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Here is a selection of Q&As from An Essex Wedding magazine whether it be about flowers, hair and makeup, fashion, wedding themes, health & beauty, cakes, stationery, legal advice. If you would like your question answered by our experts, please email it to editor@anessex.wedding
To view more expert advice on a different topic, please select one from the list below.
All I Want For Christmas Is You
| Q | My hubby-to-be and I love Christmas and want to incorporate festive nods into our ceremony. Do you have any ideas of how we could do this? |
| A | Amanda Wheal says: There are so many ways to incorporate the festive feel into your wedding ceremony. Ceremony decor. Aisles decorated with holly and ivy, lanterns, Christmas baubles, stockings and candy canes bring a beautiful festive feel, with pinecones and festive lighting too. Not forgetting your seasonal bouquet and buttonholes. Why not have your ceremony in front of a Christmas tree or a beautiful fireplace? Decorate the mantelpiece with Christmas candles, stockings and festive florals. Some people marry in the snow... If it's not snowing fake snow can be arranged? Walking down the aisle. There's lots of beautiful Christmas songs to choose from. Some might come from your favourite Christmas movie. For example, The Snowman, Buddies theme from Elf, Somewhere in my memory from Home Alone. Festive ceremony words. Within the ceremony, festive words add a seasonal vibe. For example, your celebrant could start by saying "Welcome and seasons greetings to all of you gathered here today at this the most wonderful time of the year." Within the ceremony, you can use Christmas words such as snowball, sledding, jolly, merry, bright, magical time... you get the idea! A festive ring exchange. How about a reindeer, two turtle doves or an owl to deliver your rings? The rings could be wrapped in a special Christmas cracker style package, inside a Christmas bauble, or in a special personalised little Christmas stocking. You could even have 'Five gold rings!' and gift three to special guests of your choice, they can be engraved too. Festive ceremony enhancements could include a tying the knot ceremony or sand ceremony with festive coloured ribbons and sand. How about a beautifully personalised festive unity candle ceremony. The candle can be inscribed with the ceremony date, names, decorations, and maybe a quote. These are kept and then lit each year on your anniversary. You could even have a symbolic ceremony where you create your Christmas signature cocktail, trust me the wording would be beautiful, and your guests can taste one afterwards. There are many Christmas themed readings, or you could combine your favourite Christmas song lyrics as a reading, or part of your vows. As an Independent Celebrant, religious content can indeed be included. So, you could include a religious reading, hymn or carol. There are also lots of non-religious festive readings and carols. Different cultural Christmas traditions can be included in your ceremony, for interfaith weddings, there's beautiful options for inclusive Christmas content. |
Amanda Wheal, Amanda's Beautiful Ceremonies
Music and Lyrics
| Q | My partner and I aren't religious. We want a fun, music-led ceremony, what are our choices? |
| A | Karen Irving says: Celebrating your love in a non-religious, fun, and music-led ceremony opens up a world of exciting possibilities. As a celebrant, my goal is to create a personalised and memorable experience that reflects your love story. Here are some choices and ideas to make your ceremony truly special: 1. Customised Vows: Crafting your own vows allows you to express your feelings in a personal and meaningful way. Whether you want to be poetic, humorous, or deeply sentimental, your vows can set the tone for a joyous and love-filled celebration. 2. Music as a Focal Point: Since you want a music-led ceremony, consider incorporating your favourite songs into different parts of the ceremony. From the processional to the recessional, music can enhance the emotional atmosphere and create a soundtrack to your love story. 3. Unity Ceremonies: Instead of traditional religious rituals, you can opt for unique unity ceremonies that symbolize the joining of your lives. This could include a sand ceremony, a unity candle ceremony, or even a 'unity playlist' where you and your partner add songs to a playlist during the ceremony. 4. Guest Involvement: Encourage your guests to participate in the celebration. This could include having a guest MC, organising a flash mob, a group sing-a-long, or incorporating a surprise performance. The more involved your loved ones are, the more memorable and enjoyable the ceremony will be. Remember, the key is to make your ceremony authentically yours. |
Karen Irving, Karen Irving Ceremonies
Getting To Know You
| Q | How can a celebrant help us make the ceremony extra special? |
| A | Karen Irving says: A celebrant plays a crucial role in making a wedding special and unforgettable. A celebrant is a professional who is trained to perform wedding ceremonies and can help couples personalise their wedding ceremony to reflect their personalities, beliefs, and values. Celebrants offer a personalised and inclusive approach to weddings. They'll take the time to get to know the couple, learn about their love story and what makes them unique. They'll work with the couple to create a ceremony that reflects their relationship and values. Celebrants can also offer a variety of styles and themes to weddings. Whether it's a traditional ceremony or a modern and creative one, celebrants can accommodate the couple's request and create something special that the couple and their guests will cherish forever. Another advantage of having a celebrant is that they can offer guidance and support during the planning process. They can also offer advice on readings, vows, and other wedding elements that will make the ceremony memorable. In conclusion, a wedding celebrant can make your wedding special by offering a personalised approach, creating a memorable ceremony, and providing support and guidance throughout the planning process. A celebrant can help couples create a wedding ceremony that truly represents the love and commitment between the two individuals and make the day unforgettable for all. |
Karen Irving, Karen Irving Ceremonies
Let's Celebrate!
| Q | We've just started wedding planning and I'm slightly confused about what a celebrant actually does! Can you help? |
| A | Carol Cranfield says: If you're looking for a one-of-a-kind wedding that's totally about you and your partner, then a celebrant-led wedding may be for you. For a start, you can get married where you like – in a venue, in the garden or woods, on a boat, at home; let your imagination flow. Although not legally binding in the UK at present, this is currently with the Law Commission, and going to government for consideration this year. In the meantime, the legal part of the marriage still needs to be signed and witnessed by a registrar or authorised religious dignitary, which can be done before or after your wedding. That being said, celebrant-led ceremonies are becoming more popular in modern couples wanting to do-away with stuffy traditions that don't mean much to them. I only perform one ceremony a day, so I can concentrate fully on you as a couple. I can help choose poems and readings that best represent you and that are suited to the vibe of your wedding. I can even get your fur-baby involved in your ceremony if you wish – why not have them as your ring bearer? Anything is possible if you choose to use a celebrant. |
Carol Cranfield, Carol Cranfield Celebrant
