Garod and Kirsty’s New Year’s Eve Wedding.

I can’t believe we’re nearly half way through the year already! Looking at these pictures, it’s hard to imagine the cold, damp New Year’s Eve on which Garod and Kirsty had their wedding celebration ceremony. The weather outside may have been miserable, but the atmosphere in Rhosygilwen Hall in Pembrokeshire was warm and welcoming. The setting really could hardly have been better for the ceremony, as of course the hall was still decorated for Christmas. Catrin James, the harpist, played as Kirsty walked down the aisle and Kirsty was an absolute vision of gorgeousness. The grin on Garod’s face as he saw her couldn’t have been wider; and I don’t think it ever left him!

I was contacted by this couple earlier in 2015. They had assumed that they would use a registrar in the usual way. However, when they tried to book one there was only a late slot (I think around 4.0 pm), but Garod and Kirsty wanted the wedding to be held nearer 12.0 pm. Thankfully, they knew about celebrant-led weddings and Garod contacted me by email to see whether I could help. We met over coffee in the autumn and they soon agreed that they would give me the privilege of being their celebrant.

I wrote the ceremony having talked to them about who they are, how they’d got to where they were and what if any symbolism they would like. They had plenty of ideas and after more emails than I’d realised (I’ve just been looking back over them!) we were ready.

The symbolism Garod and Kirsty used included having candles in honour of those who were no longer with us. The candelabra that the candles were on looked splendid, and each candle had the name of the person in whose memory it burned. The central candle, with Garod and Kirsty’s names on, was unlit through the ceremony until Garod and Kirsty lit it together from the one lit in Kirsty’s grandmother, Bessie’s, name who wasn’t fit enough to be at the wedding. Bessie had been at the register office ceremony a few days previously and had taken tea with the couple afterwards so had felt included despite not being up to the “big day”.

Sand pouring was also part of this ceremony, and since both Garod and Kirsty are such fans of beaches and the sea they used beautiful, natural looking sand to create their sculpture.

The couple wrote their own vows, which were inspired. Their choice of poetry and readings were perfect with one of them translated by a friend into Welsh. A friend even sang “The Rose”, accompanied by the harp. I though at that point that I was going to have to reach for the tissues myself!

The harpist also accompanied the certificate signing. Whilst this of course isn’t mandatory at one of my ceremonies (nothing is “mandatory”!), it does provide and excellent photo opportunity, one which was taken by all before we closed the ceremony with the couple’s kiss and walk through their friends’ and families’ smiles down the aisle to their married life together.

I think the smiles in the pictures tell how much Garod and Kirsty enjoyed their ceremony. I was gratified to hear from Kirsty that one of her (male) friends bounced up to her afterwards, saying that he normally “can’t stand weddings, but that was great!”. I remember Kirsty saying before the ceremony how pleased she was that they had been unable to get a registrar when they wanted one as having my input completely transformed the day.

I was delighted to give them the day that they wanted, and the one that such a lovely young couple truly deserved.

Thanks for reading this! Why not have a browse through some of my other blogs and look at my website whilst you’re here?

Suppliers for the Day

This list was supplied by Garod. Suppliers are welcome to add missing details in the comments section!

Bride’s dress – Dress from Rowberry’s in Swansea, alterations were by High Society Bridal, Cowbridge

Bridesmaids dresses – High Society Bridal in Cowbridge

Groom’s clothing – Moss Bros, Cardiff

Rings – Spencer Morgan, Swansea

Candles – taper candles from Amazon, candle printing – DIY using a kit from craftycomputerpaper.co.uk

Cake – Baglan Bakehouse, Port Talbot

Video – Clic videography – https://clicproductions.co.uk/

Photos – Aga Tomaszek Photography – https://www.agatomaszek.com/

Food – Strawberry Shortcake Dining, Crosshands – https://www.strawberryshortcakedining.com/

Magician – Phil Jay – https://www.philjaymagic.com/

Place names, Seating plan, Invitations etc – Designs by Sarah (Facebook)

Flowers – Flower Studio Neath (Facebook)

Venue – Rhosygilwen – https://retreat.co.uk/pembrokeshire-weddings/

Harp – Catrin James – https://www.facebook.com/catrinjames.harpisttelynores.5