How does a Celebrant plan your dream wedding ceremony?
Read on to discover more…
Congratulations on embarking on this exciting journey towards planning your perfect wedding day.
If you are considering me as your wedding celebrant or have already booked me for your special day, you’ve probably already heard me mention my couples questionnaire. That’s because it's a huge part of my process; it forms the basic foundations of your bespoke wedding ceremony script, it helps you to gather your thoughts ahead of writing your personal wedding vows and it helps me to get to know you and your love story better.
Put simply-my questionnaires are not just another to-do on your wedding checklist; they really are a valuable and insightful tool that can add a sprinkle of magic to your special day and make your ceremony completely bespoke.
I send you a personal version of your couple questionnaire to complete in your own time- once you have booked me for your wedding and before the planning of your ceremony begins. The questionnaire is made up of a series of questions compiled from everything you have already told me in our initial discovery call. The questions cover everything from how you met, how you have changed each other’s lives and all your shared passions and values.
In this blog post, I'll explore further the reasons behind my personalised couple questionnaires and explain why they an essential tool for curating your unique wedding celebration.
Personalising Your Yorkshire Wedding Ceremony:
Your love story is like no other, and your wedding ceremony should reflect this uniqueness. The ceremony should capture your spirit, your true essence and on the day, it should sound comforting and familiar.
As your chosen wedding celebrant, I’m always listening and learning; either when we meet, chat over the phone or through your written words.
My couple questionnaires provide me with useful insights into your relationship – how you met, your favourite memories, what you love about your partner and your hopes and dreams as a married couple. It’s your chance to tell me your funny stories and your sad ones, acknowledge important milestones in your journey together, credit the invaluable support and guidance of friends and family and celebrate exactly what you want from your union; how your partner inspires you and how they have enriched your life.
Your wedding ceremony will be a day of indescribable joy and happiness. By taking the time to really understand your story, I can craft a ceremony which compared to other legal or religious ceremonies, will evoke memories to last a lifetime. I want your ceremony to resonate with a visceral expression of love from you and your guests.
Connecting with your wedding celebrant:
Imagine standing at the front of the aisle on your wedding, surrounded by friends and family and taking real comfort in the personal connection you have nurtured with me and knowing you are in safe hands!
Sounds good right? Here’s what one of my lovely couples had to say:
“I didn’t know much about celebrant-led weddings but Michelle talked me through every single element of it and led the process incredibly well, putting us both at ease.”
It’s my greatest pleasure getting to know my couples and when I greet you on your wedding day you’ll be so glad to have my familiar face there ready to steady your nerves with a big hug.
During the wedding planning process, I love getting to know my couples. Initially via zoom or where possible, face to face. Nothing is better than sharing a laugh as you reminisce on special times you’ve shared together and welcoming me into your story. I always stay in regular contact with my couples; leaving voice notes, tagging you on socials and sending you relevant blogs to keep you motivated and on track.
Your couple questionnaire acts as a bridge, allowing me to get to know you on a deeper level. This connection and the relationship we will foster thereafter, enhances the overall ceremony experience, making it more intimate and authentic.
“Michelle created a truly memorable atmosphere and had clearly gone to so much trouble to learn as much as possible about the bride and groom and spoke so well about them”
Tailoring your Vows and Readings to make them personal:
Your vows are the absolute heart of your wedding ceremony, and they should reflect the promises and commitments that matter most to you as a couple. After all, it’s the precise moment in your ceremony when you honour your union. It’s the reason you chose to get married in the first place.
The information gathered from the questionnaires helps me assist you in crafting vows that are genuine and heartfelt. You may want to write your own vows but you’re not sure where to start. That’s totally natural. Not everyone is confident at expressing their emotions or feels confident in their writing skills or ability to speak in public. You often find that once you start filling out your questionnaire, your personal wedding vows fall into place quite naturally.
Alternatively, you may prefer me to write your vows for you. The answers you provide in your questionnaire are critical for me to be able to do your vows justice because you don’t want them to sound like a stranger has written them. They need to come from your heart, I am merely saying them out loud for you.
Additionally, your questionnaire helps you to select readings or quotes that resonate with your relationship and fit in well with the dynamics of your evolving ceremony script.
Navigating personal Traditions and Customs:
You have your own unique cultural backgrounds, traditions, and symbolism that are personal to you. More than likely, you’ll want to weave these unique rituals into your wedding ceremony but you might feel unsure on how to do this.
Your couple questionnaires help me understand these elements which are important to you. It ensures your ceremony honours your heritage and incorporates any specific rituals or customs that hold significance for you and your family in a truly authentic way.
It’s often the first step into an important conversation we’ll have where I will really take on board your family heritage and traditions and ensure your ceremony is fully inclusive.
Offering my support, care and guidance as your wedding celebrant:
Wedding day jitters are natural, and having a celebrant who understands your preferences and expectations can bring a sense of calm.
As previously mentioned, my questionnaires cover details such as whether you prefer a formal or casual ceremony, if there are any specific elements you'd like included or excluded, and any cultural or religious considerations that should be respected.
As soon as I receive your completed questionnaires, I know instantly what sort of ceremony to craft. I’ll know whether to weave humour and lightheartedness into the script, whether to steer your script down a more formal and traditional route and everything in between. It’s where the lightbulb moments happen and the creativity really kicks in. Often, I'll read your answers and know instantly what poem might suit the ceremony or which symbolic ritual will fit in best.
It also helps me to nurture you through the process, to guide you with my experience and inspire you with my enthusiasm. Your love story is so important to me; allow me to work with you and craft something really special.
By taking the time to share your journey, preferences, and aspirations with me, you are not only ensuring a personalised and memorable ceremony but also creating a lasting connection that will make your wedding day truly unforgettable. So, embrace the opportunity to delve into your love story, and let the magic unfold on the day you say, "I do."
Please do get in touch to find out more, I’d love to hear from you.
Michelle x
