Getting Married in the UK

To be legally valid, a UK marriage ceremony must be performed by an authorised person (for example, a registrar, a vicar or a priest) and be witnessed by two people. In order to do this it means couples must choose between:

• an approved religious ceremony
• a registry office ‘Civil’ ceremony
• or a registrar who will attend the wedding at a licensed venue

The ceremony is a beautiful sense of occasion and is truly the most important part of the wedding day, and while couples can make the reception as individual as they please, they can’t quite do that for the ceremony itself – there are rules to follow, time restraints and even pre-written vows which are simply repeated by you as a couple.

Restrictions also extend to readings, music, vows and sometimes even photographs and the number of guests who are able to join you on your special day. For example, a Civil Ceremony conducted at a Registry Office or other location by a Registrar will not include anything that’s related to religion, such as hymns (even as quotes), Bible references, or even songs that indirectly refer to religion. In some cases, churches will not allow photos to be taken during the ceremony, or they restrict the photographer’s access.

By utilising the services of a professional Civil Wedding Celebrant, which is where I come in, it gives you the choice and flexibility to create a bespoke ceremony reflecting your wishes, values and beliefs without restrictions.

Partnership & Wedding Celebrations
It’s a big day and probably the most important day of your lives and you’ll want to make sure that you get the ceremony absolutely right. I can help you and we’ll work together to ensure we are creating a unique event that will be memorable for years to come for all the right reasons.  

Woodland Themed Weddings

Woodland weddings have a dreamy, rustic vibe and are guaranteed to amaze your guests, especially into the evening as the sun sets and the woodland comes to life with an abundance of tree lanterns, fairy lights, tea lights in jars for the magical evening look. If you are considering a woodland wedding, Cockley Wood Weddings is the perfect venue. I am both proud and so very fortunate to work in partnership with Jane and her team to provide you with the best possible service and attention to the most minute detail.

​Nestled in beautiful countryside between Huddersfield and Wakefield, Cockley Wood provides idyllic private mature woodlands coupled with far reaching views in the ultimate location. Ample parking for your guests and within easy access to the M1 and M62 motorways.

Wherever you decide to hold your ceremony, be it indoors or outdoors, you will have lots of questions to ask and hopefully I will have answered some of them below.

Weddings led by a Civil Wedding Celebrant are becoming increasingly popular because they exercise choice. A ceremony conducted by a professional celebrant provides you with a blank canvas in which to design your own ceremony at a location and time of your choosing. But there are also other reasons why using a professional Celebrant is the perfect choice for you...

• You want flexibility to have your wedding during the evening, at sunset, at home in the garden or unlicensed venue of your choice. These are all very personal and romantic.
• You want a very personal and bespoke ceremony that may, or not, include some religious content (music and religious references). You may wish to incorporate cultural elements into your ceremony which isn’t allowed at a licensed venue. I have a wealth of resources and ideas to guide you through your options.
• Your partner is religious but you are not. By having a celebrant led wedding we can create a ceremony to reflect the wishes of you both as a couple in keeping with each individual’s own religious, spiritual or cultural beliefs.
• It’s not your first wedding and you would like to declare your love and commitment amongst loved ones but without the legal bit.
• You like the idea of a traditional ceremony but your guest list is increasing by the day and you cannot find a suitable licenced venue within your budget.
  
  

You may wish to use symbolic gestures or weave spiritual elements into your ceremony.  I have lots of ideas to help you creature your unique ceremony either by way of:

• Traditional Handfasting
• Jumping the Broom
• Unity Candle
• Unity Sand Ceremony
• Love Letters & Wine
• The Marriage Library 
• and much much more!​

Did you know...
​
A Handfasting Ceremony is an ancient tradition that originated in the British Isles. Originally, this pagan ceremony bound two people for a fixed period of one year and one day, during which time they had to make a child. If this goal was not achieved within the time allowed, the couple separated and resumed their lives on their own!

Today, it is used a symbolic act, between the Bride and Groom. The future spouses cross their hands and one, or several, guests come to tie coloured ribbons or cords around their hands.  Ever wondered where the term "tying the knot" came from?!

Why choose me?

