A Wedding Ceremony to Remember
Memories of a Celebrant Wedding
Today (11th November, 2025) marks two years since I successfully officiated my first celebrant wedding as an independent wedding celebrant.
Photo by Joanna Bongard Photo. Venue: Pembroke Lodge, London
It doesn’t seem like a long time. But, over the course of the past 2 years, so much has changed since I first qualified as a wedding celebrant. By the end of this year (2025), I’ll have successfully officiated 21 wedding ceremonies - all so different and gloriously unique- stretching from London to North Yorkshire; from country estates to stylish city centre bars in Leeds, West Yorkshire.
Photo by David Lindsley Photography. Venue: The Faversham, Leeds, West Yorkshire.
A Yorkshire Celebrant in London
I don’t think any wedding celebrant will forget the first wedding they officiated. The memories of my first ever wedding -when I travelled to London for their epic wedding with 150 guests - still feel as raw as they did that day; firmly embedded within my soul; memories I never tire of returning back to.
Laura and Mark married at Pembroke Lodge in Richmond, London on the 11th November, 2023. It was a brilliant day. Highlights included: Pristine skies, black-tie dressing - floor length gowns and tux’s in velvets and emerald green; a packed dance floor, emotional readings, ring exchanges and heartfelt wedding vows; tears from loved ones, incredible speeches and a day filled with love and light.
I can recall every detail as if it were yesterday. I can remember milling with their guests before the ceremony and marvelling at how glamorous they all looked. I remember with such fondness Mark’s youngest daughter - earnestly devoted to her glitter tattoo station. I can remember how their guests laughed along raucously at their first date story and I remember watching the bride’s father and brother, weeping with happiness throughout the whole wedding ceremony.
But I think perhaps my most prominent memory - which I return to often - is from of the very end of their wedding ceremony. After 45 minutes of story-telling, there came a joyous and dramatic climax. Guests were on their feet; Laura and Mark walking hand in hand down the aisle to a rapturous applause from their loved ones. I watched their guests milling out from their seats, one-by-one; side-shuffling along the rows as Take That’s ‘Greatest Day’ echoed around the room.
In reality in lasted only 5 minutes but to me it felt more like an hour. Because, in that moment, I felt so much emotion.
As I watched the scene playing out before me - everyone giddy with elation and love - I had an extraordinary feeling of stillness; of unbridled happiness and an overwhelming sense of relief.
Photo by: Joanna Bongard Photo. Venue: Pembroke Lodge, London
“Afterwards, so many of our friends and family told us it was the best and most unique ceremony they’d ever been to”
Because Laura and Mark weren’t just a couple I’d met online. They were my friends.
I’d known Laura since we were innocent unruly 16 years olds at Sixth Form College and even though she lived in London and I remained in West Yorkshire, we’d remained best mates ever since.
Officiating their wedding ceremony would be the greatest honour. But also one of my most terrifying moments.
The night before their ceremony, I hadn’t slept. I spent the morning getting ready with her lovely mum and bridal party but felt lost in an internal sea of worry. I was having my makeup expertly applied by a lovely and chatty professional whilst frantically replaying the script over and over in my head and trying to remember important stage directions: ‘remember to pause….emphasise this word…look over to the couple for this bit.’
Terrified!
Photo: Joanna Bongard Photo. Venue: Pembroke Lodge, Richmond
Celebrant Planning Process
Ever since Laura had first asked me to be her wedding celebrant, I’d dived head first into what would become months of intensive planning and preparation. I’d sent the couple their own personalised questionnaires encouraging a retrospective reflection on their love story. As they were my friends, I’d also been to stay with them in London for a weekend of wedding planning. Together, we’d been to visit the venue space and over steaming bowls of porridge and hot coffee in their family kitchen, we’d mapped out the finer details of the ceremony.
Excitement levels through the roof at Pembroke Lodge.
“The result was such an incredible, heartfelt speech that really captured us as a couple...”
The end result of working so closely with Laura and Mark, was a wedding script which felt unapologetically personal; a deep dive into their relationship - how they’d inspired each other and what they’d learnt from one another. It meant on the day I could lovingly celebrate the nuances of their love; what day-to-day life looks like for Laura and Mark; who takes the bins out, who makes breakfast; how they’ve supported each other other times of grief and Laura’s own devastating cancer diagnosis.
“We had quite a lot of poignant elements we wanted to include in the celebrant speech, such as family bereavements and my own cancer diagnosis, and Michelle covered these so beautifully in a way which was touching and moving but still emphasised the joy of the occasion. ”
And on the day, it felt wonderful to be able to tell their story with all of their family and friends. I discovered just how much I enjoyed public speaking - choosing to retell their love story with warmth and humour; I thrived off the adrenaline and glory of the moment. It felt so good. Afterwards, it was lovely to soak up the post-ceremony energy with all of their guests and really embrace the moment. I’ll be forever grateful to all of their loved ones who were so forthcoming with their kind words and generous with their compliments:
“The service was really special - so personal and joyful”
“She had definitely done her homework on the happy couple and this brought so much authenticity and fun to the celebrations!”
“I can’t imagine attending a wedding with a more professional or warm celebrant.”
Photo by Joanna Bongard Photo. Venue: Pembroke Lodge, Richmond.
Future Celebrant Weddings
I’ll always be incredibly thankful for the enormous step-up this amazing wedding gave me in my career as a wedding celebrant.
Since the wedding of Laura and Mark, I’ve journeyed across Yorkshire discovering some seriously impressive and varied wedding venues and I've been lucky enough to work with some truly incredible couples. This year, weddings have been filled with many personal touches and symbolic rituals including handfasting and ring-warming. I’ve been privy to some very emotional (and also very funny) wedding vows and been in receipt of many thank you cards and gifts.
I’m also very grateful to every bride or groom who has taken the time to write me a 5 star google review. Their words of kindness will never be forgotten:
“Michelle was more than just a celebrant, she felt like a friend. ”
“She captured the hearts and minds of all our guests and we’ve had nothing but incredible feedback on the whole ceremony. ”
“She made an occasion that was suitably personal, funny and perfectly fitting with the natural vibe.”
So, a very happy anniversary Laura and Mark and happy anniversary Michelle Park Celebrant.
Thank you to every kind soul who has placed their trust in me this year. Thank you to the gorgeous couples I’m currently working with; thank you to those who have booked me for next year and thank you to the couples I’m yet to meet.
If you’re interested in knowing more about celebrant weddings and my services as a wedding celebrant, do get in touch. I offer a no-obligation discovery call over zoom and I’m more than happy to send you the latest copy of my celebrant brochure.
Details of my services along with my prices for next year, can also be found here:
