Cherish-Ceremonies

As a 3 times winner of this prestigious award for tip top customer service in the wedding industry, I am delighted to have been invited to be a judge in the @guidesforbrides 2019 Awards. Thanks to the wonders of great internet at the @hilton_addis_ababa , I’m able to complete my judge duties!

Today, at the Church of Saint Mary in Aksum, I was really lucky to see a traditional wedding procession, with the bride and groom wearing crowns and together carrying a large ornate cross

With the littlest ones at Lem Lem kindergarten in Aksum . We were working on writing their letter shapes - even at 3 and 4 years old , they are learning English as well as their own language (here in Aksum, they speak Tigray , not Amharic as in the capital). They also learn songs in English. They may not understand all the words but they are really good mimics. They enjoy singing and it gets them used to the sounds and cadence of spoken English

January is ‘wedding month in Ethiopia, and here’s the car that’s just taken the couple from the church back to their home village. Weddings are big affairs here, very convivial and social occasions. In the villages,guests number around 100-200, whilst in the big cities, 1000+ is not uncommon. Brides are often choosing to wear two dresses; a beautifully embroidered traditional dress for the ceremony, and increasingly, many are also opting for a very ornate western style w...hite wedding dress, influenced by what they see on TV and at the cinema. The dresses are imported and so are always hired and are very expensive, as are the bridesmaid dresses. .
After the ceremony (which is ALWAYS in church), the reception is incredible; a pop up marquee is erected in the street, a band plays and much dancing in Ethiopian style, an amazing spectacle. The party goes on till the small hours,
Food is served, often buffet style, with guests eating injera and wot and tibs (injera is a teff flour spongy pancake; wot is stews if different types and tibs is roasted meat slices, often lamb , goat and beef)
To help with the wedding costs, guests all chip in a modest amount of money; usually 50 birr or so (about £1.50).and more if they can afford it, but a wedding is still regarded as very expensive, so similar to the western world in that respect!
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It's the Awards Season in Wedding Land. In the early days, celebrants didn't have their own categories, often being slotted in with chocolate fountains and vintage suitcases as a 'special touch'. I was one of those who campaigned and I'm glad that as our numbers grew, so our own category was established in virtually all the awards schemes in place.
Indeed, celebrants are the fastest growing profession within the celebrant industry. The more of us there are, the more t...he word spreads.
The growth in the number of celebrants has led to associated businesses being formed: training, social media, retreats, workshops and so on. There are many Facebook groups within the last couple of years, and it feels like they've been around forever - we can't imagine a time without them!
I'm enjoying watching our profession developing and maturing - I've certainly come a long way quickly from initial training to my first tentative ceremonies, to developing Cherish into a brand I'm proud of; winning various awards along the way and now training celebrants as a tutor with the prestigious Civil Ceremonies.
It's been quite a ride so far, and I'm looking forward to whatever the future holds!
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Last night was the TWIA 2019 Wedding Industry Awards and for the second year I had the honour of being part of the panel of judges.
I know how nerve-racking it is, entering award schemes;. asking your couples to write testimonials and to vote for you isn't easy. Then the excitement and anxiety of waiting to see how you've done...
Huge congratulations to everyone who entered; and now enjoy the experience of reading everything the judges saw: all those lovely testimonials fro...m your clients will make your heart sing; I guarantee it!
Big applause to Michelle Taylor, Funky Celebrant and Jane Blackman the respective winner and Highly Commended in the Celebrant category. This category keeps on growing; it seems a long time ago we were so few that we lumped in with candy carts and vintage suitcases in the Special Touches category.
I'm sure you all had a great night - I was thinking of you from 8000 miles away 🇪🇹🇬🇧
Have a fabulous year!
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I'm not getting Cherish emails on my Ethiopian SIM card -. If you have sent an email, or if you need to contact me , please send/re-send to judy.mansfield @gmail.com. Thanks! X

I’m away in Ethiopia but will try and respond to emails and messages as often as I can! Internet access and electricity sporadic 🙏🏼🇪🇹

And she’s off! #celebrantadventures #ethiopia #ethiopianairlines #addisababa

Wishing you all a very happy, healthy 2019 and an exciting time planning your ceremony.
I am away from the Cherish Desk from 4 January until Monday 4th March when normal service resumes! However, I will have occasional access to the internet and should be able to pick up emails whilst I'm away, so do contact me on judy(@)cherish-ceremonies.co.uk and I will get back to you - thank you x

The Quaich. An ancient two-handled drinking cup of welcome. Here, it is in use at Catherine and Tom’s wedding, reflecting Tom’s Scottish heritage, and filled with whisky and water blended from the crystal flasks - all provided by Cherish Ceremonies.
Add interest to your ceremony with symbolic traditions given a modern twist.
... Photo courtesy of Hannahkellyphotography Venue: Bordesley Park Farm Wedding Venue
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#groomselfie time! James and I awaiting the arrival of the Bridal Party at his wedding to Kristina at Ettington Park Hotel, Warwickshire .
Kristina’s family are from Germany, and we incorporated some German traditions into the ceremony., as well as a German poem which was lovely to include.

#happynewyear2019 from me and Mr Cherish 😁

Marley finds the sunshine spot for a snooze🐾 I adore this dog who came to live with us almost 3 years ago, thanks to @spanielaiduk .

And the loveliest surprise happened today.. For the second year in a row, Keeley and Andrew sent ME flowers on THEIR wedding anniversary.
I really do get to meet the loveliest people 💖🙏🏼
Thank you, Mr and Mrs Munro xxxxx

Happy 2nd Wedding Anniversary to the most romantic couple ever. Their lovely ceremony was at the Castle at Edgehill.

A year ago today, it was snowing and the nicest couple had a beautiful , romantic wedding ceremony surrounded by priceless works of art at @compton_verney . They included powerful strong colours in their sand ceremony, and their vows were simple, heartfelt and sincere ... Some weddings you never forget, and this is one of them. Happy 1st Anniversary, Mr and Mrs Roberts ! 🍾 xx

He thinks we can’t see him sneaking into the dining room...
I can’t tell him off though; I’m soppy about animals - and you’re welcome to include your animal pals at your ceremony 🙂
Over the years, Cherish-Ceremonies has welcomed horses, a donkey, llamas, alpacas, owls, homing pigeons, doves and of course, many, many dogs at ceremonies.
... Choose Cherish - for the ceremony of your life 💖
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Thankyou so so much for everything you did to make Marks funeral so beautiful. He would have enjoyed it. I will always be so grateful for your genuine kindness.x

Thank you Judy for your thoughtfulness, beautiful, personalised ceremony at our Mum and Dads golden Wedding Anniversary. The ceremony was so heartfelt in fact I’m told it was better than the wedding 50 years ago from the persons who were lucky enough to be there. You go above and beyond to make it perfect. ��� I’m still today receiving messages about how prefect it was, I’m actually proud of you, my family and friends for making it such a wonderful day Thank you xxx

Is there a 6 star option?! Judy was one of the best choices we made in the whole of the wedding planning. Our guests said it was their favourite ceremony they’ve been to- with humour, sincerity, real meaning et al. Judy really felt like a part of the family - from the day-one preparation, to the pre-drinks the evening before, to the intimate ceremony itself. I could bang on for ages how much we loved her being there, and we would be honoured to have her by our side for all of life’s occasions going forward.

I'm a wedding photographer and I've never met a celebrant quite like Judy. She liaised with the couple to create a ceremony that reflected them perfectly, incorporating different traditions and delivering the ceremony in a very cool, calm, lovely manner despite it being over 30 degrees! I couldn't rate her more highly.