There is simply almost nothing a Celebrant cannot do when it comes to creating your dream ceremony – imagine the perfect location, style, time of day, and the emotions you want to evoke on your special day.
Rest assured, I’m here to wholeheartedly embrace your ideas! With over 12 years of experience as a Celebrant, I’ll offer insights to ensure your Wedding Ceremony is a genuine reflection of you both, and your ideas of what for you would be a dream Wedding Ceremony. Picture a ceremony filled with personality, storytelling, love, laughter, and tears of joy – a unique and thrilling celebration marking the beginning of your marriage. As an Independent Celebrant, I specialize in tailoring ceremonies for modern couples who want to feel both involved in their ceremony style and also reassured they are being supported and cared for by an experienced pair of hands, which I know I offer you, having officiated over 475 wonderful ceremonies!
Often asked if I’m a Humanist Celebrant, the answer is no. While my ceremonies embody human emotions, choices, and dreams, I’m not confined by a Humanist non-religious philosophy. Your ceremony can be as diverse and personalized as you desire, blending the traditional with the modern. Unbound by affiliations, I provide flexibility to include elements that resonate with your values, whether religious or non-religious, respecting diverse faiths and lifestyles.
Choosing me as your Independent Celebrant grants you the freedom to hold your ceremony anywhere, at any time, infused with your unique style and ideas. Feel empowered to be as creative as you wish, incorporating symbolism and customs that reflect your adventurous spirit.
Your Wedding Day deserves to have at its heart, an unforgettable ceremony, filled with love, authenticity, excitement, and set you off perfectly for the adventure that is Marriage!
Let’s unpack some of the details and how I really can add magic to your Wedding Day!
Yvonne was truly a wonderful person to perform our ceremony. She took the time to meet with us, understand what we were about and showed passion in wanting to deliver a meaningful, bespoke ceremony for us, which she did 100%. Shereena Nain
A and M asked me to create a Fire and Water Ritual for them for their Ceremony on the Island of Salina, Italy. Image @ayeh.kphotography
Where to begin? Yvonne is not just the most lovely, kind, and funny human being, she is also incredibly caring and passionate about her job. From the very first Skype call, we knew that she was the one! She was so wonderfully open to all of our ideas and suggestions, and she poured her heart into crafting a ceremony that was truly “us”. It was a joy and an honour to have her perform our wedding ceremony – shes a treat (and also a fabulous dancer!). Thank you Yvonne, you made our day truly special. x A&M
FABULOUS WEDDING CEREMONIES
I often describe my ceremonies as “traditional, with a modern twist”, and invite my couples to really embrace their own true spirit and personalities! There will of course be elements that are familiar to everyone, the I Do, the Vows and Ring Exchange, along with wonderful storytelling, and symbolic rituals which are designed and written specifically for you.
New rituals can be created by using your own ideas, customs, traditions, and heritage, and you may also wish to have your ceremony in more than one language, which I can offer as a bilingual celebrant in English and German. My French is a little rusty, but I love a challenge!! I am currently learning basic Italian, and having spoken a few phrases in Russian and Mandarin, can definitely say that it does seem a lot easier 🙂
Popular rituals chosen to represent the joining of two people and their families, are the Unity Candle Ceremony, the Celtic style Hand Tying, a romantic and emotional Ring Warming and for couples with children, a family Sand Ceremony. There are so many more, but let’s discuss those in details at our discovery call!
Yvonne, thank you for putting together such a wonderful personalised wedding ceremony for us! You weren’t given much time (about a week if I remember rightly) to pull everything together, from chatting with us to see if we were the right fit, to writing a personalised ceremony which we wouldn’t change in a million years, even given more time. I wish you every success with your business and to anyone looking for a warm, loving and caring celebrant to conduct their ceremony I can’t recommend Yvonne enough. Chantell and Simon
Emily and Matthias had a Bilingual Ceremony at Rivervale Barn, Yateley.
