Whoever I'm working with on the design of a ceremony or a service, you'll hear me at some point explaining how the draft is likely to look.
This is because I'm preparing them for a piece of writing that is coming through that will at times look odd. It will at various points feel awkward to read...........And I can guarantee that it would fail any academic english language or grammar test! The reason is simple. My ceremonies are written to be 'heard' and not 'read'.
When I'm presenting a service whether that be a funeral, a renewal of vows or perhaps a baby naming ceremony - then the language, pace, tone, punctuation and overall presentation carries just as much weight, if not more sometimes, than the actual written content. Writing to be 'heard' is very different from writing pieces that are to be read and digested. When you're writing to be heard, you're writing for immmediate impact!
In my design work I make more use of language patterns. I systematically hit all of the senses. I speak in colour as well as in 'black and white'. I draw from the past as well as take people into the future. I talk 'big picture' alongside the detail.........and lots more. It all goes to putting together a ceremony that is engaging, interesting and unforgettable.
Your ceremonies are a one off experience. You won't get a second chance to run them again. So make sure you use a celebrant that's experienced in creative writing and presenting. It's the only way to guarantee great design and delivery of your ceremony.
I'm an award winning, professional Civil Celebrant who designs warm and imaginative non-religious & part-religious ceremonies: from Weddings to Funerals, and Baby Namings to Vow Renewals.....and I'm just as proud and attentive of my next ceremony as I was when I did my very first!
Sunday 23 October 2011
Friday 14 October 2011
'Hello' magazine gives examples of garden weddings!
It was another capuccino moment that sparked this latest blog! I put my hands up to admitting that I work best when I'm in 'thinking' and reflective mode!
I'd been having a chat that morning with a mum whose daughter is getting married next year - and explaining how using a celebrant for the wedding ceremony can give you something different. Then I opened the October issue of 'Hello'. Now if you have one to hand - then turn to the pages which celebrate the different weddings.
You'll read about how Mr and Mrs - "....got married in the gardens of the father of the bride......"
So how can you get married in your own gardens and exchange vows anywhere?
Let's put the record straight. Only a registrar from the Council or the member of your clergy can legally marry you here in England - that's when we start talking about church weddings or licensed civil venues. It's different in Scotland and in other countries, but that's where we are in England so let's just work with it. But how you 'celebrate' that wedding is entirely within your own gift.
So there's nothing stopping couples going to 'register' their marriage at the Register Office and doing the bare, basic legal minimum requirements - and then coming away to hold their wedding ceremony complete with the exchange of vows - at a place and time that matters most to them!
So why would you take this approach? Well if any of the following appeals to you, then have a chat with me!
Next time you read about someone getting married in their landscaped gardens, on the top of woodland or underneath their favourite 200 year old oak tree - chances are they used a Celebrant!
The approach doesn't appeal to everyone - but if you're getting married for the second, third or fourth time then something different like this could be quite exciting for you. And if you've had enough of the corporate and 'like-for-like' wedding packages, then this way of getting married is right up your street!
I'd been having a chat that morning with a mum whose daughter is getting married next year - and explaining how using a celebrant for the wedding ceremony can give you something different. Then I opened the October issue of 'Hello'. Now if you have one to hand - then turn to the pages which celebrate the different weddings.
You'll read about how Mr and Mrs - "....got married in the gardens of the father of the bride......"
So how can you get married in your own gardens and exchange vows anywhere?
Let's put the record straight. Only a registrar from the Council or the member of your clergy can legally marry you here in England - that's when we start talking about church weddings or licensed civil venues. It's different in Scotland and in other countries, but that's where we are in England so let's just work with it. But how you 'celebrate' that wedding is entirely within your own gift.
So there's nothing stopping couples going to 'register' their marriage at the Register Office and doing the bare, basic legal minimum requirements - and then coming away to hold their wedding ceremony complete with the exchange of vows - at a place and time that matters most to them!
So why would you take this approach? Well if any of the following appeals to you, then have a chat with me!
- Complete freedom to design readings, vows and the whole content of your ceremony - you don't have to go along with what's offered to you and every other couple that comes through the doors!
