celebrants Society and I can't thank the society enough for the support during lockdown. They're completely voluntary, yet they've organised lots of celebrant chats, workshops and webinars.
These activities help us keep our skills up and also gives us a chance to share our passion for ceremonies and stop bending the ears of our family members. Thanks to Yvonne Cassidy, Helena Murphy and all the lovely IECS people for keeping the celebrant flame lit during lockdown.
You can follow the IECS on Instagram and find out more about how celebrants can help you mark the most special moments in your lives. Visit the Irish Ethical Celebrant Society page.
Photo Description: The Irish Ethical Celebrant Society logo is of a tree with green leaves and outstretched branches, and a green circle around it. The logo is on a cream background.
Delighted to say I'm going to be the celebrant at a wedding for a lovely Waterford couple in August 2023. By then, all this madness will surely be behind us, so I reckon they're dead right to dream big and plan ahead. They've chosen the Rhu Glenn Hotel just outside Waterford City, a family-run hotel well known for its liveliness and dancing.
Photo Description: This is a picture of the Rhu Glenn Hotel in the evening, with the lights on outside. It's a yellow building with a pointy roof.
If you'd like to plan ahead, even in these gloomy times, you can drop me an email on [email protected] and we'll get the ball rolling.
I'm going to this. Anything that deepens my understanding as a funeral celebrant, I'll grab.
The grief experience, death denial and anxiety, how we can best help others and ourselves.
Another great way to show you care at a funeral is to let them know you're there for them. You can do this in various ways. You can offer to bake a cake or do shopping. But the most powerful way you can show you're there for someone is to keep in touch. So often, a silence falls after a funeral, as people worry about intruding. But drawing on my own memories of loss, the greatest comfort came from the people who promised to call, and then kept their promise.
What do you think is the right thing to say at a funeral? And what do you think is NOT the right thing to say? Feel free to share your thoughts and experiences in the comments, or via a private message.
This week's quote is especially for people who think that ceremonies aren't for them, especially single people. It's from that famous singleton Bridget Jones. If you're single, there's no need for a pity party – you can have a ceremony of your own making with my Ceremonies For You service. If you'd like to find out more about it, give me a call on 0876959799. And if you want to find out what the quote is, have a look at the video!
As I've said loads of times before, no ceremony is complete without a laugh – even a funeral. In fact, especially a funeral. A bit of humour can be a real comfort, and a great way to celebrate someone's life, especially if they were a bit of a joker. Here's a humorous quote about death that has a contemporary flavour.
Do you like a bit of black humour? Do you have a humorous quote you'd like to share? Feel free to stick it in the comments or send me a DM.
Photo Description: The words When I Die are written in white writing on a grey background. Underneath that, in black writing, the quote continues with 'I want my tombstone to offer free wi-fi, just so people will visit more often.'
If you'd like to make memories for your child at a baby naming ceremony, give me a call on 0876959799
I could really do with a laugh, and I bet you could too, with the tide of bad news we're swamped by every day. So, I've decided to bring you some humorous quotes on my social media this week. I'm deadly serious about ceremonies, but I also like to make sure that everyone gets to have a laugh, no matter what ceremony it is.
Today's quote is a quote about marriage from the American humourist and poet Ogden Nash. I'm sure many of you will recognise the sentiment expressed in it. If you'd like a wedding ceremony full of laughs, please give me a call on 0876959799
Photo Description: In plain black writing on a green background, there is a quote that says: 'Marriage is the bond between a person who never remembers anniversaries and another who never forgets them.' Ogden Nash.
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I’m Derbhile Graham and I’m a creative celebrant based in Tramore, Co. Waterford. I deliver ceremonies that tell your story with honesty and passion. I’m an independent celebrant, accredited by the Irish Institute of Celebrants (IIOC). That means I have the flexibility to deliver ceremonies that are either spiritual, secular or both.
I love delivering ceremonies, and I will use my skills as a storyteller and public speaker to create a unique ceremony for you. I aim to create moments of wonder for you and your loved ones, moments that highlight the importance of the milestone you’re marking. My ceremonies will give you the opportunity to tell the truth, about who you are and about your love for one another.
I’m based in South-East Ireland and I’m available for ceremonies in Waterford, Tipperary, Kilkenny and Wexford, but I’m willing to travel further afield if you’d like me to. I create ceremonies for every stage of life. I will welcome your child into the world with a baby naming ceremony. I will help you celebrate your love and commitment with a wedding or a vow renewal. And I will help you pay tribute to your loved ones in the way they deserve with a funeral/celebration of life ceremony.
