Welcome
I’m thrilled to welcome you to my blog, a unique corner of the internet dedicated to exploring the rich tapestry of marriage ceremonies. Whether you’re about to say "I do" or you’re a fellow celebrant, this blog is here to provide inspiration, information, and a window into my way of thinking about all things wedding-related.

• What this blog offers
• Why I blog about weddings
• Delve into a topic to answer a question or find some inspiration
• Browse the latest posts in order of posting

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What This Blog Offers My aim is to offer an educational resource that not only informs but also celebrates diversity, inclusion, and the true essence of partnership. Here's what you can expect: Legal Insights: Understanding the legal framework is crucial for both couples and celebrants. Dive into detailed articles that demystify the legal requirements of getting married, ensuring you're fully prepared for the big day. Traditions Explored: Ever wondered why we incorporate certain rituals in weddings? I delve into the history and significance of traditional elements, offering fresh perspectives and alternative ideas that resonate with modern values. Inclusive Practices: Love is for everyone. I'm passionate about promoting equality and inclusion within wedding ceremonies. Discover inclusive practices and how they can be woven into the fabric of your celebration. Inspiration Galore: Looking for unique ideas to personalise your ceremony? This blog is brimming with creative suggestions, from the vows to the venue, ensuring your day is as unique as your love story.

Why I Blog About Weddings For the sheer joy of it: Sharing my thoughts is like inviting you into my world, where curiosity reigns, and asking “Why?” leads to delightful discoveries. This blog (like my books and the pieces I write for other publications)  is very much the product of my own experience as a celebrant and of being a person who never just accepts "the way it has always been done". To celebrate diversity : Through this blog, I aim to encourage inclusivity by helping couples weave meaningful customs into their ceremonies. Let’s celebrate the wonderful diversity that weddings offer!  To build community: This blog is more than just a collection of ideas; it’s a supportive space for anyone planning a wedding. Whether you're a couple or a fellow celebrant, I hope you find a sense of community here To empower creativity: My goal is to inspire creativity, urging couples and celebrants to think outside the box.

Delve into a topic to answer a question or find some inspiration ... It is likely that in my blog you'll find answers to questions you never thought to ask. But if there is something you want to know shoot me a message. I love a challenge!

About getting married (the legal bits) About weddings (of all kinds) About other ceremonies (Naming Ceremonies, Renewal of Vows, Divorce Ceremonies) About Celebrants

About changing your name (optional- either one of you can choose to change) About Dating and Proposing Guest Blog Posts blog posts I've written as a guest blogger  Professional Articles written for a celebrant audience (great for self-serve continuing professional education)

• Animals and Weddings - posts about including your fur kids and other animals in your wedding

• Children and Weddings - posts about including children in your wedding

• Days of the Week for Weddings - traditions and opportunities that come with the day you choose

• Handfasting
  

• Inclusive Weddings - posts about aspects of weddings that are inclusive of culture, gender, sexuality, and ability, etc
• Pinned posts
  
• Equality in your ceremony
  
• Including family and friends
  
• Ageism
  
• Culture
• Disability and Neurodiversity
  
• Gender and Sexual Orientation

• Irish Weddings - posts about various aspects of weddings in the Irish Tradition

• Scottish Weddings
• Scottish Wedding Traditions and Rituals
• Scottish Wedding Attire
• Tartan
  

• Vows
• Writing your vows
• Getting Help to Write Your Vows
  
• Types of vows
• Legal Requirements for your vows
  
• Random thoughts about vows
• Saying your vows - or reading them
• After the ceremony

• Wedding Attire -posts about what you wear
• Wedding dresses
• Groom's attire
  
• Wedding flowers
• Wedding accessories
• Guest attire
  

• Wedding Budget - posts about wedding budgets and how to save money and prioritise expenditure
• Wedding costs
  
• What celebrants charge
• Some budget-friendly ideas
  
• Wedding budgets
  
• Wedding Budget wreckers
  
• After the wedding
  

• Wedding Ceremony - posts about various aspects of the ceremony
• Thoughts about wedding ceremonies
• Dealing with wedding stresses and worries
• There are no "rules"
• Wedding ceremony choreography
• Including friends and loved ones in your ceremony
  
• Ceremony styling
• You might not have considered this ...
• Wedding readings

• Wedding Legals - posts about what it takes to make your marriage legal
• About Witnesses
• About Giving Notice
• About Certificates and Signing
• About Legal Requirements for the Ceremony
• About Changing your Name
• About Consent
• About Destination Weddings - both here and there
• Other Things to Know about Legal Marriage

• Wedding Planning - lots of different aspects of planning your wedding, all of them important
• Before you start planning
  
• Mythbusting
  
• Setting the date
• Essentials
  
• Funding your wedding
  
• Plan B: how to plan for when things don't go to plan
• Choices, choices, choices
• Including children and animals
  
• Venue
  
• Dealing with Stresses and Dilemmas
• Rehearsing
  
• After the wedding
• Things you might not have considered

• Wedding Rings

• Wedding Rituals - sometimes called sub-ceremonies
• Unity Rituals
• Rituals involving others
• Food for thought about Rituals

• Wedding Superstitions

• Wedding Traditions - there are so many traditions around weddings that people often think of them as rules. Expect to find facts about the history of these, plus some provocative thoughts from me. (Hint: Wedding traditions are peer pressure from previous generations and many stem from superstitions that are no longer relevant)

• General thoughts about tradition and weddings
• Traditions about Luck
• Tradition and Before the wedding
• Your Wedding Party
• Tradition and your Ceremony
• After Ceremony traditions
  

ABOUT OTHER CEREMONIES

• Divorce Ceremonies - posts about ceremonies to mark the end of a marriage or a relationship, of parting of the ways
• Naming Ceremonies |Reasons to hold a naming ceremony | Planning a Naming Ceremony | Naming Ceremony Rituals |
  
• Vow Renewals - posts about renewing your vows (Vow Reaffirmations)

DATING AND PROPOSING

• 18 Romantic Things to do while in Lockdown  - Great ideas for a romantic date night at home.
• Proposing and Proposals - posts about proposing and proposals

COVID-19 Coronavirus - information and ideas about weddings (retained for historical interest)