Real Celebrant Ceremony: Laura + Henry’s Colourful New Forest Wedding

On a sunny April day, Laura and Henry celebrated their love in an intimate celebrant ceremony at the charming Woodlands Lodge Hotel, nestled in the New Forest—a place close to their hearts as it’s where their story began during the lockdown. Their celebrant-led ceremony, a first for the lodge, was brimming with personal touches and heartfelt moments shared with close family and friends.

The drawing room was decorated with gin bottles and jars full of spring flowers, setting the tone for a day kissed with the playful spirit of gin.

A Ceremony of Dreams

The ceremony began with a poignant moment as Laura, looking radiant, walked down the aisle with her father, Alan. We shared a laugh about missing a golf match—a small trade-off for a once-in-a-lifetime moment with his beautiful daughter. Henry was visibly moved to tears as he took in the sight of Laura walking towards him.

We had a brief, playful interlude where guests seized the chance to snap a few photos of Laura and Henry, breaking the ‘no photos’ rule just for fun.

Laura and Henry’s romance began with a serendipitous swipe right on Hinge, leading to a first date in the New Forest during the Covid years. Their unconventional date—a scenic walk followed by a chat over coffee—sparked a deep connection, as well as a shared love for coffee (and later, gin).

The proposal was as much a joint decision as any milestone in their relationship. After discussing their future during a drive to Norfolk, Henry proposed in their living room, with Toby, their dog, bouncing around with excitement. Their life together has been a beautiful blend of shared values, mutual respect, laughter, and a touch of adventure. They’ve navigated professional challenges, made time for personal growth, and embraced the joys of dog parenting.

Of course, Toby, their beloved dog, was a significant part of their lives, so we honoured him with a spirited reading—“How Love is Like Owning a Dog” by Taylor Mali—that added a touch of humour and warmth to the ceremony. Simon, Henry’s Dad, also shared a gorgeous reading with some sage advice on marriage – “A Beautiful Life Together”.

At the heart of the ceremony, Laura and Henry decided who would share their vows first with a good old-fashioned game of Rock, Paper Scissors, before exchanging personal vows they had written themselves, keeping them a surprise until the moment they shared them.

In the spirit of spontaneity, before the ceremony, I hid the rings under a random chair in the audience. At the right moment, I asked everyone to reach under their chairs and pull out a box. One of Laura’s work colleagues was very surprised to discover she was the ring bearer!!

A Blend of Traditions and Tastes

Choosing to add a little symbolism, we held a Gin Blending Ceremony using gin from Laura and Henry’s favourite distillery, Tarquin’s in Cornwall. This symbolic act represented the merging of their lives and passions, demonstrating how individual elements can come together to create something truly unique and special. The ceremony ended with a toast, celebrating Laura and Henry’s marriage before they shared their first kiss.

Laura and Henry’s wedding was a tapestry of joyful, genuine moments that perfectly captured their relationship. From the laughter and emotional vows to the vibrant confetti celebration, every aspect of the day marked a beautiful beginning to their married life.

This special day wasn’t just about starting their journey together but also about celebrating the path that led them here, surrounded by the beauty of the New Forest and the warmth of cherished loved ones!

Testimonial

“Miranda was just fabulous! Our story, vows and ceremony, all of which were so precious to us were handled with such care and thoughtfulness. We got to know Miranda over the course of nearly a year in the run up to our wedding – we had zoom meetings, emails, and a delightful coffee meet up where it truly felt like meeting with a friend.

We felt that our ceremony was one of, if not the most important parts of our day and we were so glad to have found Miranda who really got to know us as a couple, showed us what was possible and crafted a meaningful, touching, and FUN ceremony that she delivered beautifully and will stay with us always.

We were supported to write our own vows, something my husband and I are so glad we did, and on the day itself Miranda was amazing – we both felt so well looked after and supported by her, she absolutely nailed the logistics and preparation side of things, as well as being fabulous at confetti/crowd control!

We truly had “our day, our way” and thanks to Miranda who fully encourages and embraces this notion – we felt empowered and in very safe and capable hands! We not only have memories but thoughtful keepsakes to treasure for years to come – A million thank you’s, Miranda!”

Suppliers

Photographer @emmamoorephotography

Second Shooter @rachelelizabeth_photo

Venue @woodlandslodgehotel

Celebrant @mirandathecelebrant

MUA @laurenomua

Florist @wildoliveflorist

Dress @wed2be

Suit @hunterandgreys

Guitarist @alanoliverweddingguitarist