chrissy_ratcliffe

Disadvantages of an Unplugged Ceremony

Tue, 30 Jun 2020 04:06:09 GMT

Are you unsure what an Unplugged Ceremony is? Well look no further….I am conducting more and more as time goes on; my couples don’t like to see their guests in the background of their professional photos holding up their phones taking photos or worse still Ipads!

I flew to Newcastle for my friend’s wedding. and this is the wording below I helped them choose:-

“As this is an unplugged ceremony we respectfully ask that everyone leave all cameras and mobile phones switched off or on silent for the duration of the ceremony, and then afterwards phones and cameras are welcome, in other words no posting photos on Facebook or any social media today!”

This is not for everyone and I respect your wishes whatever you decide to do. ��

Disadvantage of Unplugged Ceremony

Since writing this blog I heard that my friend’s photographer did a runner, the police are involved and let’s hope they find him, now the couple are in the process of finding out if any of their guests captured cherished photos…..I will let you know the outcome in my next blog!

I would love to hear your comments or questions, email me or send a message on Facebook or any of the other social media platforms…..I’m on them all!

Keeping it all in one place

Mon, 29 Jun 2020 06:57:03 GMT

Don’t know what email to use for all your wedding information or are you getting information overload to various emails accounts?

How about setting up one Email address for both of you, dedicated to your wedding only?

If you haven’t already, why don’t you setup a gmail or hotmail account with your first names and year e.g.johnandjan2015@gmail.com. (Don’t forget to tell your Celebrant)

Like my page to see some more great tips and ideas!

Keep in touch with site visitors and boost loyalty

Mon, 29 Jun 2020 06:57:03 GMT

For some reason couples get really stuck when choosing the right songs for their Wedding Ceremony.

One of the Questions I do ask my wonderful couples is “choose at least 4 songs for your Ceremony;

The Processional (The Bride walks in with her Dad)
Signing Songs x 2 (Signing the Register and Photos)
The Recessional (The last song is played just after I pronounce the couple Mr & Mrs! Or Husband and Wife) I always suggest this one be an upbeat song as this will lead into the evening’s proceedings…..

Choosing songs that are personal to them both – I ask my couples “what sort of music they like” as these songs will contribute to their very personalised and unique ceremony.

I have officiated many ceremonies now and absolutely love the songs I hear, some for the first time and others that have been quite popular at the time, from Ed Sheeran’s Thinking Out Loud, Ed has been the most popular for Ceremony songs that I have heard to date, although Marry Me by Train, comes a close 2nd!!

Most recently when I was chatting about songs choices for Kate and Troy’s Ceremony, Rachel Platten’s A Better Place was suggested and now I know why after hearing this beautiful couples love story!

Then there was Merv and Aly this was one of my first weddings I officiated and I still remember their Recessional Song…. Another One Bites the Dust! They were so in love and this was their 2nd Marriage and the Ceremony was really upbeat and fun, right down to their vows which they wrote themselves.

Watch this space for some more inspirational Ceremony Songs for your Wedding!

Checkout my Facebook Page for Song ideas each month, I started doing this again from November it took a good year to settle back into Sydney!! J

Themed weddings and rituals are back!

Mon, 29 Jun 2020 06:57:03 GMT

Or did they ever go? My guess is….it depends on what questions as a Celebrant we ask the couple. In my questionnaire, I always ask the couple if they are having a special theme or if they had thought of a ritual they would like.

Some couples like Gary and Alyce actually wanted a medieval theme that I conducted with the Celtic Hand fasting ceremony…..I even got to wear a lovely cloak they had made for me ��

I conducted Rowena and Michael’s elopement from Melbourne and they really liked the humanist idea they saw at a friend’s wedding in the UK and l wrote a ceremony with them that included an Ancient Wine ceremony, they now have the exquisite goblets as a keepsake to drink from on every anniversary as a special reminder of their wonderful day.

Vintage weddings are definitely back; I see so many couples loving the vintage lace and in particular black and white with a dash of colour and before you know it the bridal party will be dressed up like the Great Gatsby!

I think being Irish is a bonus as I embrace my culture and heritage. The Claddagh ring has its significance, Love – Friendship – Loyalty.

Merv and Aly embraced their Irish heritage and bought Claddagh rings from Ireland for their wedding and we incorporated some especially quirky wording that was uniquely them. In Ancient Ireland this symbolised a happy and everlasting marriage!

If you would like a ritual as part of your Ceremony, checkout my website under Rituals or we can discuss at our meeting.