resources
Handy Hints
When planning a wedding
- START PLANNING EARLY.
- HAVE A BUDGET AND STICK TO IT
- HAVE VERY CLEAR TIMELINES
- GET HELPING HANDS
- FIGURE OUT THE GUEST LIST IN GOOD TIME
- VENDORS ARE THE KEY TO THE KINGDOM
- ANTICIPATE CHALLENGES AND HAVE A CONTINGENCY PLAN
Songs
Suggested
- ‘A THOUSAND YEARS’– BY CHRISTINA PERRI
- ‘ALL OF ME’ – BY JOHN LEGEND
- ‘THINKING OUT LOUD’ – BY ED SHEERAN
- ‘AT LAST’- BY ETTA JAMES
- ‘MAKE YOU FEEL MY LOVE’- BY ADELE
- ‘PERFECT’- BY ED SHEERAN
Poems/Readings
Suggested
It can be a daunting task trying to choose the right poem or reading, so I have a few suggestions for you to look at. Of course you are welcome to bring your own.
"We, unaccustomed to courage
exiles from delight
live coiled in shells of loneliness
until love leaves its high holy temple
and comes into our sight
to liberate us into life. Love arrives
and in its train come ecstasies.
Old memories of pleasure
ancient histories of pain.
Yet if we are bold,
love strikes away the chains of fear
from our souls.
We are weaned from our timidity
In the flush of love’s light
we dare be brave
And suddenly we see
that love costs all we are
and will ever be. Yet it is only love
which sets us free."
TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL – BY MAYA ANGELOU
exiles from delight
live coiled in shells of loneliness
until love leaves its high holy temple
and comes into our sight
to liberate us into life. Love arrives
and in its train come ecstasies.
Old memories of pleasure
ancient histories of pain.
Yet if we are bold,
love strikes away the chains of fear
from our souls.
We are weaned from our timidity
In the flush of love’s light
we dare be brave
And suddenly we see
that love costs all we are
and will ever be. Yet it is only love
which sets us free."
TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL – BY MAYA ANGELOU
"Beloved,
I have to adore the earth:
The wind must have heard
your voice once.
It echoes and sings like you.
The soil must have tasted
you once.
It is laden with your scent.
The trees honor you
in gold
and blush when you pass.
I know why the north country
is frozen.
It has been trying to preserve
your memory.
I know why the desert
burns with fever.
It was wept too long without you.
On hands and knees,
the ocean begs up the beach,
and falls at your feet.
I have to adore
the mirror of the earth.
You have taught her well
how to be beautiful."
LOVE SONG – BY HENRY DUMAS
I have to adore the earth:
The wind must have heard
your voice once.
It echoes and sings like you.
The soil must have tasted
you once.
It is laden with your scent.
The trees honor you
in gold
and blush when you pass.
I know why the north country
is frozen.
It has been trying to preserve
your memory.
I know why the desert
burns with fever.
It was wept too long without you.
On hands and knees,
the ocean begs up the beach,
and falls at your feet.
I have to adore
the mirror of the earth.
You have taught her well
how to be beautiful."
LOVE SONG – BY HENRY DUMAS
"I love you,
Not only for what you are,
But for what I am when I am with you.
I love you,
Not only for what you have made of yourself,
But for what you are making of me.
I love you for
the part of me that you bring out;
I love you for
putting your hand into my heaped-up heart
And passing over all the foolish, weak things
that you can’t help dimly seeing there,
And for drawing out into the light
All the beautiful things
that no one else had looked
Quite far enough to find.
I love you because you have done
More than any creed
Could have done To make me good,
And more than any fate could have done
To make me happy.
You have done it
Without a touch,
Without a word,
Without a sign.
You have done it by being yourself
Perhaps that is what
Being a friend means, after all."
I LOVE YOU – BY ROY CRAFT
Not only for what you are,
But for what I am when I am with you.
I love you,
Not only for what you have made of yourself,
But for what you are making of me.
