‘Our ceremony was warm, personal, and funny thanks to Michelle's hard work and wonderful presence.’

Jo and Eddie

The lovely Jo and Eddie wed at the fabulous Lineham Farm in Leeds, West Yorkshire in June of this year. They enjoyed a ceremony bursting with symbolism, love and laughter. Incorporating many traditional elements into the wedding (ring exchange, vows and I-dos) Jo and Eddie also chose to curate something extremely unique; a celebrant ceremony reflecting their passion for nature and the great outdoors.

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Lineham Farm, Leeds, West Yorkshire

Lineham Farm is located in the most tranquil of settings. Situated in the picturesque countryside near Eccup, on the northern outskirts of Leeds, West Yorkshire, this quirky and artisan style wedding venue is surrounded by scenic woodlands and farmland.

When Lineham farm isn't holding weddings it’s run as a children's charity offering its grounds to outdoor learning experiences, residential stays, and adventure activities for disadvantaged children and young people.

What’s unique about this Yorkshire wedding venue, is that all proceeds from weddings held at the farm go directly back into supporting the charity. This was especially important to Jo and Eddie; knowing that their wedding would enable Lineham to continue their important work meant a lot to them.

Photo credit: Matt Sim Photography. Celebrant ceremony Lineham Farm Leeds Jo and Eddie 1

A heart warming Celebrant Ceremony

I first met Jo and Eddie at Weetwood Hall Estate in Leeds at their wedding Fayre in 2023. We connected straight away and chatted again over zoom, talking through their desires for the big day. They wanted a celebrant ceremony which felt relaxed and fun; their questionnaires were packed full of amusing stories and anecdotes so crafting a wedding script to match their brief was a merry task.

As with all my celebrant ceremonies, Jo and Eddie’s ceremony was special in its uniqueness. Everything I curated for the day, had them at the heart of it. Their love for each other; their love for their family and friends; their love of being in nature; their love of not taking life too seriously!

Eddie’s mum took centre stage at the beginning and opened the ceremony with a beautiful extract from Apache Blessing:

May the sun bring you new happiness by day

May the moon softly restore you by night

May the rain wash away your worries

And the breeze blow strength into your being

And all the days of your life

May you walk gently through the world and know its beauty

Jo was accompanied down the aisle by her very proud father. He later gave a blessing to Jo and Eddie with an extract from the bible which moved me to tears.

Photo Credit Matt Sim Photography Celebrant Ceremony Lineham Farm Leeds Jo and Eddie 2

A mesmerising Seed Blending Ritual

One of the most unique elements of this celebrant ceremony was a very special seed blending ritual. This moving ritual acted as a physical representation of Jo and Eddie’s love and commitment to one another. During the planning process they assigned their own meanings to the following seeds:

Oxeye Daisy seeds: symbolise new beginnings

Yarrow seeds: symbolise everlasting love

Cornflower seeds: symbolise hope

Scabious seeds: symbolise warmth and peace

Cosmos seeds: symbolise harmony and balance

Campion seeds: symbolise love and beauty

To begin the ritual, I shared a poem chosen by the couple from the book The Language of the Flowers:

“There is a language, ”little known”,

Lovers claim it as their own.

Its symbols smile upon the land,

Wrought by Nature’s wondrous hand:

And in their silent beauty speak.

Of life and joy, to those who seek

For Love Divine and sunny hours

In the language of the flowers.”

Inviting family members from both sides to join them at the front, the different seeds were mixed in a central bowl; symbolising the blending of both families and the coming together of their shared beliefs, values and love. At the same time, guests were serenaded by the stunning vocals of Shona Crossan. It really was a breath-taking moment and one I’ll never forget.

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Love Love Love!

As well as a seed blending ritual, the ceremony included many tender moments; a heady mixture of poignancy and symbolism with a lovely dusting of humour.

Here’s what else we included:

Ring Warming: The ceremony started with a ring warming ritual where the rings of Jo and Eddie were passed from guest to guest in a box hand crafted by Eddie himself. By the time the rings met the happy couple they had been warmed by the prayers, love and well wishes of their guests.

Wedding Vows: Jo and Eddie shared their own personal wedding vows with one another, stirring a few tears and lots of laughter.

I really loved getting to know Jo and Eddie. Turning their love story into a bespoke wedding script with their unique magic literally dancing off the page, was the greatest privilege.