May 16, 2022 by Glenda Ashleigh

Wedding Bells Keepsake – Celebrant Glenda J Ashleigh

Keepsake Bells for Romantic Weddings

These keepsake wedding bells add a unique touch to weddings for all those romantic weddings.

No two weddings are the same and no two keepsakes are the same. I hand-make each tiny bell with love. These tiny bells come in a variety of colours. I try to match the bells to the colour range chosen for the bridal party.

These delightful keepsakes are exclusive to couples who book me as their Celebrant. It is my gift to them.

Contact Glenda, the Really Good Brisbane Celebrant and let these little bells ring out the joy on your wedding day!

April 3, 2016 by Glenda Ashleigh

Wedding Bomboniere

Creative Wedding Bomboniere to Delight

Wedding bomboniere are favours or gifts that wedding guests receive on the wedding day. Weddings as happy events that people like to celebrate. Weddings also attract ‘good luck’ and everyone likes good luck! Wedding bomboniere is as different as you want it to be, so create your bomboniere and delight your wedding guests!

Wedding Bomboniere Through History

Traditionally, everyone in the community shares in the good luck associated with weddings and in spreading the love.

In 16th century France, only the wealthy classes gave wedding bomboniere to wedding guests. Small boxes to hold bonbons or other confectionery were popular bomboniere. These boxes were often decorated with gold and precious stones. Not only was this bomboniere valuable keepsakes, they were also handed down from one generation to another in families as heirlooms.

Families of modest means however, were more creative with their bomboniere. For example, In Italy, sugar-coated or Jordan almonds are popular as wedding bomboniere. Five sugar-coated almonds are presented in a dainty organza bag or wrapped in fine tule, and tied with a ribbon. These almonds represent the five wedding wishes: health, wealth, happiness, fertility and longevity.

Although the form of wedding bomboniere differs across cultures, the thoughts and sentiments are the same. It is all about how you spread and share the happiness of your wedding day. Cut the wedding cake and put small pieces in boxes or paper bags for guests to take home with them. This is and old and delightful bomboniere tradition that is easy. Wedding guests place the boxed cake under their pillows on the wedding night for ‘good luck’. Hopefully, wedding guests experience good luck!

In the 21st century, people are more creative with wedding bomboniere. Some gifts are practical while others are more sentimental. Wine bottle stoppers, personalised pens, and even music boxes that play the wedding waltz are popular. These bomboniere are available commercially, however they do come at a cost.

Personalised Wedding Bomboniere

Wedding Bomboniere Crochet Bells

Why not personalise your wedding bomboniere in unique ways? Express your personality, hopes and dreams in personalised bomboniere. These gifts are heartfelt and add that special touch to your day. The hand-made crochet Wedding Bells in this photo are delightful examples of unique bomboniere. These little bells add a lovely touch to place cards or as decorations on champagne flutes.

Other popular personalised wedding bomboniere include plant seeds, small plants in pots, and home-baked confectionery, jams and biscuits. Print or hand-write thank you notes and attach to these items. Invite family and friends to gather, make or present these personalised items. Not only is this is a great way to get everyone involved in the wedding preparations, it also saves time, effort, and of course, expense!

Why not share the love, good wishes and ‘good luck’ with wedding guests? Make a donation to a charity on behalf of your wedding guests who then receive tokens such as pins or thank-you cards from the charity. Alternatively, write thank-you messages to guests on place cards at the reception, or attach them to bomboniere.

Get creative and delight your wedding guests!

Are you ready for some really creative ideas for bomboniere? As Brisbane’s Really Good Celebrant, I know a special couple whose families get into the really creative bomboniere in a big way! Check out the carrot carving bomboniere guests receive at the wedding of Peg & Pog.

October 23, 2015 by Glenda Ashleigh

Choosing the Wedding Party can be a disaster if you do not choose wisely

Who wants to be in the Wedding Party?

Everyone wants to be in the wedding party!

Peg & Pog Wedding Party

Peg & Pog had to hold back the nominees for the various traditional ‘roles’ in their wedding party. Of course they didn’t like to disappoint anyone, or in their case, any dolls. Feelings need careful handling.

Peg & Pog knew what they wanted, and what they didn’t want for their big day. Unfortunately, their ideas and wishes were not always shared by family and friends. Fortunately, Peg & Pog, assisted by Glenda, the Very Good Celebrant, got the wedding they wanted.

Choosing the Wedding Party

This is the tricky part. Members of the wedding, or bridal party are usually people who are important to you such as family and friends. For those of you who are blessed with large, extended families and a lot of great friends, this can become a nightmare! Whatever you do, choose very carefully. Your attendants can make or break the best of well-laid plans.

