Real Wedding | Rachel & Shauna | Celebrant Ceremony, Bradbury Glade

MegStanierCelebrant
May 7
2 min read

A celebrant-led wedding ceremony at Bradbury Glade for Rachel and Shauna.

Photography: Never Ending Stories Photography

Rachel and Shauna tied the knot at Bradbury Glade in October last year.

Within the venue's rustic Bradbury Barn, hidden in the forest, all of their family and friends gathered to celebrate the new Mrs and Mrs!

Two women smile joyfully during a wedding ceremony in a wooden venue with string lights. Guests watch in the background. Bradbury Glade.

As guests were seated, Shauna arrived with their VIPS (Very important puppies), Daphne and Dora, and... just like that, we were all ready to begin their wedding celebration.

After reminding their family and friends to put their phones away, Rachel made her grand entrance and met her new wife at the end of the aisle. She was beaming and, as Rachel greeted everyone, you could feel the love in the room.

After we welcomed everyone, their ceremony began with their thoughts on what a marriage should be, what they love about their partner, what they've taught each other along the way (including how to speak fluent Shetland) and we also spoke of their love for food, harry potter and long walks with their doggos.

We likened a relationship to a long walk and compared this to the journey we begin when we meet someone for the first time, linking perfectly to beginning of Rachel and Shauna's love story.

From their first meeting at a train station (cue the train of life metaphors) to their drunken proposal, we spoke of their favourite memories together so far and had fun when discussing the Scottish/English language and sports rivalry.

Two people are joyfully exchanging vows, hands tied with a tartan cloth in a rustic venue with string lights and seated guests.

Handfasting Ceremony

The couple chose to include a handfasting during their ceremony. They chose two materials, one representing Shauna with traditional Scottish tartan and the other representing Rachel with a part of her beautiful Sari she wore for their legal ceremony.

As the couple were invited to hold hands, Shauna's niece and Rachel's best friend were then asked to drape the materials over their arms. We discussed the threads and fibres and how they represented their individual lives, goals, personalities and cultures.

Two women smiling during a wedding ceremony, performing a handfasting ritual with tartan cloth. Rustic venue with fairy lights.

Once a knot was loosely tied and placed on top of Rachel and Shauna's held hands, the said 'I do' to the personal vows read aloud and they then released their hands and tied the knot together, representing their vows binding them together forever and their two lives and families being joined from this moment.

Now it was time for the two main characters, who stole the show, to have their moment. The pawfect ring bearers time to shine ... once Daphne and Dora were located, getting fuss from some of the guests, the rings were retrieved by their mums where they were then placed on their fingers.

As Rachel and Shauna were invited to hold hands again, they said "I do" in unison, vowing to always be there for each other and to share this life together whatever may come their way.

Now their story had been told, their knot tied and promises made, we spoke about their wishes future and it was time to introduce them as MRS AND MRS! Cue lots of cheering and a bubble line to start their drinks reception!!