blessings-on-ibiza - for life’s occasions which are NOT a rehearsal!
Hi Hedley Paul, I wanted to email you to say thank
you again for a beautiful wedding ceremony last
Saturday and for all your help, support &
involvement - it has been lovely working with you
over the past year or so - everything came together
perfectly last weekend .........the vows of
commitment we said to each other. They were just
perfect. Thanks again for everything, really
appreciate itl. F
Hedley Paul - the renewal ceremony was
fantastic, and thank you for guiding us through
everything so expertly and calmly when we were
both pretty nervous!
We truly had the best day ever, and we will never
forget it, so thank you for being a part of helping
make that happen. I hope the rest of the season
goes well for you. Best Wishes, C&N
Your Ibiza wedding ceremony is unique, and very very
special. The Magic White Island has a spirit or ethos of
freedom and respect which inspires your day in the
unique manner or style you desire. The marriage
ceremony is of course the focal point of the day – it is
the prime cause for celebration….
You have dreamed and planned long and hard to create
an amazing and lasting memory for you, your family
and friends, Your careful choices will ensure it is so.
Hedley Paul (‘HP’) delights in conducting very personal
and fun ceremonies, crafted precisely in accord with
your wishes. He believes strongly that weddings are
joyous occasions, a happy time to smile and laugh
together with family and friends.
For well over a decade on both Ibiza and Formentera
HP has conducted sincere and evocative wedding
blessings, which are always warmly cherished.
You too will experience his experience and presence,
which bestows calm upon everyone.
Consequently, as the foremost Ibiza celebrant he is first
choice provider for many top venues, wedding and
event planners, . He liaises meticulously with venues
and other specialists to ensure your perfect wedding on
Ibiza.
As a father and grand-father, HP believes strongly in
delivering for his couples precisely what he would
expect for his own children or grand-children:
Your ceremony can include Spiritual, religious,
Humanist or Buddhist themes, or a mixture of any of
these, based upon the love that binds you together.
A typical ceremony will take in the region of 25-35
minutes, depending upon your choice of content.
If you feel that a female celebrant will better empathise with your dream ceremony, Hedley Paul works
alongside a charming lady who is a very experienced and extremely competent.
Hedley Paul - because life’s to short to choose second best…..
The best Ibiza wedding celebrant for your
beautiful Ibiza Wedding Ceremony.
Contact HP without obligation simply by clicking the
the green button
What do past clients think of Hedley Paul? (see more comments at bottom of the page)
Hi Hedley Paul, Hope you're well and enjoying the Ibiza sun.
The dust has finally settled on our side, after the most magical day of our lives, so finally getting round to sending
out comms.
But now we're back L. and I wanted to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for making our wedding
ceremony so incredible.
Your ideas and your flow was brought up by the guests all day and evening, complimenting how amazing your
service was.
I personally couldn't have asked for more and wanted to get a thank you out to you directly.
Take care of yourself and hopefully our paths will cross again. A&L Oct. 2017
What type of ceremonies do you provide?
Every ceremony is bespoke to the couple’s wishes, and can be Spiritual, Religious (various faiths) Humanist,
Buddhist, or an integrated combination of these.
Who do you work for?
I work directly with/for the couple who are marrying. I do not work for wedding planners or venues, but happily
with them.
I am completely independent, and proudly provide a totally professional approach to weddings and blessings. My
business is based in England.
What about the number of guests?
I am equally pleased to host ceremonies for just the couple, or for groups with over 200 guests.
If more than say 40 guests, a sound system will probably be needed.
How early do I need to book?
As early as possible. While there are still many days available in 2018 I am accepting bookings now for 2019, and
even into 2020 so if you wish for a specific date be first to enquire/book it. Weekends and bank holidays tend to
be most in demand for both me and venues.
How much does a ceremony cost?
Fee for a wedding and blessing ceremony: £600 in 2019 and £650 in 2020
Fee for a renewal of vows ceremony: £525 in 2019 and £575 in 2020
Jump to Prices Page
PLEASE NOTE - THERE ARE NO HIDDEN EXTRAS OR TAXES.
Can I pay in other currencies?
Yes - no problem, at the XEtrade exchange rate on the day of payment. Please ask for details.
How do we book you for our ceremony?
If you make an enquiry about a date, (just click ‘Easy Contact Form’) I will reply, giving details of how to place the
deposit in my English bank account (£100) which will secure the date for you. Once the deposit reaches my
account, the date is securely yours.
Can I meet you before I book you?
Yes - either on Ibiza, or in the UK, but probably the easiest way is by Skype video or similar.
Can we see a video of you at a ceremony?
YES - videographer Gary McManus of infin8images.com created these: videos : 1 2 3
If we Skype, when will we actually meet you in person?
I always meet couples a day or so before the ceremony to ‘walk through’ who-does -what-when etc.
Normally I arrive at the venue at least 30 minutes before the ceremony commences, so I then meet the groom
etc. while we await the bride/bridesmaids.
How can I be sure I get the date I booked?
Make the deposit (£100) by cash or bank transfer, or by PayPal, then the date and time is secured.
Is it a race to place the deposit?
Not really. When I reply to your enquiry you have first refusal on that date/time for one month. If you have not
paid the deposit within the month I presume you are not intending to proceed, and it becomes freely available to
everyone.
Can I change the date or time that I booked?
Yes - provided the new date/time is available, you can change without additional cost.
Do you perform ceremonies in other places?
Yes, anywhere in Europe, given my availability to travel, and the price of travel (and accommodation) for me.
Outside Europe, please ask.
Can we have our wedding in a church on Ibiza?
With me as celebrant, No. The churches insist on a priest hosting the ceremony which would be a full Roman
Catholic Mass.
Can we hold the ceremony on a boat?
Yes - no problem.
Can we get married on a beach?
Yes and No - Beaches are public places, and permission from the local town hall/administration is required.
Some are very easy to deal with, some not. Please contact me to discuss. Please remember also that almost
every beach will be VERY busy during spring and summer. Many venues have beach fronts - ask them when you
book.
What time does the sun set?
The sun sets into the sea on the WEST of the island. For sunset times click
How long is the ceremony?
The average tends to be about 30-40 mins. It really does depend upon what the couple wish to be included. The
quickest ever was 12 minutes, the longest 75 minutes - in both cases it was what the couple wanted and were
very happy with.
Is there a standard format?
No - it is always up to the couple themselves. However, I can/do offer advice and suggestions; there tends to be
a ceremony pattern as follows:
Bridal procession/entry - Welcome - Introduction - Reading - Vows of Commitment - Exchange of rings - Ritual…..
Sign Certificate - Final Blessing and farewell - Marriage procession.
Can we choose our own vows and readings?
Yes of course - choose/write your own, and I am happy to work with you to make them great for your guests too.
Can guests read, or sing/play music as part of the ceremony?
Again - Yes of course. I will assist where possible.
Can all the guests sing - for example a song or hymn?
Again, yes of course.
We are different nationalities - can we have the ceremony in more than one language?
Yes - that’s not a problem - in such cases I call in colleagues who provide the other languages.
Please contact me for details/discussion.
What do you wear?
I normally dress in all white, however if requested I am happy to dress in accord with the couple’s attire/wishes.
What should we wear?