I love you for
the part of me that you bring out;
I love you for
putting your hand into my heaped-up heart
And passing over all the foolish, weak things
that you can’t help dimly seeing there,
And for drawing out into the light
All the beautiful things
that no one else had looked
Quite far enough to find.
I love you because you have done
More than any creed
Could have done To make me good,
And more than any fate could have done
To make me happy.
You have done it
Without a touch,
Without a word,
Without a sign.
You have done it by being yourself
Perhaps that is what
Being a friend means, after all."
I LOVE YOU – BY ROY CRAFT
"The moon has become a dancer
at this festival of love.
This dance of light,
This sacred blessing,
This divine love,
beckons us
to a world beyond
only lovers can see
with their eyes of fiery passion.
They are the chosen ones
who have surrendered.
Once they were particles of light
now they are the radiant sun.
They have left behind
the world of deceitful games.
They are the privileged lovers
who create a new world
with their eyes of fiery passion."
‘THE PRIVILEGED LOVERS – BY RUMI
at this festival of love.
This dance of light,
This sacred blessing,
This divine love,
beckons us
to a world beyond
only lovers can see
with their eyes of fiery passion.
They are the chosen ones
who have surrendered.
Once they were particles of light
now they are the radiant sun.
They have left behind
the world of deceitful games.
They are the privileged lovers
who create a new world
with their eyes of fiery passion."
‘THE PRIVILEGED LOVERS – BY RUMI
"I’ll be there, my darling, through thick and through thin
When your mind’s in a mess and your head’s in a spin
When your plane’s been delayed, and you’ve missed the last train.
When life is just threatening to drive you insane
When your thrilling whodunit has lost its last page
When somebody tells you, you’re looking your age
When your coffee’s too cool, and your wine is too warm
When the forecast said, “Fine,” but you’re out in a storm
When your quick break hotel, turns into a slum
And your holiday photos show only your thumb
When you park for five minutes in a resident’s bay
And return to discover you’ve been towed away
When the jeans that you bought in hope or in haste
Just stick on your hips and don’t reach round your waist
When the food you most like brings you out in red rashes
When as soon as you boot up the bloody thing crashes
So my darling, my sweetheart, my dear... When you break a rule,
when you act the fool
When you’ve got the flu, when you’re in a stew
When you’re last in the queue, don’t feel blue
’cause I’m telling you, I’ll be there."
I’LL BE THERE FOR YOU – BY LOUISE CUDDON
When your mind’s in a mess and your head’s in a spin
When your plane’s been delayed, and you’ve missed the last train.
When life is just threatening to drive you insane
When your thrilling whodunit has lost its last page
When somebody tells you, you’re looking your age
When your coffee’s too cool, and your wine is too warm
When the forecast said, “Fine,” but you’re out in a storm
When your quick break hotel, turns into a slum
And your holiday photos show only your thumb
When you park for five minutes in a resident’s bay
And return to discover you’ve been towed away
When the jeans that you bought in hope or in haste
Just stick on your hips and don’t reach round your waist
When the food you most like brings you out in red rashes
When as soon as you boot up the bloody thing crashes
So my darling, my sweetheart, my dear... When you break a rule,
when you act the fool
When you’ve got the flu, when you’re in a stew
When you’re last in the queue, don’t feel blue
’cause I’m telling you, I’ll be there."
I’LL BE THERE FOR YOU – BY LOUISE CUDDON
Handy Hints
When planning a Vow renewal ceremony
- PLAN IN ADVANCE
- HAVE A BUDGET AND STICK TO IT
- DO IT HOW YOU WANT
- DECIDE ON A VENUE
- INVITE GUESTS
- FIND CATERING
- ENJOY THE DAY
Songs
Suggested
- ‘AS LONG AS I HAVE YOU’ – BY ELVIS PRESLEY
- ‘EVERYTHING I DO (I DO IT FOR YOU)’ – BY BRIAN ADAMS
- ‘FOREVER AND FOR ALWAYS’ - BY SHANIA TWAIN
- ‘IT HAD TO BE YOU’ - (KENNY G VERSION)
- ‘COME AWAY WITH ME’ – BY NORAH JONES
Poems/Readings
Suggested
It can be a daunting task trying to choose the right poem or reading, so I have a few suggestions for you to look at. Of course you are welcome to bring your own.
