Thank you for your interest in the service I am offering.  I hope I will be able to answer some of the questions you may have about weddings/blessings/dedications/commitment  ceremonies (you may have you own preferred name).

There are so many hopes and ideas, which surround such an event, and yet usually the couple have little choice when it comes to the venue, type and content of their wedding service. What should be   such a treasured and unique opportunity to celebrate their love proves to be either impossible or hampered by all sorts of difficulties and unknowns.

What I offer changes all this by giving the couple complete choice  about the venue, style and content of their ceremony. Their hopes, approach and ideas are fully respected. Their wedding ceremony becomes not only possible but in addition, the couple are able to have full confidence knowing that for them and their guests it will be a significant and meaningful occasion.

With the recent changes in the law, couples may want to legally register their union in a more private ceremony, but have a full celebration and ceremony with family and friends in a setting of their choosing and with a ceremony of their choosing. It may also be a very important part of the occasion to have the union blessed by God by a minister.

WHAT I PROVIDE.

Either, at one end of the spectrum, a completely traditional wedding ceremony. I am fully robed, I bring a cross and candlesticks and the service includes a signing ceremony and the declaration that the couple are now married or whatever words you like. In fact it would be experienced exactly as a traditional church wedding, or if the couple are not religious to have a secular version of the above.

Or, at the other end of the spectrum, a completely ingenious service that has been individually and imaginatively created to reflect the beliefs, values and style of the couple concerned. Again, this can be religious or secular.   Many people have something in between. The point is that everything is flexible and everything is open for choice.

Part of my personal approach is to find out   exactly what sort of service the couple are hoping for and then, after having confirmed the booking,  to send them a resource book   which   includes the traditional ceremonies   plus pages of alternative readings, vows, thoughts, prayers etc. The couple are then invited to select the material they like and to add any of their own. From this I    am able to send them a draft ceremony.    I don`t mind how many drafts I have to create and send. I am only satisfied when the couple are entirely happy with their ceremony.

In addition to the content there is, of course, complete choice about the venue for the ceremony.  It can be inside or outside, in any building or situation, however ordinary, special or extraordinary It is the couple`s choice which matters.

THE COST

After talking briefly with a couple over the phone and having gained an idea of what sort of wedding they had in mind and where, I prepare a letter for them, which normally has a number of options of how I could go about the preparation.

The simplest is for the couple to visit me, for all subsequent arrangements to be made by phone and letter and for me to attend for the wedding itself. Other options include me making preparatory visits to the couple, to the venue for a rehearsal and for the wedding itself.

The contribution I ask for towards my ministry depends greatly upon the distances involved but in the southeast area, the options on average range from about £296 to £596. I should stress that this is the average range, but some work out to be less and some more.  The exact contribution depends on a range of factors including distance, time of year, day of week etc. So each letter is individually worked out. I am happy for the contribution towards my ministry that I have requested  to be made by instalments, the full details of which are given in the letter. I am also flexible about these arrangements and always endeavour to help where I can if resources are low.

THE CHAPEL OF ST FRANCIS

Some couples, particularly if they live at a considerable distance, choose to travel to my house for the wedding itself in order to keep costs down or to make it a more personal or private service. Some  want to use my personal Chapel, properly consecrated and dedicated to St Francis.

GENERAL APPROACH

It is of great importance to me that I offer a very personal and high quality service. I love   people and regard it as a privilege to be able to share such an important part of their lives. I never try to persuade a couple in any direction but fully respect and value the beliefs and values they hold.

I have many letters of warm appreciation for my work which I am happy to show to couples and many who have used my services in the past have contacted me again for other special occasions.

My desire for the wedding is to   create and provide a personal, sensitive and beautiful ceremony, which will be regarded as one of the special   highlights of the day.  I take each service with warmth, skill, sincerity and care and the very highest standards of delivery. I am only satisfied with my best.

WHAT NOW?

If you would like to have further details or would like me to send you a letter  then please phone so that we can talk further, or you are more than welcome to arrange to come and visit me or for me to visit you.

EXTRACTS FROM LETTERS RECEIVED AFTER GAY AND LESBIAN WEDDINGS.

` We can`t thank you enough for making our wedding day possible. We are so happy. 

`The ceremony was lovely and very touching.  All our families and friends were moved by your kind and gentle way. `

` Thank you for all your help and guidance. You have made us a very happy couple.'