A-Z of Weddings: C

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

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