by Michael | Jan 27, 2020 | Blog
When is it too late to say “Happy New Year”?
Most people
give it till the end of January – so that makes this blog post ‘in date’.
We’ve come off the back of lashings of year and decade celebrations and new year resolutions. (I wonder how many resolutions you still have intact?!)
It’s great that New Year’s Eve gives us an excuse for a celebration. Celebrating – chatting, dancing, singing and laughing – is all very healthy (even if excessive eating and alcohol might be less so!). Even simply looking forward to it can do you good.
So a few weeks ago we were looking forward, but maybe we also looked back. Taking stock enables us to realise where you’ve come from – and where we still might need to go.
If you’re at all philosophically-inclined, you’ll understand that present time and reality don’t really exist. The present never stays – it always moves on. There’s only past and future time that we can measure.
What about
marking an event in 2020? Yes, some more celebrating! Perhaps you have a big
anniversary in the offing. Or perhaps you just want an excuse for a celebration.
Either way, you can get another fix by planning a ‘do’.
Why not celebrate a promotion or a happy family event? You might have completed a year’s marriage (that IS quite an achievement). It could be a birthday ending in -5 or -0. Or else, time and circumstances have invalidated your wedding vows and you want to renew them.
You might mark any of these events with a dinner at home, a few drinks down the pub, a hotel gathering or a party by the canal. But have you thought of making it a bit more special? You could also hire a civil celebrant.
You won’t need to worry about any registrars or red tape. You can have the ceremony you can afford or really want. Choose the venue that appeals to you. Let the celebrant add something extra to the proceedings – possibly, gravitas, possibly humour, or a combination. Theceremony can include religious elements (or none). You may invite people of your choice (family or friends) to participate (eg in a ritual, reading a poem or making music). It can be whatever you want it to be. It doesn’t have to be long.
So let
yourself go! Work together with the celebrant and compile the ceremony of your
dreams!
If this has whetted your appetite at all for a unique, personalised ceremony, then have a non-obligation chat with me and let your imagination take flight!
Photo: mckinley_rodgers.com
by Michael | Dec 19, 2017 | Blog
It’s my last blog post before Christmas (yipee!). I therefore want to take the opportunity to wish all my readers happy holidays. (I apologise for the American terminology, but it covers a lot of ground, as Chanukah is still going (just), whilst Christmas is a week away.)
So I hope you have a restful time, and that you enjoy family time (if that’s on the agenda). At the very least, I hope you find some television that you’ll love and consume a festive feast without too much of a hangover to follow!
On a personal level, this looks set to be the quietest Christmas we have ever known, as family politics means that we will be celebrating on our own this year. We’ll eat and drink well, and I’m sure we’ll find some entertainment (Scrabble or Yahtzee, perhaps?). I’m not too worried, although I usually get thrashed at Scrabble!
As I have no celebrations booked before January and I don’t expect many funerals to happen in Christmas week, I am forced to take some time off, and that’s not entirely unwelcome.
I can do a little planning for my business, of course, and I have some (paid) writing to finish, which will probably take me till the end of December, so I don’t risk getting bored. I even think I may get dragged out for some shopping in the next few days, although I can’t say I relish that…
I wonder if you’ve got rather more ambitious plans than me? It wouldn’t be very hard! But whatever you end up doing, I hope it’s a joyous time for you.
I certainly hope and pray that we all enjoy a happier year. There have been some horrible atrocities in 2017 in the UK and elsewhere. Let’s hope that a little tolerance and understanding spreads across our globe next year. Maybe we can all play a part in achieving that.
Anyway, whatever your religion (if you have one at all), may I simply wish you “happy holidays”.
by Michael | Mar 15, 2017 | Blog
Are you planning a wedding, vow renewal or any other celebrations? I have good news for you!
There’s more choice out there than you may suspect. In fact, the world (of celebrations) is your oyster.
Well, what’s it to be? Conventional, way-out or something in-between?
First impressions
When people meet me, they often think I’m quite sane! That’s because part of me actually is.
However, on further acquaintance, they come to realise that I have a zany side too.
This mixture works very well in a civil celebrant. I can supply almost everyone’s needs!
“Normal”
I often get asked to put together and perform pretty conventional ceremonies. After all, some people may want a full religious service, but are unable to have this through their church. That might be because they are marrying someone of another faith. Or it could be a divorced Catholic who wants to marry again.
Be that as it may, these ceremonies may be very like what you’d expect in a church or synagogue etc. They can contain traditional readings and rituals. The main difference is that the service is led by someone (me!) who is a lay reader (ie not ordained).
“Woo-woo”
One of the beauties about a celebrant-led ceremony is that you can choose to personalise it. It may include features from other cultures (the Apache wedding blessing is a favourite) and a few religious elements. It may contain spiritual readings and rituals.
You can hold it wherever you wish (within reason). That can make it really exciting. Maybe Stonehenge is your idea of a brilliant venue? It can be arranged. What about atop Ben Nevis?
If you want pagan (or even part-pagan!), you only have to ask.
The point is that you can construct the ceremony that YOU want, that matches your personalities and beliefs. And that seems just right for your big day.
Compromise
Sometimes people are faced with a dilemma. They may want a secular ceremony, for example, but feel that that could offend their parents or even guests. Fortunately, your celebrant can help you include elements of religion into a largely secular service, and you can – hopefully! – keep everybody happy.
A same-sex ceremony may not please everybody, unfortunately. A little compromise with the wording and structure may go a long way.
Preparing a ceremony that is bespoke and unique to you is utterly appealing. The result should be an event that is beautiful and unique and unforgettable, whether it is oddball or basically conventional, or something in-between.
And surely that’s what you’re looking for (and deserve) for your big day!
by Michael | Feb 13, 2014 | Blog
Ever the romantic, I couldn’t resist a bonus blog about Valentine s Day.
History
Its origins spring from the imprisonment of a certain Valentine by the Ancient Romans for performing weddings for soldiers who were forbidden to marry and for ministering to Christians (who were being persecuted).
Source: www.history.com
You can probably see the connection, although you need a bit of imagination to make the leap to 21st century celebrations of Valentine s Day!
Modern day
Yes, I know I’m cynical, but, let’s face it, nowadays it is a chance for florists, card-makers, vintners, chocolatiers and restaurateurs to put their prices up.
More romantically, though, it is the most popular day for women to receive wedding proposals (although men prefer Christmas Eve). Let’s look at how to go about making a proposal.
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
The proposal
Of course there are all sorts of ways of proposing. Some will choose to accompany the proposal with a Valentine s Day gift.
In the vast majority of cases, you will want to choose a quiet venue – a booked table in a nice, intimate restaurant may do the trick. Soft music and subdued lighting should provide a suitable atmosphere.
Alternatively, the setting can be the home – perhaps to the accompaniment of a lovely meal (a dish you both enjoy!) and a certain amount of champagne! A proposal over a chocolate pudding often works well.
You can mention the romance of the day and how much it has encouraged you to express your love – but, naturally, it’s got to be down to you what to say.
In truth, I didn’t propose on Valentine s Day (I chose an Italian garden in July!), but it was romantic and that’s key.
Make it a special day and enjoy it!
Michael Gordon can help prepare and conduct a tailor-made life-cycle civil ceremony in or around London or, indeed, in Europe.
