A Beautiful ‘Combined Ceremony’ at Pendrell Hall

A Beautiful ‘Combined Ceremony’ at Pendrell Hall

In 2018 a pioneering new scheme was launched by Staffordshire County Council in partnership with Civil Ceremonies Ltd to facilitate registrars and celebrants working together, allowing couples to complete their legal marriage in any location they choose as part of a personal celebrant-led ceremony.

The first of these ‘combined ceremonies’ took place at the stunning Pendrell Hall in May 2019. Bride and Groom Emma and Craig said “I do” in a beautiful outdoor ceremony led by celebrant Christine O’Malley, which was seamlessly combined with the legal aspects taken care of by Jane and Yvonne from the Staffordshire Registration Office.

Emma and Craig chose a combined ceremony because they wanted “what they wanted” at their ceremony. They were told about the scheme by Pendrell Hall, their chosen venue, and agreed that it offered the best of both worlds. They wanted a personal ceremony, held outdoors, and most of all they wanted just one wedding day – for it all to happen at the same place at the same time.

 

They looked at the celebrants involved in the Staffordshire scheme and chose Christine, who suited them perfectly. So with the help of both Christine and the registrars they had the outdoor ceremony of their dreams, and said it was perfect. Their guests thought it was great too!

We caught up with Christine to hear all about this landmark ceremony.

“I felt really honoured to conduct the first combined ceremony as part of the Staffordshire pilot scheme. It was a glorious day made even more special for the bride and groom by being able to have the legal aspects of their marriage witnessed by family and friends, within a bespoke ceremony which included music, poems, a handfasting and the lighting of a unity candle. It truly was a wonderful occasion and one I hope is repeated many times in the years to come.”

 

Christine also commented on how well the ceremony worked with both the celebrant and registrars working together. “Working closely with the registrars ensured that the flow of the ceremony was fluid, as we each took the lead for the different parts of the ceremony. Each section complimented the other.”

The ceremony also worked well for the venue. Pendrell Hall’s Event Manager Tamara says:

“It was a great privilege for all the team at Pendrell Hall Country House Wedding Venue to host the first combined ceremony wedding in Staffordshire. We aim to fulfil every couple’s hopes and dreams for their wedding day and this new combined ceremony enabled Craig and Emma to incorporate the sentimental and personal features that they both wanted. It was a really beautiful and heartfelt wedding ceremony.”

Managing Director of Civil Ceremonies Ltd, Anne Barber, is delighted that not only has the first ceremony taken place but that more are now booked, and growing interest is being shown in the scheme.

If you’d like to know more about the Staffordshire Combined Ceremony scheme you can visit the Staffordshire Registration Service website for more information and contact details.

Blog written by: Sophie Easton and Civil Ceremonies Ltd