A Wedding Celebrant’s Day

6am

I’m definitely a morning person, so I’m always up by 6.30am. It might sound cheesy but I always do some yoga, which stretches and grounds me, then shower, wash my hair and get a bit of make up on. I’ve always decided what to wear the night before. I choose my outfit to fit with each wedding. I want to look noticeable and I don't want to look like the bride’s mother, that’s somebody else's role. Last week at Plas Dinam the bride’s mother told me I was the best dressed celebrant she'd ever seen, which made me very happy

8am 

Eat! Breakfast is crucial! As I often won’t eat again till 3pm I've already printed my delivery script at 16 point. It's in my folder ready. The couple’s personalised keepsake script with coloured ribbons and cover is in a folder, in an envelope ready to give to them

10am

About three hours before the ceremony the nerves start to kick in – or as Frankie Howerd referred to it, the feeling of ’creative anticipation’. I like that. I’m in a rural area and the journey to the venue is often over an hour. I use this time to do voice warm ups, sing songs and belt out some good up beat tunes on the stereo.

Midday

The ceremony may only take half an hour, but I am going to arrive at the venue a minimum of an hour before. I want to check the set-up, meet the suppliers and the venue manager, talk to the photographer and videographer, say hi to the couple, make sure the musicians are happy, talk about the cues. Often things change at the last minute, vows get updated or  outdoor ceremonies move location because of bad weather. I want to make sure that I know exactly what we plan to happen, where and how. That allows me to make everybody feel confident. When the nervous couple stand in front of me, I want them to look at me and feel completely secure,  and trust completely that I will look after them Sometimes a couple asks,  ‘Are you ok for midday, have you got any other ceremonies that day?’ and I laugh, because there's no way I am doing two weddings in a day. Some celebrants do lead multiple ceremonies in a day, but that's not for me.

1pm “Please stand to welcome ….”

I want every word I say to be heard, I want people to feel that the ceremony is the heart of the matter. Yes there will be drinking, there will be dancing, there will be feasting, but all of that is to celebrate the crux of the day, which is the ceremony.

The ceremony flies by, I love to see a sneaky tear rolling down a nose, the tissues passed around the crowd and the smiles shared.

After the ceremony I try and grab a quick selfie with the bride and groom and then I just melt away, my job is done.

3pm

As the adrenaline leaves I'm often overwhelmed by hunger. I have to stop on the way home to get myself something to eat and a good flat white.

It's a great feeling playing a part in a life-changing day. When I receive heartfelt feedback or get to see the photos a few weeks later it gives me a warm fuzzy feeling.

  I feel so fortunate to be able to say, hand on heart, that I absolutely love my job.