Something cool! The weather will invariably be HOT - think 35+C, so sitting/standing in full sun can be oppressive
for the couple and their guests. Beyond that advice, the day is yours, and a dream to be lived. An Ibiza ‘white
wedding’ is popular with local people - everyone wears all white, which is smart, cool, and relaxed.
Can you organise chairs/food/drinks/flowers/car/photographer/venue?
While I am happy to signpost you to reliable suppliers/providers I am a celebrant, not a wedding
planner/organiser. I prefer to do what I do well rather than attempt to be a ‘Jack of all trades’, so the simple
answer is sorry, but ‘No’.
What do past clients think of Hedley Paul?
Hi Paul, Just arrived home after a fantastic holiday in Ibiza.
I just wanted to say a huge thank you for giving us such an amazing service - We absolutely loved it - thank you
again. Take care, R&C April 2017
Hi Paul, Hope that you're well. We're finally back to reality unfortunately after a fantastic couple of weeks over in
Ibiza. Just wanted to thank you again for all your help on our wedding day, the ceremony was absolutely perfect
and everybody thoroughly enjoyed it, everything went better than we could have ever imagined!
We've hundreds of photos on WhatsApp from friends and the memories are incredible, please let us know if you
would like us to send some through and we're more than happy to.
Thanks again for being a part of our special day, the memories will last a lifetime. K&B 2017
Evening Hedley hope you are well. D and I just wanted to send you a wee email to thank you for a lovely and very
touching ceremony last Thursday. We both have much love for one another and the ceremony and kind words
reinforced that in us both. Our whole family have commented that it was the most moving and emotional
wedding they had ever been too so it is amazing to know that they all have special memories and feelings
associated with it too.
I think everybody left Ibiza last on Sunday with just a little more love and compassion in their hearts than what
they came with. We are the lucky ones, we are still here and celebrating in Es Canar until Saturday and then we
will take those special feelings home with us and fill our house with them.
Please let us know the best way to give you any recommendations and we will be sure to give our best ones.
Again, many thanks and be assured we will never take the words or promises we made to each other lightly. Take
care, K&D. May 2017
If you cannot find your particular question, please email me:
hedleypaul@hedleypaul.com
site map
Here’s a typical ibiza blessing ceremony:
An introduction by top Ibiza wedding celebrant Hedley Paul to the ‘Magic White Island’, and welcome to your
Blessing Ibiza - a few little secrets about the Magic White Island.
A little about each of you and your lives so far.
Your meeting, the magic of your love, your wish to make vows and be blessed here on Ibiza;
Your family and friends, and now - the celebration today.
Reading/poem by me or a guest (optional)
Vows of commitment to each other (led/guided by H.P.)
Blessing and then exchange of rings
Your personal ritual of bonding (optional)
Signing and witnessing of the certificate of commitment.
Pronouncement - You are now Husband and Wife
Conclusion and blessing of the marriage by those gathered, and absent friends.
Marriage procession
Add your choice of entry and celebration music.
Blessings
Blessings are a gift to be cherished because they last for ever, giving us strength when we may need it.
In fact anyone can offer a blessing - ‘Bless you!’ we exclaim when someone sneezes. A blessing can be in almost
any form, some short, some long, some poetic.
An Ibiza civil wedding and blessing is very simple but incredibly powerful. It is a focus of approval and well
wishing from the gathered family and friends, and from those called upon by the celebrant.
The blessing is a moment of focus for the combined energy of love and good wishes felt by those present, also
those present in thought and spirit.
The benefit of having a celebrant to offer the blessing, is that they will help you find the words and phrases that
perfectly evoke and reflect your sentiments of the occasion.
I believe that a meeting and discussion to discover the dream you hold in your heart is vital to a sincere and
memorable blessing. That meeting may be by video link across the world, or face to face on Ibiza or in England.
Vows
In practice, wedding vows precede the blessing. We normally offer our blessing and support to a person or a
couple who have just made a sincere commitment, and called upon those congregated to witness that public
commitment.
A vow is a statement of intention. A solemn promise made to the world, in front of others.
We state our intentions on a daily, almost hourly basis, but undertaking a vow before witnesses lifts it for public
gaze and scrutiny.
A totally professional approach to conducting your
ceremony on Ibiza
blessings-on-ibiza is for life’s big occasions which are
NOT a rehearsal!
Love feels no burden, thinks nothing of trouble,
attempts what is above its strength,
pleads no excuse of impossibility.
It is therefore able to undertake all things.
St. Thomas Aquinas
“I’m having an Ibiza Wedding Ceremony......”
“ I want an Ibiza wedding ceremony and blessing.......”
The best things in life can never be owned;
They only be given.....
A Smile, a Kiss, Love...
What is a rite of passage, and why is it important?
A rite of passage is a ceremony which marks the transition from one chapter of life to another.
Life’s voyage may be marked by several rites of passage.
Although it is often used to describe the often tumultuous transition
- becoming a ‘teenager’ for example, progressing from adolescence
to adulthood, such as the 18th or 21st birthday. The term really
does refer to any of life’s transitions such as Births and Beginnings,
Initiations, Graduations and Achievements, Marriages and
Partnerships, plus Endings or Death. There are many many
milestones in our lives if we choose to mark and celebrate them.
When we create rite of passage celebrations, we work to ensure the freshmen come out of the occasion are
strengthened by an empowering inspiration. That inspiration will help to enable them to shoulder the
responsibility for their decisions, as they set the course on this new chapter of life.
We help them to write the story of who they, are and the kind of life they want to build. This is based also on an
exploration of their own personal values, connecting them to their family, friends and community.
A formal rite of passage provides the space for all present to transmit their support and core values, which
ensures a knitting together and continuity of culture and the generations
It is in this way that the community, and the initiate themselves, all benefit from a recognised ‘rite of passage’.
There are many reasons why you decide to renew your wedding vows with a beautiful and romantic Ibiza
Wedding Ceremony.
It may be that your children have at last fled the nest, and you are once again a couple embarking a new
life;
or it may be that as you enter the ‘third age’ together, you wish to declare your lasting love for each other.
You may simply want to declare to the one you love, before the world.... “I love you more than ever!”
There is no requirement for a ‘reason’ - other than you both
feel that you are soul mates, and really, really want to....
.....there is no better place in the whole world than the magic
White Island of Ibiza, no better celebrant host than Hedley
Paul
Pic: A Renewal of Marriage Vows on their 10th wedding
anniversary at Port es Torrent
The Ibiza Sand of Unity ritual was part of it, with their three
boys joining them to seal the family circle.
Raff and Tory sent this pic and a beautiful message....
We would both like to thank you so much for being part of our special day.
The family sand ceremony will be in our hearts forever.
The service you provided was perfect! Even in such heat!!!
Thank you again.
For over a decade couples return to Ibiza after even just
one year of marriage to renew their vows while on
holiday. No big event to organise, no pressure from
family, no big expense. “.....This time it’s just about
us.......” was their comment. On two of those occasions,
it came as a big surprise for the wife - but what a
beautiful anniversary gift!
Your ceremony can be structured either to be traditional and formal or more relaxed and informal,
according to your wishes. You can include personal elements such as favourite songs and poetry of your
choice.
Marriage is the creation of a family, and with children the family grows. Some couples delight in renewing
their vows and including the children in the ceremony. All hold hands and make their vows and promises
to to love and cherish one another.
