Real Wedding Story: A Festival Ceremony in the Cotswolds

It was a pleasure to marry the lovely Pete and Laura last summer, in the very special venue that is the Holford Arms.

A fun, festival fanatic couple who love a party, they wanted to make their wedding a memorable one. When I asked Pete and Laura what they wanted their day to be all about, they said they wanted it to be one big party! And working to those criteria, the ceremony really set the tone for the day that followed.

It was amazing writing their story as not only is it a love and fun filled one, it was clear very quickly that Pete and Laura are absolutely besotted with each other. The love between them is palpable, and on the day could be felt by every one of their guests.

Their romance began back in 2017 when their mutual friends got married: Laura was maid of honour, Pete best man. Pete & Laura had somehow never actually met, despite the countless near misses and synchronicities that would later transpire. They hit it off right away in the leadup to their friend’s wedding and have been inseparable since.

The Holford Arms is a real gem of a wedding venue. If you enter via the pub entrance, it feels like a typical unassuming Cotswolds local inside. But like Alice down the rabbit hole, going out through the back is a totally different experience. It opens into six acres of polly-tunnels and orchards, surrounded by the beautiful Cotswolds countryside. It’s the perfect festival wedding site, complete with a gorgeous outdoor wedding structure, a barn, fire pits and glamping that guests can use across the weekend. It’s really the perfect boho festival venue.

I had the joy of catching up with the groom, Pete, about their day.

How did you find out about celebrant ceremonies and what made you decide to have one?

I’m a wedding videographer and have seen a variety of ceremony styles. The celebrant option always felt like a chance to properly tell your story as a couple, whilst also referencing moments specific to the important people in your lives. It’s also just plain fun, and the perfect way to offset any tension of a wedding day. As soon as you have that first collective laugh everything just relaxes.

How was the process of creating your wedding ceremony?

So simple and fun. There were interesting questions that came up which made us stop and really think about why we wanted to get married, along with all the things we love about each other. It was also fun exploring the aspects of our story that we thought would be interesting for our guests and refining the script to create a narrative.

Looking back at the day, how did the ceremony feel?

It felt extremely relaxed and informal! Exactly what we were looking for, the beginning was slightly nerve wracking but we could feel the love and support of all of our friends and family, so we quickly took a breath and settled in to it. It had the perfect balance of lighthearted fun, whilst hitting the important talking points that mean something to us.

Both of us were quite surprised how the ceremony was the highlight of the day! We’re both more party-people so we hadn’t really expected to love that part as much.

What was the most special part of your ceremony and why?

I think when we were feeling emotional, looking out at our friends and family and seeing so many other people as moved by the whole thing as we were. It feels strange to say that you loved seeing all of your favourite people crying in one place, but it was so unexpected and beautiful. It made us feel so supported, like everybody there was as happy as we were.

Tell me about your vows

The vows were a bit of an emotional roller coaster! We both had a moment where we didn’t know if we could get through them without crying, but you can have a laugh at yourself, focus on the words and the person in front of you, and by the end it was so special. It really brings everything home towards the end of the ceremony, and everything that follows throughout the day feels easy because you’ve done the super emotional bit!

What would you say to couples considering a celebrant ceremony?

It’s one of the best decisions we made for our ceremony. Find yourself a celebrant who you feel an instant connection with, who feels invested in telling your story in a fun way. Break the mold and do it the way you want to. Wedding ceremonies don’t need to be formulaic, so put your stamp on it and enjoy the process!

How did your wedding ceremony tie in with the rest of your wedding day?

It truly set the tone for a day of laughing and partying! Our guests enjoyed the ceremony so much, they all seemed to learn something new about us which was a fun talking point, and we just felt so relaxed off the back of it.

How did your ceremony go down with you guests?

Complete approval. The feedback we got was overwhelmingly positive, everybody told us how much they loved how personal it was, and many of them hadn’t really realised that doing a wedding in that way was an option. We’ve heard from other engaged friends that they’ll be doing something similar which is the biggest compliment.

Also, literally everybody raved about Roxy! She was an absolute hit with our guests, people still talk about her when we see them now and how good she was. We feel so lucky to have found her!

If you could do the day all over again, is there anything you’d change?

Probably avoid the bar a little more! Dangerous going close to the bar as everybody wants to buy you drinks. On the whole though, it was perfect. We wouldn’t change a thing.

Suppliers:

Videographer: @purpleyamweddings

Photographer: @margessonphotography

Bands: Function Central

Cake: @catetheaccidentalbaker

Ice Cream Bike: Cotswold Ice Cream Co

Silent Disco: The Silent Disco Company

Catering: Bristol Event Catering Co

Venue: The Holford Arms

Readings:

Union by Robert Fulghum

You have known each other from the first glance of acquaintance to this point of commitment. At some point, you decided to marry. From that moment of yes, to this moment of yes, indeed, you have been making commitments in an informal way.

All of those conversations that were held in a car, or over a meal, or during long walks – all those conversations that began with, “When we’re married”, and continued with

“I will” and “you will” and “we will” – all those late-night talks that included “someday” and “somehow” and “maybe” – and all those promises that are unspoken matters of the heart.

All these common things, and more, are the real process of a wedding.

The symbolic vows that you are about to make are a way of saying to one another, “You know all those things that we’ve promised, and hoped, and dreamed – well, I meant it all, every word.”

Look at one another and remember this moment in time. Before this moment you have been many things to one another – acquaintance, friend, companion, lover, dancing partner, even teacher, for you have learned much from one another these past few years.

Shortly you shall say a few words that will take you across a threshold of life, and things between you will never quite be the same.

For after today you shall say to the world – This is my husband. This is my wife.

Maybe by Unknown

Maybe we are supposed to meet the wrong people before we meet the right one so when they finally arrive we are truly grateful for the gift we have been given.

Maybe it's true that we don’t know what we have lost until we lose it but it is also true that we don’t know what we’re missing until it arrives.

Maybe the happiest of people don’t have the best of everything, but make the best of everything that comes their way.

Maybe once in a lifetime, you find someone who not only touches your heart but also your soul, someone who loves you for who you are and not what you could be.

Maybe the art of true love is not about finding the perfect person, but about seeing an imperfect person perfectly.

If you are interested in a celebrant-led ceremony, I would love to chat. Get in touch or find out more about my services.