A relaxed city wedding in a historic London Park

When Na and Vicky got in touch to ask me to be their celebrant, I was absolutely delighted! I am always so excited to lead a unique wedding ceremony in a historic London location and a wedding at Kew Gardens had long been on my ‘wedding celebrant wish list!’

Na & Vicky found me via the Gay Wedding Directory, which shares wedding suppliers like me who are super inclusive and actively celebrate couples from the LGBTQUIA+ community

Once Vicky, Na and I started talking about their ceremony, I was even more excited by what they had planned. Vicky and Na had ‘got legalled’ in a small registry office ceremony in early 2021 when only six people could attend due to covid restrictions. 

For their celebrant-led wedding at Kew Gardens, they were excited to enjoy a day with all their friends and family from around the world. Na and Vicky wanted a relaxed city wedding still surrounded by nature. They wanted a familiar feeling, but personal, wedding ceremony that reflected them.

Literature-lovers readings shared by friends

Na and Vicky chose two wedding readings that were shared by two of their close friends. The first reading really reflected how Na and Vicky felt at home with each other and how they looked forward to always being their true selves in their marriage.

Finally by Author Unknown

Finally, I have found a place into which I fit,

Perfectly, safely and securely, with no doubts, no fears, no sadness, no tears.

This place is filled with happiness and laughter,

Yet it is spacious enough to allow me to move around,

To live life and to be myself.

This wonderful place, which I never believed really existed, I have found.

Finally - in your arms, in your heart, in your love.

Vicky and Na’s second reading was an amazing wedding reading for literature-lovers. It reflected real romance as well as being a wedding reading celebrating all the quirks that we often love about our partners.

Adapted from Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak

As for me, I love you. If only you knew how much I love you. I love all that is unusual

in you, the inconvenient as well as the convenient, and all the ordinary things, which

in you are made precious to me by being combined in an extraordinary way; your

face which is made beautiful by your expression[...]your intelligence and your talent

[...]all of it is dear to me and I know of no one better than you in the world.

A Garden Wedding in the City, in the amazing Kew

When you have a unique humanist wedding in Kew Gardens, you are already in beautiful, natural surroundings - filled with amazing greenery, while still having all the amazing benefits of an urban wedding.

Vicky and Na, brought nature into their ceremony room and reception space with gorgeous flowers from Surrey Florist, Hibbert & Hibstrom.

Two brides celebrated in a relaxed, fun wedding revelling in their love story and some nerdery

It was such a joy to share Na and Vicky’s love story in their bespoke, meaningful humanist wedding ceremony. We talked about how they met doing shots in G.A.Y (more on that later!), what they loved about each other, why their relationship worked and what they looked forward to in their future - along with their amazing dog Gohan!

They shared heartfelt personal vows that I’d supported them to write and humour as we talked about the early days of their relationship.

A unique wedding blending cultures & community 

Na and Vicky were keen to incorporate elements that celebrated all their cultures and communities. They celebrated the LGBTQUIA+ communities in their table plan details, walked back down the aisle in celebration to the theme from Sailor Moon and reflected how they met - with a nod to Na’s Scottish heritage with the wedding ritual they chose…

The party started in the ceremony with unity shots

When Na and Vicky first spoke to me about creating their humanist wedding ceremony, they had considered including a unity ceremony. However, unity ceremonies often involve candles, and, given they were having their wedding at Kew Gardens, they understandably were not able to use candles in their ceremony.  

However, undeterred, as I got to know them and their love story, I discovered that they had met doing shots at G.A.Y. These shots (which have a NSFW name - but we said it in the ceremony!) are a blend of two spirits, Kalua & Baileys, topped with whipped cream. So you could say, they are made of two strong and individual spirits that, together are strong, like their marriage, and are celebratory like their wedding. Sammy, Vicky’s Chief Bridesmaid served the shots during the wedding ceremony which was also a lovely subtle nod to the idea of serving tea in a tea ceremony as part of Chinese culture, which Na & Vicky both share. 

Having exchanged personal vows and rings, Na & Vicky’s unique wedding ceremony got the party started as they sealed their commitment with a shot!

Na and Vicky’s modern city wedding was an absolute joy to be part of. I loved creating and leading their warm, joyful and inclusive wedding ceremony! At Kew Gardens, there are so many beautiful locations to have a London wedding that feels like it could be a country wedding too. Kew Gardens weddings are really easy to make feel really personal, unique and meaningful to you and your guests so a celebrant-led Humanist wedding ceremony is a great choice for Kew.

A personal wedding ceremony that’s 100% You!

If you are planning a wedding that is filled with personal touches and want a unique wedding ceremony that celebrates you both, a wedding reflecting your families, cultures and communities - do say hello. I’m a London Wedding Celebrant, but I’m very happy to travel across the UK!

Na & Vicky’s London Wedding Supplier DreamTeam

Celebrant - Me! - Kathryn Palmer-Skillings - London Humanist Wedding Celebrant

Florist - Hibbert & Hagstrom

All Photography: Mark Bothwell

Venue: Kew Gardens Events