Alba and Steve - Humanist Ceremony at a Intimate Wedding Venue

When Covid-19 restrictions forced Steve and Alba to postpone their original August 2020 wedding day with 100 guests to a new date in 2022, the multi-national couple decided to optimise the situation and hold their wedding in two parts – a micro legal wedding ceremony for 4 at a register office, followed immediately by a romantic, highly personalised humanist ceremony and BBQ at a luxe, intimate wedding venue for 17 guests in 2020 (the restrictions at this time allowed for up to 30 people to attend a wedding), and a big wedding celebration with all wedding trimmings in two years’ time! Whether you're having an intimate wedding, a large wedding or both, find your wedding venue here.

Although seventeen of their UK family and friends were able to attend their intimate, Part 1 wedding day in the beautiful garden of the grand house, none of Alba’s Spanish family were allowed to attend due to shock quarantine rules delivered 10 days before the wedding day. Seeing that Alba was distraught that her mum would not be able to walk her down the aisle or be with her daughter on her wedding day, Rachael Meyer, their wedding celebrant in North Yorkshire, came up with an idea for the next best thing. 

Rachael altered the already-written, bespoke ceremony script, organised a professional videographer to deliver a live video feed to YouTube and arranged live interaction with Alba’s mum during the ceremony via professional Zoom. She also included surprise words from Alba’s friend in Canada, surprise advice for a long and happy marriage from Steve’s nan and brought along a PA system so that everyone could hear and see everything perfectly. As well as this, she sent the wedding script to Alba’s brother so he could translate it for their family to follow in Granada. Steve’s brother helped with video, his sister read out her nan’s advice, Alba’s friends read out the friend’s words, Steve’s nan and granddad joined in from their home in the UK via Facetime, and Steve walked his bride down the aisle!

After exchanging rings and their own vows, as a finale, in full view of all of their close family and friends, Steve and Alba ‘tied the knot’ with a handfasting ritual using ribbons that brought the English, Spanish and German nationalities of their families together in their own, brand new union. What everyone experienced was a fabulous, celebratory, inclusive and very unique wedding ceremony with lots of personality, laughter and tears of joy. In two years’ time, the couple will reflect on their two years of married life, recount stories of their part 1 wedding, and guests will hear their love story and watch them exchange vows before partying hard together, celebrating love and dancing and hugging like we used to!

Alba and Steve said, ““We cannot thank Rachael enough. Our part 1 wedding day was personal, moving, hilarious, and perfectly encapsulated our story and feelings for each other. We can’t wait for part 2!” Rachael added, “Getting all the technology lined up was a tremendous feat, and it worked brilliantly to bring everyone together in the end! It was such a happy day. There is something extraordinary special about intimate 2020 weddings. Families and friends are so grateful to gather together safely to celebrate two people in love and it really feels like love conquers all!”