“I Do” …….your way
The first thing I did when planning my wedding was to work out what was the most important aspects of the wedding for my partner and I as a couple.
Our ceremony was very personal and we loved how it cemented our already strong commitment to each other. We also loved that we could use our own words in our promises to each other and that we could involve our family and friends in our special ceremony. It helped us to focus on what was important to us and that created the theme for our wedding day. We wanted a casual wedding but still wanted to include a few of aspects of a traditional wedding. With that in mind, we had an idea of the sort of venue that would fit the bill so the next step was to visit a few of those venues. We found the perfect fit but it was only available for one weekend in February so that decided the date with everything else following on. You can see how one step in the planning process leads onto another!
Even the most casual wedding needs some planning so the best way to get started is to download one or two planners which you can play around with and use them as a rough guideline.
These planners (even if you aren’t a planner type of person) will give you a place to start and, if you are anything like me, getting started is often the hardest thing to do! Using a planner may mean you won’t forget to do something essential and may help you to keep track of the various wedding-related appointments (many of which may be scheduled months ahead).
Another great way to get organised and cut down on the stress, is to seek help from others. Don’t be afraid to delegate tasks to the people around you and always take up offers of assistance as people won’t always offer twice. There will be lots of small details that need to be tied up and you don’t want to be weighed down having to do everything yourself. Most of all, you need to make sure that you enjoy the planning as it plays such a major role in how the day will unfold. I often hear from brides saying how they wished they could do it all over again and this time not get so caught up and stressed with the planning. Don’t let that be you – stay focused and stay organised.
Try to remember what this day is really about – a celebration of love. Your love.
So…..how do we start?
After our initial contact I will offer a free, no obligation consultation where we can talk about your wedding “wants” and discuss possible ideas for your ceremony. If you are happy and comfortable with me as your celebrant, we would then arrange a second meeting where we get down to more detail around the content of the ceremony itself. Also during this second meeting, I will give you guidance with regards to the legal aspect and paperwork involved.
Following on from that second meeting, I will prepare a draft for your approval incorporating your choice of words, music, readings, poetry etc. This can be modified as many times as necessary until you are completely happy with the outcome.
A final catch up is recommended for a rehearsal. During this time we can go over any venue logistics and if required I can offer the use of a PA system.
During the whole process I offer unlimited support and correspondence by phone, email or Skype – including any additional assistance and resources you might need to create this special day.