A blog from my team member Laura . . 

"Some weddings are beautiful, some are joyful – and then there are weddings like this one, bursting with love, laughter, and unforgettable personal touches in equal doses. I’d been looking forward to this wedding day, excited to see my couple in their finery, (the bride's dress had a fabulous split all the way up the front), and deliver what promised to be a fun ceremony!

When I arrived at the venue, I set up the ceremony space, made sure everything was in place, and then went to find the bride and groom. She was upstairs with her Bride squad getting ready for the day. 

I got a flash of her bridal nails and checked how she was feeling – the day before, she’d been so excited she couldn’t concentrate on anything at all, then I found the groom, relaxed and ready to go. These two are definite opposites!! 

From the very start, this wasn’t going to be a traditional ceremony. Once the couple joined me at the front of the room we invited the bride’s father to join us to take a selfie with the bride, groom, and all the guests in the background – a brilliant way to capture the excitement and kick off the day with the kind of icebreaker that filled the room with laughter and set the tone for the rest of the day.

Then followed another personal touch.  I had the privilege of sharing the couple’s love story – exactly 10 years to the day after they had first met, making the date of their wedding truly meaningful. A decade later, following many happy adventures together, here they were, hand in hand, ready to tie their lives together.

The couple’s rings were also extra special. Once belonging to the groom’s grandparents, they carried stories of enduring love and cherished memories. But rather than appearing in a box, they came with a twist – taped under a guest’s chair! The surprise had everyone laughing as a lucky bridesmaid unexpectedly (and she was a bit nervous about it too!) joined us to present them to the couple.

One of the most beautiful moments was the handfasting ceremony. Green (for prosperity and harmony) and pink (for prosperity and harmony) ribbons were tied around the couple’s hands as they exchanged their vows. The groom’s sister came and tied the knot for the couple, and then, while their hands were bound, the couple exchanged their vows to each other. The knot they tied will now be kept as a lasting keepsake – a powerful reminder of promises made, and love shared.

A deeply moving and sensitive part of the ceremony was the way the bride’s late mother was remembered. A framed photo sat proudly in the front row, keeping her close, and we paused to honour her memory at the start of proceedings. 

She'd thankfully had the chance to see her daughter radiant in her wedding dress before she passed, and there’s no doubt she would have been filled with pride and love watching her daughter walk down the aisle.

After the ceremony, the rain clouds parted, and we created a bubble arch for the newlyweds to walk through in the courtyard, and then they joined their guests in the gorgeous Garden Room for drinks and photos. 

As their celebrant, I was reminded that the most memorable wedding ceremonies are those that reflect a couple’s personality – blending tradition with creativity, honouring loved ones, and adding joyful surprises along the way. I know they had some other surprises planned for later in the day for each other as well as for their guests!

To Kim and Mike: it was such a joy to be part of your story. Your wedding was filled with love, laughter, and meaning – and I know your next 10 years together will be just as magical and filled with adventure, as the first.

Laura x"