Photo Gallery of Humanist Wedding Ceremonies

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Your wedding ceremony photos don’t have to look

Your wedding ceremony photos don’t have to look the same as everyone else’s. Why not let me marry you on a boat?! @leanneroberts89 and @jfolletti surprised all of their guests by asking them to meet in a car park. A special bus full of merriment picked everyone up and whisked them in fabulous suspense to their next unknown destination. 45 minutes and a drink later, we disembarked the bus and boarded the beautiful #Moyana @falriver’s exquisite reconditioned ferry boat. A perfect 20 minute cruise down the River Fal later and we were ready to dock at the gorgeous Trelissick Gardens and collect our bride and bridesmaids. I can’t begin to explain the sheer continued delight of every guest as the surprise unfolded. No one knew but Leanne, James, myself and Claire from @knotcornwall what was to unfold. Even bridesmaids only found out a few days before! I was on the bus and hearing everyone try to guess what was going to happen next was hands down one of my favourite parts of the day!!!! That, and the fact the weather more than rewarded us and the continued sail up past Falmouth whilst eating a delicious local pasty with a glass of fizz was something none of us will ever forget. Make sure you get to marry and celebrate your day with your favourite people making memories you will treasure for a lifetime. Make sure all those choices delight you. Find something that means something to YOU. We all deserve to revel in this life we have. Make it all count! And let me help you find out what that may be - I delight in the imaginations you have. #marryonaboat #marrywherevertheheckyouplease #unusualweddingdestinations #marryatsea #weddingonaboat #makememories #livelife #zenasparish #lovetour2019 #unusualwedding #personalwedding #yourdayyourway #tietheknotatsea #goyourownway #humanistceremony #realweddings #photosthatcanonlybeyours
📸 @markshawphotos

Few things fill me with more delight than being se

Few things fill me with more delight than being sent a candid shot, caught mid-ceremony, taken by a guest, capturing the real joy and essence of the ceremony.
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Antonia, Charlie and I always knew that the wedding was as much about their daughter Bella as it was them and so it was only fitting that she join us rather than feeling separate.
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Creating a safe space at the front of the ceremony is a hard earned but rewarding thing. With multiple meets (back in the old days), and zooms you can make even the most intimidating of spaces feel warm and welcoming for a little one. Add a good old fashioned dose of joy in the spontaneity of it all and everyone’s having a good time!
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I had just read a quote direct from Bella “it is OUR wedding day. I’m going to marry you, and I’m going to marry you and there will be a big party and then we’ll eat cake.”
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A perfect summation! 💚😍☺️🎂
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#relaxedceremony #funceremony #zenasparish #lovetour2021 #knowyourcelebrant #kidsatweddings #childreninceremonies #welcomingceremony #humanistwedding #guestphoto #candidphoto #brideandbride #familyceremony #realweddings #lovewins #yourdayyourway #Bellasbestquote 📷 @gem.k84

💯 #bridebridecelebrantselfie My girls, we made

💯 #bridebridecelebrantselfie My girls, we made it! We really made it!

Yes, lateral flow tests. Yes, masks when walking f

Yes, lateral flow tests.
Yes, masks when walking from A-B.
Yes, constant vigilance.
BUT HECK IT’S GOOD TO BE WORKING AGAIN. 💐 by @flowers_by_blomme
🏠 @elmorecourt
#lovetour2021

Gorgeous Zoe and Ryan - we made their marriage kno

Gorgeous Zoe and Ryan - we made their marriage knot in the ceremony and then hung it in the spectacularly intermittent at just the right times, but nonetheless, torrential rain because a wet knot tightens.
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So forged in the presence of their favourite people and secured in the rain of their wedding day that marriage knot is one super special piece of rope!!!!
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Not a single drop of rain dampened spirits. Every single part of their day was amazing. Including the cocktail van. Which may or may not have been visited a lot 😜
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#bridegroomcelebrantselfie #zenasparish #lovetour2021 #lovemycouples #allgoodlovestoriesstartwithahandlick #cornishtipis #personalceremony #weddingtraditions #makenewtraditions #yourweddingyourway #humanistwedding #handfasting #tyingtheknot #greatbritishsummertime #raindoesntstopplay

