If you want to know what a 100% individual, mostly handcrafted wedding looks like then this is the one. Incorporating their love of travel and the memories they made travelling the world, this July wedding had it all including a rain shower and a knackered Celebrant!! In this blog we take a look back at Dan and Cara’s special, bespoke day.
Where: Battleswick Farm, Rowhedge, Colchester. www.battleswickfarm.co.uk
When: July 2023
Who: Colchester couple Dan and Cara.
1st Contact: I met Dan and Cara at an Open Event at Battleswick Farm and had a lovely chat all about their vision for their day. They had already booked the venue but were looking for some local suppliers for missing bits. We talked about personalisation and they described how they were doing a lot of DIY Detail and they really wanted to incorporate their individuality into the day so I was more than happy to tell them about how all of my ceremonies are written from scratch for every couple and how it is my mission to reflect their personalities, interests and humour into their celebration – I think they were hooked because I received a contact email a couple of days later.
Wedding Day: Our “journey” started together ahead of the big day. We spent a good couple of hours together whilst they told me all about their story and we mapped out what their day was to look like in. terms of timings, logistics and suppliers. I like to know who else is involved so that I can make contact and see if they need anything from me, especially photographers and videographers.
The day before the wedding I volunteered my services to help set things up for the Saturday celebration. Cara’s dad had created so much in terms of photo walls, gate ways, signage, cake table and so on, all in reclaimed materials, it was amazing. I soon felt like part of the family as together with a small group of friends tents were erected, props were organised, tables were dressed and rainbow ribbons were tied to chairs. We knew that the ceremony space and reception tables needed to be kept under cover over night as rain was forecast but the groom and his buddies would be back in the morning to set it all up but needed to be gone by 11:30am, so I volunteered to arrive early to help with any finishing touches and make sure everyone had left.
I’m glad I did as there was a brief but heavy rain shower about 40 minutes before everyone was due to arrive so the videographer and I took refuge in the hay barn. Only to come out to grab some paper towel and a rubbish bag and to try and dry each chair as best I could – honestly, this is not normally part of the service!!
Celebrant Led: We shared some specially selected readings, had bespoke vows created from the couple’s list of non negotiable words which unsurprisingly included travel, fun and friendship. We concluded the ceremony with a unity ceremony of Cocktail mixing – totally exclusive to Shelleybrations! – nothing says it’s time to start the party more like cocktails!!
Although I was invited to stay around for the rest of the celebrations I have to say I was totally knackered, so I retreated the ten minutes to my home and raised a glass of something chilled and sparkling in their honour from the comfort of my pyjamas – Celebrants Rock!
