People often ask if I get nervous before a ceremony..

It's a good question and to be honest, by the time I get to the ceremony venue, I'm so focussed on getting set up and making sure everything is as ready as possible, I'm not nervous at all!

I like to get to the venue early, and once I'm set up and changed and ready for the ceremony, I try as much as possible to meet the principal people who will be involved and invested in the ceremony, like the couple's parents, family members and friends, if they are available.  

I also really like to get a chance to chat with any readers or anyone involved in a symbolic element during the ceremony, just to make contact and perhaps walk and talk them through what they will need do and how I might cue them in when it's their time to shine!  I like to reassure readers that I have their reading all printed out in nice large font, so they don't have to bring any prepared reading with them, or resort to reading from their phone!!  

I like to chat with the musicians, photographers, and videographers too, just so we can help each other to make sure this is a special day for the wedding couple.  

Of course, I like to meet each of the wedding partners on the day and sometimes this will be just before the ceremony, but I like to get a chance to reassure both parties that I am there, in place, and ready to guide them through their ceremony, which they have planned, prepared and worked so hard to make happen.

And then I return to the ceremony space and wait for the couple to join me there, in whatever way we have discussed and that feels right for them, and then we begin their wedding ceremony....