Not everyone relishes the idea of being the centre

Not everyone relishes the idea of being the centre of attention in a ceremony, BUT that doesn’t mean you don’t deserve the best, most personal, enjoyable & fun ceremony ever.
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When I first met D&D they were in a quandry, they knew & wanted their ceremony to be one of the most important parts of the day, but hated the idea of it all being about them.
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So we came up with a plan. I would learn about them & their relationship from the 2 dozen people closest to them - their children, their parents, siblings, & closest friends.
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And I learnt, D&D give so much. They support their community, run youth football teams, & are two of the most generous people you will be lucky enough to meet. They also never talk about their own achievements.
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So I knew I needed to make the ceremony itself as interactive, disarming & enjoyable as possible so that I could find the right environment for them to listen & enjoy all of what I had found out. Because no matter how much you love your chosen guests, the public nature of a ceremony can be quite a daunting experience.
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I very much wanted D especially to feel engaged, distracted in all the right ways & to ultimately love the ceremony - something she was quietly dreading.
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Enter, my hat! I’d collected so many anecdotes & memories from their friends which contained hilarity but also a huge amount of open, honest & emotional gratitude for them both which had to be shared. But to straight out tell D this would have been too much.
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So I collated information into sections & themes, all of which were pulled out of a hat by a different guest to allocate what I would share & when. Amongst the brilliantly funny responses were also some tear inducing, honest to goodness sentiment. But it was tolerable, because it was framed within the banter they were both so used to.
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When D finally surprised D with a rendition of All You Need Is Love by bridesmaids full of gusto more than tonal pitch😜 & a trombonist - I think it is fair to say D was distracted to sheer joy & may have, dare I say it, even enjoyed the ceremony! In these photos Dave’s nod to me is one of my favourite things ever & D’s sheer unadulterated joy makes me beam from ear to ear.

Surprise - All You Need Is Love.. Denise had ABSOL

Surprise - All You Need Is Love.. Denise had ABSOLUTELY no idea this was going to happen. I pronounced them, they kissed, there was wild applause and then the guitarist Simon struck a cord, the bridesmaids stood (self admittedly in enthusiasm over being a pro-choir!) and sung the opening lines. As an extra surprise, the trombonist appeared, then the trumpeter. Only Dave, bridesmaids, Simon and I were in on it and I will 💯 admit to being fully, damn, moved!!!!! Long live love, surprises and people wanting to make each other happy. #lovetour2021 #idefyyounottosmile #daveslooktocamerajustbeforethechorussaysitall #zenasparish #imfulltobursting

Let’s talk about wedding day artefacts. ⠀ You

Let’s talk about wedding day artefacts.
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You don’t get to keep much from the actual day itself, which I always think is a shame. So I invest time with my couples to think carefully through meaningful things they can keep that they’d genuinely like to keep!!
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Lizzie and Sam were legally married back during the pandemic and we didn’t think it was necessary for them to take off their wedding rings, so, we tied their wedding knot instead, to an almighty cheer! They will never forget the moment they affirmed the gesture they made when they exchanged rings with the moment they tied it all together (pun intended!) and their knot represents that.
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Their certificate was signed by all 100 of their guests. I’ve been creating community certificates for a decade now and nothing brings me more joy when I visit a couple from #lovetours past than when I get to study their community certificate whilst using their downstairs loo! The certificate becomes slightly messy, full of the scrawls of their support network, and it’s a bloody wonder to observe.
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And then Lizzie and Sam chose to write their personal vows on kitchen roll - where they write all their best messages to each other daily anyway. Poignant, personal, perfection. So they signed those too and will have them framed forevermore.
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We make memories people, it’s what us humans love to do. And especially with others. So a few keep sakes to remind us of the magic along our journey through life is a pretty awesome thing.
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#weddingartefacts #zenasparish #consideryourday #makingmemories #wordscount #humanistceremony #humanistwedding #personalceremony #doingitright #kitchenrollvows #communitycertificate #holdingyourselfaccountabletothosewhomatter #engagedaf #lovetour2021

These are the unadulterated happy faces☺️ ⠀

I Have Missed This. #confettiexplosionsofjoy

I
Have
Missed
This. #confettiexplosionsofjoy

Love In The Time Of Covid. #truth #lovewins #lov

Love In The Time Of Covid. #truth
#lovewins
#loveinthetimeofcorona
#finally
#ohhappyday
#zenasparish
#lovetour2021

