Weddings at Home
We LOVE weddings that are held at home or in the garden! We are specialists in outdoor weddings and so these really are where we feel we come into our own!
"With the trend for outdoor weddings on the rise, more and more couples are considering their own home,
or a family residence, as the location for their big day."
This is the ultimate personal element of your wedding, and by choosing a setting that holds great meaning and a connection to you and your family will guarantee that the memories are just that little bit more special.
So now that you have made the decision to have your wedding ceremony at home, how will this all play out on the day? Well, you will need to consider many things in order to ensure guests have a great experience, and that things run to plan, but in terms of your ceremony, you are limited only by your imagination!!
"We wanted a really relaxed yet magical feel to our day and Jenny made the whole ceremony come alive and everyone felt involved . . ."
Using the backdrop of a garden or grounds means you integrate the surroundings into your day, and there is nothing better than using what you have in the natural environment to do this. Be it an old tree, gorgeous planting, a lake or fountain, or even a beautiful view. Let nature do the ‘hard work’ and don’t over-do the décor.
"Embellishments rather than obscurity is the order of the day when decorating your home ceremony setting"
Your ceremony style might be of a more relaxed nature, and the content can be personal and reflective of who you are. It may also acknowledge family traditions, and you could also create a commemorative activity with the result being incorporated into your surroundings after the wedding too.
There is something really special about being married at home, and my ceremonies are always warm and engaging and with a relaxed feel. I like to involve guests and react naturally to the things that occur, and indeed the environment around us.
"We can maintain all of the traditional elements of a ceremony, but also enhance it with some wonderful personal, and family orientated additions."
Keeping things on track
Despite the very relaxed and often informal setting, you'll want to make sure things are 'held together' and not falling apart just because you have opted for a non-traditional day. Guests still want to feel looked after, and indeed you will want to know that you can relax without worrying who is doing what and will they remember to do it?
"It takes a lot of work to ensure a smooth and relaxed feel and that's why choosing the right suppliers is crucial. "
If they are good at what they do (and even better, have worked together before) it will all run like clockwork and they will make sure everything happens when it should do.
Having us on board will mean you are guided through the whole planning phase of your ceremony, and it will be both fun and reassuring, just knowing that you've had sight of what will happen, and even had an input, always makes our couples feel more relaxed about the day.
Are you having a friend to conduct the ceremony?
We think that having a personal celebration, one that reflects who you are is the most important thing, and if that means you are wanting to have someone already close to you to conduct the ceremony then good for you!
"We always offer guidance and top tips to those opting for this, even if they aren't working with us, as we still feel it's a key part of your day and we want it to go well for you!"
So, here are some things to consider if a friend or relative is leading your ceremony:
- They may know you well, but they do need to write something for you. This needs to tell a story and be in the right tone for your day.
- You'll want to make sure it is time-checked too. Convey how long you want the ceremony to be and ensure they have written adequate elements so that it feels substantial and equally isn't just a rambling of meaningless words just to fill the time.
- There will need to be 'moments' factored into the ceremony. It shouldn't just be lots of talking by one person, but instead, nicely broken up into sections and even punctuated with other people getting involved in some way
- You'll need to consider those all-important logistical things, like standing positions, movement around the space (you won't want awkward moments of shifting into different places, it should feel smooth and like it has all been planned out)
- And the stand out consideration for me is obviously being able to 'hold the space'. To have everyone engaged, gripped even, and listening to your every word. Having this focus on one person can be daunting to the untrained, and so make sure the person leading your ceremony can take on this responsibility and can create a wonderful atmosphere.
- A monotone voice or a lack of confidence can mean a very flat ceremony so get them to send you a practice run, presenting something (anything) so you can see how well they 'perform'
What we do comes from years of experience and training, lots of skills and techniques learned over our many years in the business. Don't forget we are here not only to write and lead your ceremony, but we also offer a separate writing and checking and editing service to help those considering this option for their day.
Get in touch for a chat!
I have lots of ideas and look forward to helping you create unforgettable memories in your very own special ceremony setting.
We'd love to chat through your ideas and help with any questions that you may have so do drop us a line here.
Celebrant : Jenny Knight @ Knight Ceremonies
Photographers at our real weddings:
