Rachel Hughes Celebrant

What different options do we have for a celebrant led wedding?
Choices, choices, choices… where do we start?

So, with no real restrictions in place with a celebrant ceremony and no rulebook to follow, it sounds incredibly flexible, right? Well yes, it really is. When a couple or family chooses a celebrant you are choosing the freedom to be creative, where really anything goes. Your ceremony can be held in your garden, a forest, beach, any location (with the landowners permission) that is meaningful to you. You can truly personalise your ceremony, including music, poetry, readings, including friends, family, pets. Is a themed wedding your thing? Then let's create a wedding full of theatrics.

Be it a simple service, formal, romantic and sentimental, or all out fun, there are so many more options available to you when choosing to have a celebrant led wedding.

This amount of freedom is a great thing, but it can also be a little bit overwhelming sometimes, and this is why being able to build a relationship with your celebrant is important. Having someone who can hold your hand and lead you through the unlimited amount of options, suggesting elements that they know will suit you because they know you, help you to create personalised vows, the list of support you will receive is endless.

Read more of the blog at www.rachelhughescelebrant.com or contact me for more information about your celebrant led wedding

💒 Are you looking for a wedding florist? 💐 Our team has over 35 years of combined experience in creating stunning wedding floristry and we would love to help bring your wedding vision to life!

We offer free consultations to all of our couples, either in our Studley shop, or at your venue.

To find out more please give us a call, send a DM or visit our website to make an appointment!

Look out for some of our wedding work which we will be sharing on our socials very soon! 🩷

https://www.studleyflorists.co.uk/Weddings.aspx

Happy Monday!!
A reminder for you if you're wedding planning.
As exciting as it is, it's not always easy, and can be an incredibly stressful time for varying reasons, so much so, it can sometimes feel overwhelming.
Remember you can do this, and when in doubt, coffee!!

If you are wedding planning and are looking for a celebrant to help with your planning, and your perfect day, please feel free to send me a message for a no obligation chat.

www.rachelhughescelebrant.com

Why should we choose a celebrant for our wedding?

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think about a wedding ceremony that you have attended as a guest? Maybe it’s the long, and somewhat boring church service that is full of religious verses and hymns, and is not at all personal. Or is it the superfast registry office ceremony where everything seems to be over and done with before you sit down.

Is it just the thing that is done out of necessity before the party starts?

This is not usually the fault of the bride and groom, as with both religious, and civil weddings, there are a long list of rules and restrictions. Both offer a pretty standard script, with limited choice of songs and readings, that mean that all of the things that make a wedding special, memorable and personal to that couple, cannot happen. Your ceremony has to take place in either a licenced venue, or a place of worship.

Whatever your thoughts are, I am sure we can all agree, at some point we have all been to a wedding where we have been completely underwhelmed, and by the end of the day, can’t really remember much of what happened.

Unless you attend church on a regular basis, you might not know the minister, and with a registrar, you don’t meet them until around 30 minutes before the service, that does not give them time to get to know you.

However when you book a celebrant for your wedding, none of this matters.

From the minute you choose your celebrant, your relationship starts. You will get to know each other and become friends. They will get to know what makes you tick, what’s important to you, what gets you excited…. All of the things that mean they can write you a truly bespoke wedding ceremony that represents who you are as a couple fully. The rule books go out of the window, and almost anything is possible. The spot where you want to get married is not licensed? No bother. You want to get married at dawn, twilight, midnight? Celebrants don’t mind that your service is not in office hours.

Do you want to include children, step children or others in your service? Do a sand blending ceremony? Light a unity candle, have handfasting, jump the broom, or anything else that you can think of that makes your ceremony yours, something that truly represents you, and that people will remember forever…. Then let's do it.

What is a Celebrant led wedding, and should I have one?

Everything you need to know about celebrant-led weddings, and how to decide if it's the right choice for you.

So, you're engaged and now it's the exciting time where you start making plans. But before you do, let’s take a look at one of the most overlooked decisions you can make about your big day...
Just who is going to marry you?

What is a celebrant led wedding?

When picturing your big day growing up, what did you imagine? A dreamy beach wedding with blue skies and sunshine? An enchanted forest, carpeted with bluebells? A wide open space with a stream running through and wildflowers galore? Maybe a circus? Was it a sentimental wedding in your back garden? Perhaps it was on a boat? Or maybe the very spot you first set eyes on your soulmate?

If you’ve ever dreamt of a wedding like one of these, or perhaps something that’s just a little less conventional, you’re probably dreaming about a celebrant-led wedding.

Read more on my website https://www.rachelhughescelebrant.com/blog

Who is behind Rachel Hughes Celebrant?

Well, that’s me, Rachel, pleased to meet you.

I’m an independent celebrant, and feel incredibly lucky to say that this is what I do!
It really is a privilege to meet people at such important moments in their lives, listening to their love stories, and assisting them in creating something as unique as they are, their perfect ceremony, the one they have dreamed about and truly deserve, and will remember with such warmth.

Choosing your wedding dress is one of the biggest decisions you will make when planning your wedding, and often the one decision you agonise over the most... so how did you choose your dress?
What was important to you, was it that moment, or was budget more of a motivating factor? Did you choose alone, or did a close friend of family member help you make your decision? Did you know what you wanted before you started looking, and got exactly what you had in mind, or did you surprise yourself with your decision?

When choosing my dress for my elopement, my considerations were budget, and something that would be easy to transport in my luggage. What I actually wore ended up being quite different to what I planned to wear following a make up misadventure as I was getting ready. Luckily I had a second top that worked, and it wasn't a total disaster!

