Wedding News Blog

September 1, 2023 by Glenda Ashleigh

Valentine Wish

PEG AND POG SEND A VALENTINE WISH

Peg and Pog send a very special Valentine wish to all lovers. Each year, 14 February is the special day to celebrate romance! Of course not everyone can arrange their wedding for 14 February. Contact Glenda and choose your own romantic date to celebrate your Valentine Wedding!

Romance is in the Air

Romance! What exactly does it mean? According to the dictionary, the countable noun, ‘romance’ is “a feeling of excitement that you get from new and slightly dangerous experiences.” Wow! This is explosive stuff!

How Peg and Pog Found Romance

Until Pog met Peg, he had not done anything particularly exciting or dangerous. Pog was into break-dancing. Of course, break-dancing alone at home, did not set Pog up for any likely romantic experiences.

Peg and Pog stars of Dolls are Different, or are they?

Peg and Pog know a thing or two about Romance

Pog’s unique execution of the ‘orbital rotation’ break-dance move, is the catapult (literally) that lands him among the roses and at last he finds romance.

Peg captures the very essence of romance in the language of love as only she knows how.

Can Pog say ‘no’ to the angelic vision of Peg as he regains consciousness (among the roses)? Of course not! The only response he can offer is that of a gentleman, “Yes, thank you very much.”

Such sensitivity! Such insight! The wonder and mystery that overtakes Peg and Pog must be romance. Feelings of ecstasy, unconditional love and joy as two souls reach out to each other and meld together in harmony!

What Peg actually says to Pog is not important. For Pog, the message is clear and he is excited. That is all that matters. The language of love is indeed powerful and potent. It sweeps all concerns away and, as Pog discovers, it can snap a fella from a dazed state to one of full alertness in a moment!

Find your romance in a Valentine Day wedding with Glenda Ashleigh, Professional Brisbane Marriage Celebrant

August 24, 2023 by Glenda Ashleigh

Personal Wedding Vows

Words for Personal Wedding Vows

Would you like to make your personal wedding vows? Many couples choose to make their ow special wedding vows or promises to each other in their wedding ceremony. These personalised vows are usually made just before or just after the legal marriage vows. Sometimes both parties write their vows individually, and sometimes they share a common vow.

Personal Wedding Vows

By far the most popular personal vows are individual vows.

Quite often the words in the vows are kept ‘secret’ from the other party until the wedding day!

Don’t know where to start with your vows? Yes, I will help you to write them!

Presentation is important, especially on your wedding day! As Brisbane’s Really Good Celebrant, I attend to the details that make all the difference. I match the colours for your vow booklets to your chosen wedding colours.

Contact me for delightful personal wedding vows for your wedding ceremony!

Wishes and Words for Personal Wedding Vows

Wishes and words for personal wedding vows come from the heart. They express your personal hopes, dreams and values for your marriage. Choose the words that you and your partner understand and appreciate. After all, they are your words.

Have fun with your vows! Use words that you like and that you understand. The only rule to follow is: “Vows are respectful.” Apply this rule to everyone involved in your wedding ceremony and your guests. Think about the people who will hear you say your vows and ask yourself this question, “Do I want them to hear these words?” Keep the more intimate words and expressions for private conversations with your partner!

Writing Personal Vows

So you want to write your personal vows? Make a start! Write notes about all sorts of ideas, collect examples of vows and write something that you feel is ‘right for you’. Jot down a few points about what you bring to the marriage and what you wish for married life, then write your personal vow.

Need inspiration? Here are some suggested links to wedding vows sites to help you get started.

More modern vows. Quirky vows. How to write your personalised vow.

July 5, 2023 by Glenda Ashleigh

Wedding Ceremony Traditions & Rituals

What Wedding Ceremony Traditions & Rituals are Popular Today?

Some wedding ceremony traditions & rituals are so popular that we expect them! The ‘kiss‘ is one of the traditions that we see in most ‘western culture’ weddings. Consequently, we often expect that this tradition must be part of the wedding ceremony.

One of the most popular of wedding ceremony traditions is the exchanging or giving of wedding rings. Wedding rings are regarded as the traditional tokens or symbols of the vows made in the marriage contract. However, there is no requirement to include a wedding ceremony ritual that feature rings or any other form of tokens. Does a couple need to give or exchange any physical symbol? It is up to them!

But back to the ‘kiss’ and its significance. What is its history?

The Kiss

It is a common belief that a couple in Roman times sealed the marriage contract with the ritual of kissing. The Romans also used the act of kissing to ‘seal the deal’ in any legal contract!

