A Stylishly Fun & Modern Celebrant Ceremony at Hazel Gap Barn
Sunshine, Style & Ceremony
At the time of writing this blog post, here in the UK- it’s a gloriously hot day. It’s the middle of April and this weather is unseasonably warm for this time of year. All this sunshine is giving me summer vibes and takes me back to a super cool, and effortlessly stylish wedding ceremony which I delivered at Hazel Gap in Nottinghamshire, late last summer.
Frankie and Elliott tied the knot, in a deeply personal wedding ceremony with their two young children at their side. Surrounded by their closest family and friends, their celebrant wedding was one to remember! The styling for the big day was unapologetically ‘fun’ with funky, clashing colours and some entertaining enhancements within the ceremony itself. The end result was a vibrant summer celebration full of love and personality.
Before we take a deep dive into this wedding ceremony of dreams, let me remind you of the services I offer:
Meet Your Modern Wedding Celebrant
Wedding Ceremony at Somerset House, Halifax, West Yorkshire.
I’m a professional wedding celebrant based just outside of Leeds. England. As a Yorkshire lass, I tend to officiate wedding ceremonies in the Yorkshire area, including (but not limited to): Leeds, Wakefield, Sheffield, York and Hull. However, as was the case with Frankie and Elliott’s wedding -I’ll travel anywhere for love! I trained with the Academy of Modern Celebrancy and I’m accredited to the Association of Independent Celebrants.
As a wedding celebrant, I specialise in curating wedding ceremonies that offer a modern take on the more traditional wedding ceremony you’re probably familiar with.
I welcome the opportunity to work closely with couples who want to celebrate their love story with heart, humour and style and in the most unique way possible. Please do get in touch if you’re enthusiastic about weaving in symbolic rituals or adding sentiment to their ceremony in subtle/tender and meaningful ways.
To discover more about my services, please check out my ‘About Page’ and do get in touch to discuss your requirements for a personalised wedding ceremony, in more detail.
Why Hazel Gap is a Dream for Modern, Stylish Ceremonies
Hazel Gap is a purpose-built wedding venue. It’s located within Nottinghamshire's Welbeck Estate, and honestly, it’s hard to imagine a more perfect wedding venue for couples that want a modern -yet at the same time packed with character-venue space to exchange their personal wedding vows. As a celebrant I’ve visited countless wedding venues but Hazel Gap stood out to me because of the barn's dramatic entrance; the natural light, the beautiful oak beams; they exposed stone walls and the twinkling fairy lights which together creates such a stylish backdrop to any celebrant ceremony. I also loved the venue’s open-plan layout which means guests can flow seamlessly from ceremony to celebration and then spill out onto the gorgeous courtyard for drinks and canapes.
I loved curating a wedding ceremony here and I hope to come back one day. To book a discovery call with me, please hit the link below.
Frankie & Elliott’s Effortlessly Cool Wedding Vibe
Frankie and Elliott were clear from the outset that they wanted their wedding ceremony to feel perfectly relaxed and light-hearted.
Here’s how we achieved a relaxed, fun-filled wedding ceremony with all the feels:
Family First: A Ceremony with the Kids at the Heart
With two young children, the main focus focus Frankie and Elliott was on ensuring that they felt a part of the ceremony and to avoid planning anything that felt too restrictive or formal. The children would be free to wander around the ceremony space, joining the couple at the front as necessary. And, as expected, it was their spritely youngest who stole the show with her big smiles; clearly enjoying her moment in the spotlight.
To ensure that the children had a significant part to play in the ceremony (which was also age appropriate as-let’s be honest- it was unlikely they’d want to speak in front of anyone or light a candle!) I suggested to the couple that they let their children design their own family certificate to sign at the ceremony (in place of a more traditional signing of a marriage certificate). Actually, Frankie and Elliott decided the children were just too little to draw anything that could be used as a keepsake, so, instead they took their 4 handprints as the certificate which they then framed ahead of the ceremony and signed on the day with special pens. The end result was something fun but also deeply meaningful and memorable.
Shots, Not Just Vows: Adding Fun & Flavour to a Celebrant Ceremony
Frankie really wanted their ceremony to have a celebratory feel to it. So during an early planning meeting they asked whether they could somehow incorporate shots to drink in the ceremony-with all their guests joining in too. Unlike legal ceremonies with a registrar, where alcohol is not permitted in the wedding ceremony or the licensed ceremony space, celebrant ceremonies give couples the freedom to incorporate alcohol into their ceremony in whichever way suits them.
Some couples choose to include a wine ritual into their wedding ceremony. A wine ritual is a symbolic moment where the couple shares a glass of wine to represent unity, celebration, and the blending of their lives. It can involve pouring two different wines into a single glass to signify the joining of two individuals, or simply sipping from the same glass to mark the beginning of their shared journey.
Alternatively, couples may prefer a ‘cocktail ritual.’ This is another fun twist on a unity ritual, where the couple creates and shares a signature cocktail together. Each partner might pour an ingredient that represents their personality or story, blending them into one delicious drink—symbolising their union and the unique flavour of their relationship. It’s playful, memorable, and ideal for couples who want something a little different and totally “them.”
An example of this could be:
The "Love Story Spritz"
Partner 1 adds prosecco – light, celebratory, and sparkling with joy (a nod to their optimistic nature).
Partner 2 pours in elderflower liqueur – sweet, floral, and just a little bit unexpected (reflecting their romantic and creative side).
A splash of soda water brings balance, and a shared garnish of lemon zest or edible flowers adds flair and unity.
As they stir or clink glasses, I can say a few words about blending their personalities into something new and beautiful—then they sip it together as their first (very stylish) toast.
In the end, we decided to supply each guest with a small shot of Tequila (delivered by the groomsmen in little bottles during the signing of the certificate) with some salt and lemon to accompany, which everyone drank (with non-alcoholic versions too) together, to mark the end of the ceremony: A tequila toast to love and laughter!
Here are the other unique ways we added sentiment and personalisation to the day:
Remembering loved ones - I lit a candle at the start of the wedding ceremony to honour loved ones no longer with us.
Readings - Frankie and Elliott chose an extract from Captain Corelli’s Mandolin (a personal favourite of mine) by Louis De Bernieres, for me to share towards the beginning of the wedding ceremony:
Captain Corelli's Mandolin by Louis de Bernières
Love is a temporary madness, it erupts like volcanoes and then subsides.
And when it subsides you have to make a decision.
You have to work out whether your root was so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part.
Because this is what love is.
Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of promises of eternal passion.
That is just being in love, which any fool can do.
Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident.
Those that truly love have roots that grow towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossoms have fallen from their branches, they find that they are one tree and not two.
Personalised Wedding Vows-There wasn’t a dry eye in the house as the couple exchanged their own personal wedding vows and promises with each other.
Ring Exchange - The couple chose their son to carry the wedding rings which was such a sweet touch.
Sunshine, Laughter & a Wedding to Remember
I loved working with Frankie and Elliott so much. I adored their sense of fun and the unique ways they added their own personalities and flair to the whole day.
The sun shone all day and it was the most perfect wedding ceremony; an absolute honour to be a part of and one I’ll never forget.
I’ll leave you with some of my own (poorly shot) pictures from the day. Xx