Back to work after a wonderful 2 weeks off.
For those of you that don't know, we eloped... our own perfect little wedding, just the 2 of us in the amazing New York City!
And yes... we had a celebrant for our service too, the wonderful Sacha Jones led us through the most beautiful ceremony at Wagner Cove in Central Park.

It doesn't matter if you have 200, 2000 or just the 2 of you for your wedding, it's your day, your design, just for you.

So if you would like to discuss what you are looking for in a ceremony, I still some dates available for 2023, and already booking into 2024 and 2025.

Well hello May, I've been waiting for you!

As May arrives, so does the expectations of warmer weather, bright colours, and the wedding season.

Wondering if a celebrant led wedding might be the right choice for you?
Send me an email...
[email protected] and lets have a chat!

I'm big on making plans. Plans keep you motivated, keep you moving forward towards your goals...

What will you do today to make all of your tomorrows better?

It's Monday... a new day a new week full of opportunities.
I have a whole bunch of plans for the week, of things to get done before I go on my holiday in 11 days time.
New York and a wedding is pretty motivating, but
what's motivating you today?

Had a lovely meeting this morning with a gorgeous couple to discuss their vision for their wedding later this year.
They have recently completed their statutory declaration of marriage at the registry office meaning the legal part is complete, so now onto planning the fun stuff.
Having a celebrant led wedding means we were able to discuss all of the options available to them with regards to their ceremony, adding elements that would not have been possible with a registrar.
If you would like to know more about celebrant led weddings, take a look at my website www.rachelhughescelebrant.com

Always start your day with a positive mindset. Look to the things that make your day beautiful, and share them with those you love.

Can you really believe its already April?
This year seems to be flying by, and although the promise of longer days and warmer weather is definitely welcome, it is a little scary how fast the year is going.
April always feels like more of a new beginning for me than New Years, I feel that its more of a time for out with the old and in with the new, and maybe its the blossom in the trees, and spring bulbs beginning to bloom, but it always feels like its more of a suitable time for a fresh start, clean slate, and a whole new set of plans.
I can't be the only one who feels this way?

Trans Day of Visibility takes place every 31 March. It marks a time to celebrate trans and non-binary people, and to raise awareness of the discrimination faced by the community worldwide.
It also provides an opportunity for trans and non-binary people to feel seen through positive and realistic representation – and for allies to learn more about how they can stand in solidarity. Visibility is crucial. Without exposure to others who think, feel, and live in a similar way to us – especially for those who exist outside of society’s norms – we can feel lost and alone. Visibility allows community to bloom, and for people with shared lived experiences to form bonds across borders.
Transgender Day of Visibility celebrates the joy, strength, and absolute courage of some of the bravest people I know — people who have too often had to put their jobs, relationships, and lives on the line just to be their true selves. Today, we show millions of transgender and nonbinary people that we see them, they belong, and they should be treated with dignity and respect. Their courage has given countless others strength, but no one should have to be brave just to be themselves. Every human being deserves that freedom.

How beautiful is Aston Wood Golf Club?

What does your dream venue look like?
If you are looking for a beautiful space overlooking the golf course, with a great team and fabulous service, give the events team at Aston Wood a call on 0121 582 7803 for a look around.

Following a successful meeting with the lovely events manager at Aston Wood Golf Club, I am pleased to say that I am now their preferred Celebrant for weddings at this beautiful venue.

Happy Mother's Day to all the amazing mom's out there.... and to my own lovely mum, who is going through so much. My step mum who deserves a rest today, and my beautiful daughters and daughter in law... I hope you are all being spoiled silly today.

St Patrick's Day is celebrated all around the world, incorporating many old Irish traditions.
It's not all about Wearing green, and drinking Guinness.

St Patrick's day is celebrated annually on the 17th March, the anniversary of his death in the fifth century, and the Irish have observed this day as a religious holiday for over 1000 years, where Irish families would traditionally attend church in the morning, and celebrate in the afternoon, where they would dance, drink and feast on the traditional meal of Irish bacon and cabbage.

Did you know one of the best things about having a celebrant led wedding is that you are not bound by the constraints of time.
Celebrants do not work 9-5, so if you want a sunrise, or sunset ceremony... its all yours

Happy International Women's Day to all you lovely ladies out there.
Who are the inspirational ladies in your life?

This weekend I'll be visiting the lovely Astonwood Golf Club in Sutton Coldfield for their Spring Wedding Fair.

It's always lovely to receive feedback and messages of thanks from my families.
This was from a beautiful family who I supported through the loss of their lovely mum and nan.

Well that weekend went quick... time to get back to it.
Today will be spent writing a service ready for a lovely family I'll be working with on Thursday.
How are you spending your Monday?

March is here already... where has the start of the year gone?

Love is a story!

Choosing a wedding celebrant means that your wedding is all about you, quite literally. Without the constraints of a registrar or a religious service, we can create your wedding just the way you want it to be, telling your unique love story, and creating a service that will be remembered.
If you want your wedding to be about your love story, lets have a chat.
www.rachelhughescelebrant.com

Are you looking for a wedding celebrant, or are you just interested in how a celebrant led wedding might be a better choice for you? Let's have a no obligation chat!

When it comes to wedding flowers, should they always be fresh, or are artificial flowers a more cost effective way of adding some colour to your day?

If you are not sure what a celebrant led wedding is, or if its the right choice for you... grab a coffee and have a read of this blog 🥰

https://www.rachelhughescelebrant.com/post/what-is-a-celebrant-led-wedding-and-should-i-have-one