Meryl & James
The Best Weddings Don't Take Themselves Too Seriously
There are weddings where everything is perfectly choreographed, and then there are weddings where someone ends up crying with laughter because the proposal story involves a dog poo bag.
I'm delighted to report that Meryl and James' wedding fell firmly into the second category. It was warm, effortlessly stylish, gloriously relaxed and full of the sort of laughter that makes your cheeks ache - exactly the kind of wedding I love.
Doing things their way
Like lots of modern couples, Meryl and James decided to separate the legal bit from the meaningful bit.
They completed the legal formalities at Wandsworth Town Hall back in August 2025, then chose to celebrate their marriage in a way that felt much more like them. Just their favourite people, their favourite restaurant and a ceremony built entirely around their story.
If you're still weighing up whether a celebrant is right for you, I've written more about that here: Celebrant vs Registrar: What's the Difference?
A restaurant that already felt like home
Rather than searching for a grand country house or a sprawling wedding venue, they celebrated at Home SW15 a restaurant they already loved.
I always think there's something incredibly special about getting married somewhere that already means something to you. Somewhere you've celebrated birthdays. Shared good news. Ordered the same thing so many times that the waiting staff know your order before you sit down.
Those places become part of your relationship long before they become part of your wedding day and that makes everything feel even more personal.
The proposal nobody saw coming...
Every couple has one story that absolutely has to make it into the ceremony. For Meryl and James, there was never any debate.
It was the proposal. Now, I'm not going to give away every detail (some stories deserve to stay in the room), but let's just say it involved a dog walk, impeccable timing... and the rather unfortunate interruption of picking up dog poo. The best proposal stories rarely go exactly to plan, that's often why they're so brilliant.
By the time I'd finished telling it during the ceremony, the room was howling. Including Meryl and James. Especially Meryl and James.
A ceremony that sounded like them
One of the things Meryl and James said when we first met was that they wanted people to leave thinking,
"That was so them." Not, "Well... that was a nice ceremony." Those are two very different things, so that's exactly what we created.
A ceremony full of stories, shared memories, affectionate teasing and the tiny observations that only the people who know you best recognise.
Spicy margaritas > champagne
Don't get me wrong. Champagne has its place.
But there's something wonderfully fitting about a couple celebrating with spicy margaritas because that's what they genuinely love. No traditions for tradition's sake. No pretending to be somebody else for a day. Just brilliant drinks, brilliant food and brilliant company. It is the recipe for a pretty spectacular wedding.
Emo music bingo? Say no more.
If there was ever any doubt that this was a wedding built around personality, it disappeared the moment the evening entertainment began. Instead of something expected, guests found themselves deep in a fiercely competitive game of emo music bingo. As someone who grew up firmly in their own emo era, I can confirm this was an inspired decision. The room was singing. It was chaotic in the very best way.
Because that's the thing about weddings that truly reflect a couple. They don't just entertain people. They invite everyone into the world you've built together.
What a celebrant ceremony is really about
People often ask me what makes a celebrant-led ceremony different. For me, it is simple.
Nobody else has your stories. Nobody else has that proposal. Nobody else has those in-jokes. Nobody else has your wonderfully specific collection of favourite songs, favourite places and favourite people. Your ceremony should celebrate all of it.
If you're curious about how that works, you might also enjoy reading:
Thinking about your own celebrant-led wedding?
Whether you're celebrating in your favourite restaurant, a woodland, a city warehouse or your back garden, the beauty of a celebrant-led ceremony is that it starts with your story.
If that sounds like your kind of wedding, I'd love to hear about it.
