GAY CEREMONY TESTIMONIALS

Those couples who have gone before you!

Ben and Adam Pope were married Avebury Stone Circle on November 3rd 2006 - ceremony by Reverend Sally Nancy Gardner - here's what Ben wrote . . .

'As for my experience of the preparation, I can honestly say that it was such a valuable time. With a gay ceremony, there is no format to follow - none of the commonly held views as to how such an occasion should be shaped really apply. As such, we began with a completely blank canvas. Which is, in hindsight, a wonderful thing. At the time, it was slightly daunting. It was only when we first started exploring what we could do that I realised that I'd not really considered it at all - the minute by minute itinerary had not only not occurred to me, but it hadn't even occurred to me that it should occur to me.

Sally, I think you were amazing at this point. Talking to us together, then separately, trying to pick out what we considered important, what we valued most, what we wanted to achieve from the day, and what aspects of the day we would look to take with us forever, and weaving all these threads into a coherent pattern. Again, these were all things that we'd never consciously spoken of or thought about before this time. Similarly, the flexibility that you offered us - taking some of our more strange ideas (edible roses, bracelets and giant pumpkins to name but three) and including them in the grand narrative was wonderful, and similarly, allowing us to leave out bits that didn't seem to resonate with us, so we were left with a really public and personal day.

Now that a year has gone past, I would say that the things that have had a lasting impact have been the vows - I didn't expect that they would, and I was slightly reluctant (if I remember rightly) to do them, but I'm happy to say that I was wrong. The time we spent (separately) looking at our relationship and wondering what it is that we do well, and what we do badly, and promising to do more of the first and less of the second has really made sure that this first year has been the easiest time that we've spent together.
And one of the nicest things is that everyone who came that day still talks about it, and still remembers it as a lovely day.'

Amanda and Tracy Taylor-Carpenter were married in a ceremony by Reverend Vanessa Hindle - Amanda wrote the following:

'Vanessa grounded us in a way that let us know we were truly held in the presence of immense love. We were both slightly terrified of standing up in front of everyone, but when Vanessa welcomed us into the space all we saw was the eyes of the other and all we heard was her soothing tones leading us gently step by step through the 'service'. From our very first meeting with Vanessa we knew she 'got us' and was listening intently with both her ears and her heart to what it was we wanted from our ceremony. She was very open to feedback during the creating of the ceremony, asked lots of questions, invited lots of input; but beyond that and what nourished us most, was that we had the sense that throughout the whole process, from start to finish, this sacred union was being nurtured and prayed for everyday. (thank you beautiful being that is Vanessa! WE LOVE YOU!!)'

Jan and Ali Temenos were married on September 9th 2007 in their Village Hall in Emery Down - being Interfaith Ministers themselves they had several ministers holding and officiating their ceremony - below you'll find some of what Ali wrote about their experience

'Jan and I have been in a relationship since 1999 and chose this year (2007) to commit even deeper to each other and get married. We held the civil partnership signing at our local registry office and as much as this was important we considered the ceremony held in our local village hall to be our commitment to marriage and becoming partners for life.

The most important part of the ceremony for us was to create it as totally sacred, to reflect ourselves and our true feelings for each other, and to further deepen our connection not only with each other but with God, Divine Spirit, The Beloved. . . or whatever expression is personal. To really honour the space and all beings seen and unseen.

It was such a special heart opening and sacred time, we reached incredible depths.

We had 102 guests to celebrate our marriage and since that day we have received so many thank you cards and emails and telephone calls regarding that amazing day!

Friends from all walks of life were so deeply moved by the whole experience, such comments as. . . .

"that was the best wedding I've ever been to. . ."
"the ritual was so moving and your love so palpable"
"I couldn't stop crying, it was so moving"
"I couldn't stop crying"
"It was so so sacred, such an honour to witness"
"I cried"
"I was so affected I couldn't speak afterwards"
"I've never been to such an amazing wedding"
"It was great having so many ministers"
"It was so unique, personal and individual"
"As soon as I walked into the hall I could feel Jan and Ali"
. . . AND the comments like that just kept coming in!

Interfaith Ministers offering Civil Partnerships - Lesbian and Gay Marriage Ceremonies