A renewal ceremony can provide an excellent opportunity to involve your children and even
grandchildren.
They can participate, be it by way of lighting of candles, standing as witnesses, giving a reading, or
whatever unique contribution they might offer.
Of course........ you may wish to simply ‘elope’ to renew your wedding vows and enjoy a very personal and
very private occasion, after all it really is all about YOU!
As a memento of the occasion, we present you with a unique and beautiful Certificate of Commitment as
a personal record of that magical moment when you renew your wedding vows.
It is for you both to sign, and we happily witness.
A totally professional approach for your romantic renewal on Ibiza
.....of course
you can....!
Ibiza is the perfect relaxed wedding location for all couples. The island enjoys a global reputation for its liberal
attitude, and it warmly welcomes those with alternative beliefs and lifestyles, and has consequently become an
increasingly popular venue for hosting a wedding or partnership celebration..
The ‘Magic White Island’ has an incredibly vibrant and exciting gay community, which integrates seamlessly,
creating a wonderful, friendly cosmopolitan society.
Hedley Paul - ‘HP’ - as a long established Ibiza wedding
celebrant has always summarised the ethos of the island
in one single word..... That word you will find in many
public gardens, normally in five languages: Respect!
By mutual exchange it makes the island such a beautiful
place.
HP’s Ibiza wedding ceremonies range from small intimate
sunset occasions - often on a quiet beach, to extrovert
and extravagant wedding party celebrations at an Ibiza
villa or restaurant.
Blessing and commitment ceremonies are for couples who wish to make a special pledge to
each other, and wish to publicly declare their vows in front of family and friends, without
necessarily taking the step into legal marriage - for whatever reason.
HP provides an opportunity to enjoy a sincere and meaningful ceremony, surrounded by family and friends.
You enjoy a marriage of love, of two hearts and two souls, joined for all eternity.
You both make a public proclamation of the feelings shared by two people who love each other.
Every ceremony is sympathetically planned and crafted, typically including poems and readings, proclamations of
commitment to each other, exchange of wedding rings, and a blessing.
If you feel that a female celebrant will better empathise with your dream ceremony, HP works with and can
introduce an experienced and skilled lady who is also totally comfortable with same-sex weddings.
We create together that beautiful ceremony that you will remember always, precisely to the format and style you
wish. We can make it very personal for you by including your storys, your unique accounts of how you met and
how you feel about each other.
Whether you wish the ceremony to be simple, creative and stylish, or a flamboyant occasion,
it should truly reflect who you really are.
Let Hedley Paul create and host the ceremony, then just relax and enjoy.
That done, your day will be perfect!
paissa den bernat
A special day to ensure your child receives your promise of unconditional love, acceptance, and support
for their future.
A Naming ceremony is to honour and
recognise the arrival of a child into the
family.
It allows all those gathered moments of
stillness and focus to reflect upon their
responsibilities to the new arrival.
Ibiza provides a unique combination of serenity and energy, a perfect starting place for a new life.
It creates the opportunity to celebrate their name which gives them
their identity and makes them unique.
Any parent can make the arrangements to hold a Naming Ceremony,
and likewise can anyone who has parental responsibility or legal
guardianship of the child or children.
Parents do not have to be married and can come from any cultural
background, with any spiritual or religious beliefs, or with none.
Many parents nowadays are neither religious or church goers, and feel that a Christening or Baptism would be
inappropriate.
It may be that you wish your child to make their own choices about what they believe when they
are old enough to make an informed decision.
Welcoming or Naming Ceremonies are a delightful and memorable way to welcome a new baby
or child into your family, regardless of their age.
It is also a wonderful opportunity for welcoming step children when two families come together. It can be a very
moving and deeply bonding experience for everyone concerned to mark the start of their new lives together,
helping bond the new family.
For adopted babies or children it can also be a very loving way to welcome them into your family and to publicly
declare your love, commitment, and joy at the outset of your new lives together.
Hedley Paul (‘HP’) will work closely with you to create a ceremony which is personal to your family. The content is
entirely up to you and the words will be precisely as you wish. I do have a selection of outline ideas, readings and
poems that may be helpful to you.
The ceremony may also include the nomination of Supporting Adults, Guardians or Guide-Parents, (a secular
equivalent to God-Parents). They may be close friends or members of your family who wish to make a vow of
commitment to guide the upbringing of your child or children.
You may also like to make Parent’s Promises and acknowledge the special roles taken on by grandparents,
brothers and sisters, and/or other family members.
At the conclusion of the ceremony I provide a beautiful naming certificate to bear witness to the occasion, and
signed by all those who have made vows recognising the important role they will play in the future development
of the child.
A special day to ensure your child receives your promise of unconditional love, acceptance, and support
for their future.
Where can we hold a naming ceremony?
The choice of venue is entirely up to you. Many namings are held in villas or gardens, in restaurants, or a beautiful
spot on the island! Inside or out, as long as you’ve gained agreement from the relevant person, it’s entirely up to
you.
Are naming ceremonies legal?
A naming is an entirely private occasion, and so there is no legal status to the ceremony. It’s very different to
registering a child’s birth which has to be done through a register office within 42 days (UK) of your baby’s arrival.
Is my child too old to have a naming?
Children appreciate their special days at any age. Hedley Paul (HP) can help make sure the occasion is tailored to
your child’s age and your family situation – perhaps calling it a ‘welcoming’ rather than a ‘naming’ for example.
Some families also have a joint naming ceremony for an older child as well as a new arrival.
Can we have a joint birthday party and naming?
Absolutely – and you’d be in great company! A great number of the naming ceremonies our celebrants conduct
are combined with a first birthday party; it’s a double celebration at a time when you might well have gathered
friends and family together anyway.
Do you conduct adoption ceremonies?
Yes. HP is delighted to arrange an adoption ceremony to mark a new family unit, formally welcoming a child (or
children) to the community. Perhaps celebrating the completion of the legal process. These occasions can be very
emotional and can focus on the journey to adoption, thanking those who helped and supported the parents
along the way.
Can I appoint ‘godparents’ at a naming ceremony?
Most families choose to appoint adults to play a significant role in their child’s life, and that’s often one of the
main reasons many people choose to hold a naming ceremony in the first place. How many (if any) godparents –
or equivalent – you appoint is entirely up to you. HP can suggest commitments for them to make, or other ways
of involving them in the ceremony.
Is there a non-religious version of the word ‘godparent’?
There are many to choose from. ‘Guideparent’ is popular although you might consider ‘mentor’, ‘sponsor’ or
‘guardian’ for example. However, since it’s a term we all know and understand, others prefer to stick with the
word ‘godparent’ whilst acknowledging that the religious aspect of the role isn’t relevant in this case.
What happens at a naming ceremony?
HP prepares each ceremony for the individual and their family to accord with their circumstances, That said,
many namings last be so the format will be unique. It will typically be about 20 - 30 minutes duration, and can
include readings, parental promises or commitments, the appointment of guideparents, and some kind of formal
‘welcoming’ or ‘naming’ of the child. Something about them as an individual, and of course, some tears and
laughter!
Typical structure of a naming ceremony
Welcomes and introductions
Reading or poem
Background about the child – their arrival, personality, interests so far
Explain the importance and responsibility of parenting
Parental promises to the child
Reading or poem
Importance and role of wider family (e.g. grandparents, cousins, etc.)