So many things about Gracie’s naming ceremony ye

So many things about Gracie’s naming ceremony yesterday made my professional eyes ping with tears. It really was a momentous occasion for my friend Emily - pictured here snuggled into my very proud Celebrant shoulder.
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Emily’s journey to motherhood has not been simple nor without heartbreak. Not only did Emily decide to have Gracie on her own - to which I say HOLLER!!!! 😍😍 she also had five miscarriages before Gracie. I literally don’t have the words for how much respect I have for Emily and her love and bravery.
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Then brilliant little Gracie’s birth coincided with the first pandemic lockdown. I mean, woah?! So Emily’s hopes for Gracie’s naming day wasn’t just a giant thank you to the support she has had, (her best friend Bec’s moved in a week before Gracie’s birth, and stayed. To which I once again, say HOLLER! 😍), and an extraordinary opportunity for Gracie’s extended family to be all gathered together revelling in each other and making memories - which is what we humans need to do! But it was the formal appointing of Gracie’s -in her words- fairy godparents 💫✨💫 and as Emily pointed out, “as a single mum it’s even more important to Gracie, if anything ever happened to me I know that Gracie would be looked after by the most wonderful 3 people in the world.”
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A naming ceremony is truly one of the most heart warming and in my mind essential rites of passage. Yesterday Emily was able to hear just what Gracie means to her extended family, but also what she herself means to them all. And the naming script - so full of description and sentiment - has been placed in a treasure box, filled with letters from her godparents, grandparents, a copy of the song Sara sang, the script from the sketch Emily’s friend’s Charlotte and Rich performed, and time capsule gifts from every single guest - all for Gracie to open on her 16th birthday. What an encapsulation of love and a moment in time that will be for Gracie to read. I wish I’d had such a gift.
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Thank you for letting me share this @missemjones - I think you’re an inspiration. And welcome to this magnificent world Gracie Milly May Jones. You’re off to a rocking start!
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#namingceremony #singlemum #exceptionalwomen

My gang ☺️ Phoebe’s naming ceremony 19.06.21

My gang ☺️
Phoebe’s naming ceremony 19.06.21
The magnificent @katemansmith and @unleashthekeesh have me as their family celebrant forever and that makes me beam from ear to ear. I’ve married them, we’ve scattered the ashes of beloved ring bearer dog Sam and now I’ve had the privilege of helping to formally name and utterly celebrate Phoebe in her 100 year old gown!!! She’s exceptionally lucky to have these two. They are sincerely the best humans. I love them. Thank you for letting Phoebe be the same height as me, we all know she’s likely to tower over me by seven 😜😜 #sorryicutoffhalfyourheadian #raiseadaughterwhoreads #backinbusiness #doingwhatilove #zenasparish #familycelebrant #love #namingceremony

I co-wrote a book!!! ⠀ I am so damn delighted an

I co-wrote a book!!!
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I am so damn delighted and proud to be able to finally reveal some of what I was actually able to get up to during Covid lockdown.
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It was my honour and privilege to help write this book with @copsonandrew and @prof_alice_roberts and I am going to be proud as punch when I get to hold the real thing in my hand and encourage you lovely lot to read it.
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It was also such a wonder to work closely with many of my super talented celebrant collegues to gather and include their insights, reflections and knowledge amongst the esteemed and notable humanists throughout history - all within the covers of this book.
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It is an uplifting, honest and celebratory account of love and marriage. And I am so proud I could burst!
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#iwroteabook #whattodoinlockdown #loveinthetimeofcovid #littlebookofhumanistweddings #thelittlebookofhumanistweddings #humanistsuk #zenasparish #weddingwisdom #weddingreadings #humanistwedding #humanistcelebrant #love #uniquewedding #whativelearntfromadecadewithmycouples #weddingvows #weddinginspo #weddingwordsofwisdom #engagedaf #yourdayyourway #whatawaytostartlovetour2021 #lovetour2021

Me and my life. One of my smallest friends drew th

Me and my life. One of my smallest friends drew this from memory. Dallas Lovell, aged 5 and 11/12ths. #captured #lovetour2021

Done and done. In time for #lovetour2021 Thank you

Done and done. In time for #lovetour2021 Thank you clever, clever science.

It is with nothing but sheer delight I bring you..

