My name is Wendy and I am an Independent Celebrant, trained with the Fellowship of Professional Celebrants, working in Spain and the UK.  I am based in the Axarquia area of Andalusia, I cover Malaga, Granada and Almeria but as I love to travel, I am more than happy to travel further nationally and internationally.

I want everyone to have the day they have dreamed of, their own unique ceremony, at the place and the time they desire.  Don’t settle for standard wording at set times of the day, not being able to say the words you want to, or perhaps have the music you want to.  Your ceremony is going to be one of the biggest days of your life, you want it to reflect your personality and you definitely want it to be a day to remember!  By choosing to have me as your celebrant you will get your bespoke ceremony and working together we will make it a ceremony to remember.

Everybody is welcome no need to ask, let’s make your day unique, from first to last!  After all, love is love and it transcends all else!

We all have our own ideas of what our perfect wedding day should look like, be it the location, dress or party afterwards.  Do you want to have your children involved with the ceremony, or perhaps the parents?  With a celebrant lead wedding you can have friends and family involved as much or as little as you wish – anything goes!  With me as your Celebrant we will work together to make your day as romantic and intimate or as fun filled and unconventionally whacky as you wish. Working together we will create and make your special day an everlasting memory.

We would start with an initial chat, maybe over coffee or more likely on the phone or by video call if you are not in Spain, this will give us a chance to get to know one another and will give me an idea of what you are looking for in your ceremony.  We will have several conversations and then I will then write a personalised ceremony unique to you.  There may be as many conversations and drafts as it takes, it has to be right – it’s your unique day!

I can assist with ideas for vows, poems, readings and additional ceremonies which will make your day a true reflection of your personalities and definitely an event to remember.  Call me for a consultation and let’s start to make your dream come true.

from £550

Traditionally babies are either baptised or christened within their own religion.  If this is not for you then let’s do it the way you want to, create your own ceremony with words, music venue and time of your choice.  Do you want to involve your family, friends or maybe a pet dog, why not?  In a traditional ceremony you choose your godparents who will be responsible adults and will agree to help guide your child in accordance with their religion. 

You may not follow a religion but that does not mean you cannot have life mentors or moral guardians, those who can pass on life skills and experience and help with the nurturing and development of your child as they journey into adulthood.  A sand or salt ceremony as part of the naming ceremony is a great way to introduce adopted or step children to all your friends and family, giving them a chance to take part and be fully involved.

from £350

Handfasting

The handfasting ceremony is where the term “tying the knot” came from and may be used in many ways during the ceremony.  We would work together to get the perfect ribbon or cord, colours, textures etc that will portray your personalities on the day.  I would explain to those present what a handfasting means and what will happen and then the couple will hold hands – this is to show they are entering into the marriage of their own free will, they can hold one or both hands.  There will then be a reading of vows and at the same time I will wrap the ribbon or cord around the hands tying it, this is when the couple may either say some special words to one another or go straight into the part of the wedding ceremony where they make their vows.  I will work with you to ensure it is just as you want it to be.

The Covenant of Salt 

 This dates back to ancient times when salt was a precious commodity and was used as a way of showing a connection with someone, there is an ancient Arabic saying “there is salt between us”, this means they have eaten, made that connection and become friends.  Today we use the salt ceremony as a way of asking that the love and devotion within the relationship be “preserved” by the salt.  This can be carried out in several ways, such as placing a few grains on the tongue, pouring salt into a decorative container or as I like to do with a small cracker which the happy couple share.

Ring Warming

 This is a beautiful ceremony where the wedding rings are passed around the immediate members of the family or the whole congregation (depending on size!) and as they hold them in their hands they can either make a declaration out loud to the couple of their love and best wishes for their life together or they can silently pass on their love into the ring.  I have a lovely ceremony which requires the assistance of a younger member of the family and this makes a lovely addition to any ceremony.

Spanish Arras

 This is a ceremony that goes back to ancient times when a coin of gold or silver was broken into two pieces, one half was given to the women and the other to the man as a sign of their pledge to one another.  Now we use 13 gold coins in many different ways during the ceremony which may involve the just the couple or include members of the family.