Peony Celebrations and Memorials

Peony Celebrations and Memorials Weddings, baby naming and funerals; bespoke ceremonies written and delivered with personality.

When you choose your engagement ring you might want to think about what the stones mean. Diamonds remain extremely popul...
18/11/2025

When you choose your engagement ring you might want to think about what the stones mean. Diamonds remain extremely popular for engagement rings and in their pure, colourless state they represent love, commitment and eternal beauty. You may choose a gorgeous coloured diamond and there are a rainbow assortment available. Yellow diamonds mean positivity and optimism, pink ones are for beauty, romance and fun. A blue diamond signifies passion, trust and loyalty while green ones show growth, health and nature. A vibrant orange diamond is for youth, emotion and harmony and a black one is a symbol of power, sophistication and elegance.
Wherever you are in your wedding planning journey it's never too early to discuss your options with a celebrant.
Words: H Samuel
Photo: Omer Evren

I've taken a step away from engagement season and I thought I'd share some traditions around the colours of mourning. We...
14/11/2025

I've taken a step away from engagement season and I thought I'd share some traditions around the colours of mourning. Wearing black to a funeral is popular in the west and dates back to the Romans. The Victorians really embraced it following the prolonged mourning of Queen Victoria for Prince Albert. Widows were expected to wear a black bonnet and veil in public for the first six months of mourning, and they were expected to wear black for 1-2 years following the death of their husband. Men (of course) got off more lightly, they were expected to mourn their wives for 3-6 months only and could get on with their lives in their regular suit.
In Buddhist countries white is a popular colour for mourning. It symbolises purity and re-birth and families wear it in the hope that their loved one will be reborn.
Red is sometimes worn at South African funerals. It signifies honour and patriotism and commemorates the blood shed during the Apartheid era.
In Central and South American purple, a colour for spirituality, is worn for mourning the death of loved one. In Thailand purple signifies sorrow and is worn by widows for the funeral, while other guests are expected to wear black.
Don't feel bad if you don't want to wear black to your loved ones funeral. Other colours are appropriate; make it your own.
(Words: The Funeral Guide, picture Dead Good Legacies on Unsplash)

Engagement season rolls on and I have been looking at some engagement traditions from around the world. In Germany engag...
11/11/2025

Engagement season rolls on and I have been looking at some engagement traditions from around the world. In Germany engagement is more casual than other countries and one half of a dating couple may present a promise ring. This is worn on the left hand before the wedding and swapped over to the right hand afterwards. When a marriage is proposed in China the groom's family shower the bride-to-be with gifts including food and trinkets. A Hindu tradition in India is that the Groom's father asks the brides father permission for his son to marry his beloved daughter. There is also a pre-wedding vow ceremony called Lagna Patrika.
If you are getting engaged this season, it's never too early to arrange a chat with a celebrant, like me, to discuss your wedding day.
Words: Wedding Bee
Photo: Taylor Brandon on Unsplash

It's engagement season! Did you know that 40-50% of couples get engaged between now and February? If you are planning a ...
07/11/2025

It's engagement season! Did you know that 40-50% of couples get engaged between now and February? If you are planning a proposal or have just said "YES!" you have my heartfelt congratulations. While you are busy buying rings and floating around in your cloud of happiness remember that a celebrant led wedding will be original, personal and authentic. It is never to early to contact me to discuss your options.
(40-50% stats from The Knot and brides.com. Photo Lauren Mitchell on Unsplash)

Everyone is entitled to a lawful and decent burial or cremation when they die. However there are a few things that may s...
05/11/2025

Everyone is entitled to a lawful and decent burial or cremation when they die. However there are a few things that may surprise you. There is no legal obligation to use a Funeral Director or to have a funeral service. You are allowed to bury a loved one on your own land and according to The Good Funeral Guide a one-off open air funeral pyre is "probably not illegal". Generally a body is not infectious and the microorganisms involved in decomposition do not cause diseases.