"Do you know how much I love you
How much you mean to me
I can't imagine my life without you
My world would be empty
It seems like only yesterday
I first looked in your eyes
But the years have passed so quickly
Much to my surprise
The life we've made together
Our children and our home
The memories we have to cherish
How much our love has grown
Through the good times and the bad
You've been right by my side
You've made me smile,
made me laugh
And wiped my tears when I have cried
You are my husband,
my companion
My lover,
and my best friend
If I had the chance to do it over
I'd marry you again."
‘I’D MARRY YOU AGAIN’ – BY CARLA FLAMM
‘I’D MARRY YOU AGAIN’ – BY CARLA FLAMM
"A moment of happiness, you and I sitting on the verandah,
apparently two, but one in soul, you and I. We feel the flowing water
of life here, you and I, with the garden's beauty and the birds
singing. The stars will be watching us, and we will show them what
it is to be a thin crescent moon. You and I unselfed, will be together,
indifferent to idle speculation, you and I. The parrots of heaven will
be cracking sugar as we laugh together, you and I. In one form upon
this earth, and in another form in a timeless sweet land.
‘
A MOMENT OF HAPPINESS’BY RUMI
A MOMENT OF HAPPINESS’BY RUMI
"Marriage is not
a house, or even a tent
it is before that, and colder:
the edge of the forest, the edge
of the desert
the unpainted stairs
at the back, where we squat
outdoors, eating popcorn
where painfully and with wonder
at having survived
this far
we are learning to make fire"
‘
HABITATION’ BY MARGARET ATWOOD
HABITATION’ BY MARGARET ATWOOD
"The moon has become a dancer
at this festival of love.
This dance of light,
This sacred blessing,
This divine love,
beckons us
to a world beyond
only lovers can see
with their eyes of fiery passion.
They are the chosen ones
who have surrendered.
Once they were particles of light
now they are the radiant sun.
They have left behind
the world of deceitful games.
They are the privileged lovers
who create a new world
with their eyes of fiery passion."
‘THE PRIVILEGED LOVERS – BY RUMI
‘THE PRIVILEGED LOVERS – BY RUMI
"I’ll be there, my darling, through thick and through thin
When your mind’s in a mess and your head’s in a spin
When your plane’s been delayed, and you’ve missed the last train.
When life is just threatening to drive you insane
When your thrilling whodunit has lost its last page
When somebody tells you, you’re looking your age
When your coffee’s too cool, and your wine is too warm
When the forecast said, “Fine,” but you’re out in a storm
When your quick break hotel, turns into a slum
And your holiday photos show only your thumb
When you park for five minutes in a resident’s bay
And return to discover you’ve been towed away
When the jeans that you bought in hope or in haste
Just stick on your hips and don’t reach round your waist
When the food you most like brings you out in red rashes
When as soon as you boot up the bloody thing crashes
So my darling, my sweetheart, my dear... When you break a rule,
when you act the fool
When you’ve got the flu, when you’re in a stew
When you’re last in the queue, don’t feel blue
’cause I’m telling you, I’ll be there."
I’LL BE THERE FOR YOU – BY LOUISE CUDDON
When your mind’s in a mess and your head’s in a spin
When your plane’s been delayed, and you’ve missed the last train.
