Dawn Kemp - Celebrant
  • HOME
  • CEREMONIES
    • FUNERAL >
      • SERVICES AVAILABLE
      • HUMANIST CEREMONIES & FAITH SERVICES
      • BOOKING YOUR FUNERAL CELEBRANT
      • FUNERAL OPTIONS
    • NAMING & WELCOMING
    • WEDDING & VOW RENEWAL >
      • RITUAL & SYMBOLIC ACTS
      • VIP AREA - COUPLES
    • INCLUSIVE: LGBTQ+ and ALTERNATIVE CEREMONIES
  • REVIEWS
  • BLOG
  • CONTACT

Blog

A-Z of Weddings: C

9/8/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
Inspiration for your wedding, civil partnership or vow renewal
​3 Ideas – 3 Venues – 3 Suppliers
Picture
Ideas

Candles

Candles are a popular decoration for weddings, as part of the décor, or part of the ceremony. Check with your venue whether lit candles are permitted; of course, many venue stylists use LED candles to great effect.

A unity candle ritual is a beautiful symbolic demonstration of the joining of two lives and two families. A large pillar candle is flanked by two slim taper candles. Traditionally, the two taper candles are lit by the couple’s mothers (but it doesn’t have to be), and then the couple use these to light the large candle, to create a shared flame.

Candles can be customised with your names, monogram, the date, and a design that matches your décor. If you’d like to incorporate other people, such as children, a display of tea lights in a heart or spiral looks pretty. For safety, it’s an idea to have a wooden splint and a small glass of water to hand.

If you’re remembering a lost loved one, a candle is a touching way to incorporate them within your ceremony. It’s up to you whether you’d like to light the candle as part of your ceremony with a few words of remembrance and a pause for reflection, or simply to have it there as a guiding light throughout.
 
Civil
This word is used in different ways, and it can cause confusion.
‘Civil marriage’ or ‘civil partnership’ is the term used by registrars to refer to the legal registration of a couple’s relationship. It’s distinct from religious marriage, conducted by a recognised faith leader in a place of worship.

Civil marriage is secular – the service cannot include religious content. Some couples may not have their preferred music or readings, if they are considered ‘religious’, but the lines are vague.
E.g. Robbie Williams ‘Angels’ or Aretha Franklin’s ‘Say a Little Prayer’ may be permitted, but ‘Pie Jesu’ or ‘Ave Maria’ might not be - you need to discuss this with a registrar.
So: LEGAL REGISTRATION, NO RELIGION PERMITTED

‘Civil celebrant’ means a celebrant not affiliated to any belief system or worldview, whether that is religious/spiritual, or a humanist organisation. Civil celebrants reflect the wishes of their clients; their personal beliefs are irrelevant. Whether a couple require an entirely secular wedding or vow renewal ceremony, or if they’d like some touches of faith – spiritual music playing, singing a hymn, or having a spiritual reading or poem, a civil celebrant will accommodate that.
So: NO LEGAL REGISTRATION, ALL BELIEFS EMBRACED

‘Civil Ceremonies’ is a celebrant training company, that enables celebrants to achieve the only nationally recognised qualification for civil celebrants – the NOCN Diploma (it’s where I trained in weddings). A couple of other training providers offer this too.
 
Cocktails
Marriage is like a cocktail – different elements combine to make something unique. Mixed in the right combination, it’s the perfect recipe for a happy couple and a lush cocktail.
Who doesn’t love a pretty cocktail or mocktail!?
If you’re partial to them, they can be part of your ceremony too.

Here are some ideas. Why not have…
  • Cocktail toast instead of bubbly.
  • Signature cocktails served on arrival or at reception – a classic, or new one created for or by you (just 2 or 3 ingredients is best – keep it simple, and practise).
  • Cocktail mixing ritual, where you create your cocktail yourselves as part of your ceremony. It fun and looks great where there’s a colour change.
  • Shared unity cocktail – seal your promises with a sip from a pretty flute, goblet, or quaich (a two handled Celtic cup)
  • Your cocktail (re)named for the day, connecting to something personal – favourite TV, movie or music.
  • Ingredients that symbolise marriage, or your past and future hopes – bitter and sweet, bright and fun, traditional and modern. E.g. coconut for the exotic honeymoon you’ll share, cranberry to remember the Christmas you met, honey as that’s your pet name for your beloved. 
 
Links:

Venues - C

Remember – a celebrant-led ceremony of any type can take place at any venue; it doesn’t have to be licensed for civil weddings/partnerships. Here are some venues for a Lincolnshire or Yorkshire  wedding.

Carlton Manor Hull
https://www.instagram.com/carltonmanoryorkshire
https://facebook.com/carltonmanoryorkshire

Cave Castle Hotel
https://www.facebook.com//cavecastle
https://www.instagram.com/cavecastlehotel/

Cleatham Hall Gainsborough
https://www.facebook.com/CleathamHall
https://www.instagram.com/cleathamhall/

Suppliers - C
​

Chris Waud Photography
https://www.facebook.com/christopherwaud
https://www.chriswaudphotography.com/

Coates Couture
https://www.facebook.com/CoatesCouturebridal
https://www.instagram.com/coatescouturebridal

Crosskills Florist
https://www.facebook.com/CrosskillsFlorist
https://www.instagram.com/crosskills_flowershop
0 Comments

    From Dawn

    Welcome to the blog. Contact me if there's anything you'd like me to cover about celebrants, ceremonies (including weddings, namings, funerals) or related topics such a s vow writing, funeral planning etc.
    ​Dawn x


