Lydia and Rory chose me as their wedding celebrant for their wedding in May at Court Farm Barn near Frome. This was a true family and friends affair, at the lovely Court Farm Barn near Frome. Rory and Lydia wanted it to be a true look at the dynamics of their romantic, easygoing relationship, and it was such a relaxed and funny ceremony.
When we met to talk through their ceremony and get to know each other, they had me laughing straight away. I wanted their wedding ceremony to reflect how well their personalities match, how funny they are, and all the gorgeous plans they have for their future together.
We had a real uninvited guest, the rain, which meant the ceremony was moved into the beautiful rustic barn, with a ceremony space marked by beautiful milk churns of flowers.
Lydia and Rory are rabbit parents, and rabbits have played a big role in their romantic timeline, so I read a passage from The Velveteen Rabbit for them, which felt perfect for their playful and gentle personalities. They stood for their ceremony so that Rory, in particular, could feel free to move about a little, and we showed them how much they were loved and appreciated by including a little secret section that I created using inclusions from their friends and family, which was lovely to relate to them and made them both very emotional. It was a wonderful chance for both their parents to be able to speak about their love for them in such an intimate setting, not just a speech.
One of my favourite things about their ceremony is that they both so obviously enjoyed it. Because they’d seen what I’d created beforehand and were confident knowing what the tone and tempo was going to be, they could truly be themselves and hear it and see it as one with their friends and family. Their vows were gorgeous, written for them as ‘I do’s’ using the promises they wanted to make to each other, each created to reflect what they wanted to say individually.
The springtime rain soon moved past and the party was able to spill back out into the gardens of Court Farm later. Rory and Lydia were simply so happy, they barely seemed to notice the weather, aside from Lydia’s incredibly chic jacket and the white umbrellas, you’d never have known!
kind words about their celebrant ceremony
Rory and Lydia said:
Eleanor was one of the very first suppliers we met at the first wedding fair we attended when we began planning our wedding. We had a lovely chat, picked up her flyers and carried on, little knowing that she would eventually become our chosen celebrant—and we are so glad she did!
Eleanor is incredibly thoughtful in everything she does. From our initial calls and emails, to meeting in person, to writing the most perfect, personal ceremony, every step felt special and carefully considered. She took the time to truly get to know us and crafted a ceremony that reflected us beautifully.
On the day itself, Eleanor delivered the ceremony with such warmth, professionalism, and ease. It was everything we could have hoped for and more. Our guests were incredibly complimentary about the ceremony, with so many commenting on how personal, engaging, and heartfelt it felt. Many said it was one of the most personable ceremonies they had attended, which is a real testament to the care and attention Eleanor puts into her work.
We cannot recommend her highly enough to any couple looking for a celebrant who genuinely cares and goes above and beyond to create something unforgettable.
Thank you Eleanor!
Rory & Lydia
what the guests thought about the celebrant ceremony
Rory’s father, afterwards, sent me a lovely note which read:
I very much appreciate that the preparations (especially all the gathering of information from everyone) and rehearsals you had to do was a tough ask! Not to mention the flexibility needed on the day.
I thought your words were pitched superbly: to all of us. Thank you for your skill: genuinely so. It is never easy to get the balance right between the serious nature of the celebration and keeping it as a very human occasion.
Thank you Rory and Lydia. All photography by Greg Shingler https://gregshingler.co.uk/