Adults in the Wedding Party

Adult attendants need to be reliable and trustworthy. Ask yourself the question, “How can this person support our needs leading up to and on our wedding day?” After all, that is what attendants do – support the Bride and Groom in the planning and organisation of the big day both before and on your wedding day.

Milo, Pog’s brother, supported Peg & Pog in organising people on the wedding day and introducing Glenda, the Very Good Celebrant to the parents and the witnesses. Peg & Pog had asked two adult family members to be their witnesses – Peg’s Ma and Pog’s Ma! Both mothers wanted to be front and centre during the ceremony so that they got the full experience of watching and hearing their children say their marriage vows.

Children in the Wedding Party

Be prepared for the unexpected when choosing children as attendants! Little ones may look ‘cute’ on the day, however their welfare is the most important consideration. Expecting young children to walk down paths on their own is daunting enough. Asking them to carry precious items such as ring cushions etc. only adds to their stress. Pip & Pepper, Pog’s two-year-old twin nieces were fine as they accompanied Peg on the flower boat but as soon as they hit land, they took off! Luckily the shortcut they took to the Rose Garden didn’t become a disaster and they arrived just as Peg & Pog were coming up the path.

How Many in a Wedding Party?

As many as you like! Bride and Groom only if you prefer. The two witnesses don’t have to stand or sit next to you, unless you think you might be given to an attack of the vapours and faint. Oh, and it’s not an equal sharing competition either! Just because the Bride has three attendants, it doesn’t mean that the Groom has to have three attendants. Gender is not important. A ‘Matron or Maid of Honour’ can easily be a ‘Man or Mate of Honour’ – the choice is yours.

More wedding party news later. In the meantime, check out some things you may or may not know about Glenda, the Very Good Celebrant!

January 31, 2015 by Glenda Ashleigh

Wedding Tips

Wedding Planning Tips that Make a Difference

Use great wedding planning tips to make a difference! As Brisbane’s really good professional Marriage Celebrant, I am often asked about wedding hints and tips for ceremonies. Every ceremony is different, however some tips apply to all wedding ceremonies.

Goodluck Horseshoe

We often overlook the really important areas of planning a wedding. Some areas are so commonplace that we take them for granted and we hope that they will ‘look after themselves’. We hope that we will have ‘good luck’ and that everything will go smoothly. Brides often carry wedding charms or keepsakes such as a horseshoe to assure good luck on the day. These are fun, however they do not guarantee that good luck will follow.

Of course you want your wedding ceremony to be breathtaking! After all it is your special day and you expect that your ceremony will flow smoothly and be absolutely delightful.

Important Wedding Areas

Wedding ceremonies must contain the legal requirements, however just meeting the legal requirements for a marriage ceremony does not meet the requirements for an enjoyable ceremony. Here are a few helpful wedding planning tips that I hope will help you to make your ceremony, simply the best!

Choose the people and services for your wedding ceremony very carefully. The success of the occasion depends on the choices you make. How well do people understand each other? How respectful they are of each other’s wishes?

Communicate at all stages of the process – planning, arriving at the venue, entrances, where people are required to stand, what they do during the ceremony and what happens at the close of the ceremony. Don’t fall into the trap of “Oh I though you knew that…” or “Why wasn’t I told…” or “I didn’t know you wanted me to do that…”. Keep everyone in the communication loop, including your guests.

Inform your celebrant of the arrangements. A really good marriage celebrant works with other service providers, eg photographers, event planners, directors and venue staff. They encourage your guests to feel comfortable. Everyone is there to help make this very special occasion a memorable one for all the right reasons. Your celebrant has a big responsibility. He or she is in charge of the ceremony!

January 21, 2013 by Glenda Ashleigh

Blushing Brides

Blushing Brides Dolls

These sweet blushing brides dolls are among my giveaways for romantic brides. They are unique creations that I make with love. No two are the same!

Peg Doll Brides

There is a rich tradition in using wooden pegs to make dolls. Children play happily with these delightful dolls for many hours. Worlds of imagination open up and fantastic adventures come to life.

Blushing Brides

No two peg doll brides are alike! Whether or not the ‘differences’ are planned or just plain accidental, I am not telling! I have great fun creating the expressions on the little faces, and dressing them. Anyway, the girls (young in age and young in heart) who receive them are very excited about having their very own bride doll!

These little darlings are always a hit especially with expo visitors. Brides-to-be love them. Mothers, Aunts, Sisters, Cousins, Grandmothers of Brides-to-be love them. Children love them.

Love Stories

Do you like love stories?

Follow the trials and tribulations of Peg & Pog who meet in the Rose Garden, fall in love and start to plan their wedding. Of course, all dolls ‘help’ in the planning process with mixed results. The wedding is wonderful, and Peg & Pog share the love with their wedding guests.