I have a wealth of experience working with a diverse range of people and strive to provide the highest level of service. As a former Celebrant Registrar, I have successfully guided many couples through their big day and fully understand that it’s the little things, the attention to detail and personal touch that makes the whole experience so very memorable, not only for you as a couple but for all your guests making your ceremony an experience to treasure in the years ahead. After all, we cannot go back and do it again and we won’t need to. Like you, I am unique and we will work together to create the ceremony of your dreams.

It is with great pride and honour that I am able to unite couples together in a way that best suits them - a way which is fitting, meaningful and memorable. Afterwards, each couple will receive a beautifully presented keepsake of the ceremony – a treasured reminder of your commitment to one another. If in the years ahead you would like to renew your own personal vows you will be able to refer to your special day once more.

​When you are ready please get in touch and I look forward to hearing from you.

Contact me

Rob and Kirstie,
​June 2022

It was a brilliant, perfect, day. We both loved it. Thanks ever so much for being part of it and kicking it off in such a special way, we had lots of compliments on the ceremony. We particularly appreciated how bespoke you made it to us.

Images courtesy of Jake at Swiftly Creative

Chloe and Josh
​The Gallery

"We had our blessing in the most amazing location, it couldn’t have been better. Sarah was amazing, the blessing was perfect and so personal to Joshua and myself. Very professional and everyone commented to say they would highly recommend Sarah going forward to friends, family and colleagues. If it’s a first class service you want then look no further."

Images courtesy of Traci Habergham Photography

Karen and Richard
The Arches, Halifax

"Where do we start, what a beautiful ceremony filled with love, laughter and certainly nothing off the peg, so very much about 'us' as a couple and two individuals coming together. It was so very individual, warm and touching, incorporating our story, some poetry and the beautiful hand-fasting ceremony.

We were helped by Sarah to enjoy the wedding we had long hoped for, one full of laughter... A party with friends and a gorgeous ceremony in the middle of it all! Just perfect. Sarah made the difference, brought the sparkle, made us all appreciate the importance of the day and she was a great calmer of nerves and great organiser too! We really can't recommend her professional style and friendly manner enough.​

… So here's a big thank you Sarah you helped to make our day perfect." Karen & Richard

Images courtesy of Darren Pogson Photography

Greg and Vicky
Cockley Wood Weddings

"Dear Sarah, you performed the most incredible ceremony so you actually are the most perfect human and more!! We had an amazing day and it was very much credit to you. Our family and friends had a great time and they all commented on it being the best ceremony they had ever experienced. Putting pen to paper or finger to key has been a difficult task. To put into words just how exceptional Sarah is and to give her the appreciation and credit she truly deserves has made me doubt my ability to put into words, just how wonderful she really is.  

From our initial meeting with Sarah through to our Wedding day, we had the most special experience. We felt confident and so so happy after our first meeting that we were in safe hands. Sarah is a people person and she got to know us as a couple and as individuals.  We felt supported by Sarah and she was always available with a kind word, idea or a bit advice if we needed it. Sarah was so attentive, efficient, polite and professional but with added friendship and a good sense of humour to match.

Sarah took the time to get to know myself and my husband prior to our Wedding which reflected in the amazing words she wrote for our Ceremony. Sarah was able to encapsulate our relationship and how we met. The whole ceremony was utterly perfect and we shall be forever grateful for the thought and time that she put into planning such unique, personal and magical moments.  

Sarah made everyone smile, laugh and cry (happy tears!). Everyone commented on how wonderful she was and after the ceremony, we were honoured that Sarah stayed as our friend and guest which is how we now view her. A truly wonderful celebrant and human. Thanks for everything Sarah! x" Greg & Vicky

Chloe and Robyn
​Cockley Wood Weddings

"Hi Sarah, just wanted to say THANK YOU SO SO MUCH for the most perfect day and the ceremony was amazing! Can’t thank you enough."
Love Chloe & Robyn

Nicola and Rob
​Cockley Wood Weddings

"Hi Sarah, Wow what can we say! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the effort you put into making our big day so special. You really did think of everything and the ceremony was just so lovely. Not a dry eye in the house!

