Catherine Thomas-Varcoe - Family Celebrant

06/08/2023

My mum is visiting from Australia at the moment. Today we visited the church she and my dad married in 55 years ago.

02/08/2023

When looking for a celebrant for your wedding, ensure you choose someone who has had appropriate training and is registered with a professional organisation like the UK Society of Celebrants. This is my profile on their website.

30/06/2023

Congratulations to John and Ella!

21/05/2023

Are you settling for a cookie cutter wedding ceremony performed by a registrar? Wouldn’t you prefer something more personal and bespoke to you for essentially the same cost? You’re no doubt spending thousands of pounds on a great reception, so why not have a special ceremony too. My name is Cathy and I’d love to talk to you about the opportunity to perform your wedding ceremony. I am a certified celebrant with the UKSOC.

21/05/2023

I know it’s a bit out of date these days, but I’m
A big fan of Friends so couldn’t resist sharing this one…

We've watched Friends so many times we probably know the scripts better than the cast - but did you realise just how much they taught us about love and marriage?

12/04/2023

New business cards…

08/04/2023

Wishing everyone a lovely Easter 🐣

Photo credit: discover.animals

26/03/2023

Sharing for Leeds brides who might be heading to Manchester for their hen do.

From where to stay and what to do, to where to drink and unique activities - our Manchester hen party guide does all the hard work for you!

21/03/2023

Just some of the lovely poems you could choose to use in a personalised ceremony written by me. Let me know if you’d like to know more.

Browse our extensive library of funny, romantic and religious wedding poems and find one that's perfect for your wedding day!

05/03/2023

Popped to the wedding fair at Weetwood Hall Estate today to meet some others in the industry. Some great wedding cakes by Hannahskitchen and . I’m loving Orena Bespoke Stationery’s signs. Some lovely staging by Create A Look - Wedding & Event Decor Hire and Thompson Towers - Wedding, Party and Event Hire. And I’m in love with this dress by Cinderella's.

18/02/2023

Well I learned something new…

From the origins of the original wedding march music to the royal wedding that made it popular and the alternatives we're loving today, we give you the lowdown on this iconic piece of wedding music.

18/02/2023

Some lovely poems for inspiration for your wedding ceremony here…

Browse our extensive library of funny, romantic and religious wedding poems and find one that's perfect for your wedding day!

14/02/2023

Happy Valentine’s Day. If someone popped the question today, and you’d like a celebrant to give you a personal wedding service, get in touch.

05/02/2023

I went for the hyphenated surname, but what will you choose?

Planning to change your name after you get hitched? Find out everything you need to know about the legalities and options in our handy guide

30/01/2023

I would love the opportunity to give you a bespoke wedding ceremony, and hope you’ll take advantage of my special offer.

28/01/2023

The UK laws for marriage and weddings are outdated. Six months ago some recommendations for reform were submitted, and a governmental decision is due imminently. More information about what the reforms include can be found here:

The Law Commission of England and Wales has today outlined recommendations to reform weddings law, proposing a fairer system that gives couples more choice over where and how their wedding takes place. The Commission was asked by the Government to review the law on weddings, following concerns that....

27/01/2023

I think I’m torn between the macaroons, luggage tags and coffee stencils…

Surprise your guests with a wedding favour that's a little bit different! We've rounded up 65 of the most unusual wedding favours around so you can find just the thing to suit your wedding day perfectly

27/01/2023

Trends for 2023 weddings…

From sustainability to stealing a glimpse of each other pre-ceremony, these are the 23 biggest trends for 2023, according to the Hitched Wedding Trends Report

21/01/2023

Taking bookings now for weddings, vow renewals and naming ceremonies for 2023 and 2024.

19/01/2023

Born Gifted this is a nice outline of a naming ceremony

Here at Born Gifted we have a handy guide with everything you need to know about naming day ceremonies. Find out more information here.

19/01/2023

Some classic wedding dresses in this article. Grace Kelly and Princess Margaret are winners for me:

These royal brides made a statement and influenced bridal fashion trends to come by wearing the most exquisite wedding dresses down the aisle.

19/01/2023

Ever wondered what the most and least popular wedding dates are?

Using data from our users, we've uncovered the most (and least!) popular wedding dates in the UK - and it isn't always the ones you'd assume...

17/01/2023

The wedding celebrant versus registrar debate
I wonder how many of you know the difference between a registrar and a wedding celebrant, and how your choice of one over the other can significantly impact your wedding day.
I am a wedding celebrant. My primary role is to work with you in the months leading up to your wedding to create a ceremony that reflects your personality, tells your personal relationship story, and involves you, and perhaps your loved ones, in moments during the ceremony that carry meaning for you. For example, perhaps you’d like to include a wedding band warming, where the rings are passed through the hands of family members who take it in turn to pass on a good wish or word of wisdom to you on your wedding day. This option and others can help you create a ceremony to remember.
However, a wedding celebrant cannot legally marry you - this is the role of the registrar. So if you’re going down the route of using the services of a wedding celebrant, you’ll need to pop to the registrar’s office on another day to sort out the legalities/paperwork. It’s similar to registering a baby’s birth - you pop to the office another day to sort out the paperwork.
Alternatively, a registrar can perform your wedding ceremony. There are certain phrases that need to be exchanged to complete a legal marriage, and a registrar’s main concern is ensuring that these requirements are met. Consequently, their ceremonies can sometimes seem a bit brief and, dare I say it, impersonal. However it does mean you are legally married on the same day as your wedding.
So, your choice is… do I have a registrar conduct my wedding ceremony, or do I have a wedding celebrant create a bespoke and meaningful ceremony, but pop to the registrars office to sort out the legals on another day?
Clearly I am biased, but the choice is yours. If you choose to have a wedding celebrant, I hope you’ll contact me. I’d love to be involved in your special day.