Clare O’Riley | Family Celebrant

Wedding Celebrant in Devon

Hello, I am Clare, your wedding celebrant in Devon.

Memorable, unique and meaningful.  Three words which sum up what your Wedding Ceremony should be.

Memories should be made and celebrated for all of the key moments in our lives and it’s an honour to able to help people do just that – however they want.

I will plan, write and deliver your unique ceremony.  I am imaginative and professional and open to any ideas you may have that makes your ceremony perfect for you.  With a life-long love of words and stories, I write elegant words that express exactly what you want to say in the way you want to say it. With an English degree and ten years of teaching, I am inspired by the beauty of nature, especially the stunning county we live in, as well as literature, the theatre and arts, colour and music.  Each ceremony I write is individual to the couple; no two couples are the same – why should a wedding ceremony be?

A ceremony is a celebration of your story

I do love a good ‘story’.  As a child, I asked my grandmother to retell the story of how she and my grandfather met and adored how he, at Bridgwater Carnival in November 1952, told her they were getting married in just eight weeks.  I was fortunate to have my own story when I met my husband, Nick – but didn’t feel this was celebrated when we were married by a registrar. We just felt like any other couple and we were their last wedding of the day.  A ceremony is a celebration of your story, how you met and how you were proposed to – and I will write yours for everyone to hear.

The beauty of hiring a Wedding Celebrant is that your ceremony can be held whenever and wherever you choose (providing you have permission if it’s on private land).  You could find a stunning lake view, a beautiful garden or on a cliff edge, or a perfect spot on Dartmoor at sunset – what a better way to end the day taking your vows - as long as it is special and meaningful to you.

I love to incorporate symbolism of love into the ceremonies and the possibilities are endless from traditional Celtic traditions such as handfasting, unity candles, sand blending, ring warming and other elemental ceremonies that only a Celebrant can offer. My favourite is the lighting of the unity candle – bringing light from those who are no longer with us, to parents or chosen family members to make their own light for you both to become one.

So if you are looking for something vintage, fabulous grandeur or in a field with wellies, I will work around you to make your day perfect.

Memorable, unique and meaningful.  Three words which sum up what your Wedding Ceremony will be.