As time went on, the ritual of ‘the kiss’ in the wedding ceremony took on a more romantic touch. Some cultures regard the wedding kiss as the ‘first touch’ between the newly weds. In modern times, partners often hold hands during the exchange of vows, so the kiss as the ‘first touch’ doesn’t really apply.

Today, most people regard ‘the kiss’ as a wedding ceremony tradition. It usually happens immediately following the declaration of marriage. The kiss is still regarded as ‘sealing the union’ between the partners in today’s wedding ceremonies.

Be creative with wedding ceremony traditions and rituals! Express your personality in your wedding ceremony. As Brisbane’s Best Marriage Celebrant, I am very happy to include your choice of rituals and traditions in your wedding ceremony.

Perhaps we can create a special wedding ritual just for you and start a new wedding ceremony tradition!

June 25, 2023 by Glenda Ashleigh

Wedding Ceremony Venue & Amenities

Does your Wedding Ceremony Venue have Amenities?

Does a wedding ceremony venue need to have amenities? Picture this – You dream of having your romantic wedding ceremony on a cliff high above your favourite bit of ocean or landscape. The wedding party is OK; you are arriving in a helicopter. Your Guests (and your Celebrant, Photographer, etc are not so lucky. They have to drive, or walk up a road that leads off another road that is quite a way from anywhere!

Look After Your Guests

Recall, you invited your guests! They expect that you will at least consider their basic needs. Basic needs can only be met by having amenities available. Amenities include services such as toilets, showers, electricity, shelter, drinking water.

Seaside Wedding Ceremony Venue

Your chosen wedding ceremony venue may not have amenities on site. This does not mean that the venue is unsuitable for your wedding ceremony. However, you do have to think about your guests and service providers.

Where are the closest public amenities located? How do you tell people about what is, and what is not available on site? This map of national public amenities is a good start. You can check the availability of amenities in public parks and areas. Even if your wedding ceremony venue is in a private venue, this information can be helpful.

As Brisbane’s Best Marriage Celebrant, it is my responsibility to look after the welfare of everyone at your wedding ceremony. One of the key questions I ask is about the availability of wedding ceremony venue amenities. I also ask you how you will be informing your guests about your wedding ceremony venue. Here are some other questions for you to think about.

How easy is it to get there?
Do we need to bring umbrellas?
Do we need to bring drinking water?
Where are the nearest toilets?

Your Guests are VIPs (Very Important Persons). Look after your guests’ needs and everyone will be happy! Happy guests make for a happy celebration. Your highly recommended Celebrant will also be happy!

Contact Glenda for help with your wedding planning.

You will find other helpful links and resources for choosing a venue for your wedding ceremony on the Links & Resources page of this website.

June 20, 2023 by Glenda Ashleigh

Brisbane Celebrant Weds Love Ducks

Brisbane Celebrant Weds Ducks in Love

Wow! How time flies! Back in the day this was big news and guess what? It still is! Brisbane and Bayside areas are fantastic places for weddings. The Wynnum-Manly-Lota area is easy to get to from the Brisbane CBD. It is close to the Gateway Motorway, linking the northern and southern areas of Brisbane.

Glenda J Ashleigh, Brisbane Celebrant weds the delightful love ducks in a ‘first’ for Brisbane. Brisbane ducks will never be the same! These ‘luvducks’ will say ‘I do’ in the beautiful Brisbane Bayside suburb of Manly.

Brisbane ducks will gather to witness the Bride & Groom being joined for evermore in duck love.

The wedding pond is a romantic wedding venue where the Bride & Groom first found love. The Bride & Groom will display their love with a large ‘Love’ sign.

Brisbane Celebrant, Glenda Ashleigh is very good at guiding nervous Brides & Grooms (including ducks) through their romantic wedding vows.

There will be much ‘happy flapping’ when the Groom gives the Bride an affectionate peck at the end of the ceremony.

Brisbane’s Beautiful Bayside

Duck family and friends are delighted that the two ‘luvducks’ will be wed in Brisbane’s Beautiful Bayside.

The Wynnum-Manly-Lota area on Moreton Bay has many great venues for wedding ceremonies all year round. This suits ducks just fine as the water is never far away. Lovely sea breezes during summer days allow ducks to relax and enjoy themselves. Winter days by the bay are a duck’s delight with sunshine glinting on the water.

Brisbane Celebrant Glenda Ashleigh

Brisbane Celebrant Glenda Ashleigh is Brisbane’s Really Good Celebrant. People (and ducks) find Glenda friendly and approachable. Glenda is a true professional, reliable and trustworthy. Your ceremony is Glenda’s business and she takes very good care of it.