Appointment of guideparents
Guideparents’ promises
Reasons for the choice of name
The naming itself (various forms are possible)
Concluding words
How much work is it to arrange a naming ceremony?
HP understand how little time (and often how little sleep) parents have, and so will work with you to make the
process as easy as possible. He will visit you – often at your home/villa – to find out what you want from the
occasion and then keep in contact by phone and email.
I’d love a naming ceremony for my child but hate public speaking. Do I have to say anything?
Though most naming ceremonies involve parents making some kind of commitment or promises to their child,
you can do this by simply answering “we promise” to questions asked by HP. For example, perhaps just one
parent could speak. If no one wants to speak, HP will find a way round this – perhaps reading promises on your
behalf. The most important thing is that you enjoy the day and the ceremony expresses what you want it to.
I love the idea of a naming ceremony but don’t know where to start.
That’s very common and not a problem. HP will lead you through the process, giving you as much help and
guidance as you need for you and your situation. He can suggest readings, music, promises and advise on all the
big and small issues to help the day to go smoothly.
We don’t go to church, and we don’t want a christening. Can we still have a naming ceremony?
Of course you can! HP’s ceremonies are available to anyone who wants a non-religious, personal and meaningful
way of welcoming their child to the world.
My grandmother is very religious and I don’t want to offend or upset her. Will a naming ceremony be okay?
Absolutely. HP recognises that every ceremony will be attended by guests of many faiths, and of none. Everyone
present should be made to feel comfortable and involved. Namings focus on the child as an individual, the joy
and responsibility of parenting, and all those close to the child. People of faith find namings just as moving and
enjoyable as those who live their lives without it.
Does it matter that I’m a single parent / we’re not married / we’re a same sex couple?
Absolutely not! HP is delighted to help any parent or couple mark their child’s arrival.
We had our first child christened. Can we have a naming ceremony for our second?
Of course. HP recognises that people’s priorities change, or maybe they haven’t heard of naming ceremonies until
later. If there is anything you wish to include about your first child at your second child’s naming, HP will ensure
this is done in a sympathetic way.
I don’t really know any poems or prose and can’t imagine that anyone will want to read one. Must we
include readings?
You don’t have to have anything in the ceremony that you don’t want and that certainly includes readings. That
said, there are a surprising number of great readings and poems that are suitable for naming ceremonies and
you might want to look through these before deciding whether to include one. If there’s something you do like
but no one wants to read, your celebrant will be happy to read it on your behalf.
How long does a naming ceremony last?
This depends on what you want to include but as a guide around 20-30 minutes. HP is very conscious of little
people’s attention spans when he creates ceremonies, and so less can certainly be more.
I’d like to say why we chose our child’s name. Can we do this?
Yes, and in fact that’s often a highlight of the occasion.There is nearly always an interesting story about how the
child’s name came to be chosen and it can be lovely to recount this. The same goes for any middle names and,
on occasion, surnames.
Are naming ceremonies chaotic with lots of small children around?
They can be, but we think that’s half the fun! As a parent and grandparent, HP is well used to the unpredictability
of working with lots of young children around. We can suggest some tips to keep slightly older children
interested, but mostly the relaxed atmosphere and child-oriented occasion mean that any disruption from
smaller children is unlikely to cause problems.
How much does a naming ceremony cost?
The fee structure changes year to year and can me found HERE. When you contact HP to check his availability on
a particular day he will also tell you the fee.
Many hours of preparation go into writing a naming ceremony the fees compare very favourably with what some
register offices charge for a naming, which is far less flexible in content and possible venue.
I love the idea of a naming ceremony but my partner isn’t convinced. What should I do?
This isn’t unusual. Perhaps the best way forward is for the unconvinced partner to phone or meet HP via Skype
so they can find out the positive aspects for themselves.
Can I involve my other children in a naming?
Yes, and it’s a lovely thing to do. Big brothers and sisters can say something themselves if they wish, or perhaps
give their younger sibling a significant present (like their favourite book from when they were very little) or maybe
even make a promise themselves. HP can suggest lots of ways of making sure the occasion is about the whole
family and not just the newest member.
Can we involve our child’s grandparents?
Yes. Grandparents are often popular choices to give readings or perhaps to make some promises to their newest
grandchild. And since grandparents are so important in many children’s lives, it’s often good to mention them by
name and perhaps to say something about their special relationship.
Dear Hedley Paul, We've just arrived back in the UK and I wanted to take the first opportunity to thank you again for
such a beautiful naming ceremony.
Everyone commented on how much warmth, dignity and grace you brought to the ceremony and I couldn't agree
more. You welcomed A. into the world in such a kind and generous way it made her day truly magical. We can't thank
you enough. With very warm wishes N,J, and A.
Hedley-Paul
Ibiza wedding celebrant
Ibiza (+34)
t: 971 338 244
m: 664 689 575
England (+44)
t: 020 8123 0262
m: 07909 917 120
hedleypaul@hedleypaul.com
I believe that a meeting and discussion to discuss and tease
out the dream you hold in your heart is a vital part in creating a
sincere and memorable blessing. That meeting can be by Skype video link across the world, or face to face on
Ibiza, or the South West of England.
It is also important that you like my ‘style’. Our meeting gives you that opportunity.
Please email me, or call the local number of your choice, if I am in the other country it will transfer to me.
Simply click that ‘green button’.
A totally professional approach for weddings, blessings and ceremonies on Ibiza
Hello from the Magic White Island of Ibiza.
I was privileged to enjoy my childhood in, sunny Cornwall,
so sun, sea, sand and fresh air have always been a
delightful platform for life.
Ibiza has so many parallels, no wonder I feel so at home.
Sea, sunshine, surrounded by rocky cliffs and beaches;
and of course an abundance of ‘magik’, that incredible
energy which binds the cosmos
My Celtic family heritage traces back several hundred
years before the arrival of Christianity.
My ancient ancestors were Druids, and I inherited a natural understanding and delight of being at one with the
eternity of the cosmos.
I am
…
a (very proud) father and grandfather, a husband, a teacher, an engineer, a manager, a mentor, a foodie, a
sun & sea lover.
I love and am loved, I have my health and freedom to enjoy the warmth of the Sun. What more could anyone
wish for?
Having spent most of my working life teaching and lecturing adults across what now seems an amazing spectrum
of subjects, I find myself in a sort of retirement, and indulging a lifetime interest in astrology, writing blogs for
various publications, and by popular demand, acting as celebrant for all sorts of occasions and events. I live and
work in both Ibiza and the South West of England, and am happy
to meet you in either location.
The love of my life is Eileen, who is ‘ibizaeileen’ of ibizacakes.com
and acclaimed by the press as ‘Ibiza’s Queen of Cakes’. We have
both been blessed with various gifts; together we enjoy creating
joyous lifetime memories for others with our efforts.
I respect, applaud and admire the richness of individuality, and
for the vital need for individuals to be treated as such. I find
abhorrent the contemporary mentality of ‘one size fits all’ .
My mission in life, a hang-over from teaching I suppose, is to provide answers and explanations that help and
encourage fellow beings to reach their full growth potential.
I believe in the unity of the cosmos, where everything is related and connected, both physically and spiritually
……
to infinity.
