Blog posts from March2014
A Good Funeral March 31, 2014
Filed under: Celebrant, Death, Eulogy, Funerals, Thanks and Testimonials, Tradition
What exactly is a ‘good’ funeral? Is it one that upholds tradition; is very sombre; family and friends in deep mourning. Perhaps a horse-drawn hearse, an oak coffin and hymns such as The Old Rugged Cross and Guide me O though Great Jehovah’..? Lots of floral tributes, and a wake afterwards at the family home? Or […]
29 March – A landmark day! March 27, 2014
Filed under: Celebrant, Gay Weddings, LGBT, Weddings
This Saturday, 29 March 2014, the Same Sex Marriage Act comes into force. At last! Many people have worked tirelessly for years so that gays and lesbians can have the same freedom to marry as heterosexual couples. It isn’t all cut and dried though. Despite the political will, religious marriage didn’t make it onto the Statute books as the Church […]
Weddings – A Weighty Issue? March 17, 2014
Filed under: wedding dress, Weddings
Weddings – all brides want to look their best, but the recent flurry of articles about weight gain after the ring is on the bride’s finger concerns me. And I did note there was no article or study on how many pounds the groom gained after saying I do! … The Daily Telegraph recently had […]
Meet the Celebrant – It’s Wedding Fair Season! March 14, 2014
Filed under: Celebrant, Wedding Fair, Wedding Venues, Weddings
From January onwards, when there are not so many weddings booked, you might imagine it is when the Celebrant has a holiday, or a sleep…. well, no that doesn’t actually happen! Apart from the fact that I am also a Funeral Celebrant (and statistically we are busier in the winter), Christmas, New Year and […]
Mothering Sunday – but not for some March 10, 2014
Filed under: Death, Funerals, General, Readings, Thanks and Testimonials
Mothering Sunday is fast approaching – and this is a particularly difficult time for those who have lost their mother – no matter how old we are, nor how long ago the loss. If you are a supplier, please be sensitive, especially in your marketing, and especially around this time. A friend today received an email […]
Choosing the right reading March 9, 2014
Filed under: Celebrant, Poetry, Readings, Vow Renewal, Weddings
Much of my role as a celebrant involves lots of research: on the internet, where sites such as Pinterest are becoming a great source of inspiration, but also my many books of poetry, readings, song lyrics etc in order to find the right readings both to match the ceremony, the mood, the venue; as well as the […]
The Celebrant Speaks! March 6, 2014
Filed under: AudioBoo, Celebrant, Poetry, Readings, Vow Renewal, Weddings
Today is the anniversary of the birth of romantic poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning. Her poetry is much quoted, and is used often at wedding ceremonies as the words speak of love, which is unchanged through the centuries. Sonnet 43 is probably the most well-known and thus the most popular. You know – the one […]
Shrove Tuesday – last chance for marriage? March 4, 2014
Filed under: Celebrant, Symbolism, Tradition, Weddings
In the Christian calendar, Shrove Tuesday is the day before the start of Lent and a period of abstinence and fasting for 40 days. The Catholic Church used to ban eating meat, eggs or dairy produce. Every household would use up their eggs, milk, flour and butter, so as not to waste food. Incidentally, the […]
