We are heading into the final week of the Hero’s Wedding Dream competition. Last chance ladies and gents. We are a group of wedding suppliers gifting a wedding to one lucky frontline worker. Pop over to www.aherosweddingdream.com and tell us your story.
Today I am introducing you to your celebrant. Clara Malone runs Coastal Ceremonies with Orla Cronin. They are based in Co. Clare with the Wild Atlantic Way on their doorstep. They both trained with the Irish Institute of Celebrants and are members of the Irish Ethical Celebrant Society.
I really believe that there are paths, some seen and some hidden, that lead us to where we are meant to be, and mine was always leading up to be a celebrant. I had just had my two kids, finished a fifteen year career in HR and moved to Co. Clare and thought, “what next”. I had attended a celebrant led wedding and my cousin turned to me and said “you would be great as a celebrant” so that sparked something in me. I was doing a bit of research in to it but nothing was jumping out until I saw an interview in the Irish Times by Louise Bruton who wrote about training to be a celebrant with the Irish Institute of Celebrants in Dublin. I hadn’t even finished the article before I rang them and left a message. They called back and before I could even think about it I had enrolled. The six month training course was an invaluable start to my career as I learned not only the ins and outs of being a celebrant, but also storytelling, ceremony traditions and cultures, ceremony enhancements and crucially the business side.
So, just before I graduated I heard that a friend whom I hadn’t seen in years was also training as a celebrant and due to graduate a month after me. She too, had just moved to Ennis with 2 kids and was living around the corner from me (literally). So many coincidences so it was meant to me. Orla and I now work together and love what we do. I love telling stories, I love meeting people and I love family celebrations so therefore I really have my dream job. To be a part of someone’s special day and helping couple’s create lasting memories is an honour and to see couples saying “I do” at the end of the ceremony is literally the “icing on the cake”.
We are also incredibly lucky to live so close to the sea. We spend a lot of our time officiating ceremonies in the Cliffs of Moher, or Loop Head and in castles, ancient ruins and even lake side gardens. We also get to work in the most incredible venues like Hotel Doolin and Dromoland Castle, and alongside some of the best wedding suppliers. The relationship with each couple doesn’t start on the day of the wedding but many months before so I am so invested by the time the wedding day comes around that it is quite emotional watching the couple say “I do” to each other. I also love staying in touch with couples afterwards and hearing about all the milestones they celebrate, like welcoming a new baby or renewing their vows. As I said, it’s my “dream job”.
This is such an unprecedented time and my heart goes out to all of the couple’s who have had to cancel or re-schedule their weddings. I know from planning my own wedding how much time and effort goes in to planning your big day so it’s heart-breaking to see the stress couples are going through. We have been in regular touch with our couples since the start of the pandemic and luckily we have been available to accommodate any couples who re-scheduled their wedding to later in the year and next year. Unfortunately some have had to cancel their wedding but when they begin to make future plans we are hopeful we can work together again. I wrote a blog to hopefully give couples ideas about how to mark their original wedding date while in lockdown and also how to celebrate their weddings bearing in mind the new restrictions which will be in place regarding numbers and so on. It’s on our website here https://coastalceremonies.ie/ceremony-options-during-covid-19/
What is so lovely to see (and not surprising) is how amazing all of the wedding suppliers are being. Everyone has rallied around and are doing their best to accommodate every couple who have had to change their plans while also managing the unexpected business impact.
At the moment, my biggest dream is be to back on the Cliffs of Moher (or anywhere on the coast of Clare) witnessing another love story unfold. Dreams do come true .
Thank you, Clara for sharing. Check out and send some love to Coastal Ceremonies on social
The front-line workers are the people keeping this country running and this is our way to give back. If you work in a grocery shop, if you spend your days on the road delivering all our packages. If you know a nurse, a doctor, anyone helping their community we want to hear their story. Check out www.aherosweddingdream.com.
Keep dreaming
Sarah
