Sam & Claire's Personalised Wedding Ceremony at Lillibrooke Manor, Berkshire
If you're looking for inspiration for a personalised wedding ceremony at Lillibrooke Manor in Berkshire, Sam and Claire's February 2026 wedding is a wonderful example of how a celebrant-led ceremony can reflect your personalities, passions and love story.
From the very beginning, Sam and Claire knew they wanted a personal wedding ceremony that celebrated who they are as a couple. Choosing a wedding celebrant gave them the freedom to create a completely bespoke ceremony at the beautiful Lillibrooke Manor, one of Berkshire's most sought-after wedding venues.
A wedding ceremony inspired by tag rugby
Sam and Claire first met while playing tag rugby, so it was only fitting that their shared love of the sport played a starring role throughout their ceremony.
One of the highlights was Sam's referee cards, which featured during the housekeeping announcements. Guests were warned that anyone caught taking photos on their phone during the ceremony risked receiving a yellow card - or even a red card! The penalty? Losing access to the free bar! It was the perfect way to get everyone laughing before the ceremony began.
Their love story also inspired plenty of tag rugby references and light-hearted puns woven throughout the ceremony, making every moment feel authentically them.
Personal readings that celebrated their story
Alongside the rugby-inspired elements, Sam and Claire wanted to honour the strong friendship at the heart of their relationship.
They chose Forever Friends by A.A. Milne, a much-loved Winnie the Pooh reading from Claire's childhood. Read by one of Sam's close friends from his baseball days, the reading beautifully symbolised the friendship that grew into lasting love.
Reading: Friends Forever by A.A Milne
“If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day so I never have to live without you.”
Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind. “Pooh?” he whispered. “Yes, Piglet?”
“Nothing,” said Piglet, taking Pooh’s hand. “I just wanted to be sure of you.”
“We’ll be Friends Forever, won’t we, Pooh?” asked Piglet.
“Even longer,” Pooh answered. “If ever there is tomorrow when we’re not together… there is something you must always remember. You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. But the most important thing is, even if we’re apart… I’ll always be with you.”
Heartfelt personal wedding vows
One of the most memorable parts of the ceremony was hearing Sam and Claire exchange their own personal wedding vows.
Sam and Claire also chose to write personal vows which not only included promises about making one another laugh and going on adventures but also featured duvet stealing and the Traitors – the perfect mix of heartfelt and humour. They created their vows using my personal vow writing guide which is available to all my wedding and vow renewal couples.
A meaningful handfasting Ceremony
To conclude their ceremony, Sam and Claire chose to include a beautiful handfasting ceremony - a symbolic wedding ritual that represents two lives being joined together.
Their handfasting cord was especially meaningful. Claire's mum lovingly stitched together green and pink tag rugby tags to create a unique cord, which was then tied into an infinity knot as the couple officially "tied the knot." This thoughtful detail beautifully combined their shared love of tag rugby with an ancient wedding tradition, creating a truly unforgettable moment for everyone present.
Celebrating at Lillibrooke Manor
After being officially introduced as newlyweds, Sam and Claire walked back down the aisle to All You Need Is Love by The Beatles, surrounded by cheers and applause from their family and friends.
The celebrations continued with a beautiful confetti moment outside the stunning grounds of Lillibrooke Manor, before guests headed inside for drinks and where they entertained by a fantastic close-up magician.
Their day was full of personality, laughter, meaningful moments and thoughtful touches- everything a celebrant-led wedding ceremony should be.