I do not ask that you share my beliefs, but I sincerely hope that you do believe in something.
On Ibiza, many public gardens and facilities carry a request sign, the one word message in several languages
……
respect - I like that.
What am I about?
A totally professional approach for weddings, blessings and ceremonies on Ibiza
Hedley Paul – Ibiza’s independent wedding celebrant.
Every year couples busily research the best wedding
providers to find their special Ibiza Wedding Celebrant.
HP is the preferred ceremony provider for most premier
wedding planners and venues, and is very happy to deal
directly with you, meticulously working with other specialists
to deliver your perfect wedding.
As the foremost English wedding celebrant on Ibiza he is
totally independent and not tied to any venue, wedding
planner or package provider.
He works directly and closely with couples on the most personal and the focal
point of their wedding day.
HP believes in being fair and open. His fees are clearly shown on the ‘Prices’
page on his web site, and reflect the time and effort and skills he puts into
crafting and delivering a ceremony.
Every ceremony is individually crafted in discussion with the couple.
Professional, confident and competent, he delivers beautiful weddings of the
heart.
His independence allows him the freedom to work up to his standard, not
down to a price.
His focus is on the wonder and magic of Ibiza and the energy and love between
soul-mates.
Each ceremony is created to ensure that it is a lifetime memory. He emphasises that it is their ceremony and
must reflect their personal wishes, values and beliefs.
A father and grand-father, HP holds dearly the ethos of providing for his clients precisely what he would expect
for his children or grand-children….. The very best, in an open and honest manner!
You can judge him by a few of the complimentary comments and pictures of past weddings.
Meet Hedley Paul
HP’s lovely wife Eileen also works with Ibiza wedding couples, designing and
creating the very finest international standard wedding cakes. Her work is
published in several wedding cake magazines featuring both traditional and
contemporary designs of her exquisite sugar-craft artistry.
Known by public accolade as ‘Ibiza’s Queen of Cakes’ Eileen, by invitation in
2017, exhibited a display cake at the world’s largest cake show, the International
Cake Exhibition at the N.E.C. in Birmingham UK.
Eileen retured again to the NEC in 2018 and with her entry called ‘Ice Queen
Ibiza’ and won the category ‘Winter Wonderland’ for winter wedding cakes.
Working separately or together, they can provide the two most important
components to make your special day exceptional – a beautiful and memorable
ceremony, and a delicious and breath-taking ibizacakes work of art.
They both have extensive knowledge of venues and wedding facility providers.
Eileen has lived on Ibiza for over 30 years and ran a highly successful restaurant
for many years, and consequently can offer expert advice on how to get the
best for your special day, and the pitfalls to avoid.
If you do not have a strongly held religious belief and wish to be legally married in England and Wales, you are
currently obliged to marry or undertake a civil partnership ceremony in an official Registry Office, or other officially
approved venue.
Some alternative ideas for your Ibiza wedding ceremony:
Like other couples however, you will still want a ceremony which means something more; something personal. An
alternative wedding/blessing ceremony that reflects just who you and your soul mate really are!
You'll certainly not want to feel rushed. You may wish to express your vows to each other in words of your own
choice. It may be formal, or thoroughly informal, and quite likely include a special part of the ceremony to be shared
by more friends and family than a register office can accommodate, both in terms of space and time.
You'd probably prefer also not to be limited to a licensed venue, but to hold your Ibiza Wedding Ceremony in a place
which is special to you - on a boat, in a garden, on a beach, or in your own home. In all likelihood you’ll want to
choose readings and music which mean something to you, as a couple. Choosing a Humanist blessing, or a Spiritual
blessing as the alternative wedding ceremony and as a celebration of your commitment to each other may well
provide the solution.
Hedley Paul’s ceremony will allow you to not only enjoy exactly where, when, and with who you celebrate, but
precisely how you would like it to be.
Many couples who choose to have a non-religious wedding or partnership ceremony and first complete the legal
formalities to obtain a civil marriage certificate at a Register Office. However, they regard their Humanist or their
Spiritual wedding or partnership ceremony as the one which truly marks their life-long commitment to each other.
This is the ceremony which is special to them and their guests, at which they make their vows and during which they
choose to exchange rings. It is the marriage of the hearts of two soul mates.
Commitment ceremonies are available to couples who wish to make a special testimony to each other, to publicly
declare their promise in front of family and friends, without taking the step into legal marriage - for whatever reason.
It is a public proclamation of the feelings shared by two people who love each other, providing them with an
opportunity to have a meaningful ceremony, surrounded by family and friends.
A commitment ceremony needs to be carefully planned and written, and delivered, It should include readings, a
statement or vows of commitment, the exchange of rings, and music. It can take place in a garden, a home or any
venue that is special to the couple.
The ceremony should be delivered without bias of gender or religion. While not legal binding marriages, they are
unquestionably a very real demonstration of commitment by the two people involved.
Nothing in a Humanist or Spiritual ceremony will be offensive to those who hold a religious faith. It will focus
sincerely and affectionately on the couple themselves.
As a memento of the occasion, we create for you a unique and beautiful Certificate of Commitment to record the
renewal of your vows, which we happily witness.
Together we can create a beautiful ceremony that you will never forget, and is precisely to the agenda and style you
wish. I would be delighted to make it very personal for you both, and include your story. Your unique account of
how you met and how you feel about each other.
Whether you wish the ceremony to be flamboyant, creative, or simple, it should truly reflect who you are.
Whatever type of ceremony you choose remember, just relax and enjoy it.
That done, your day will be perfect.
There often exists some confusion between Humanist beliefs and ceremonies, compared to Spiritualist beliefs
and ceremonies. I will endeavour to explain the differences by providing an outline of their beliefs, which form
the platform upon which their ceremonies and celebrations are founded.
Humanism: - I have copied the following from the web site of the British Humanist Association,
and I believe this provides the most accurate and unbiased presentation of the philosophy.
Humanism is the view that we can make sense of the world using reason, experience and shared human values
and that we can live good lives without religious or superstitious beliefs.
Humanists seek to make the best of the one life we have by creating meaning and purpose for ourselves. We
choose to take responsibility for our actions and work with others for the common good.
Humanists do not believe in a God or gods, or any other supernatural or divine entities. Humanists do not think
that the universe needs a divine power outside of itself in order to have value. We, inside the universe, determine
its value. We think that other people, for example, are moral concerns, not because they are made in the image of
Something Else, but because of who they are in themselves.
What humanists believe
Humanism is an approach to life based on humanity and reason – humanists
recognise that moral values are properly founded on human nature and experience
alone and that the aims of morality should be human welfare, happiness and
fulfilment. Our decisions are based on the available evidence and our assessment of
the outcomes of our actions, not on any dogma or sacred text.
Humanism is a naturalistic view, encompassing atheism and agnosticism as responses to theistic claims, but is
an active and ethical philosophy greater than these reactions to religion.
Humanists believe in individual rights and freedoms, but believe that individual responsibility, social cooperation
and mutual respect are just as important.
Humanists believe that people can and will continue to find solutions to the world's problems, so that quality of
life can be improved for everyone.
Humanists are positive, gaining inspiration from our lives, art and culture, and a rich
natural world.
Humanists believe that we have only one life, it is our responsibility to make it a good life, and to live it
flourishingly.
and Spiritualism.....
