Kat + Liam | August 2023
“Sarah was an absolute dream from the first message, to the day of our wedding”
I’m an unhealed, lifelong romcom fan (shocker that I’ve ended up as a wedding celebrant after a diet of My Best Friend’s Wedding, The Wedding Planner, Runaway Bride, Father of the Bride…Father of the Bride II) and one of my favourite things is hearing how a couple met. Y’know, like those NYC street accounts where loved-up seniors talk about sliding into each other on an icy Tuesday in 1948.
Katrina and Liam possess one of the best meet-cutes I’ve heard yet: they met at an open mic night when she was encouraged up to sing and he was provided as guitar back-up.
Photography by Daniel Spence
Unsurprisingly, music remains a huge part of their lives and was a big part of their wedding day at Church Farm Guesthouse in Shropshire. Kat walked into the dulcet tones of Elvis crooning Can’t Help Falling in Love, their first dance was to Prince’s Purple Rain (a personal fave) and then friends and family got to enjoy performances from both the bride and groom at the reception.
I always arrive a couple of hours ahead of the ceremony on a wedding day; it’s fun to spy on the flowers being set up, meet the photographer and basically have a little nosey reconnaissance of the venue - especially if I’ve not been before. However my favourite thing is to check in with both the bride and the groom and see how they’re are feeling - reassure them everything is going swimmingly and help (if I can) put their minds at rest so they can focus on just enjoying their day.
It’s not a competition - of course - but Kat is among the sweetest, most thoughtful people I’ve been lucky enough to meet in this new career. I couldn’t believe that when I popped my head around the door where she was getting beautified with her bridesmaids to check that she was OK, her focus was instead on me. Checking my journey had been drama-free, handing me a present and - not only that - little gifts for my twins who she’s never met! I was floored by her thoughtfulness.
Saying their personal marriage vows to each other
I help my couples write personal vows to each other and - I have Liam’s permission to say this haha! - while Kat and I had worked on everything she wanted to say with time to spare, I wasn’t hearing back from Liam and I was a little concerned. I needn’t have worried - on the wedding day itself he blew us all away speaking from the heart. He held my pre-written vows but looked up at his bride and told us all what he loved and admired about her, and made his promises, with no script at all. And you could have heard a pin drop.
“Everyone commented on how well she delivered our ceremony and how perfect she was for our special day! We are so, so pleased that we picked Sarah. If you’re considering [her], I’d highly recommend!”