Humanist Beach Wedding in Cromer

“Of course Dawn Rees was always going to be a Humanist celebrant”. Thus said Kate when she contacted me about conducting a ceremony for her and Simon on Cromer beach.

Kate was one of a gang of teens who always gathered at ours on new years day for breakfast having been clubbing with our kids in Norwich the night before. It was always full house. Groggy heads. But nothing that a large plate full of toast, bacon, eggs, baked beans wouldn’t put right!

Nearly 30 years later, Kate found me whilst searching the net for a celebrant based in Norwich.

Yesterday we all met outside North Sea Coffee on Cromer beach – to the delight of the customers seated on a blustery promenade. They were strangers but they joined in the fun with lots of encouragement and cheers. And coffee!

The small wedding party (Simon in blue tweed, Kate in a vintage dress, kimono, pink DMs and tie died socks) trudged across the beach to the shoreline. We pegged out garden canes topped with silk ribbon bows, and within the circle, we had a simple betrothal ceremony and a hand-tying to bind Simon, Kate and their kids together for life. It was as simple and glorious and romantic as that.

And of course there were tears. Theirs and mine. There were big cheers from the people on the prom and then we drank champagne on the beach and came back for more hot coffee and hot chocolate.

Subsequently, on Facebook, people were searching for whose wedding – not because they wanted to be intrusive but because they had generously taken photos and wanted to share them with the couple. These simple things are profound within a wedding. It’s not about show. It’s about what you mean and how you mean to carry on. It was simply beautiful.