True story: Holly and Henry won me in a competition. This could have been a disaster for both Holly & I, given how usually, there is a lot to be said about choosing your wedding celebrant carefully and making sure you get on well. Spoiler: Holly & me get on very well. I wish she & Henry would get married again to be honest.
It’s taken me nearly a year to write this up, not just because I’m busy, but because I kind of wanted to see what would stay with me from our time together. I finally have answers to this.
Holly doesn’t settle for much that’s average. Henry doesn’t either. They are determined to carve out the life they want together, and planning the wedding wasn’t always a straightforward experience because of that. There was no alternative venue. The Turf Inn, opposite Topsham Quay, only truly accessible by boat, was of significance historically and sentimentally to their family. They are sailors. Boat people. Waterborne adventurers. So we all became one too, for the day.
It was like being part of a parade, or a kind of flotilla of absolute joy, from start to finish. We crossed by communal ferry, me incognito at the back in my baseball cap, Henry greeting every guest as we sailed. We promenaded up to the pub. As I got ready downstairs I could hear Holly and her friends literally jumping for joy upstairs, singing and dancing. We took our seats at the ceremony, positioned specifically for Holly & Henry to regard a particular view that nourished them. And off we went.
This ceremony wore its feelings on the outside. There was no hiding the tears, the wonder, the serenity of their bond. Two beautiful readings, one glorious set of vows which broke us all with their luminous delicacy. One utterly chaotic game of guess the flag to choose who went first. And all of a sudden it was over, and they were bursting out of the pub to a blizzard of confetti and kisses and spritzes and Abba and shouts of laughter everywhere.
The rest of the story of their wedding is really theirs to keep, not mine to tell. But, what I can say, hand on heart, is that their ceremony not only started the party as they meant to go on, but also formed a significant part of the day. Holly & Henry truly used the opportunity to show who they were, to help their guests understand their story, and to honour their friends and family with equal respect and love as they were giving one another.
I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss them. Miss planning this day with them. Miss swapping ideas and jokes all the time. But, this is life, I get to watch them sail on, through their next chapters, and they know they’ll always have a friend in me when they need one.
They said some very nice things about working with me.
The creme de la creme of celebrants. A ceremonial sorcerer. The main attraction at any wedding.
Eleanor was absolutely incredible from the very beginning. Getting to know her has been such a joy and we are lucky to consider her a friend these days. It was gorgeous to meet Eleanor prior to our wedding and take her to our venue. To get to know her in person at such a special place was fabulous. We felt she really “got” what we were envisioning for the day.
After meeting her we were sent a big questionnaire. It was a huge undertaking but, it was one of the highlights of the wedding planning process for us. It asked so many thoughtful questions and some silly ones too. We really looked forward to reminiscing together and getting our thoughts down on the document.
The ceremony itself? Wow. So personal. So funny. Absolutely unique. So many people have told us it’s the best ceremony they’ve ever seen and they were moved to tears. Some proper stoic people have bawled like babies. That was exactly what we wanted. Crying with laughter and then absolutely sobbing at how much we’re in love.
Eleanor was fantastic and to have her there for our day was just such a blessing in itself. The way she wove our story in with our friends testamonies was beautiful. So beautiful that family members have asked me for copies of the transcript so they can re-read it.
Eleanor, I hope Holly and I can marry every year so we have an excuse to see you. Thank you for everything. I’m rambling but, I just can’t adequately put down how special you made our day. Thank you!
Photography by the frankly unbelievably talented Joab Smith.
I would love to help you through the process of choosing a wedding celebrant. Get in touch.
