Chris and Katie said their “I dos” in a Steampunk Wedding ceremony and handfasting which took place on Saturday 1st July 2017, at Wilobe Farm Barn in Pidley, Cambridgeshire.

Guests were invited to fully embrace the steampunk wedding theme and enter a world of escapism for one very special day. They did so with so much enthusiam and gusto, you’d have thought it was a way of life for all of them already! Chris and Katie were so tremendously overwhlemed with their efforts and for the love and support it displayed in their choice of personality and style.

Even I got a little bit dressed up for the occasion! Not that I ever need much persuading….

Katie looked radiant in a cream and violet Victoriana wedding dress, with petite top hat and veil. So gorgeous!

Chris had his suit shipped in to the UK especially. He looked absolutely dashing, don’t you think?

We shared some stories of how Chris and Katie met, and of how Chris had supported Katie as she made her way through veterinary college. This couple have learnt so much about ‘perserverance’ and ‘determination’ in their time together, so it was an honour to be able to help them recognise this is their ceremony.

It’s always such an honour for me to be able to help a couple to express themselves on their wedding day. Not just in their love for one another, but in their personality and characteristics too. I felt so proud of Chris and Katie for the way that they had embraced their style and theme for the day, not only in themselves but also in their request for the guests to join in and embrace it too, and in the attention to detail that echoed the theme all around the wedding room.

It’s not every day you get to attend a steampunk wedding with so much thought for everyone who doesn’t usually follow steampunk!

We included some readings in their ceremony, which were spoken by friends.

Elisa read The Blessing of the Hands and Ben read one of my favourite quotes by Robert Fulghum:

 “We are all a little weird. And life is a little weird.

And when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall into mutually satisfying weirdness – and call it love.”

Katie and Chris had opted for a more traditional approach to saying their wedding vows, by choosing to repeat their own written words line by line after me. Then, it was on to the rings, which were brought forward by Best Man, Ben.

After the “I dos” – the vows – and the exchange of wedding rings, it was time for something more stylish and symbolic to be included in the service.

Katie and Chris had asked for a multi-ribbon handfasting to take place, as this was a chance for the couple to invite forward some of the people that they felt played key roles in their relationship to be involved in their day. The line up include parents, grandparents and close friends too.

The guests all held individual ribbons, each representing their individual roles in Chris and Katie’s world as one. These were then wrapped one by one over Chris and Katie’s holding hands, before I joined them together eternally with a knot, creating a keepsake loop that would last forever.

It was a very special moment for everybody involved and gained a huge round of applause on completion!

After the handfasting, Katie and Chris signed a certificate of their promises in marriage; something else which they could treasure in their home long after their wedding day.

The formalities now finished, there was only one thing left to do. It was time for me to crack on with my favourite bit of every wedding ceremony…  I always feel so very lucky to be the first person to formally introduce the new couple as husband and wife!

Ladies and gentlemen, clap your hands, stamp your feet, and make lots and lots of noise for…. Mr and Mrs Berry!

…and then of course it’s up to them to seal the deal with a kiss!

It really was such a delightful ceremony, and an extraordinary day too! I’m so proud to have been a part of it. Thank you so much Katie and Chris for being such joy of joys to work with together. We had a lot of fun, that’s for sure… This is one ceremony I will never forget! x

A big thank you to professional photographer Adrian Neal (The Studio Without Walls) for this wonderful collection of images, and for allowing me to share them on UKCelebrant.co.uk. You can also see Adrian’s own collection of favourite images from the day on his blog by following this link. I suggest you do because they really are so special!

Thanks also to Steampunk Steve (Steampunk DJ) for his role in providing the music for the ceremony and with such dandy style too, and also to the excellent staff at Cambridge Dining Co for their work in providing the fabulous food and venue at Wilobe Farm Barn.

It was a pleasure to work with you all!