Meet the Experts: Weddings Words and Wishes
For anyone planning their wedding in France, I am delighted today to open The Study doors in the next of the Meet the Experts posts, where we get to meet one of the unsung wedding professions, that of wedding celebrant with Weddings Words and Wishes.
A Personalized Touch: Ray and Cherry’s Approach
Run by couple Ray and Cherry, Weddings Words & Wishes offer non-sectarian marriage ceremonies based on Humanism. Composed by former Engineer turned Marketing Manager Ray, his model text is offered to the clients in English and/or English-French combined to use as it is, or amend and add to their own vows.
Journey of Becoming Celebrants
Answering an advert back in 2010 ‘Chateau needs Celebrant’ the couple have been proud to be involved in many weddings, elopements and vow renewals which they combine with their love of gardening, concerts and wine.
Crafting Unique Ceremonies for Each Couple
Ray says: ” We aim to work with the bride and groom to create a personalized ceremony perfect for their needs and supply them with a ceremony script which they can alter and/or add to as they wish. We offer advice on flow / balance and length as well as content throughout the process.
Making the Wedding Feel Like the True Celebration
Although not a legal ceremony, our couples feel that their wedding in France is more than a blessing – It is their ‘true wedding,’ the one they will remember.
Simplifying the Process for Couples
Many people are unsure of the process of working with a celebrant, but our aim is to make their wedding planning easier, while creating a bespoke service. In addition to the wedding ceremony text we send them documents to aid wedding planning such as;
- Ideas for readings and poems for family or friends to read during the ceremony.
- Helpful Hints on planning a ceremony
- A sample marriage declaration for signing during the ceremony.
Securing Your Special Day
We ask for a deposit to secure the date and we send them a Registration Form to complete and return. Script etc. are then sent and it is then for the clients to choose elements they would like to include in their script or add in any of their own!
Building a Strong Relationship with Clients
All of our clients are planning destination celebrations, but being able to skype, or meet face-to-face, getting to know them and giving them confidence in us is the key. A good working relationship with the client follows. It also tells us about them.
A Global Reach: Serving Couples from Around the World
We have worked with clients from Australia, New Zealand, China, U.S.A Canada, Denmark and Norway as well as UK, France and Eire.
Ensuring a Smooth Ceremony on the Day
On the day of the actual wedding we would arrive at least an hour before the ceremony to relax the couple and make sure everything runs smoothly.
Offering Unique Wedding Ceremonies
We offer a number of services or ‘Petites Ceremonies’:
- The Loving Cup: a glass goblet filled with our local Blanquette de Limoux to share and then keep to use again on their anniversary.
- The Candle of Unity in Marriage.
- The Sand Ceremony.
- Tying the Knot to seal the Vows.
- Lighting a Candle for Absent Loved-ones.
- Signing a Marriage Declaration.
A Keepsake to Cherish
As part of the service clients are happy to find they keep their Script folder: a keepsake to take home of their words, complete with music selection and Readings.
A Dedicated Team for Your Special Day
The best thing about us here at Weddings Words and Wishes is that we are a team: Cherry takes care of the admin and contact with the client before the day. We can both be involved for skypes and editing and advising on the script and, of course, performing on the day!
Making the Bride and Groom’s Day Magical
We are always aware that this is the Bride and Groom’s Magic Day and do our best to make sure their ceremony is perfect and memorable.
Special Moments and Funny Stories
This applies two-fold when we learn there is a baby and we suggest they add the Baby Naming as a follow-on ceremony. Amazing!
My time as a celebrant so far has been filled with funny stories including; a four-yr-old page boy, who couldn’t be persuaded to part with the rings, a Groom who drank all the sparkling wine in the Loving Cup leaving none for his Bride, a Groom who forgot to give the rings to his Best Man before the Ceremony -we had to delay the bridal party while he scaled 4 flights of spiral stairs in the chateau turret to get them – maybe not funny at the time.
The Best Part of Being a Celebrant
Our favourite part? The moment you know the couple are relaxed, enjoying it and will remember their Wedding Ceremony always.
Celebrating Love in Beautiful Locations
Weddings Words and Wishes is available for a wide variety of celebrations, weddings, elopements and vow renewals in châteaux, wine domaines, private villas, salle-de-fêtes, private chapels, fields of flowers, vineyards and even bridges. Anywhere really!”
To find out how Weddings Words and Wishes can be your wedding day celebrant visit www.weddingswordsandwishes.com or see their contact information below.