I have created a summary from various sources on the internet.
I hope it portrays Spiritualism in a fair and just manner, as that was my intention and endeavour.
Spiritualism - Characteristic Beliefs
The central tenet of Spiritualism is the belief in and practice of mediumship which is
considered to provide evidence of the continued existence of an individual's spirit or
soul after death.
A secondary belief is that spirits are in some way closer to God (Gods) than living
humans, and that spirits themselves are capable of growth and perfection.
The afterlife is therefore not a static place, but one in which spirits continue to evolve.
The two beliefs: that contact with spirits is possible, and that spirits are more advanced than humans, leads to a third
belief: that spirits enjoy timeless wisdom, and are consequently capable of providing profound enlightenment about moral
and ethical issues, as well as about the nature of God (Gods) and the afterlife. Thus many Spiritualists will speak of their
spirit guides - specific spirits, often contacted, who are relied upon for spiritual guidance.
Spiritualism, although pre-dating it by several millenniums was adopted into the Christian environment and therefore
Christianity retains many features in common: an essentially Spiritual moral system, a perceived belief in the concept of
God, mystical pantheism, and liturgical practices such as prayer and singing. Nevertheless, on significant points the two
faiths are quite different. Spiritualists do not believe that the acts of this life lead to the assignment of each soul into an
eternity of either Heaven or Hell — rather, they view the afterlife as containing many hierarchically arrayed "spheres,"
through which each spirit can successfully progress.
Spiritualists also differ from Christians in that the Judeo-Christian Bible is not the primary source from which they derive
knowledge of God and the afterlife — their own personal contacts with spheres of experience beyond what is generally
understood as "material" and their own contacts with "spirits" provides that source.
Many Christians and Spiritualists alike appear to hold a duality of belief, considering both ‘camps’ to have much, but not
total credibility. This appears to be a foundation for the contemporary practice of exchanging alternative wedding vows,
and receiving alternative wedding blessings.
Spiritualists generally speak only of the spirits of dead humans, and do not espouse a belief in spirits of trees, springs, or
other natural features.
Buddhism and Hinduism share a belief with Spiritualism in the separation of the soul from the body at death, and its
continued existence. Unlike traditional Spiritualism, these faiths often believe in reincarnation.
Spiritualism also differs from occult movements, such as contemporary Wiccan covens, in that spirits are not contacted in
order to obtain magical powers (with the single exception of obtaining power for healing).
Many individual Spiritualists draw heavily from the spiritual sects of Islam (Sufi), Judaism (Kabbalah) and Buddhism. Some
Spiritualists follow one distinct religion's practices while others pull elements from any or all of the three religions to
formulate their beliefs.
Some Spiritualists believe in the idea of the universe as the creator, and don't necessarily follow any specific religion.
Spiritualism is not readily distinguishable from the New Age movement, and like the New Age movement draws heavily
from shamanism and embraces the idea of reincarnation.
Spiritual Ceremonies for Loving Souls
Spiritual marriage is based on the unconditional love of two souls: “I choose to love you, beyond our earthly existence.”
The central principle of Spiritualism is the belief in and practice of mediumship which is considered to be the continued
existence of an individual's spirit or soul after the death of their earthly body.
A secondary belief is that souls are closer to the respective God (Gods) than their living humans, and that souls themselves
are capable of growth and perfection. The afterlife is therefore not a static place, but one in which souls continue to evolve.
Those two beliefs: that contact with spirits is possible, and that spirits are more advanced than humans, leads to a third
belief: that spirits enjoy timeless wisdom, and are consequently capable of providing profound enlightenment about moral
and ethical issues, as well as about the nature of God (Gods) and the afterlife. Thus many Spiritualists will speak of their
spirit guides - specific spirits, often contacted, who are relied upon for spiritual guidance.
Spiritualism, although pre-dating it by several millenniums was adopted and adapted into the Christian environment, and
therefore Christianity retains many features in common: an essentially Spiritual moral system, a perceived belief in the
concept of God, mystical pantheism, and liturgical practices such as prayer and singing. Nevertheless, on significant points
the two faiths are quite different. Spiritualists do not believe that the acts of this life lead to the assignment of each soul
into an eternity of either Heaven or Hell — rather, they view the afterlife as containing many hierarchically arrayed
"spheres," through which each spirit can successfully progress. The two concepts of Heaven and Hell were invented by
Judaism and subsequently adopted by Christianity and then by Islam.
By comparison, Spiritualists have a concept of ‘Karma’ in which the cosmos will restore any imbalance created by evil
doings.
Spiritualists also differ from Christians in that the Judeo-Christian Bible is not the primary source from which they derive
knowledge of God and the afterlife — their own personal contacts with spheres of experience beyond what is generally
understood as "material" and their own contacts with "spirits" provides that source.
Many Christians and Spiritualists alike appear to hold a duality of belief, considering both ‘camps’ to have much, but not
total credibility. This appears to be a foundation for the contemporary practice of exchanging alternative wedding vows,
and receiving alternative wedding blessings.
Spiritualists generally speak only of the spirits of dead humans, and do not espouse a belief in spirits of trees, springs, or
other natural features.
Buddhism and Hinduism share a belief with Spiritualism in the separation of the soul from the body at death, and its
continued existence. Unlike traditional Spiritualism, these faiths often believe in reincarnation.
Spiritualism also differs from occult movements, such as contemporary Wiccan covens, in that spirits are not contacted in
order to obtain magical powers (with the single exception of obtaining power for healing).
Many individual Spiritualists draw heavily from the spiritual sects of Judaism (Kabbalah), Islam (Sufi), and Buddhism. Some
Spiritualists follow one distinct religion's practices while others pull elements from any or all of the three religions to
formulate their beliefs.
Some Spiritualists believe in the idea of the universe as the creator, and don't necessarily follow any specific religion.
Spiritualism is not readily distinguishable from the New Age movement, and like the New Age movement draws heavily
from shamanism and embraces the idea of reincarnation.
Christian ceremonies by Hedley Paul for loving hearts and souls....
Ibiza enjoys an incredibly beautiful and relaxed envirnment for a marriage, and where better place to revere the Creator by
declaring your vows in the most magnificent venue of all - Ibiza - Nature’s own cathedral. This is the marriage of two hearts
and two souls.
The ‘legal bit’ still needs to be held in an official Registry in the UK, but your Ibiza ceremony with Hedley Paul will remain in
your memory as the ‘real wedding’ - it reflects the marriage of two hearts and two souls.
Hedley Paul was baptised a Christian, and followed that faith for many many years, incorporating Old Testament beliefs
and philosophies. Gradually, other faiths and philosophies became incorporated into what is his pan-culture model of
belief and faith.
With this background, Hedley Paul can easily enhance a standard Christian ceremony with warm and pertinent readings
and verses.
Hedley Paul remembers always that the ceremony is YOUR’S and it must reflect precisely your personal faith and beliefs.
Spiritual marriage, although pre-dating it by several millenniums was adopted into first the Judao, and then the Christian
environments and therefore Christianity retains many features in common: an essentially Spiritual moral system.
While some couples seek an ‘alternative’ ceremony and blessing for their marriage, many wish to retain the ethos and
tradition of a Christian marriage ceremony, albeit outside the confines of a church building.
