The first encounter
Maud and Ludwig are a couple who first met another wedding planner who doesn’t officiate non-religious ceremonies. Thus, they contacted me to know more about my way of working and see if we could get on well. And everything was obvious between us; we hit it off, but only on the phone first.
Then, we met to talk about their background, their life, their routine, their wishes… The aim was for me to know them better and discover them in their “natural element”. They welcomed me at their home in the beautiful town of Loubieng. When I left, two hours away from my home, the writing of their ceremony was already building itself in my mind.
The ceremony
At last, this is the Big Day and I have to go! I put my celebrant material in the car, as well as my spare of clothes in order to match the wedding theme. I always make a point of honour of matching the couple and the guests. Once this is done, the long ride can begin, until I get to the Domain of Thil.
I have to precise something; that day, the temperature was 36°C, so the leather dress I was wearing was very uncomfortable! But I had to suffer a little to match the bride and groom, who were very pleased I played along!
When I arrived on site, everything had already been installed by the couple, the guests and the florist, everything was wonderful! The location overlooked the hills and towered several villages over miles away. I just fell for it.
Then, I prepared and managed the event a bit more before getting ready, waiting for my turn to enter the scene. I couldn’t wait! I just looked forward to making them feel all the love I had put in my text, to seeing the sparkling eyes of the guests and the couple, and, maybe a few tears running on their cheeks, I couldn’t wait for everything!
The rituals
During that ceremony, between my sweet words and the participants’ speeches, two rituals were chosen by the couple. I don’t impose anything, I’m just a guide.
Maud and Ludwig chose the stones ritual; a pebble was placed on each seat with a pen. The guests wrote a word on each pebble and kept it in their hands all along the ceremony, in order to send all their love and good vibrations. The couple will then keep them all in a vase to remember this beautiful moment all their life.
Then, there was the ribbons ritual; several guests, previously selected by the couple, tied a ribbon around the bride’s and groom’s hands, coming in turns when I called their names. Each color represented an idea and a value. Then, I untied those ribbons before putting them into the vase with the pebbles. Those two rituals were therefore gathered to strengthen their love.
The end of the ceremony
After almost an hour of exchange, words, rituals, speeches and a dance of their (so cute) children, Maud and Ludwig were officialy married in front of all their friends and families. A ceremony which looks like them; rock and roll, fun, moving, full of love. I really liked the moments I spent with them and their relatives on the phone and face to face.
The greatest reward was the bride’s words: “Thanks to you Mélissa… Our ceremony was more than perfect… I cried all along… You faithfully transposed all the love of our beautiful family.” 
❤️❤️❤️❤️”.
Photos : Sébastien Arnouts