USING LANGUAGE IN CEREMONIES
I am able to offer ceremonies in both English and German, which is a lovely way of ensuring all of your guests are able to really enjoy this wonderful occasion with you. My bilingual ceremonies are proving to be more and more popular each year, which is absolutely delightful as I have lots of ideas and suggestions in how to bring language as well as heritage and culture into your ceremony!
There is no “set” structure for a Bilingual Wedding, and we can discuss a variety of options, and ideas. Sometimes my couple will keep the bilingual part a surprise, and I love to look up and see the delight on the faces of guests who hear me speaking in “their” language as we move through the ceremony.
Bilingual ceremonies can include readings in both languages or different languages, the use of national or local traditions, music and even how your catering and decorations can create a wonderful fusion for you both!
Take a look at my Blog on planning a Bilingual Wedding, which goes into more detail in terms of suggestions, ideas and inspiration!
Yvonne created the most beautiful wedding ceremony for me and my wife She created a bilingual wedding ceremony, my wife is german and she spoke the vows in English, I am English and I spoke the vows in German – to show respect to one another and to our family. It was simply beautiful all our guests had the possibility to understand everything and told us both how wonderful it was to see. (Katja and Hayley.)
VOW RENEWAL and ELOPEMENT CEREMONIES
It was an absolute joy to work with you and have you as our celebrant! The ceremony you wrote was so special and captured our love so perfectly! (Kellie and Eddie who Eloped at Koenigsee, Bavaria)
Sarah and Ryan Eloped in Bavaria. @aneta_lehotska
Bilingual Wedding Ceremony for A and M on the island of Salina photo: @ayeh.kphotography
Alyssa and Ryan’s beautiful floating ceremony captured by In Love with a Wolf
You may decide to Renew your Vows, or to Elope (or even do both!) – in which case, you have full flexibility in terms of the day, time, place, and content for these ceremonies. Without the need to sign any documentation you have the option to hold a beautiful, emotional, sincere, private ceremony anywhere. This could be a Renewal at your home, or even the place you were proposed to.
If you feel a huge wedding is too stressful, or you want to experience the first days of your marriage privately and together, then an Elopement really is a wonderful solution, as it is both an exciting and adventurous experience, whether you are newlyweds or a couple entering a new chapter in your marriage.
I specialise in outdoor Elopements and Renewals, in dramatic natural locations in the German speaking parts of Europe : Austria, Switzerland and Germany. Why not elope to Europe and exchange your vows in beautiful locations, followed by a fabulous honeymoon? Taking time for yourselves and being true and authentic is so important, so if you want to reduce the “noise” then Elope and simply have a party with your friends and family when you return.
When we work together, I will share my own experiences as well as my little white book of contacts with you! I have a large network of wonderful suppliers, including photographers, MUA, florists and venues for your reception, dinner, or picnic! I highly recommend Peach Perfect Weddings, a team of amazing professionals to help your destination wedding or elopement run smoothly and stress-free!
Their kind words really mean so much!
As wedding planners, we have had the pleasure to work with Yvonne for several of our wedding ceremonies. She is a fantastic wedding celebrant and wrote the most heartfelt ceremonies for our couples – be it for an elopement with just the couple or for larger weddings with more guests. I can only recommend Yvonne to any couple who wants an intimate and highly personal ceremony for their wedding day! Thank you, Yvonne. (Peach Perfect Weddings)
Unity Candle Lighting Ceremony – flame of love protects and warms
Handfasting Ceremony – literally “the ties that bind” using the Infinity Knot, strong, and resilient
I will help you to develop your ideas, create, manage and co-ordinate all the aspects of your ceremony and be there to support you on the day itself, and will conduct your ceremony with warmth and sincerity plus a bit of personality, in front of your guests. If you wish to include religious content or hymns, then please let me know, I am happy to include faith and ritual, – as an independent Celebrant I am under no restrictions at all, and just want to help you enjoy your day by taking all your dearest wishes on board.