I
Human nature, being what it is, attempts to categorise most things including what we believe. Even simply
‘believing’ places you in one box, while ‘non-believing’ places you in another. Philosophers attempt to define
more clearly what we actually believe, and have established numerous ‘boxes’ into which they would place us. It
can be confusing, - it was to me, so I thought it may be helpful to explain what some of the labels on the boxes
actually meant in layman terms. The following is not intended to be a defining work of knowledge, just an
attempt to simplify. I am sure however there will be those who will say that I have over-simplified. Almost all the
content is taken from, or is a précis of Wikipedia articles.
Theists in the broadest sense believe in at least one deity, or supreme power or intelligence. The term theism
derives from the Greek ‘theos’ meaning god. ‘God’ is simply a label which people apply to ‘their’ deity.
Monotheism is the belief in theology that only one deity exists. The concept of "monotheism" tends to be
dominated by the concept of God in the Abrahamic religions, such as Judaism, Christianity, Islam and Druze, also
share the Platonic concept of God, as well as the Advaita, Dvaita and Vishishtadvaita philosophies of Hinduism,
although the latter philosophies admit the existence of a plethora of divine beings including less-powerful deities
such as devas.
Sikhism on the other hand, is a monotheistic Indian religion, in contrast to many schools of Hinduism and the
other Indian religions. The concept of monotheism in Islam and Judaism however, is far more direct, their god's
oneness (’God’) being understood as absolutely unquestionable.
Polytheism is the belief that there is more than one deity. In practice, polytheism is not just the belief that there
are multiple gods; it usually includes belief in the existence of a specific pantheon of distinct deities. Within
polytheism there are hard and soft varieties: Hard polytheism views the gods as being distinct and separate
beings; an example of this would be the Egyptian and Greek Religions; along with certain schools of Hinduism.
Soft polytheism views the gods as being subsumed into a greater whole. Some forms of Hinduism such as
Smartism/Advaita Vedanta serve as examples of soft polytheism.
Pantheism: is a varietyof Polytheism. It is the belief that the physical universe is equivalent to a god or gods,
and that there is no division between a Creator and the substance of its creation. God does not exist, God is.
Atheists, in a broad sense, reject any belief in the existence of deities. In a narrower sense, atheism is specifically
the position that there are no deities. The term atheism originated from the Greek ‘atheos’, meaning "without
gods" For most people, atheism is simply the absence of belief that any deities exist. Atheism is contrasted with
theism, which in its most general form is the belief that at least one deity exists. However, atheism also figures in
certain religious and spiritual belief systems, such as some forms of Buddhism that do not advocate belief in
gods.
A chart showing the relationship between the definitions of weak/strong and
implicit/explicit atheism. Explicit strong/positive/hard atheists (in purple on the
right) assert that "at least one deity exists" is a false statement. Explicit
weak/negative/soft atheists (in blue on the right) reject or eschew belief that any
deities exist without actually asserting that "at least one deity exists" is a false statement. Implicit weak atheists
(in blue on the left) would include people (such as young children and some agnostics) who do not believe in a
deity, but have not explicitly rejected such belief.
Agnostics are absent of belief, where theism and atheism require faith that there is or is not a deity or deities. An
Agnostic would say, "I neither have a belief in a deity nor do I have a belief in the absence of such a deity."
In his 1953 essay, What Is An Agnostic? Bertrand Russell states: An agnostic thinks it impossible to know the
truth in matters such as God and the future life with which Christianity and other religions are concerned. Or, if
not impossible, at least impossible at the present time.
What may seem like dissonance is the position of Agnostic theism, this is the view of those who do not claim to
know of the existence of any deity, but still believe in such an existence.
As a child, one of my greatest delights was to be enthralled by the stories read aloud
by my parents, and by my teachers.
As a parent, one of the greatest pleasures was in turn to fascinate and delight my
children with stories read aloud.
I still have unbounded enthusiasm for the fresh face given to a poem or story, when read by another.
A book is like a garden carried in the pocket.
Chinese Proverb
Books are the quietest and most constant of friends: they are the most accessible and wisest
of counsellors, and the most patient of teachers.
Charles W. Eliot
The role of a Master of Ceremonies on Ibiza is to work closely with an event
organizer, venue management and catering staff, and to act as facilitator
for the event to ensure that everything is in place, and runs smoothly,
efficiently and on time.
During the event itself, in addition to making all announcements, presiding
over the receiving line, announcing speeches and toasts, the Master of
Ceremonies is a calming influence, remaining unobtrusive, inspiring
confidence, and keeping always a watchful eye for the little things that need
attention for the event to run flawlessly.
Hedley Paul can work closely with you on the planning of your event, and
will add just the right amount of gravitas, pomp, humour and theatre.
Each event is of course unique, requiring structure with adaptability.
Below are examples of events which I may be able to help you make a success:
Wedding Celebrations of all faiths, Civil Partnerships, Corporate Dinners, Awards Nights, Sales Conferences,
Charity Balls, Charity Lunches, Charity Dinners, Graduation Ceremonies, Dinner Dances, Event Openings,
Anniversaries, Birthdays, Exhibitions, Product Launches
A chuppah/chuppa or “huppah” is a canopy under
which a wedding ceremony, a naming ceremony, or a
blessing takes place.
The canopy is a multifaceted symbol: It is a home, a
garment and a bed covering. Its openness recalls the
tent of the biblical Abraham, a paragon of hospitality,
who kept his tents open on all sides so that visitors
would know they were welcome.
Our luxury chuppas are high quality constructions, not simply a cheap garden gazebo or few bits of wood.
The chuppa is commonly used for weddings and blessings of all beliefs. It also serves well for welcoming and
naming ceremonies. Of course, a chuppa in Ibiza acts as a very welcome shade for the couple and the
celebrant, or or for the baby and parents, while hopefully the gathered guests have been similarly shaded.
Our luxury chuppas feature ‘tented’ interiors, fully draped legs, draped pelmet and a weatherproof canopy (yes
it does rain in Ibiza sometimes) together with windowed weatherproof sides if required. Ribbon decoration can
easily be added, matching the bridal dress, or wedding theme. We work closely with excellent and reliable
florists, who can not only provide all your formal flowers, but will decorate the chuppa to complement your
wedding theme. Whatever style, colour or decoration you desire, we can provide the chuppah of your dreams!
Should you also require chairs for your guests, we can arrange their provision, or help you find (without charge)
other providers.
Chuppas on Ibiza are available independently of blessings, however if rented together with a blessing from us a
significant discount is offered.
History of the chuppa:-
I felt it fitting to give a little background information on the chuppah, so the following is taken from Wikipedia,
and may be interesting to those whose backgrounds and experiences have not acquainted them with its
origins.
The chuppah represents a Jewish home, as symbolized by the cloth canopy and the four poles. Just as a
chuppah is open on all four sides, so the tent of Abraham was open for hospitality. Symbolically, the chuppah
represents hospitality to one's guests. This "home" initially lacks furniture as a reminder that the basis of home
is the people within it, not the possessions.
In a spiritual sense, the covering of the chuppah represents the presence of the Creator over the covenant of
marriage.
The groom enters the chuppah first to represent his ownership of the home on behalf of the couple. When the
bride then enters the chuppah it symbolises the groom providing her with shelter or clothing, and he thereby
publicly demonstrates his new responsibilities toward her. (Courtesy of Wikipedia)
The Ibiza huppa remains strongly symbolic as that ‘special place’ where vows are given and blessings received.
