Barbara Finigan has lasting memories of watching her two closest friends get married. “Their shared dream was to make their wedding unique and special,” she explains, ”But there was no one in the local area who could help make it happen.” With a background in performance and production, Barbara stepped-up to that challenge. “It all happened very naturally. We chose poems and readings, then the music and most importantly, their vows.” In the end, everyone agreed it had been a very special ceremony, indeed. “The feedback was incredible!” says Barbara, “From that moment on, I knew I’d found my dream job!”
Within the month, Barbara had embarked on a training course with the Irish Institute of Celebrants. There, she and fellow course mates formed Alternative Weddings Ireland, a group whose common goal is to help couples create the wedding of their dreams. She sailed through her assessment in January 2017 and is now an accredited celebrant. She is fully qualified to help with weddings, vow renewals, naming ceremonies and also funerals. Wedding ceremonies appeal to everyone and couples like to add those special touches that make their celebration personal. This is where Barbara works her magic. She ensures that the little things that matter to a couple’s beliefs, stories and personalities, are included. “The ceremony can be as religious or non-religious as you wish,” she explains, “Anything is possible.”
Those of us who are married might recall how, prior to our wedding day, discussions revolved around venues, catering, dates, rings, clothes and so on. In all likelihood, the ‘heart and soul’ of the day, namely the celebration, was overlooked. Imagine then, having a dedicated professional like Barbara, whose sole task is to help you, the couple, channel energy into that one, very special aspect.
“Ireland is a magical place and there’s a whole lot of mysticism in some of the ancient rites and rituals celebrated here,” says Barbara. “To give you an example, we have the Celtic knot fasting ritual, which is where the term ‘tying the knot’ comes from. Imagine entwining a couple’s hands with ribbons that they’ve chosen for the occasion. Then there’s the language to consider. “I teach modern languages,” says Barbara, “So, if a couple would like to include French, German or Spanish in their ceremony, I can easily do that, too.”
If you and your significant other long to experience a truly memorable ceremony, why not contact Barbara to help make it happen.
