I absolutely love an end of year review, and I remember saying last year I would love nothing more than for the 2024 review to be set out to music with photos and video clips beautifully blended together, but alas I am still not at that level of creativity. So words and a few images it is!
The year started off with a fabulous surprise Vow Renewal for Sally and Gary at Hotel Du Vin in Birmingham. They arranged a party to celebrate Sally's sixtieth birthday, but didn't tell guests a vow renewal ceremony would be included in honour of their thirty fifth wedding anniversary. I had a fabulous time hiding in plain sight, mingling with guests who all presumed I was either a family member or friend they weren't familiar with, or a rude hotel guest who didn't care it was a private function. When all was revealed, with the aid of a video which captured Gary re-proposing, the guests were as shocked as they were elated. The ceremony included personal pieces written for each other, readings by family members (who were in on everything) and a beautiful sing-a-long of "I love you baby" to finish. Just lovely.
March's wedding took place in one of my favourite venues, Hampton Manor. Adrienne and Charlie were teenage sweethearts and their journey together has been filled with adventures, growth, success and just pure magic fuelled by their support for each other and the love from their brilliant family and friends. Readings from family members which were kept a surprise until the day added to the emotion and the personal vows Charlie and Adrienne wrote to each other were just gorgeous. The applause for their first kiss will forever go down as the loudest I've ever heard and everyone wants to do this, but very few actually do, they stopped half way down the aisle for the most stunning dip and kiss! As a side note, I've mentioned a few times during my own wedding journey that I was inspired by one of my brides to be assertive and proud of what I don't want or don't like as much as what I do, Adrienne was that bride. So as much as I loved been a part of their stunning day, I also will be forever grateful for that bit of personal empowerment I took away.
Photo Credit: Stephy T Photography
April took me to The Old Cow Shed for the wedding of Jess and Dan. They actually reached out to me through Instagram last Summer and I was ever so nervous incase I wasn't as cool in real life as I appeared on my grid! Meeting this gorgeous couple, along with their beautiful fur baby Luna was a delight. Their story was amazing, and writing their ceremony gave me all the happiness. Featuring a piano entrance played by Dan's best mate, a personal reading from Jess' best friend and the most spectacular entrance of Luna the ring bearer, this one had it all, including a shot of either sambucca or apple sours at the end, and I loved every minute.
Photo Credit: Kayley Bull Photography
Onto June now where it was finally time for the wedding of Natalie and Chris. Two years since we first spoke it was magical to see their planning all come to life in this completely handmade ceremony setting. Mis-matched chairs, handfasting and so much heartfelt family involvement, the authenticity of this wedding was just extraordinary. They requested an infinity knot for the handfasting, and I'd been practicing relentlessly because you truly get one shot, but it was perfect, just like their day.
Photo Credit: SMW Photography
July began with the Vow Renewal of Kevin and Tracey. Organised mostly by Tracey's daughter Kirsty, this day was all about families, treasuring memories and their hopes for the future. I incorporated a poem into the ceremony that I'd actually wrote back in my celebrant training days, which felt like a lovely little nod to my journey while celebrating theirs.
Later in the month I had the lovely honour of conducting the wedding of Becky and Richard at Hogarths in Solihull, I really loved this one! It was intimate, so very beautiful and all the magic of their relationship sparkled through immensely. Like me, they are massive Gavin and Stacey fans, so we just had to include a few references. And another fur baby ring bearer in the form of Becky's family dog, I just love dogs at weddings!!! A lovely reading by Becky's Mum and the handfasting was assisted by Richard's parents making it a real family affair. This was simply the sweetest day.
Photo Credit: In Circles Photography
The first wedding of August was for the brilliant Kate and Tom, held at The Engine Room in Digbeth. I absolutely love Digbeth so being able to conduct a wedding here was a dream. This venue is so perfect and the staff were so friendly, they genuinely felt like friends of the wedding party. I took my Mum along to this one and it was just so cute seeing her sitting there, and of course she joined in with the tequila shots at the end!
The second August wedding and my final one of 2024 came along on the 24th of the month at New Hall Hotel in Sutton Coldfield...and it was ours! After many years and many times of being on the other side of the fairytale, and of being the first person in the ceremony room, it was so surreal to be the last one to enter! For years we'd planned an outdoor ceremony, the night before the Child of Prague statue was placed in the garden and me and the girls even buried a sausage in the grounds of the hotel (tell me you're Irish without telling me you're Irish!) but the morning of the wedding we woke up to an overcast sky and a slightly damp air. I stressed and cried and paced the floor, agreeing to call it two hours before, eventually deciding to go with an indoor ceremony! And you know what, it was the perfect decision! The Great Chamber was magnificent and we spent the rest of the afternoon outside in the sunshine that appeared! I loved writing our ceremony script, blending our love story in with all of our favourite things, like song lyrics, lines from TV shows and of course a "That's what she said!" which is the reason I'm laughing in the photo below...
Photo Credit: Rosie Kelly Photography
We taped a coin under one of the chairs and just before the vows everyone excitedly searched to see who had it and got to toss the coin to see which one of us read our vows first. Our string quartet, who were beyond amazing, even played a suspenseful tune at this moment which was perfect. I walked in to Iris by the Goo Goo Dolls, our first Kiss was to Big Me by The Foo Fighters and we walked out to Learn to Fly, also by The Foos. The whole day was a beautiful blur but I also felt so in the moment and loved every second of becoming a Mrs!
Photo Credit: Rosie Kelly Photography
I decided to give myself the rest of the year off from ceremonies, have a little rest and enjoy being married, so am now so excited to get started with my 2025 couples and create the magic for them. Because now I know what it feels like myself, it really is even more of an honour to be a part of!
Photo Credit: Rosie Kelly Photography
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