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Photo credit Venetia Norrington
2024 Highlights
Wow, 2024 has been something of a career highlight, I think. In this final blog of 2024, I’m giving you a snapshot into the real stories and real weddings that I have had the honour and privilege of taking part in. And for all my 2024 couples, I hope that your ceremony was one of the special memories of your wedding day. Enjoy my 2024 highlights:
George and Vanessa
My 2024 highlights began with George and Vanessa at Bickley Mill. It was my first ceremony of the year so obviously hugely exciting and a highlight; but that all aside there was no forgetting the energy, excitement and anticipation of friends gathered to celebrate…. and the ceremony hadn’t even begun. Vanessa was escorted up the aisle by her son and daughter and so began 30 minutes of warmth and laughter and reminded me, after a winter break, of why I love this job so much. I was also delighted to dig out my leather skirt and funky red shoes that my husband gave me for Christmas.
Hannah and Tom
My first visit to the Deer Park this year, so definitely one of my 2024 highlights. This was a very sentimental ceremony reflecting their love for obviously one another but also their families. The 50 or so guests included their very nearest and dearest with everyone staying at the Deer Park. More guests were arriving on the Saturday for a full on shindig. The Deer Park lends itself so perfectly for a destination weekend wedding enabling families to spend premium time with one another, celebrating together. It looked quite magical with the candles and the beautiful evening light.
Steph and Terry
I only had to wait 2 months and I was back at Deer Park for Steph and Terry’s wedding and my first hand fasting ceremony of the year. I loved the symbolism behind their ribbon colour choices. Blue, yellow and white reflecting their love of the natural world. Blue her favourite colour reminding them of the sea on clear days, yellow Terry’s favourite colour representing sunshine and flowers during the spring and summer months, sandy beaches and the desert and white to remind them of their wedding, snow on mountain tops and snowdrops in the spring. Meanings that were personal to them.
Milly and Matt
Milly and Matt’s wedding was held at the quite stunning Mount Folly Farm looking out over Bigbury Bay with the iconic Burgh Island Hotel below. The rain was not going to dampen their parade though I think many of the Aussie guests were having a quiet laugh at the Englishness of the weather. Matt and Milly met in Australia and a huge effort had been made by many to be there. I was thrilled with their script. The most moving moment was when Gus, Milly’s cousin, played her guitar and sang, Fields of Gold and L.O.V.E. There wasn’t a dry eye and everyone was captivated, definitely one of my 2024 highlights. Top tip. Live music. Nothing beats it!
Charlie and Mimi
2024 highlights within highlights at this wedding! My first wedding at the magnificent Hurlingham Club in London for a start. A stunning bride, the most charming groom. Ushers and gentlemen in morning coats, ladies in floral dresses and hats. Glorious flowers organised by my dear friend Rosebie at the Real Flower Company. The peonies alone were fabulous. It embodied all the traditions and charm of a quintessential English wedding, though, notably, we weren’t in a church. To me, it felt like a breakthrough—a step towards what I’ve been striving for: showing those from a traditional church background that there really is a meaningful alternative.
Grace and Shamin
Grace and Shamin were the first of two couples this year that I was to meet for the first time on the day of their wedding. Despite being at the same university, on the same course and in the same friendship group extraordinarily they didn’t meet until their final year. But when they did – wow! What an incredible team these two are.
Rachel and Sam
Another amazing story, adding it to my 2024 highlights list. Rachel and Sam met whilst she was on a week’s holiday in the UK from the US. She found herself in Exeter and met Sam on a night out. They’ve been together ever since, surviving long periods apart, horrendous visa issues and the pandemic. It was love at first sight that fateful evening and changed the course of their lives forever. A great story to tell at beautiful venue, Rockbeare Manor.
Imogen and Charlie
These two, within a month of meeting, knew that they’d found their person. Their ceremony at Pauntley Court (the home of Dick Whittington no less) in Gloucestershire reflected their extraordinary and immediate connection as well as humility and warmth. They were deeply influenced by the theories of Alain de Botton’s The School of Life and his views on marriage.
Flora and Simon
They were the first of 2 couples this year who changed track having planned to use a registrar for their ceremony. They realised they wanted more out of their ceremony. Their brief was traditional at the core with a personal touch and to not feel remotely copy and paste. They wanted tears and laughter. I can safely say we nailed it on all fronts, making this one of my 2024 highlights. It was wonderful and just fabulous to be back at the amazing Powderham Castle.
Alexa and Felix
This was my most emotional ceremony to date and the one I felt the biggest responsibility to capture their story of love, overwhelming grief, resilience and happiness empathetically and accurately. It had to reflect the journey they’d been on, the ups and downs and of course a celebration of their love. It was very moving, very special and memorable. It was held in the tipi at Hareston Manor.