A Ring Warming Dish, with two rings tied loosely together which will be held by the guests and family, allowing them to confer their good wishes or blessings as they are passed from one person to the next.
Together we create a ceremony which can be traditional or modern and, we can include your guests too! For example, we can invite guests to take part in a “Ring Warming ceremony” before you complete your vows and exchange your wedding rings.
Your vows can be traditional or created just by you, for you. There is no need to follow any “standard” text and I am here to guide and advise you on writing your vows if you wish. I have a variety of Vow Writing support packages which you will find on my Packages For 2023 and 2024 Page.
Perhaps you’d like to say your vows in a favourite place? No problem! As an Indepedent Celebrant I am able to officate your ceremony in licenced or unlicenced venues, or anywhere else! You could make your promises to each other on the beach, on a boat , in a forest, at home in your garden or on a mountain top! Where necessary you will of course need to ask permission, but the options that are available to you mean that you can let your imagination soar!
We can involve children or other family members, including your fur babies (or donkeys, llamas and owl ring bearers!) in the ceremony, making it a truly special occasion, and because it’s written totally for and about you, it will be unique and unlike anyone else’s.
Yvonne is a superb Celebrant who did a fantastic job with our wedding in June 2019 in London. On the day she was great at delivering the words we had chosen together, and spoke very clearly and with warmth. She has a happy presence, and very professional, and put us all at ease, making it much easier than it could have been! We would have no hesitation in recommendng her! (John and Julie)
M and R held their bilingual wedding at R’s home in London. Nephews of the bride and groom were the adorable Ring Bearers.
HOW WE WORK TOGETHER
Working together using every technology, or when possible meeting face to face – we create the ceremony you’ve dreamed about! With unlimited drafts you’re always in full editorial control. We can have a few surprises though – perhaps you’d like to keep your personal vows as a surprise on the day? No problem – I just omit them from the draft script until your wedding day!
On the day itself I will arrive at least an hour beforehand, to introduce myself to your key guests, family, readers, and your other wedding team, photographer and any other suppliers so that everything is smooth and seamless. But there is no rush, and if showers come then we wait until they’re over. My time is yours – the whole day is blocked out for you, and I will be there, with a huge smile on my face, to support you, and deliver your perfect Ceremony!
I love being a Celebrant! This is one of my lovely couples, Kate and Peppy, at Ham Yard Hotel, London, on their breathtaking Rooftop Garden and Lounge! A beautiful personal ceremony full of love and laughter!
The current Marriage Act in England is under review, with a promise to offer more choice and flexibility to couples, but as it currently stands, it doesn’t allow Independent Celebrants to Register a Marriage, which is how to obtain the Marriage License.
The Law Review on Marriage Reform is looking to modernise Marriage and allow Independent Celebrants like myself to legally register your marriage. In the meantime, and while we wait, couples still choose me as someone who will work with them over months, even years, get to know them, understand their unique love story and create magical memories for them and their guests on their special day.
My blog on the difference between Registrars and Celebrants was written to help advise and inform couples about their options. I absolutely support the legal protection of marriage whilst also absolutely supporting that giving couples a real choice so that their ceremony is both personal, and meaningful. You can arrange to complete the legal registration in a “2 plus 2” Statutory service (two witnesses, and the couple) in your chosen Register Office, and repeat the 32 Contractual Words before the Registrar, after which you will receive your Marriage Licence.
So shall we begin this wonderful creative process together with a chat over the phone, or a zoom call? Complete the form below and I will be in touch to set up the next steps in the process with you.
She created a bilingual wedding ceremony, my wife is german and she spoke the vows in English, I am English and I spoke the vows in German – to show respect to one another and to our family. It was simply beautiful all our guests had the possibility to understand everything and told us both how wonderful it was to see. (Katja and Hayley.)
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