A cosy celebration of queerness: Tabby + Adele’s creative celebrant wedding at home
When I met Tabby (they/he) and Adele (she/her) at the Rebel Love LGBTQ+ Wedding Fair in November last year, I immediately knew they were my kind of people. They giddily told me about their university meet-cute at an InDesign workshop, and how they got engaged at a TWICE concert (and then Adele immediately dropped and lost her ring… but don’t worry – Tabby found it at the end of the concert!)
I was so over the moon when they booked me as their celebrant, because I loved chatting to them so much I couldn’t stop thinking about them after the fair.
They were initially planning to book a wedding venue near them, but eventually they decided to have their wedding at home, in their own back garden. They had bought their house recently, and as two artists, had started to transform it into their dream home, filled with colour and art. It was the perfect setting for their small, cosy, joyful wedding, one where we fully celebrated not just their beautiful love, but their authentic selves.
They kept it simple and DIY. No photographers, just them and their favourite people.
Food after the ceremony was potluck-style. Tabby’s mum made their gorgeous sparkly cake, and one of their friends, a fellow artist, made their INCREDIBLE cake topper.
Because of how intimate this wedding was, I felt even more honoured to be chosen as their celebrant and to lead a ceremony created just for them.
The most adorable cake topper made by @lilylikes.rocks!
A unique ceremony full of quirky details: Powerpoint vows, surprise ringbearers, and a memory box
Mysterious boxes marked DO NOT OPEN… So intriguing!
Tabby and Adele had a marquee set up in their back garden, and it protected us well against the elements on a rainy October day. The rain drumming against the marquee roof made it feel even more atmospheric as the guests arrived and sat down, buzzing with excitement. On each guest’s seat, there was a box that said DO NOT OPEN. What could possibly be inside?
(Many guests commented that it felt nearly impossible not to open a box marked DO NOT OPEN!)
Once Adele had made her entrance into the marquee from the house, she and Tabby sat down as I began to tell their love story. From how they met at uni, to all the adventures they’d had over the past seven years, including the time Tabby and Adele went to Sweden for Tabby’s top surgery and stayed there for an eventful month of ups and downs.
We even showed a video of their engagement at the TWICE concert — one of their friends had captured the moment perfectly on their phone, including the bit where Adele dropped her ring!
Then, when it was time for Adele and Tabby to exchange their vows, they did it in a way that felt so delightfully original and totally them — they had both created Powerpoint vows!
This screen was there from the start... little did the guests know that the main reason for its presence was Adele & Tabby's Powerpoint vows!
It was a real treat to listen to their vow presentations, and hear them share so effusively and movingly about the things they loved about each other. Each presentation was packed with the cutest photos and wonderful memories, and it really demonstrated what was so special about their relationship. These two have SO much love for each other, and they’re not afraid to show it at all. In fact, it’s something they clearly want to shout from the rooftops.
After their vows, I announced that it was time to open those mysterious boxes – and find out who the surprise ringbearers were!
Most of the boxes contain gummy rings…
But two of the boxes had Tabby and Adele’s real wedding rings!
That’s right, Tabby and Adele decided to have surprise ringbearers, chosen at random. I put out all the boxes on the seats so Tabby and Adele wouldn’t know who had the real rings. It made for a really lovely interactive surprise for their guests!
Before we wrapped up the ceremony, we had one last fun activity – creating a memory box.
Adele and Tabby have always loved writing love letters to each other, and Adele once made Tabby a “happiness jar” full of positive notes, so it felt right for them to create this memory box during the ceremony. Into the memory box went the following:
A prediction bingo sheet, with predictions about what they might do in the future, so they can look back and see how many predictions they got right
Crystals they bought at a market, like blue amazonite for honest communication, and crazy lace agate for joy
Blind boxes, as mystery surprise gifts to their future selves
Love letters to each other
Tabby and Adele’s memory box
… and all the things that went into it!
After they had put all the items into the box, they closed the box together, with the promise not to open it until their first anniversary.
And then it was time for them to share their first kiss, and end the ceremony with a confetti toss!
I had all their guests exit the marquee first and line up with their confetti, so that Tabby and Adele could walk out to a dizzying hurricane of confetti.
Congratulations to the Caton-Richards!
What the couple said
“Holden created such a perfect and unique ceremony for us, which truly reflected our personalities! We really appreciated the level of detail and care they put into their words. It made the day so much more special! From crafting an entirely personalised ceremony to calming our nerves on the day, Holden was the perfect celebrant choice for us, and we can't recommend them higher for anyone looking to have an inclusive ceremony full of laughter and happy tears!”
Looking for a celebrant for your DIY home wedding?
Hi! 👋 I’m Holden (they/them), a queer wedding celebrant based in London (but happy to travel anywhere), specialising in playful ceremonies for the seriously in-love, rooted in authenticity and inclusivity.
If you’re planning a relaxed wedding at home that allows you the freedom to express your creativity, you’re in the right place! I’d love to help you craft a ceremony that’s filled to the brim with personality and totally different from anything else you’ve seen.
Get in touch today using my enquiry form
Or follow me on Instagram and drop me a DM!