Sarah and Josef
No selfie of me with Sarah and Josef (just me!) they had a completely unplugged wedding. It was held at Sidmouth Harbour Hotel. Like Grace and Shamin I hadn’t met them before the big day as they live in Australia. Our zoom calls however had been hysterical and one of my 2024 highlights was when I finally met them face to face. I’d contacted one of the groomsmen as well to get his perspective on why Sarah and Josef are just perfect for one another; having this input from someone close to the couple is a very intimate addition to a ceremony.
Lottie and Sam
Lottie and Sam, before they met me, considered the ceremony to be the boring part of their wedding day. It was all about the party. But ….. once they realised what could be achieved they threw themselves into it and now look back on their ceremony as the highlight of their day. For my part I loved working with them.
Ashley and Joe
“We want it to set the tone for an amazing party and celebration” is how Ashley described how they wanted their ceremony to be. It was modern but also fulfilled the brief of a classic ceremony structure, poignant, heartfelt, the odd joke, warm humour but traditional. This is what I feel I do best. And where was it? Number 4 of the year at Deer Park.
Alice and Pranu
A quote from a Van Morrison song sums up how this couple feel about being by the sea “smell the sea, feel the sky, let your soul and spirit fly’ and so they had chosen Polhawn Fort for their wedding, perched up on the cliffs above the sea. Unfortunately the English weather had other plans and we were inside. Nevertheless it didn’t manage to dampen anyone spirits there was sufficient love to more than make up for any disappointment, making this one of my 2024 highlights!
Charlotte and Oscar
This was the first of 3 ceremonies that were held at home this year. Garden weddings will always be a highlight of any year. Charlotte and Oscar met at school and many of the guests had watched their relationship blossom. There was loads of nostalgia and laughter remembering those days. It was still raining so sadly we were in their marquee not the garden but Charlotte (a florist) and her team had worked her magic and it looked magnificent.
George and Adrienne
Yes, I’m possibly biased, but this ceremony was, if I really need to pick one, the top of my 2024 highlights list. Why? Well simply because George is my nephew. So to be asked was special but also to lead the ceremony in the garden of the Cave family home was the icing on the cake. I’m certain my brother in law, George’s father of whom I was very fond and who is sadly no longer with us, would have loved everything about the day.
Mireille and Ben
Their ceremony was held on their family dairy farm. I loved that all Ben’s girls (his cows) were all in the field above looking down on them, definitely making it onto my 2024 highlights catalogue. Family, home and community is what’s important to Mireille and Ben and we reflected all of that and indeed their love for their daughter in their ceremony script.
Alice and Simon
I was back at the Deer Park for Alice and Simon. This was another special ceremony reflecting Alice’s Greek culture and heritage. We adapted the Stefana crown ceremony and also included a crown ceremony. For that reason I’ll always remember this ceremony as one of my 2024 highlights, but also Alice’s vows, they were some of the most beautiful I’ve heard.
Chantal and James
The brief from Chantal and James was clear. They told me “the emotional and meaning of the ceremony is the most important”. They also wanted it to be playful being a couple who are always taking the micky out of one another. This script was a real collaboration; I love it when a couple are really invested and Chantal and James were that couple. Together, we nailed it.
Helen and James
Childhood friends having met walking home from school together they are now husband and wife. What a story theirs was. That day at the Deer Park back in September was a long time coming. One of my 2024 highlights, for me, was that smile on James’ face, it was a picture. Their happiness, banter and laughter was contagious. I loved playing my part and telling their story.
Anneke and Phil
Again no picture of me with the couple, just me. This was not really a ceremony more a speech and celebration of their love at what the couple described as their “happily ever after after party”. I have heard many love stories and whilst many share common threads Anneke and Phil’s was particularly unique because of the role that seemingly the universe had played in bringing them together. It was held at the glorious Lympstone Manor.
Louisa and Rhys
This ceremony was held in the magnificent Nash Conservatory at Kew. Their love for music was reflected throughout, indeed we included an analogy that Rhys used when he described how he felt about their relationship, “when I instantly love a piece of music, I can tire of it, but Louisa is like the finest piece of music, always revealing something new and interesting”.
Francesca and Harry
The last of my 2024 highlights, and my final ceremony of the year, was at Higher Eggbeer. The chapel barn there was warm, cosy and intimate very much like the script I wrote for this very private couple who quietly get on with their lives. The ceremony gave their friends and families a snapshot into their love and relationship. It was my first December wedding. I hope for many more.
Conclusion to my 2024 Highlights
As you can see, its been quite a year. So, so, many 2024 highlights. I have also included in my collage an image of the wonderful Venetia whom has the challenge, annually, of taking my brand images. We always have fun and she somehow manages to make me relax into it. Of the all the images of me that are taken, often it’s only the ones that Venetia takes that I actually like of myself! If you’d like to be one of my 2025 couples and be featured in my blog of highlights next year please do get in touch by hitting the link here. You can also sign up to my monthly newsletter here.