What does Glenda do very well? She really listens to Brides & Grooms. Your wishes come first! You can be confident that Glenda will help you plan the ceremony that best suits you.

Contact Glenda

Contact Glenda by mobile, or if you prefer, text for a callback to chat about your ceremony wishes, needs and wants. Glenda will answer your questions clearly and honestly.

You are welcome to arrange a meeting with Glenda, obligation-free to discuss your ceremony.

June 15, 2023 by Glenda Ashleigh

Wedding Ceremony Happiness

Wedding Ceremony Happiness is Catching

Wedding ceremony happiness shows in the faces of this delightful couple. Andor and Terez’s first-choice wedding celebrant, Glenda, took the snap! Happiness is catching, and there were smiles all round as these long-term friends tied the knot at their wedding ceremony.

Andor and Terez are lovely people who are very welcoming and quickly make people feel at ease. This couple enjoy a relaxing atmosphere among friends and family, including their beloved pets. There are smiles on faces all round, and happy wagging of tails of the four-footed guests!

Memories of a thoroughly enjoyable day

Andor and Terez’s home provides a lovely setting for their wedding. I chat with family and friends as they arrive. Everyone is excited and thrilled for Andor and Terez. Love is in the air as we gather for a relaxed and romantic wedding ceremony.

Wedding ceremony happiness moment

The natural and very personal touches make this special day. These charming details are just perfect for an intimate and personal wedding ceremony. Delightful wedding decorations set the scene for this indoor wedding. Andor and Terez are thrilled with the family’s creative efforts.

Simple, and heart-felt words express the love and joy that Andor and Terez share with family and friends. Eyes are misty as Andor and Terez make their tender marriage vows to each other.

Family members get the ‘technology’ going and the couple’s favourite music fills the air. And even some singing! A delightful and happy wedding ceremony for a charming couple. Everyone loves the looks of delight as I present my special wedding keepsakes to the happy couple!

Wedding Ceremony Reviews

Client Reviews are extremely important to me as they give me vital information for continuous development of excellent celebrancy services. I ask all clients to give their honest reviews of my services. Andor and Terez are happy to share their comments about their wedding ceremony with Brisbane’s Really Good Celebrant, Glenda J Ashleigh:

What did you and your guests particularly enjoy about the ceremony? The ceremony was very familiar with a nice atmosphere.

What will you always remember about the ceremony? The Celebrant. #glendajashleighcelebrant

Overall, how would you rate your experience with Glenda as your Celebrant? Excellent.

What would you tell other people about Glenda? Just, call #glendajashleighcelebrant she’s very friendly.

Thank you, Andor and Terez for your sincere comments. This feedback is heart-warming and valued, and makes it a privilege and a joy to be a Marriage Celebrant. Read other people’s comments and recommendations about Glenda. These comments come directly from couples and clients in their own words.

Contact Glenda Ashleigh for your delightful wedding ceremony.

April 27, 2023 by Glenda Ashleigh

Peg & Pog’s Delightful Wedding Album

Peg & Pog’s Absolutely Delightful Wedding Album

Peg & Pog are excited and happy to share their delightful wedding album with you.

The newlyweds, Peg & Pog, love their official wedding photos. All Doll family members and friends help make their special day in the Rose Garden just the best. This unique wedding album captures the excitement and joy of the day.

Brisbane’s Very Good Celebrant

Glenda J Ashleigh, Brisbane’s Very Good Celebrant saves the day!

Pog comments, “Glenda is our ‘ray of sunshine.’ She is a wonderful wedding ceremony planner. We really appreciate her help with great ideas for the day.”

Peg adds, “Our families and friends get carried away very easily with their ideas for our wedding. Glenda saves the day with her patience and care. Pog and I feel that we have at last got control of the way we want our wedding day to happen.”

Peg & Pog’s Delightful Wedding Album

Peg & Pog, the Bride and Groom, are the stars on their special day! All Dolls feel the love and pride in the efforts to make the wedding day one to remember.

Peg & Pog feel happy that they achieve all their hopes and dreams for the wedding they want!

Peg & Pog star in the micro-series “Dolls are Different…or are they?” Wedding planning is pretty rough sometimes, and Peg & Pog share their many experiences with you! Fortunately, they choose Glenda J Ashleigh as their Celebrant! the wedding day arrives and all is beautiful in the Rose Garden.

