Avril Ewing Officiant & Celebrant

19/09/2024

Thought for the day...

27/07/2023

The worst thing to happen at a wedding...

No pasta!

12/07/2023

I know we are not supposed to give up...and I think it's also important to know when to stop the insanity of doing something repeatedly that is so not working, while hoping for a different result.

For a long time my page did so well - it wasn't even about booking weddings and funerals but about the connections and conversations we were having.

Then one day, a couple of months ago - that just stopped.

Nothing changed on my end. I was still posting the same variety of content, but out of the blue all of the engagement came to a screeching halt.

It wasn't a slow decline that would tell me I need to make some tweaks and ramp things up - it was as though someone pulled the plug one night and that was the end of things.

I have continued to post and experimented with what time I post, what days I post, and even the content I post.

I keep an eye on the insights so I can see how many people my posts are being shown to - and although the numbers have gone from huge, to almost zero, to growing steadily again, the engagement hasn't come back.

I don't just post for the engagement, but the engagement tells me you enjoy what I am sharing and the knowledge and wisdom that I bring from a decade of experience in the funeral and wedding worlds.

Continuing to post every day simply seems like a waste of time and energy at this point. So....going forward I will only be posting super important things, and will keep my fingers crossed that a good amount of time between posts might prompt FB to show more of you my posts.

In the meantime - please join my VIP page to stay up to date with what I am up to. Click here to sign up: https://avrilewingofficiant.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=475a65a83e7b4251e191d5a30&id=a5f430b809

And hop into my group where I am currently hosting a live series on ABUNDANCE and am hosting a workshop in August! Click here to join my group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/5292276690855156

I will still be checking in here every day and all messages come to my phone to I will be able to reply to you quickly!

Thank you!
Take care!
Avril xoxo

10/07/2023

I am going live today in my group to talk about...ABUNDANCE!

Will you join us? Click the link to watch live or catch the replay later!

https://facebook.com/groups/5292276690855156

10/07/2023

Happy Monday! Here is this week's blog post all about how to handle divorced parents while you plan your wedding...especially if they don't get along!

On a side note - not long ago there was a lot of engagement on my posts and so many wonderful conversations. Then one day...nothing! The data tells me FB isn't showing my posts to many of you so please...if you see this post, click like and leave a comment and fingers crossed FB will start showing my posts to you consistently again! Thank you!

Your entire wedding is meant to be a joyous occasion from start to finish, but divorced parents can sometimes throw a spanner in the works. Luckily, with a little preparation, you can ensure your w…

06/07/2023

"Reverend Avril was a real beacon of light during a challenging time for us. She made the process of my grandfather's passing manageable and helped my family through the funeral services and other processes with gentle guidance. The day of the funeral, Rev. Avril led a beautiful service that paid honour to my grandfather and allowed members of our family to share their own loving tributes. Her leadership at the cemetery was invaluable and many members of my family remarked on her compassion, excellent speaking skills and overall professionalism. My family will absolutely be using Rev. Avril for all our services moving forward, I can't recommend her highly enough. "

Thank you to the family of Mr. RW for your kind words. It was truly an honour and a privilege to serve you at your time of sorrow.

05/07/2023

Y'all know I'm a professional Tarot reader right?

I have spent a few years deep in my craft and have been popping up at parties, girls nights, and lots of Tarot events lately!

I am getting inquiries every week asking me about Tarot at weddings during cocktail hour - and I love it! What a cool way to entertain your guests while you are off getting your photos taken after your ceremony!

I bring my cute little fortune teller's tent complete with twinkly lights and all the items to make Tarot at your wedding the most magical experience - one your guests will talk about for years to come!

Tarot at weddings is $150 an hour and I will split hours - so if your cocktail hour is 90 minutes, your total will be $225. Two hours is $300.

Ready to include Tarot in your wedding festivities? DM me to chat!

03/07/2023

Congratulations to

Jackie & Leon

who were married this weekend with their closest people there cheering (and crying tears of joy) for them!

Thank you for inviting me to perform your ceremony for you!

03/07/2023

Happy Monday! Here is this week's blog post...all about how to have the most picture perfect wedding!

You’ve put months and maybe years of planning into your wedding day – from flower arrangements to bridesmaids’ dresses and canapes, even the napkin colour! However, once it’s all over, your photos …

27/06/2023

Huge thank you to St. Anthony's school in Port Hope for inviting me to bring my photo booth of Graduation 2023!

It was so much fun hanging out with the kids, watching them pose with their friends, and seeing their faces when I handed them their photos!

Such good luck graduates! Enjoy your summer and new adventure at high school!

21/06/2023

Tis the season!

I am available for all kinds of ceremonies in all kinds of places!

Dreaming of getting married on the beach at sunset or in the forest with the pixies and faeries giggling from their hiding spots?

Choose a quick 5 minute ceremony or a full ceremony complete with readings of your choice!

DM me to chat!

20/06/2023

Happy Tuesday! If you see this will you do me a favour please and like or comment on this post? I used to get soooo many comments from you and we had incredible conversations then one day suddenly...nothing! And I don't know if my page is working or not now.

