A Celebrant Revolutionising Wedding Ceremonies

Written by Emma Hla
A modern take on tradition.

Formal without the formality. Sincere but definitely not cheesy. Warm, friendly, and fun. This pretty much sums up the wonderful Fan from Fanfare Ceremonies, a celebrant that wants you to enjoy the experience of your commitment from start to finish.

Fan creates beautiful, bespoke and personal ceremonies that accurately reflect your story together, a story filled with joy, laughter, warmth and sincerity.

The ceremony is often the most daunting part of a wedding, and possibly something some couples want to get done as quickly as possible so they can move straight to the party. But hold on folks, this part of your wedding is pretty special. When Mark and I reminisce about our own big day it’s often the ceremony that holds the most emotion – it’s the song we played and the words we wrote that still make us pause (and smile) to this day.

So come, find out a little more about why Fan is revolutionising wedding ceremonies, and why a Celebrant might be right for you.

Notes from the Celebrant

Fan, FanFare Ceremonies says…

Hi I’m Fan and I’m a wedding celebrant based in Devon but am delighted to travel anywhere. Over the last 4 or so years I have been meeting couples, writing and presenting their wedding ceremonies in some of the most prestigious venues in the west country. I am also a popular choice for those who want to have their ceremony at home.

Feasting and celebration need a focus point; it’s where a wedding should grow from rather than the other way around. I fear the focus is being lost. My role is to ensure that it’s brought back, that the couples’ personalities are embedded in the ceremony and that they and indeed their guests have the very best modern ceremony experience. To that end my ceremonies are bursting with joy, warmth and sincerity with the couple’s story at the heart and setting the scene for the rest of the day.

My clients are often those whose parents married in church, in other words from a traditional background but for whatever reason having a church wedding does not work for them. Importantly though, they want to express themselves within their ceremony. They don’t want to stray too far from tradition but personalisation, fun, informality and joy are key.

Ceremonies By:
Fanfare Ceremonies
Devon based, Nationwide

Why Weddings?

My husband ran a marquee and event hire company for nearly 30 years firstly in Hampshire and then down here in Devon. Weddings were our main source of work and we watched the wedding business change with the surge in popularity of the venue. We sold all our marquees about 10 years ago but retained the furniture and tableware which I ran alone as my husband returned to farming full time. I began to tire of the hire business but still wanted to be involved in the wedding industry and to use my experience and contacts. 5 years ago I trained to become a wedding celebrant. I have since sold the hire company to a local caterer.

Why I DO WHAT I DO

I love the relationship that develops between myself and my clients. Starting as a simple email from a couple of strangers to that very intimate point in time when I present them as a married couple is quite a journey. The connection and getting to know them is incredibly important.

The entire process is a collaboration. A rapport is vital so that they feel relaxed and happy to share personal elements of their lives, individually and as a couple, and amusing anecdotes with me.

To ask a couple why they are marrying may seem such a simple question but the considered answer is vital.

From it I will glean the information required which will result in the truly unique and bespoke personalised ceremony we want to achieve.

The laughter in my ceremonies does not come from me cracking jokes it comes from what the couple have shared with me, the intricacies of their relationship good and bad!

I consider it a massive privilege to be involved in such an intimate and important event in their lives and respect fully the responsibility that is being entrusted in me.

I am proud to say that some of my clients have said that they feel they have made a new friend in me which I consider a huge compliment.

What can I say being able to combine my love of meeting people and story telling – it really is the dream job.

My Services

Step into the world of a modern wedding ceremony.

I offer a fun and very happy experience. From that first point of contact, throughout subsequent meetings when we get down to the nitty gritty of your story to when I utter the immortal words ‘you may kiss the bride or groom’ I will guide, support, laugh and possibly even cry with you every step of the way.

You can have access to all my resources of sample vows, readings, poems that I have collected over the years. I will liaise with the venue, suppliers and other key people involved and will attend a rehearsal if required.

On the day I will arrive early, I will introduce myself to your guests and do anything that I can to be last minute help. I will present your ceremony with professionalism, vibrancy and personality. At the end I will slip away quietly leaving a copy of your bespoke script as a keepsake of your special day.

wedding Advice

My advice is firstly is to enjoy the process of getting married and then to listen to all the advice and support you get from friends and family but really make sure it’s the way you want it.

And when it comes to the ceremony try and remember that the process is the intimacy of your decision to marry and the event is your outward expression. All your guests will enjoy the day even more if they know why they’re there.

Press Play

Pricing

FanFare Ceremonies fee is currently ÂŁ700 exclusive of travelling expenses.

 

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