It is with nothing but sheer delight I bring you....#weddingdetritus #firstof2021 #lovewins #joywashere #simplebeauty

Bride. Groom. Son. Daughter. Celebrant. Selfie. DO

Bride. Groom. Son. Daughter. Celebrant. Selfie. DONE!!!!!! YEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Like mother’s milk, I’m home. #bridegroomcelebrantselfie #lovetour2021 #teamkj #itsgoodtobeback #LOVE #sohappyicouldcry #lovemycouples #zenasparish #ivemissedyoulovelylot

I went out out this weekend!! To a #miami80s party

I went out out this weekend!! To a #miami80s party in a back garden and the overwhelming sense of excitement to be gathered with people you love again made me SO excited for all of my couples this year. We’re nearly there. #june21st #🤞🏽#makingmemorieswiththoseyoulove #theblanchedevereauxcocktail #iwearheaddresseswhenimnotcelebranting #thegreatregathering #lateralflowtestsftw

Wedding season ready. I CANNOT wait to dress up on

Wedding season ready. I CANNOT wait to dress up on Saturday’s again!
#lovetour2021 #countdown14daystogo
#humanistcelebrant #nevertoomuchcolour #nevertoomuchpattern #nevertoomanysequins #joyishere

This popped up in my Facebook memories today and i

This popped up in my Facebook memories today and it explains why I have been happily sat at my desk for a few hours already today, happily, oh so happily, tip tapping at my keyboard weaving story and magic the best way I know how. #countdown18daystogo #lovetour2021 #lovemyjob #weteyesagogo #tellstoriesmakememories #thegreatregathering #realpeoplestories #realweddings #doingthisforadecade

And we’re back baby! My entire day today was ful

And we’re back baby! My entire day today was fully immersed in wedding couples and not postponements. My blood is pumping with 💚✨ again.
#ceremonyscriptwriting #lovetour2021 #watchthisspace #instagramgridphotosincoming #countdown38daystogo #dowhatyoulove

Little doggy update. Laika has gone blind, we are

Little doggy update. Laika has gone blind, we are seeing the vet tomorrow to find out if this is temporary or permanent. Either way she is a marvel who is mind mapping the house already and has ventured up and down the lane outside without fear or anxiety. She’s a masterclass in getting on with what’s required in the moment. Thank you to every single one of you who have checked in with me over these past somewhat traumatising ten days. My email reply time is still a little bit delayed. But look at this scrappy, scruffy, button nosed little wonder dog and blame her ;-) #laikathelovedog #blindbutspectacular #dogsmakehumanshappy

This magnificent creature of mine #laikathelovedog

This magnificent creature of mine #laikathelovedog had not one but two heart attacks on Thursday night. The vet concluded that she died twice, but pulled herself back each time. She really is a bloody marvel. And she scared the living life out of me. Now, five days on, multiple medication regimes put in place and a vet extraordinaire on the case and she’s proving that her life force is STRONG! It does mean however, that I am cross eyed and only just landing back on the ground. So, this is a public “I’m sorry I haven’t replied to your email” notice. I will get back to you ASAP. For now, one of the things I have to keep notice of, is the colour of Laika’s tongue. It went white when she had her heart attacks, so I am to be reassured when it’s pink. This is pink. She is a wonder. 💗

Proudly helping women marry since 2011. #interna

Proudly helping women marry since 2011. #internationalwomensday

A year ago, on that most otherworldly of days Febr

A year ago, on that most otherworldly of days February 29th, I was part of a group which planted 100 hand-crafted bronze mushrooms in a perfect circle around the City of London’s ‘Square Mile’. It was a spell, an artistic working, to bind Trader Fae and shine magic into dark corners of capitalism. We think most of the mushrooms are still in place. Here’s me hiding one of the mushrooms from the day on a shelf in a storm drain, just glimpsable, robustly tucked. Ready to stay there nestled or wash off on a journey to who knows where? We’re making an Instagram faery ring. Visit @JakeBoreham to see a before mushroom, and @j0nes to see the following one. Take a look at these and perhaps carry on and follow the circle. See my stories to catch a glimpse of this particular hidden mushroom. This was a powerful day, did we start a reset?