In the meantime...here is my latest blog post over at my ministry - this week we chat about finding your life purpose!

Exercises To Clarify Your Purpose And Vision In Your Life and Business Whether it’s the beginning of a new year or we’re half way through, you want it to be your best year ever! I’d like to recomme…

19/06/2023

Happy Monday! Here is this week's blog post all about how to feel confident at your wedding when you have a little stowaway with you! Yep - this is for our pregnant brides!

I have had many pregnant brides stand in front of me over the years and it’s always so much fun to have a little stowaway with us! Our beautiful bride above let her loved ones know her dress …

14/06/2023

The St John's Community Dinner is happening today!

6pm in the parish hall!

Come by for a nice meal with your neighbours!

The Port Hope Piper will be there playing as everyone is coming in!

13/06/2023

Y'all know I'm also a professional Tarot reader right?

Well how about readings during your cocktail hour?

Each of your guests can pick 1 card and I will tell them what it means for them!

This will give everyone lots to talk about during dinner!

DM me to chat about Tarot at your wedding!

12/06/2023

Congratulations to

Jessica & Cameron who were married this weekend at a gorgeous local venue with all of their loved ones there to share in their joy!

It was so much fun and I feel it is very important to let everyone know...Jessica's dress sparkled!! So pretty!

Thank you for inviting me to lead your marriage ceremony!

12/06/2023

STORY TIME!

This past weekend I got to work with a photographer I met in 2022 at a wedding. She remembered me even though I always have the hardest time placing people simply because I see tens of thousands of faces every year!

She said “You were the Officiant for XYZ wedding” and I said “Oh yes! Now I remember you!”

She said the names of the couple…I won’t be sharing those details here.

Then she made a cringy face and said “You were late because you were stuck in traffic”

I replied with “Actually – I was an hour early because the couple booked me for 430pm but told everyone else the ceremony is to be at 330pm”

You see…although the date had been changed a couple of times because of lockdowns etc – at no time was I asked to change the time from the original 430pm to the new 330pm.

EVERYONE KNOW THE CEREMONY HAD BEEN CHANGED – BUT ME!

The photographer looked shocked!

I had been coming from another couple’s wedding and since they made sure everything ran on time, I was running early for my 430pm wedding.

I was right outside the wedding at 330pm (an hour early) with my phone in my hand listening to google maps get me there.

I glanced at my phone to see dozens and dozens of messages and missed calls from every way possible.

The messages were pure panic! AVRIL! WHERE ARE YOU! THE CEREMONY IS STARTING NOW!!!

Imagine how confused and horrified I was!

60 seconds later I pulled into the wedding to see all the guests in their seats waiting and the wedding party came rushing to my car to grab my stuff and get me to the mic.

Of course they wanted to know what happened!

I had a choice to make.

I could tell the truth and throw the couple under the bus in front of their parents, families, friends, and loved ones.

Or I could lie.

I lied.

I got to the mic and apologized for being late as I was stuck in Peterborough traffic trying to get across the city and thought it was best to just get here rather than stop to try to get a hold of someone on site to let them know.

Fortunately, everyone was cool about it (except for one guest who confronted me after) and told me not to worry about it. All is well now.

The photographer was so glad I told her all of this because she couldn’t fathom how the Minister could possibly be late to a wedding! Now she understands that I took a massive hit for the couple and put my own reputation on the line to save them from embarrassment on their wedding day. No guests from that wedding are likely to contact me for their own needs – but now I know the photographer would!

This is an important lesson for all.

This isn’t the first time I have arrived at a wedding to be told they changed the time and told everyone but me.

This isn’t the last time I have arrived at a wedding to be told they changed the time and told everyone but me.

It is ridiculously uncool and could cost you your ceremony!

Want the person leading your marriage ceremony (which turns your expensive party into a wedding by the way) to believe you believe this is the most important day of your life? Don’t leave them out of the conversations.

Weeks before your wedding it’s a good idea to review all of the paperwork and contracts you have with your vendors to make sure everything is as it should be, and also to make sure YOU understand the consequences of not communicating with them.

I always email my couples in the week leading up their their big day to confirm all the details including the address and location name, the time I will be there, and the time we will get started. Everyone has that opportunity to let me know they have made changes without telling me and decide if they will or will not be getting married by me as planned.

If you realize you have made a mistake – like realizing you did not tell the Minister about your schedule changes and need to ask if they can be accommodated – you need to own it and accept that it might not be something that can be fixed on such short notice.

The End.

Avril xoxo

06/06/2023

I have created another FREE printable for you!

This month's freebie is 25 Affirmations for Women!

Click the link to download this printable and if you would like the png files so you can size them any way you like, just let me know after you have downloaded the PDF!

I will be posting a video of how I love to use these affirmations so stay tuned!

Here is a boost of daily self-love for you to print and pin up everywhere you can seen them, put them in your journal, or keep them on your phone! Pop your details into the form below and you will be taken immediately to download my AFFIRMATIONS FOR WOMEN PDF. Thank you!  Avril xoxo  Please note!...