Dan Ford Celebrant & MC

Your Marriage Ceremony will set the tone for your entire event. It's the centerpiece of the day, and should be fun and engaging, with moments of sincerity and emotion. Upbeat, but not over the top and certainly not boring. Meaningful, but not melodramatic. Think warm and fuzzies with giggles and storytelling. Oh , and legally legitimate: we seamlessly layer and intergrate those segments in-between all of the storytelling and personal anecdotes that will have your guests, and yourselves laughing out loud and dabbing away at eyes with tissues.

My couples and I co-create the ceremony for a very important reason. We catch up in person, and/or Zoom or FaceTime if we can't, share the highlights of your story so-far through some Q&A. Then, on the day I will subtly weave and layer your personalities, anecdotes and story highlights around the legal requirements: (I Do's, Vows and ring exchange), to ensure your marriage ceremony is one yourself , and your guests well remember, and talk about for all of the right reasons!

Ahhh... the million dollar 'sell yourself' question that non-salesey, people-people like myself answer in analogies...(because they are way more fun!)

Like bespoke ice cream nowadays, there are many different flavors of Celebrant & MC.. So, choosing the right flavor to match you're tastes is important...(and if you have not guessed by now, I'm not your average cookie-cutter, Vanilla Celebrant & MC).

Being married myself, I understand that couples need someone to take the time to inform them of: the legal requirements ( IE:..paperwork), and what's needed for planning the ceremony. As important as these base details are, any and every Celebrant will do this for you. Those details are the information 'cone'. How we do it though, is the difference between a cone that's been sitting a cupboard waaaaaaaaay past expiry date: the bare essentials. Or, a handmade Belgian waffle cone, still warm from shaping (think: a personilised approach, the need to knows without the fluff. It's still a tiny bit sweet as we are building rapport, even through the administrative process that I have simplified and modernised as an online event page that you can access from anywhere, anytime...). NO! Do not eat the delicious, handmade waffle cone yet... wait for the ice cream!

My fave 3 wedding vendor flavors have always been these:

• Organisation - We are on time, on point (including that we dress on theme and color tone), we communicate warmly and professionally. Yet make it seem effortless... Because we love what we do!  The most solid of scoops at the bottom.
• Adaptability - We are on your team! So we take care of issues that pop up that you won't even realised happened, until after on, when we will laugh about it together over a glass of bubbly (think: bring a back up PA and spare Mic batteries JIC. Give a lighthearted and respectful outro and tap on the shoulder to anyone who starts repeating themselves during speeches. Have the venue delay the bridal party by 5 mins because your Nan's just ducked to the loo... etc.. ;)  The vital teamwork scoop is in the middle! And at the top...
• Creative Presence - It's commonly understood that professionals are proficient at going through the motions with an above average level of skill (we hope :P). In the Celebrancy & MC space, I have been a guest at many of these types of ceremonies & receptions, and they are good... but not immersive and unforgettable. To create in the moment as a Celebrant & MC, is to know the content like a favorite song, yet allow the spontaneity of a gathered, salubrious group (especially your tight tribe of besties) to go ‘off script’ and mess around with tune. The chorus will be dedicated to you two, however we don't let the formalities dictate a stuffy vibe. It's a love celebration after all, and the sweetest top scoop, chocolate sprinkle dipped parts cannot be 'scheduled'. Modern Celebrants & MC’s know this, and invite these spontanious moments to happen.

Because we know it’s where the real magic can be found!

Y  E  S! I was a professional MC before I became a Celebrant! Nothing gives me more pleasure than creating a great rapport in the Ceremony with all of your guests, then keeping things moving along with an upbeat and sincere vibe all through the reception. The most common feedback couples recieve from their guests, having me as their MC is: 'How do you know Dan? He was such a great MC! It was like you had known him for ages."

I'll be there to welcome everyone into the "Love Celebration" reception including houskeeping, humerous and heartfelt speech intros, the cake cutting and all the way through to getting EVERYONE on the Dancefloor by the end of your first dance - From Fiancès to Happily Married and tucked up in bed with a day and night full of unforgettable, awesome memories.

Give all of your besties the whole night off and head to my Special Offers for details on my 'Ceremony Celebrant and Drop the Mic MC Bundle!'