When life is just threatening to drive you insane
When your thrilling whodunit has lost its last page
When somebody tells you, you’re looking your age
When your coffee’s too cool, and your wine is too warm
When the forecast said, “Fine,” but you’re out in a storm
When your quick break hotel, turns into a slum
And your holiday photos show only your thumb
When you park for five minutes in a resident’s bay
And return to discover you’ve been towed away
When the jeans that you bought in hope or in haste
Just stick on your hips and don’t reach round your waist
When the food you most like brings you out in red rashes
When as soon as you boot up the bloody thing crashes
So my darling, my sweetheart, my dear... When you break a rule,
when you act the fool
When you’ve got the flu, when you’re in a stew
When you’re last in the queue, don’t feel blue
’cause I’m telling you, I’ll be there."
I’LL BE THERE FOR YOU – BY LOUISE CUDDON
Handy Hints
When planning a baby naming ceremony
- PLAN IN ADVANCE
- DECIDE ON PROCEEDINGS
- INVITE GUESTS
- DECIDE ON A VENUE/THEME
- CHOOSE A CELEBRANT (ME)
- FIND CATERING
- ENJOY THE DAY
Songs
Suggested
- ‘FIRST TIME EVER IS SAW YOUR FACE’ - BY ROBERTA FLACK
- ‘BABY LOVE’ - BY DIANA ROSS
- ‘MIRACLE’ - BY CELINE DION
- ‘BEAUTIFUL CHILD’ - BY EURYTHMICS
- ‘I KNEW I LOVED YOU’ - BY SAVAGE GARDEN
Poems/Readings
Suggested
It can be a daunting task trying to choose the right poem or reading, so I have a few suggestions for you to look at. Of course you are welcome to bring your own.
"Do I love you
to the moon and back?
No I love you
more than that
I love you to the desert sands
the mountains, stars
the planets and
I love you to the deepest sea
and deeper still
through history
Before beyond I love you then
I love you now
I’ll love you when
The sun’s gone out
the moon’s gone home
and all the stars are fully grown
When I no longer say these words
I’ll give them to the wind, the birds
so that they will still be heard
I love you"
‘
'I LOVE YOU MORE' BY JAMES CARTER
'I LOVE YOU MORE' BY JAMES CARTER
"Mother, I love you so.
Said the child, I love you more than I know.
She laid her head on her mother’s arm,
And the love between them kept them warm."
‘HUMAN AFFECTION’- BY STEVIE SMITH
‘HUMAN AFFECTION’- BY STEVIE SMITH
"I hadn’t met his kind before.
His misericord face – really,
like a joke on his father – blurred
as if from years of polish;
his hands like curled dry leaves;
the profligate heat he gave
out, gave out, his shallow,
careful breaths: I thought
his filaments would blow,
I thought he was an emperor,
dying on silk cushions.
I didn’t know how to keep
him wrapped, I didn’t know
how to give him suck, I had
no idea about him. At night
I tried to remember the feel
of his head on my neck, the skull
small as a cat’s, the soft spot
hot as a smelted coin,
and the hair, the down, fine
as the innermost, vellum layer
of some rare snow creature’s
aureole of fur, if you could meet
such a beast, if you could
get so near. I started there.
‘LOVE’ – BY KATE CLANCHY
‘LOVE’ – BY KATE CLANCHY
"I have no name
I am but two days old.—
What shall I call thee?
I happy am
Joy is my name,—
Sweet joy befall thee!
Pretty joy!
Sweet joy but two days old,
Sweet joy I call thee;
Thou dost smile.
I sing the while
Sweet joy befall thee."
‘INFANT JOY’- BY WILLIAM BLAKE
‘INFANT JOY’- BY WILLIAM BLAKE
"A baby's feet, like sea shells pink,
Might tempt, should heaven see meet
An angel's lips to kiss, we think,
A baby's feet.
Like rose-hued sea flowers toward the heat
They stretch and spread and wink
Their ten soft buds that part and meet.
No flower bells that expand and shrink
Gleam half so heavenly sweet,
As shine on life's untrodden brink"
‘A BABY’S FEET’- BY ALGERNON CHARLES SWINBURNE
‘A BABY’S FEET’- BY ALGERNON CHARLES SWINBURNE