We will be sure to leave you a glowing review on your page and any time I can recommend you, I will be sure to do so. Thank you thank you thank you."
Love Nicola & Rob (Mr & Mrs Green)

Photo credit: Sarah Joy Landon

Rob and Yvonne
Cockley Wood Weddings

"Hey Sarah Thank you so much for our lovely ceremony, we had a fantastic time!"
Rob and Yvonne xx​

Tracy and Andy

"Hi Sarah, Thank you for your making our ceremony so special. Everyone commented on how they enjoyed it and how beautiful it was. 

Thank you for everything!"
​Tracy & Andy xx​

Photo credit: Sarah Garg

Maddie and Jack
​Cockley Wood Weddings

"Said the Bride's Mum: I cannot imagine a more magical wedding venue. If you are after calm, chilled and natural this is the place to choose. Nothing was too much trouble for the team and we simply loved it . Thank you so much!

Said the Bride and Groom: "We are indebted to you for the most perfect ceremony!"
​Maddie and Jack, 2021​

Video credit: Stories of I Do

Photo credit: Fox Moon Photography & Sarah Garg

Jess and Tom
​Cockley Wood Weddings

"Dear Sarah, Thank you so much for all of your help and support throughout, I will give you a glowing review all day long! You’ve been fantastic!

​Thanks so much for all your help and the beautiful ceremony!"
Jess and Tom xxx

Photo credit: Fox Moon Photography​

Kev and Pauline

"Sarah recently carried out a handfasting ceremony for my new wife and I (2nd October 2020). From our very first introduction she kept us informed of progress. On the day of our ceremony we’d had to halve the numbers due to these ridiculous covid measures. This had upset my wife and I greatly as we’d had to choose between friends and family. However Sarah arranged a zoom meeting so that those who couldn’t attend got to see our wedding.

The service itself was beautiful and fun, she even got in on a joke with our son’s. Everyone attending said the ceremony was brilliant. I’d highly recommend everybody to use Sarah’s service. Spot on!"

Photo credit: Sarah Garg

Pippa and Tom
​Cockley Wood Weddings

"Sarah, you were amazing cannot thank you enough!
We are still on cloud nine!!  Thank you so much for an amazing day!

The service was perfect just what we wanted thank you! It was everything we hoped for and more! Thank you so much again! Highly recommended."
​With love Pippa and Tom xx

Photo credit: Philip Broadbent Photography

Sarah and Nick
​Cockley Wood Weddings

"Got married at Cockley Woodland Weddings on Saturday 18th September 2021 with the perfect day in mind, it didn’t go how I expected, it went better than I could ever dream of. The ceremony was so beautiful thanks to Sarah Garg. It was a dream. If this ends in divorce I’m coming back with another man hahaha. Thank you so much and to all the team at Cockley."

Photo credit: JB Weddings

Mr & Mrs Williams

"Dear Sarah, You summed it up perfectly we could not have wished for a better day. Everyone who was at the wedding has made a direct point to us on how perfect the service was and we just feel so lucky that we found you. All the care, attention and detail you put into our day completely made it, everything you did for us was incredible.

​Feels strange to say having only met you once but we feel like we have made a friend for life. We would love to arrange to take you out for a meal as a thank you when we are back from Cornwall if you’d be up for it?

From the bottom of our hearts thank you both for providing our perfect day for us.​"
Love Mr & Mrs Williams xx

Photo credit: Thom Walker Photography

Nic and Rick
​Cockley Wood Weddings

"What a venue and what a team!!
Our day far exceeded our expectations!! The venue is simply magical and Sarah, Jane, Mike and all the am could not do enough for us!!

From our first visit on a dreary November day we knew this was our perfect venue. It is absolutely stunning, a sentiment which was echoed by our guests. The ceremony by Sarah was a perfect reflection of our personalities meaning lots of laughs but also (happy) tears from our guests.

Your team are professional and friendly and were happy to cater to any request however small or out there and worked tirelessly for the entire day. We honestly can't thank you guys enough for making our day perfect.

Good luck for the future!"
Nic & Rick xx​

Testimonials

"​Hi Sarah, Oh, oh, oh, it’s perfect in every way, thanks so much for putting this all together, it’s wonderful and has so much meaning, everyone will love it, this is a wedding I would  like to have been a guest at too!!!" K x