SEARCH SITE BY TYPING (ESC TO CLOSE)

Skip to Content

Blog Archives

By

in

Venice, General, Weddings, Renewal of Vows

Adventures of a Celebrant in Venice – Part 8

Daisies are the flowers that symbolise a Fifth Anniversary, a small flower with a large meaning, depicting innocence, loyal love, purity, love that conquers all, beauty and simplicity.

I guided our couple to exchange the daisies.  In so doing, their gift to each other is the gift of love.

Tara Statton Photography

As a close and loving family, Graham and Naomi chose their son, Devon, to be their witness and to sign the certificate of this ceremony, which he did with great seriousness and gravity.

After saying the Closing Words, I ended with a beautiful poem just perfect for their marriage:

Once in a lifetime

Once in a lifetime you find someone

Who touches not only your heat, but also your soul.

Once in a lifetime you discover someone who stands beside you, not over you.

You find someone who loves you for who you are, and not for who you could be.

Once in a lifetime, you find someone…

As you have found each other

Anon

Graham then kissed his beautiful wife!

After the cheers and applause, our audience drifted away and we continued to celebrate with hugs all round.

Contact me for your perfect ceremony

Read Part 9 (coming August 10th)

READ MORE

By

in

General, Weddings, Renewal of Vows, Venice

Adventures of a Celebrant in Venice – Part 7

We all had tears in our eyes as Graham read his chosen poem to Naomi, his wife of five years.

 

I Knew I Had Been Touched By Love

I knew I had been touched by love the first time I 

Saw you, and I felt your warmth and I heard your 

Laughter.

I knew that I had been touched by love when I was

Hurting from something that happened, and you came

Along and made that hurt go away.

I knew that I had been touched by love when I 

Stopped making plans with my friends and started

Dreaming dreams with you……………………….

Tara Statton Photography

Contact me for your perfect ceremony

Read Part 8 (coming August 3rd)

READ MORE

By

in

General, Weddings, Renewal of Vows, Venice

Adventures of a Celebrant in Venice – Part 6

By this time Naomi and Graham were in their own personal bubble and the world was just their own.  I loved my special role of being their ring bearer and watched as Naomi and Graham exchanged their rings and made their vows to each other

The rings you gave each other years ago are a symbol of the promises which you made.  As an endless circle of precious metal, as you each now re-affirm the giving of a ring, may it symbolise that your love for each other will be precious and never ending.

As you celebrate five years of marriage, I ask you Graham, if you renew your promise to love Naomi, to cherish and respect her, comfort and encourage her, and be faithful to her till the end of your days? 

Graham: I do

I ask you Naomi, if you renew your promise to love Graham, to cherish and respect him, comfort and encourage him, and be faithful to him till the end of your days? 

Naomi: I do

Tara Statton Photography

Contact me for your perfect ceremony

Read Part 7 (coming July 27th)

READ MORE

By

in

Weddings, Renewal of Vows, Venice, General

Adventures of a Celebrant in Venice – Part 5

I felt so moved as I handed Naomi her chosen poem printed on handmade flower paper and, with sighs from the onlookers, she read to Graham:

Today

Today…I look into your eyes

The one with whom I can share everything

My deepest hopes and heart filled dreams

Inner fears and sheltered insecurities

My most warming joys and overwhelming triumphs

All future journeys that I have left to encounter

This, and more, I know I can share with you…………………

 

 

Contact me for your perfect ceremony

Read Part 6 (coming July 20th)

READ MORE

By

in

General, Weddings, Renewal of Vows, Venice

Adventures of a Celebrant in Venice – Part 4

Eventually we arrived in the Piazza and, surrounded by surprised and delighted passersby, the ceremony began, drawing inspiration from this wonderful location.

“A fifth wedding anniversary is associated traditionally with wood.  Venice was built on wooden structures which has supported this beautiful city for centuries. Wood certainly lasts and can be shaped into many forms, just like your marriage.”

“Be glad your love was planted together; went through the storms together; created a life together and like any strong piece of wood keep riding the waves and never sink.  You have reached half a decade in love with your partner and you have proven you are just like the traditional wood material, able to stand the test of time and grow stronger with age.”

Contact me for your perfect ceremony

Read Part 5 (coming July 13th)

READ MORE

By

in

Venice, General, Weddings, Renewal of Vows

Adventures of a Celebrant in Venice – Part 3

 

By 4pm Tracy, our Hair and Makeup Artist had worked her special magic.

With Tara using every opportunity to take photos, we boarded the Water Bus and motored to Piazza San Marco.

As a Celebrant I am ready whenever and where ever I am needed so I played a supporting role as Tara managed her photo shoot with professionalism and calmness in this beautiful, bustling arena.  Tracy made sure that Naomi’s hair and make up was perfect, paying extra attention to the smallest detail and, as you can see, the results were amazing.

Tara Statton Photography

Contact me for your perfect ceremony

Read Part 4 (coming July 6th)

READ MORE

By

in

Venice, General, Weddings, Renewal of Vows

Adventures of a Celebrant in Venice – Part 1

As an Independent Celebrant, I have a Diploma in Celebrancy: Naming and Couples (QCF) and a Diploma in Funeral Celebrancy (QCF).  I have performed many ceremonies in the UK and, when I was asked by Naomi and Graham Thomas to write and perform a bespoke ceremony to renew their vows in Venice, of course I said YES!  They are amazing people who run the charity The Wedding Wishing Well Foundation that organises and funds weddings for terminally ill people.

I created vows, readings and words for their personal ceremony and, as they also wanted to include their 6 year old son, Devon, I wrote a part for him in the ceremony until it was perfectly suited to them all.

I was accompanied by my husband Andy and he proved very useful in bag carrying, brow mopping and restaurant finding.  Packing for a short trip was interesting and involved laying all the clothes out on the bed then changing them regularly as the weather reports updated.

After a hearty breakfast, at last we were on our way!  At the airport we met Naomi and Graham, Tara Statton the photographer,  and Tracy Pallari, Hair and Makeup Artist

We landed in Venice Marco Polo Airport and boarded a Water Taxi.  There is nothing more glamorous than gliding along the Grand Canal in an open-top water taxi, slowly taking in the beautiful views before disembarking at our apartment in the Dorsoduro.

With our first Bellini at a local restaurant, we raised our glasses to a wonderful adventure together.

Read Part 2 (coming June 22nd)

READ MORE
Back To TopBack To Top