for any wedding ceremony
‘Hannah took what we were trying to say and transformed it into a ceremony telling our story, truly reflecting who we are. Impossible without her guidance, it was utterly perfect. A highlight of our day.’ Charlie + Jarrad
Bespoke legal script
Bespoke legally compliant wedding scripts, delightfully written with your words and developed in line with Registry Office guidance, then performed by your Registrar on the day.
Readings
Whether written with your words and/or those of nominated loved ones, the possibilities abound: from a single piece with a particular focus, to a themed reading or mirror image pair.
‘Story so far’ and ‘The Why’
A rare opportunity to tell your story, your way, so guests understand your journey; or to explore all that marriage means to you, what’s most important and why.
Declarations, vows and rings
Enhance any wedding ceremony (Registrar-led or church based) and captivate your guests with utterly beautiful bespoke statements, vows and ring exchanges, written with your words.
Symbolic acts
A resonant bespoke passage to accompany a symbolic act of any kind within your ceremony, composed using your words or those of nominated family and/or friends.
Well-wishings
Non-rhyming poems, written with selected contributors’ words in a pre-agreed form and on themes of your choosing. An ideal way to end any wedding ceremony in style.
Ceremony consultancy
Based on 12+ years of experience, my professional advice might be sought for one pre-booked session/several, depending on the level of my input into your ceremony design and development.
‘It’s been a real pleasure to take this journey with you, really thinking about who we are and what’s important to us. Time and again guests told us how personal, honest and beautiful it was.’ Jess + James
Find more information and guide prices at www.wordsandwisdom.co.uk
Words
ceremony elements for namings and vow renewals etc
‘This is truly beautiful. We’ve both read the script with tears in our eyes. I’m blown away by how beautifully you’ve linked the words we each sent you and formed them into something so special.’ Melanie + Carl
Bespoke script
Unique scripts created for namings, adoption celebrations, hand-fastings, vow renewals and ‘This is your life’ ceremonies. 12+ years of professional writing and ceremony design experience.
Readings
Bespoke original readings to add colour and charm to any ceremony e.g. christening or vow renewal – written with your words and/or those of nominated family and friends.
‘Story so far’ and ‘The Why’
Taking time to reflect on your family’s journey so far, let’s capture the joy of your child’s arrival, or a sense of why your vow renewal matters so much to you as a couple.
Symbolic acts
If inviting guests to tie wishes on a tree, or take part in a hand-fasting or candle lighting ceremony, elevate this with thoughtful text written with loved ones’ words.
Well-wishings
Non-rhyming poems, written with selected contributors’ words – perhaps their hopes for your child on the occasion of their christening, or fondest wishes for your vow renewal.
Ceremony consultancy
My professional advice might be sought for one pre-booked session/several, depending on the level of my input into your ceremony design and development.
‘We were 100% over the moon with your work. You truly made the ceremony ours and we will never be able to thank you enough for everything you did. You are definitely in the perfect job.’
Sally + SeanBelow are 6 of the main perspectives I often explore in the bespoke readings I create, whether standalone pieces, themed texts or mirror-image pairs, all written with nominated contributors’ words
‘We needed help creating writing that explained how much we mean to one another, guidance to put our hearts down on paper, making sure we didn’t miss anything vital. We got all that and more.’ Luke
A portrait
Versatile bespoke readings, often insightful and amusing, usually describing a cherished child, treasured relative, much loved couple or a family group. Would complement any ceremony.
The way we were
A chance to reflect on your early days as a couple, or family, with a bespoke reading that might be frank, wry and nostalgic, considering how far you’ve come.
The journey
Taking a broader view, this particular range of bespoke readings aims to give vivid sense of how a family has grown or a couple’s relationship has developed over time.
The difference made
Often in life-defining ceremonies, we seek to pay tribute to the impact a child, partner or family member has had on our lives - these readings do just that.
Insight and experience
Take a theme such as friendship, love or parenthood...invite nominated loved ones to offer their thoughts...and any bespoke reading written with those words will resonate with all.
In anticipation
This line of bespoke readings look ahead to the future and all you hope for: for your child, as a family, for or as a couple. Uplifting and memorable.