The wedding day arrives and Peg & Pog marry in their dream wedding in the Rose Garden. Doll family and friends rejoice in the celebrations and happiness is everywhere.

Peg & Pog spread the love…

All dolls and the creator/director/producer etc etc, Brisbane’s Really Good Celebrant, Glenda J Ashleigh, hope that you enjoy Peg & Pog’s Wedding Album

April 9, 2023 by Glenda Ashleigh

Flower Girl Attendants in Bridal Party

Flower Girl Attendants in the Bridal Party

Bridal Party Attendants the Flower Girl

Flower Girls are delightful! What is the role of a Flower Girl? Flower Girl attendants in the Bridal Party assist the entrance of the Bride. A Flower Girl is a great addition to the Bridal Party, and the delight is doubled when there are two of them!

Here are Pip and Pepper, those two-and-a-half-year-old twin nieces of the Bridegroom, Pog at Peg & Pog’s wedding.

Peg and Pog hope that Pip and Pepper will skip along happily in front of them as they enter the Rose Garden for their wedding ceremony. However, Pip and Pepper have other ideas!!

The little Flower Girls take a shortcut to the Rose Garden. After all, weddings are exciting and little girls like excitement! Pip and Pepper race ahead and alert everyone that Peg and Pog are on the path! Pip and Pepper stand in front of the wedding arch, clapping and squealing with delight as Peg and Pog enter the Rose Garden. Family and friends join in the clapping, and there are smiles all round. This lovely touch sets the warm and happy tone for the wedding, and everyone feels the love.

Flower Girls as Bridal Attendants

Are Flower Girls in the Bridal Party a good idea? What do you really expect of Flower Girls? Choosing Flower Girls can be a way to include young girl relatives and friends in the wedding. The big questions are, “Do they want to be a Flower Girl?” “Are they old enough to understand what is expected?” and “Are they reliable?”

Pip and Pepper are two-and-a-half-year-old girls who do exactly what they want to do!

As long as the Bride and Groom and all other Bridal Party attendants prepare for anything, then it is a good idea. Children are unpredictable however, and the chance of different behaviour is very high.

Girls who consider themselves to be too old to be a Flower Girl have the role of Junior Bridesmaid. The Junior Bridesmaid’s role is actually less complicated that that of a Flower Girl. Junior Bridesmaids have a more relaxed time and do not have any specific tasks on the wedding day.

Will you include Flower Girls or Junior Bridesmaids in your Bridal Party? How will you prepare for different behaviour on the day? How will you cope with unplanned events on the day? What will you say or do when such unplanned events occur? Of course there is only one thing to do! Keep smiling, treasure the precious moments on your big day, and spread the love. Contact Glenda, Brisbane’s Best Celebrant for your wedding.

April 3, 2023 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. Over time, the ritual of giving wedding bomboniere became part of wedding celebrations.

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.

March 30, 2023 by Glenda Ashleigh

Episode 1: Love blooms

Dolls are different, or are they? a pegdoll production

Love blooms for Peg & Pog.

Peg & Pog feature in the micro-series “Dolls are Different, or are they?” which follows the fortunes of all involved in planning a peg doll wedding. This delightful micro-series that will enchant all those who are young at heart and all those who wish to be! Peg & Pog have their own language of love, and helped (or hindered?) by various members of their families, they embark on the uncertain journey of planning a wedding.

Love Blooms

Peg & Pog ‘discover’ each other in the local park. Peg and her little, 8-year-old brother, DP, take a walk in the park. The sun is shining, and Peg stops to smell the roses while DP decides to … well, that would be giving the story away! It is enough to say that there is action, drama, pathos and happy endings.

Peg is a girl who knows love when she sees it! She is kind, considerate and quick off the mark. Pog is a boy who also knows love when he sees it! He is kind, considerate and almost quick off the mark (and handsome, talented, etc, etc).

Peg Doll

Pog Doll

Does Peg really know what love is all about? How can Peg tell what true love actually feels like?

Does Peg expect too much? What does Peg really want from the love of her life?

Does Pog really know what love is all about? How does Pog know what the language of love actually sounds like?

Does Pog expect enough? Is love enough? What does Pog expect of love and life?

These questions and many more occupy the thoughts of the little lovers as they meet, ‘fall’ in love, and start to plan their wedding.

Can you identify some of the situations, reactions, character profiles, personality traits that are present in your family or in families that you know? But of course, all, dolls are different! or are they?

All dolls and the creator/director/producer etc etc, Brisbane’s Really Good Celebrant, Glenda J Ashleigh, hope that you enjoy Episode 1: Love Blooms