PERSONAL VOWS for @borisjohnsonuk to the wedding i

PERSONAL VOWS for @borisjohnsonuk to the wedding industry. I took the liberty of writing them for you, Boris, now I’d love it if you could reflect on them, hold@our hands, look into our eyes, AND SAY THEM BACK! And we are live on something I have been so proud to be part of - the next step in the @whataboutweddingsoffical campaign. We are trying to get the government’s attention the way we know best - creatively and impassioned! So, I've taken the Liberty of making these vows, as @patchwork_it said, with love and controlled rage, to help turn our essential wedding protest into a fun to watch, but serious to consider, wedding party. A campaign to get the government to understand our plight as a £14.7 billion industry, somewhat overlooked. If you would like to show off your own skills to help get our message to Boris? (@borisjohnsonUK on insta @borisjohnson on twitter). Go here: https://patchworkit.com/36969/whataboutweddings (Link in bio) - we’re not asking for any more than parity with other industries, clarity for a roadmap back to the safe reopening of weddings, and financial support to keep us afloat until we are safely allowed to carry on the essential role of bonding families, friends and communities. We will be needed more than ever when the Great Regathering is allowed. We are memory makers. Not idle dreamers. Let’s make a clear roadmap so we can support all of our couples in planning and moving forward. Boris, say “I do...support the wedding industry!” #whataboutweddings #vowsforboris

Let’s be radical. 💚✨
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It’s Valentine’s Day and that means many different things to many different people. A nonsense commercialised day? An opportunity to be brave and drop a cheeky message to someone you love/fancy/want to get all frisky with? An indulgent kiss where all the passions of yesteryear re-emerge?
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Today many people get engaged, which in turn leads to marriage. And marriage is a many complex thing - to be celebrated as such!
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So on St Valentine’s Day let me share this brilliant quote - spoken by Tina Modotti - an Italian photographer and political activist who declared the following words at Frida Kahlo’s marriage to Diego Rivera - a relationship as complex, contradictory and often controversial as it was perfect for them. (As you read, note how EVERYTHING is in that second ‘but’)
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Tina Modotti: “I don't believe in marriage. No, I really don't. Let me be clear about that. I think at worst it's a hostile political act, a way for small-minded men to keep women in the house and out of the way, wrapped up in the guise of tradition and conservative religious nonsense. At best, it's a happy delusion - these two people who truly love each other and have no idea how truly miserable they're about to make each other. But, but, when two people know that, and they decide with eyes wide open to face each other and get married anyway, then I don't think it's conservative or delusional. I think it's radical and courageous and very romantic.”
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So, whatever your feelings about Valentine’s Day remember that for each of us, everything is about context and intent and that ultimately celebrating love - however you damn wish - is a many splendid thing.
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🎨 This is an adaptation of a post from two years ago which I wanted to repost with this extraordinary painting by the great lady - Diego on my mind (Self-portrait as Tehuana)
#dismantlethepatriarchy #loveyourway #lovinallitsshades #makenewtraditions #valentinesschmalentines #loveeverygoddamnday #valentinesday #antivalentinesday #love #engagedaf

Podcast alert! @theenthusiastandco interviewed me

Podcast alert! @theenthusiastandco interviewed me for her podcast about joy in work, play and life and you can listen to it now ☺️ (link in bio)
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I’m going to quote Ellie’s show notes now and blush, because they are so nice. I’d have summed it up as “where Zena talks about not being a fly mass murderer, how a life analogy presented itself as her lover and how lying husk like and wounded can make you glad you are alive” but Ellie definitely says it with more compliment 😉
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Do take a listen and let us be the dulcet tones in your ears today.
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“TODAAAAY I am joined by one of my favourite people in the entire world: Zena Birch, Humanist Celebrant.
Zena is a bottle of champagne in human form: effervescent, bubbly, luxurious, and one of the greatest things in life. It's quite daunting writing this description, because her way with words is so marvellous: and I loved listening to them as she gave a super honest and beautifully, generously raw insight into her enthusiasm for tradition, communing, creating a sense of occasion, and being alive and getting older.” Find the podcast in iTunes, Spotify and on The Enthusiasts website. This image is from when Ellie and I were last allowed to meet in the reals. I miss the reals.

I don’t share this stuff very often, because I’m hopeless at my own self promotion! (biannually?! And when I top trump the Pope? 🤣) But in lieu of any actual weddings for the foreseeable I think it’s ok to take a moment and dance in the joy of being called a unicorn on this rainy, blustery Monday morning. May we all gallop free again soon 🦄🌈✨🦄 #gloriousmemorytowakeupto #weddingtestimonial #humanistcelebrant #loveinthetimeofcorona #wewillwedagain #lizlaneiloveyou

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