21 Sep “Orla reminisces on what a year of celebrations it’s been…..and it’s not over”
“What a wonderful year of celebrations with lots more to come!
There are not enough pages to capture this past season of celebrations at Coastal Ceremonies but like the ‘warm bread’, we’ll still be feeding off the memories this winter.
‘There are not enough jam jars to can this summer sky at night.
I want to spread those little meteors on a hunk of still warm bread this winter’
“Summer Haibun”, By Aimee Nezhukumatathil
The month of September, in all its autumn glory, traditionally marks a new beginning. Schooling resumes as excited, hot cheeked children don their uniforms, looking older somehow than just the day before. If you’re like me, you’ll have relished the stationary buying and just maybe hidden an emotional tear behind your sun glasses. It’s quite a reflective month, personally speaking. Both my husband and eldest son have birthdays in August and September respectively. My Dad’s anniversary has us all reminiscing mid-August and by the months end, his cherished birthday sees us, annually, with a round of 99s! My parents wedding anniversary was always another occasion in our house, punctuating our back to school regimes each year. And this year, our youngest has set off to Junior Infants, looking so small but feeling so big. Needless to say, I am feeling like there’s lots to celebrate and reflect upon.
In the Green Day song ‘Wake Me Up When September Ends’ the lyrics encourage us to ‘ring out the bells again, like we did when Spring began’. Professionally speaking, we are ringing ‘out the bells’ after our busiest and most satisfying season of weddings and ceremonies. It’s time to reflect. And we just happened to be developing our highlight reel…..
The majority of our ceremonies are the ‘offices’ of The Cliffs of Moher and we love it there. Not only is it fairly close to where we are based, and the views rain or shine are magnificent, but also there’s a rustically quaint cottage we can use in case the weather doesn’t play ball. While we love this venue, our ceremony adventures have taken us all around the country this summer; to Kerry, Wexford, Offaly, Kildare and Dublin, often in celebration of a couple whose dates and venues changed after the year 2020.
Each celebration was worth the wait, some lucky couples adding their beautiful new babies to the guest list! The cliché ‘happens for a reason’ has long been flogged. I guess that’s why it’s a cliché. But when the atmosphere at a wedding is electric, when there’s a palpable buzz in the air, when the live music ripples a shiver on your arms and a clearing of your throat, then that ‘reason’ is as pure, as emotional and as momentous as any cliché could ever hope to capture.
What a cracking summer, weather wise, kicked off by the month of April, which in itself proved pretty spectacular for outdoor ceremonies. Plus we got to wear our new stylish coats, which just do not suit the school run! Surprise Vow Renewal Ceremonies featured prominently this year, one at Killary Harbour as part of a CIE bus tour, and one at The Cliffs of Moher featuring a disguised Celebrant (me) posing as a couple’s tour guide. The game was up when the uileann pipes echoed over The Wild Atlantic Way and the married-for-13-years Bride began to suspect her romantic husband’s plans.
Teampall Chiarain on the Island of Inis Mor was a ceremony destination for another of our couples, and Susan adventurously took the rib out to the historical location. The Temple of Mercury in Dromoland Castle was another unique spot, one steeped in history and so dreamy in a photograph.
We officiated such an array of ceremonies this past year, from the meticulously planned to the very last minute (so enjoyable both!). Our bag of tricks has impressively grown and should you ever be in need of coloured safety pins, a trusty tweezers or a ring warming bag tight enough to keep the rings safe from escape (don’t ask!), we got you covered!
We’ve enjoyed all the craic with the many wedding suppliers we’ve come to know, and when you’ve delicately placed corsages together, scrutinized weather apps and witnessed the most intimate of vows shared, you know you have bonded for life! We have been welcomed into many family homes this past year. We’ve seen their photo slide shows, accepted cups of tea and homemade lemonade and we have danced to The Greatest Showman with them and their children. We’ve enjoyed the company of the babbling babies at the Naming Ceremonies as much as the funny 8 year olds at The Milestone Ceremonies.
Their confidence, love and awareness in themselves would leave you happy that they are the future.
Couples and families have thanked us for planting trees for them, in association with the tree planting charity, Hometree. We email the certificates to the families, sometimes printing them to enhance a Time Capsule Ceremony. More than anything, we have enjoyed meeting the couples, their families and their children. We have shared the honest, the intimate and the personal with them. And boy have we laughed!
Our professional website photographs from the wonderful Ev Woodard were a favoured Spring highlight for us and technically we were working! Road trips together are always a treat.
So, thank you. To the many couples we have worked with, for their oh-so-kind reviews and for choosing us for the biggest days in their lives. Thanks to our kids and families, for listening to us, occasionally driving us around the country and being our coffee and swim buddies. Thanks to our friends for passing on dresses and coats and for liking and sharing our photographs. And for raising a glass with us when all is said and done. Go raibh mile maith agaibh. Orla x
‘”Summer has come and passed, The innocent can never last,
Wake me up when September ends”
Green Day