- The opportunity to have the ceremony outdoors, in your own gardens, on your nearest beach, perhaps even at the place where the proposal took place - you can hold the ceremony anywhere and at anytime and aren't restricted to licensed venues.
- The choice of personalising this most significant chapter of your life - and having a photo album like no other!
Next time you read about someone getting married in their landscaped gardens, on the top of woodland or underneath their favourite 200 year old oak tree - chances are they used a Celebrant!
The approach doesn't appeal to everyone - but if you're getting married for the second, third or fourth time then something different like this could be quite exciting for you. And if you've had enough of the corporate and 'like-for-like' wedding packages, then this way of getting married is right up your street!
Monday 3 October 2011
"Oh you're a humanist?"..............Short Answer - No...I'm an Independent Celebrant.
I've just spent a few days in Wales working with some previous clients from my consultancy world - and I also tacked on a few extra days to make the most of our last 2011 heatwave! As ever, people are interested in my growing celebrancy business and what that actually means.
I'm no longer surprised at the immediate response of "Oh, you're a humanist then?" The world is good at seeing things in black and white - it's an easy way to label things and put them into boxes. So you're either religious or if not, then you're an atheist - and that means humanism!
Now over recent times, that's been the growing trend - and humanism has developed in its' own right. The British Humanist Association (BHA) is evidence of this popularity and the celebrancy career has fitted neatly into this. But society isn't so black and white and often peoples' beliefs aren't always that clear cut.
My own values and beliefs steered me away from humanism. I'm much more comfortable being able to wander loosely, with curiosity - and to dip in and out of ideas and thoughts, rather than follow a clear cut line of beliefs. That's why when I entered the career of celebrancy, I chose the approach that best suited this lifestyle - an independent and 'middle of the road' stance. I chose to become an Independent Celebrant rather than a Humanist. For me, it was absolutely the right move.
My business which provides non-religious or semi-religious ceremonies and services gives you the best of both worlds. If you or some of your guests want a snippet of religion in there like a private prayer or hymn, then I can do this. If I was a humanist, the answer would be no........not at all. And if you don't want religion in at all, then my approach fits that too!
I'm finding that when given the choice, people actually quite like having the option to include religious or spiritual aspects into the service. It lets them value the beliefs of others as well as their own during a service or ceremony. It's not such a black and white approach after all.............But you do just need to know that you do have another option beside humanism - an Independent Celebrant.
If you're interested in finding out more, then visit the web site for our Professional Fellowship of Independent Celebrants - it describes our ethos and ways of working that might just appeal to you for your next celebration!
www.professionalcelebrants.org.uk
I'm no longer surprised at the immediate response of "Oh, you're a humanist then?" The world is good at seeing things in black and white - it's an easy way to label things and put them into boxes. So you're either religious or if not, then you're an atheist - and that means humanism!
Now over recent times, that's been the growing trend - and humanism has developed in its' own right. The British Humanist Association (BHA) is evidence of this popularity and the celebrancy career has fitted neatly into this. But society isn't so black and white and often peoples' beliefs aren't always that clear cut.
My own values and beliefs steered me away from humanism. I'm much more comfortable being able to wander loosely, with curiosity - and to dip in and out of ideas and thoughts, rather than follow a clear cut line of beliefs. That's why when I entered the career of celebrancy, I chose the approach that best suited this lifestyle - an independent and 'middle of the road' stance. I chose to become an Independent Celebrant rather than a Humanist. For me, it was absolutely the right move.
My business which provides non-religious or semi-religious ceremonies and services gives you the best of both worlds. If you or some of your guests want a snippet of religion in there like a private prayer or hymn, then I can do this. If I was a humanist, the answer would be no........not at all. And if you don't want religion in at all, then my approach fits that too!
I'm finding that when given the choice, people actually quite like having the option to include religious or spiritual aspects into the service. It lets them value the beliefs of others as well as their own during a service or ceremony. It's not such a black and white approach after all.............But you do just need to know that you do have another option beside humanism - an Independent Celebrant.
If you're interested in finding out more, then visit the web site for our Professional Fellowship of Independent Celebrants - it describes our ethos and ways of working that might just appeal to you for your next celebration!
www.professionalcelebrants.org.uk
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