‘One of the most special things was how Hannah involved family and friends, making them feel important. The process made us realise what we love so much about each other, but sometimes forget to say.’ Kay + Andy
for receptions and videography
‘This is BEAUTIFUL. You’ve captured the essence of our relationship perfectly. Both teary, we’re not sure how we’re going to make it through the day. Just reading this has made us both very happy.’ Lou + Dom
Wedding reception writing
‘The Bard’
A fabulous bespoke text inspired by you and your story, written with your words or those of loved ones and performed by family and/or friends in tribute to you.
Toasts
Aptly written with your words and/or those of selected contributors, as single texts or mirror image pairs, either for a bride or groom, happy couple or loved ones to deliver.
Speeches
I can create wonderful speeches on behalf of any members of your wedding party: with an individual’s words or those of small group, on themes of your and/or their choosing.
Videography voiceovers
Wedding
Memorably enhance a wedding film you’ve booked with text created using your own words, then record in advance of the day so your videographer can marry the two.
Engagement
A special script developed in conjunction with you and your videographer, written with your words, so your own voices can be recorded to accompany your planned filming.
Family
A videographer is going to capture your family life in all its glory. Now let’s create a voiceover, written with your words, so your thoughts and emotions are recorded too.
‘We absolutely LOVE it! It’s beautiful, engaging, funny - a perfect reflection of our relationship and story, exactly what we’d like to say. Thank you, thank you, for writing such a beautiful piece for us.’ Amanda
for funerals and memorials
‘Our son’s memorial was beautiful. In our darkest times, it’s been a pleasure to work with you. Everyone was blown away. It means the world they were able to feel they knew our baby boy.’ Alex + Sarah
Eulogies
I can create a variety of touching eulogies: whether single texts or several themed pieces; short or long; written with one or several nominated contributors’ words.
Full ceremony script
Using words from selected contributors, I devise all written elements needed to form a whole and fitting ceremony e.g. welcome, closing words etc, as well as any eulogies.
Readings
Bespoke readings can be uniquely tailored to suit your ceremony: themed or with a particular focus; written with the words of a select few/several family and/or friends.
‘It’s hard to thank you enough. As a family we really appreciated your discerning guidance, pulling together a Celebration of Life truly reflecting the wonderful woman who was our Mum in the most joyful way.’
Karen + familyCeremony consultancy
My seasoned advice can be sought for one pre-booked session or several (support as you construct the ceremony yourself) or the entirety of my co-ordinating its creation.
Write your own
More common than many might realise, people plan their own funeral for all kinds of reasons. Your ideas and expression; all my ceremony design skills and know-how.
‘Creating a bespoke funeral was priceless. There’s no way we could have done this on our own. It was everything that Phil imagined and will be forever etched in the hearts of everyone who attended.’ Sarah
Find more information and guide prices at www.wordsandwisdom.co.uk
Having a photo shoot to celebrate a milestone in your life? Let’s capture the story behind the pictures too, with bespoke text, written with your words and/or those of your loved ones. An ideal way to create a beautiful photo book.
‘From your own words, Hannah crafts a wonderful emotional journey through your relationship to the present day and beyond. It was so ‘us’, capturing us as a couple perfectly. We wouldn’t hesitate in recommending her.’ Claire + Niall
Baby shoot text
I might ask you questions that explore your emotional journey as you’ve become a family, the difference your child has already made and all your hopes for their future.
Family shoot text
No two families are the same. What does yours mean to you? Let’s encapsulate all the joys and quirks of family life in characterful text written with your words.
‘Hannah has been a delightful, warm and wise guide with real talent for getting to the root of what we wanted to capture. We wanted something truly personal: her skill and experience gave us just that.’ Lizzy + Mark
Engagement shoot text
We could write about your beginning, who you are to one another now and all you most want one another to know at this point in your relationship.
Wedding album text
As your big day approaches, an opportunity to reflect on what makes your partnership so special, embodied in text that then matches your pictures perfectly.
‘Having been partners for 20 years, you made us dig into long gone memories and bring them back to life, which was wonderfully nostalgic. You made our life come to life. We’re so grateful.’ Gillian + Colin
Find more information and guide prices at www.portraitsinprose.co.uk