The owner, Rebecca Douglas, tells us: "I have always loved weddings, even as a little girl. There is a photograph of me, age two, looking longingly at a bride, and I could turn anything into a veil or wedding gown when playing dress-up. However, it would be a while before I became a bride and even longer before I chased my dream of working in the wedding industry.
"Friends and family often told me I should become a celebrant when hearing me give readings at weddings. This started playing on my mind, but the timing was never right. I knew I had the skills, I trained as an actress so I am confident speaking in front of people, I’ve worked as a PA in the city so I am very organised and, until recently, worked as a primary school teacher so I am open, approachable and empathetic. These qualities would help me in this role, but my passion for weddings, helping people and putting on a good show eventually encouraged me to start my own celebrant business.
"After returning to work from maternity leave, I realised I couldn’t ignore the desire to work in weddings anymore, so I started my celebrant training. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed writing and relished immersing myself in creating ceremonies for various events. I had a celebrant at my own wedding, as to me, the couples love story, and the ceremony is the most important part of the day. I didn’t want my wedding to be like everyone else’s and say the same words everybody else does, I wanted my day to be different and stand out in people’s memories. That is the beauty of having a celebrant lead your wedding as firstly you can get married anywhere, opening up endless possibilities for couples, but more importantly, the ceremony can be completely bespoke and tailored to you.
"I like to work with my couples to tailor the ceremony to their wishes. Most of the things people want to include in their wedding, for example, the vows, the rings and the first kiss are all ceremonial and not needed legally. Therefore in our consultations, you may decide that you want vows but not the rings and replace that with handfasting, or you might be two families joining together and decide you want to involve your children in the ceremony, so choose to do a sand ceremony or all say vows to each other. Some people choose a celebrant so they can involve their pet or their favourite film and have a themed wedding. There are also no restrictions on songs or readings either.
"I work with you to create your love story. It can be completely light-hearted or more traditional, but the words I write are written for you, so you can guarantee that your ceremony is completely unique. I like to keep in contact with my couples throughout the writing process, making any changes necessary. It is really exciting when you get your final copy as everything starts to feel more real and that bit closer. Working in the wedding industry is every bit as wonderful as I thought it would be, and I get so excited for every one of you. So, if you want your ceremony to be personal and unique to you, then get in touch. I cannot wait to hear from you."
ALDI reveals scent-sational summer home fragrances
Looking to add a touch of luxury to your home (or wedding this summer) without the designer price tag? Aldi has unveiled its latest Hotel Collection home fragrance range, with prices starting from just £3.99. Available in stores from June, the collection sees the return of customer favourites including the Premium Hotel Collection candles in Bergamot & Vanilla, alongside new summer-inspired scents such as Waffle Cone Sundae, Tropical Hibiscus, Lemon and Neroli and Sea Salt & White Sails. The range also includes reed diffusers and classic fragrances such as Cardinal Red, Liquid Luxe and Intense Passion, allowing shoppers to layer scent throughout the home.
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RSVPing 'YES' to multiple weddings? Here's how to budget!
Attending weddings can be a joyous occasion, but it can also be expensive, particularly if you're invited to more than one over the course of the year. Costs such as new outfits, travel and accommodation, and gifts mean the overall expense of attending can quickly add up. Duncan Fortune, Head of Commercial at Tesco Bank, says: "Wedding season can be a significant expense for households. Planning ahead and setting a dedicated budget for celebrations can help spread the cost over several months, allowing people to make the most of the celebrations while keeping their finances on track."
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How to treat the father-of-the-bride this Father's Day
Father's Day is the perfect excuse to celebrate the father of the bride. After all, he's been there through the wedding planning, the emotional speeches, the last-minute panics and probably more than a few budget discussions too. Whether the wedding has already happened or it's still to come, Father's Day is a brilliant opportunity to show him just how much he's appreciated. If you're looking to do something a little more exciting than buying another novelty mug or pair of socks, wedding experts The Stag Company share their favourite experiences that can make the day feel extra special.
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Say it with chocolate: Tony’s Chocolonely’s personalised wedding bars
Ethical chocolate brand Tony's Chocolonely is helping couples add a personalised touch to their wedding celebrations with its customisable chocolate bars, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional wedding favours. From engagement announcements and bridesmaid proposals to place settings and guest gifts, the brand's personalised bars can be tailored with names, photographs, table plans or bespoke messages, creating a keepsake that guests can enjoy long after the celebrations have ended.
