Your Day Your Way

The question, 'how' get married when you've been together for over twenty years was given an eloquent and meaningful answer when my friends celebrated their love in a wedding ceremony that involved a corresponding commitment from their children, family and guests.  What was obvious from the onset was the way in which the ceremony resonated with the personalities of the bride and groom, and why the choice of Bryony, as wedding celebrant, ensured that significant moments in their lives were integrated into their promise to continue together as a family: the presentation of the wedding bouquet by a very excited youngest daughter, the exchange of gifts with their son, and the moment of quiet reflection as we remembered their older daughter and the love she had brought with her during her brief life.  The combination of compassion, humour and quiet professionalism (providing a choice of readings, pre-wedding correspondence with the bride and groom, stage-managing the ceremony) ensured a smooth-running and enjoyable occasion. Small wonder that the evening celebrations included a song that recognised the role taken by Bryony as 'the bee', the Melissa of Greek mythology, whose energy and thoughtfulness created a day to remember.

Having been to many weddings over the years – both civil and religious – I was struck by how stress-free and enjoyable this one was, both for the bride and groom and their guests.  This was doubly-impressive as not only was the ceremony taking place in the evening, but it was also in an art centre in Paris, with guests from the UK and Europe, a live band, pre-nuptial champagne and a super-abundant Lebanese buffet.  The creation of a serene, personalised space for the ceremony was further evidence of the care that had taken place in planning the wedding.  Suddenly the spotlight was on the bride and groom, the lights dimmed and the band played an appropriately moody chanson d'amour.

The care taken by Bryony to make this a wedding to remember was confirmed by the bride and groom, their son and daughter and, indeed, the translator who had received a copy of the ceremony well in advance, so ensuring that the exchange of vows, the reading, and the brief address by the celebrant were given an appropriately colloquial translation.  The involvement and response of both French and English-speaking friends and family and their evident pleasure in the ceremony spoke for itself.  Bryony, it seems, had been involved in the planning from the onset and this was why, the bride assured me, that the wedding ceremony was at their pace and reflected their wishes and values.  As she said, "It was tailor-made, rather than mass-produced and this is why it was so special."

Sheila Ratcliffe