    Archives

    November 2024
    July 2024
    March 2024
    August 2023
    April 2023
    January 2023
    November 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    November 2021
    July 2021
    May 2021
    March 2021
    December 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    July 2020
    May 2020

    Categories

    All
    2ofHarps
    Abbey Farm
    Abbys
    A Booth And Beyond
    Aisle
    Alternative Ceremonies
    Alternative Funeral
    Amy Lauren Weddings
    Angel Gowns
    Animals
    Anna Belle Designs
    Anniversary
    Approved Venue
    Ashbourne
    Ashes
    Ashes Jewellery
    Award
    Bardney Hall
    Barn Wedding
    Bequeathment
    Bereavement Services
    Best Man
    BIFD
    Bingo
    Black Wedding Dress
    Blessing
    Blue Dragon Tearoom
    Boho
    Booking
    Breeze Memorials
    Bridal Gown
    Bridal Reloved Caistor
    Bride
    Brush And Pen
    Bunny Hill Weddings
    Burial
    Carlton Manor
    Cave Castle Hotel
    Celebrant
    Celebrant Cost
    Celebrant Plus
    Celebrants Collective
    Celebrants Near Me
    Celebration Of Life
    Christmas
    Chris Waud
    Civil Celebrant
    Civil Ceremonies
    Civil Marriage
    Civil Partnership
    Cleatham Hall
    CMA
    Coates Couture
    Cocktails
    Code Of Practise
    Coffin
    Coffin Club
    Cooperative Funeralcare
    Coroners Report
    Cottage Core
    COVID
    Cremation
    Crematorium Diary
    Crematorium Service Diary
    Cremulator
    Crosskills Florist
    Dandrew Photography
    Danny Inwood Photography
    Death Announcements
    Debbie Roe Photography
    Destination Wedding
    Diamond Ring
    Dignity Funerals
    DipFD
    Diploma
    Direct Cremation
    Doddington Hall
    Dower House Hotel
    Dunedin Country House
    East Midlands Wedding
    Elderflower Events
    Elizabeth Kate Bridal
    Elm Tree Hundleby
    Elopement
    Elsham Hall
    Enchanted Garden
    Essence Flowers
    Fake Wedding
    #FCD24
    Fire Eater
    FSJ
    Funeral
    Funeral Celebrant
    Funeral Celebrant Day
    Funeral Celebrants Near Me
    Funeral Date
    Funeral Director
    Funeral Notices
    Funeral Planning
    Funeral Regulation
    Funeral Service
    GCCM
    Golf
    Green Funeral
    Grief
    Grimsby
    Grimsby Crematorium
    Grimsby Funeral
    Grimsby Live
    Groom
    Guess Who
    Guest Contributor
    Hull Funeral
    Humanist
    Independent Funeral Home
    Interview
    Jason Threadgold Funeral Director
    Jenga
    Kettle Funeral
    Law Commission
    Licensed Venue
    Lincolnshire
    Lincolnshire Celebrant
    Lincolnshire Co Op Funeral
    Lincolnshire Co-op Funeral
    Lincolnshire Wedding
    Lockdown
    Magician
    Memorial
    Midwinter
    Mr And Mrs
    NAFD
    Near & Near Undertakers
    NOCN Diploma
    Obituary
    Outdoor Wedding
    Pet
    Pet Funeral
    Preloved
    Press Feature
    Quaich
    Radio Humberside
    Red Wedding Dress
    Register Office
    Registrar
    Religious Funeral
    Renewal Of Vows
    Repatriation
    Ring
    Rustic
    SAIF
    Self Care
    Shoe Game
    Shroud
    Small Wedding
    Speech
    Statutory Ceremony
    Stilt Walker
    Symbolic Act
    The Wedding Industry Awards
    Treasured Memories
    TWIA
    TWIA23
    TWIA23EM
    TWIA23YNE
    Twilight Funeral
    Undertaker
    Unity Candle
    Video
    Wedding
    Wedding Band
    Wedding Cake
    Wedding Caterer
    Wedding Celebrant
    Wedding Cost
    Wedding DJ
    Wedding Dress
    Wedding Flowers
    Wedding Games
    Wedding Guests
    Wedding Hair
    Wedding Inspo
    Wedding Photographer
    Wedding Planner
    Wedding Reception
    Wedding Suppliers
    Wedding Travel
    Wedding Venues
    Wedding Venue Stylist
    Weekend Funeral
    When Is The Funeral
    White Wedding
    World Celebrants Week
    Yorkshire Wedding

    RSS Feed

SERVICES

​WEDDING
FUNERAL
NAMING

INFORMATION

ABOUT ME
REVIEWS
BLOG
FEES
 
​​​​​

Support

Ts & Cs / PRIVACY
CONTACT ME
​LINKS
Picture
​© DAWN KEMP 2025
​ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
  • HOME
  • CEREMONIES
    • FUNERAL >
      • SERVICES AVAILABLE
      • HUMANIST CEREMONIES & FAITH SERVICES
      • BOOKING YOUR FUNERAL CELEBRANT
      • FUNERAL OPTIONS
    • NAMING & WELCOMING
    • WEDDING & VOW RENEWAL >
      • RITUAL & SYMBOLIC ACTS
      • VIP AREA - COUPLES
    • INCLUSIVE: LGBTQ+ and ALTERNATIVE CEREMONIES
  • REVIEWS
  • BLOG
  • CONTACT