If you want an alternative style funeral for your loved one, contact me and we can discuss your options.
Photo: BBC
Info: The Good Funeral Guide

Everyone is entitled to a lawful and decent burial or cremation when they die. However, there are some things that may s...
05/11/2025

Everyone is entitled to a lawful and decent burial or cremation when they die. However, there are some things that may surprise you. There is no legal obligation to use a Funeral Director or to have a funeral service. You are allowed to bury a loved one on your own land and, according to The Good Funeral Guide, a one off open air funeral pyre is "probably not illegal". Generally, a body is not infectious and the microorganisms involved in decomposition do not cause diseases.

If you would like an alternative style of funeral for your loved one, contact me and we can discuss your options.

01/11/2025

This morning, NAFD CEO Andrew Judd appeared on BBC Breakfast TV to discuss drivers cutting into funeral cortèges.

Andrew explained that while funerals have changed over 120 years, respect and dignity for the deceased never age. He reminded viewers that a cortège marks the final journey a person will ever take, and urged drivers to take a few moments to show empathy for grieving families.

He welcomed the chance to work with the Department for Transport so learner drivers understand why a procession moves slowly and that slowing down out of safety and respect, makes a real difference.

Andrew also noted that many motorists don’t realise they’re cutting into a cortège, and that plumes or flags, supplied by NAFD members, help identify these as special vehicles with a special purpose.

Watch the interview on BBC Breakfast (8:15am–8:25am) via https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer or catch the replay once uploaded.

How much does it cost to have a celebrant at my wedding? Each celebrant will set their own price. (contact me if you'd l...
31/10/2025

How much does it cost to have a celebrant at my wedding?
Each celebrant will set their own price. (contact me if you'd like mine) Mostly the fee will include a rehearsal at your venue and may include a ritual if you'd like one.
What are the legalities of a celebrant led wedding?
Until marriage law is overhauled you will need to have a statutory marriage with a registrar to be legally married. A service with just the two of you and two witnesses should be the most reasonable price for this.
Can I involve the family?
Of course!
Readings, performances, bridesmaids and pets are all welcome at a celebrant led wedding.
What does a celebrant bring to the party?
Sparkle, imagination, magical words and an event that your guests will be talking about for years.
Photo: F Hinds

Some of your celebrancy questions answered. How much does it cost to have a celebrant at my wedding?Each celebrant will ...
31/10/2025

Some of your celebrancy questions answered.
How much does it cost to have a celebrant at my wedding?
Each celebrant will set their own price (contact me if you'd like mine). Mostly the feeling will include a rehearsal at your venue and may include a ritual if you'd like one.
What are the legalities of a celebrant led wedding?
Until marriage law is overhauled you will need to have a statutory marriage with a registrar to be legally married. A service with just you and two witnesses should be the most reasonable price for this.
Can I involve the family?
Of course! Readings, performances, bridesmaids and pets are all welcome at a celebrant led wedding.
Where can I get married?
At present you need to get married in a licenced venue. However, when the law changes you will be able to get married wherever you like.
What does a celebrant bring to the party?
Sparkle, imagination, magical words and an event that your guests will be talking about for years to come.

Before a Polish wedding, guests will gather at the bride's parents house for a special blessing. The father of the bride...
29/10/2025

Before a Polish wedding, guests will gather at the bride's parents house for a special blessing. The father of the bride will sprinkle the couple with holy water. Happy tears may be shed as well wishers prepare the couple for married life.

The wedding itself may feel very traditional and can last up to an hour and a half. Members of the wedding party act as witnesses.

After the service the guests may throw rice and coins at the couple. Sometimes, they will pick the coins up together as a sign of their partnership.

If you would like to incorporate any Polish traditions into your wedding day, please contact me.

My dive into wedding traditions continues. Today I'm looking at Polish customs and rituals. Before the wedding, there is...
29/10/2025

My dive into wedding traditions continues. Today I'm looking at Polish customs and rituals.

Before the wedding, there is an engagement ceremony which usually takes place at home, with feasting to mark the occasion.

There is also a special blessing before the ceremony when the bride's father sprinkles the couple with holy water.

The wedding itself may feel very traditional and the service can last up to an hour and a half. Members of the wedding party will act as witnesses.

After the ceremony guests will throw rice and sometimes coins at the couple. The couple may pick the coins up together as a sign of their partnership.

If you would like to incorporate any Polish traditions into your wedding day, please contact me.

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