So how much will it cost?
AT-A-GLANCE:
•
You can legally marry in Spain if one of you is an official resident. (in a Town Hall, possibly a church if one of
you is RC)
•
You can legally marry in Spain if one of you is a (practicing) Roman Catholic. (resident or not)
•
You can legally marry in an embassy in Spain - but that is not Spanish territory.
You can get legally married in Spain if neither of you are Spanish. It’s complicated, tedious, expensive, but it can
be done.
Depending upon your circumstances, nationality/status/faith and not forgetting financial circumstances, it may be
prudent to engage a specialist and English speaking ‘Abogado’ (Spanish lawyer) to assist you.
Alternatively there is a growing trend towards having a civil (Registry Office) wedding in a couple's home country,
then followed by a more personal, intimate civil wedding ceremony and blessing (which has all the elements of a
wedding service i.e. exchange of vows and rings) and has the great advantage that you decide the vows, music,
readings etc. As blessing can be held in a very wide variety of venues, you can choose your dream location for
your special ceremony.(See ‘Marriage Blessings’ below)
Civil and religious (Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jewish and Muslim) marriages can be celebrated in Spain for
people over 18, making you legally married.
While Spanish law appears to permit foreigners to marry in Spain, in practice it will usually be necessary for one
of the couple to have been legally resident in Spain for at least two years. An application for marriage in Spain will
usually involve lengthy and time-consuming paperwork, and applicants should therefore allow plenty of time.
Officials will undoubtedly insist on speaking in Spanish, so be prepared with an interpreter. (also, ensure you
have ALL your documents , ALL copied in triplicate.
Civil and religious marriages between foreigners or a foreigner and a Spanish national are possible in Spain.
Agreements between the State and the major non-Catholic faiths governing the acceptance of religious marriage
ceremonies are being finalised and should be possible.
Subject to the agreement of individual priests, it may be possible to have a civil marriage blessed in a non-
catholic church.
Roman Catholic Marriages
Catholics of any country can be married legally in Spain. If one of the parties is Catholic and the other not, then
marriage is still possible with a Dispensation, which must be requested from their Bishopric. Neither party can be
divorced. These are matters for the local Archbishop in the area of the forthcoming marriage and, in general, a
baptism certificate and a statutory declaration by the parents of the (English) party to the effect that their
son/daughter is single, is required. Formalities do, however, vary significantly from parish to parish and the
requirements should be checked well in advance with the local priest.
Please note the demand for Catholic churches is extremely high, so booking must be made well in advance.
Civil Marriages Documentation:
* A birth certificate (accompanied by a sworn translation)
* Passport, Consular registration Certificate.
* Certificate of Residence. If not a permanent resident in Spain, you can sign an affidavit before a Consular
Officer indicating your place of residence for the last 6 years, as well as your temporary residence in Spain.
* Consular Certificate of No-Impediment to the marriage are required.
* Divorce/Annulment Certificate of any previous marriages.
* If applicable an original death certificate
Formalities may vary so applicants should check which precise documents are needed, and in what languages.
A notice of intention to marry is displayed on a Consular notice board for 21 days. The notice itself is sworn by
the applicant and can only be accepted if he/she has been residing for a 21 day period in the area where the
notice is displayed.
Where one of the parties to the forthcoming marriage is resident in the UK and will be coming to Spain for the
marriage ceremony they should approach the nearest Spanish Consulate in the UK for full information.
If proof of UK residence is needed, a letter can be obtained from the local Electoral Registration Office.
All documents that are in English have to have the Hague Apostille on them. This is available from the following
address:
Legislation Office
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Admiralty Office
London SW1A 2LG
Tel 0207 008 1111
Website
All documents must then be translated into Spanish and presented at the relevant town hall at least 3 months
before the planned wedding.
It is important to bear in mind that the Spanish delight in their administrative procedures, so paperwork will
invariably be lengthy and time consuming, making forward planning imperative; especially if you’re getting
married in the summer.
Same Gender Weddings in Spain
A wedding is a celebration of the love between two people, whether it is two men, two women or a man and a
woman. Spain has become the 3rd country to legalise same gender weddings and partnerships.
For couples that live in Spain, or who own property and can therefore obtain their Certificate of Empadramiento
it is now possible to have a civil wedding in Spain. For more information on the paperwork required for same sex
weddings please contact the local Town Hall.
For more information on same gender wedding blessings and ceremonies:
Whilst all effort is made to make sure that this information is up to date, we accept no responsibility for any
errors or omissions that may occur. We advise consultation with an Abogada (Spanish lawyer).
A funeral or life celebration ceremony is a personal and
memorable occasion. It should be delivered with dignity
and sincerity. It is a celebration of a person’s life, and the
love that lives on within their family and dear ones.
It is important for me to highlight and genuinely celebrate
the person when delivering a eulogy or tribute. It is a
paramount honour to be chosen.
Some people wish for a specifically religious service, while
others may feel that a traditional religious ceremony is
inappropriate to the subject. They may feel that something
more spiritual, or spiritualist, or indeed humanist (i.e. no religion or spirituality) is appropriate. Everyone is
different; I happily respect your beliefs when preparing a eulogy, or obituary that is special to you, or your loved
one.
I do appreciate that not everyone shares my view about the soul and its continuation after physical death, nor
that a funeral, although at a time of sadness, is the place for joy and celebration. I respect and incorporate the
differing views present at a funeral, I hope that people will do the same for me.
What I offer:-
I endeavour to prepare a ceremony which takes into
account the wishes and beliefs of the deceased, as far as
can be established, and any other significant people in
their lives. Given our increasingly global society, I
encounter families who incorporate different religious
denominations, as well as people who are professed
atheists and agnostics. Naturally, there are different
beliefs and perspectives within families - some very
traditional, others more contemporary; some wish to
honour and celebrate a life that was lived to the full,
others feel that a quiet and reflective approach is more
appropriate. My challenge is to strike the right note.
Each ceremony is unique, but there are some common key elements to them all. The differences lie in the extent
to which the ceremony has a religious flavour (and if so which faith), is more spiritual, spiritualist, or is more
humanist. Sometimes a ceremony will include elements of all of those approaches.
Here is a basic for you to consider. I can provide as much or as little as you wish. I can adapt to your beliefs,
wishes and circumstances, with your own thoughts and ideas incorporated.
Welcome
Outlining the purpose and nature of ceremony
A prayer (if religious) or a moment of silent dedication
A reading and / or song / hymn
The address by myself
Tribute or eulogy to the deceased - by family or friend
Other tributes (if appropriate) - by family or friend
Honouring any religious or spiritual practices where relevant.
A moment of silence
Final prayer (if religious)
Bereavement counselling
Bereavement and the grieving process is very complex and stressful. The loss of a loved one may totally devastate
those of us they leave behind. There is nothing odd nor weak about grieving. It is something that almost all of us
will experience at one point in our lives. We all grieve in our own way, everyone is different and people recover at
different rates.
You may be able to do it on your own, or with the invaluable help of close friends and family. What you don't need
is someone telling you to ‘pull yourself together’. Some of us will need some extra help, perhaps in the form of
bereavement counselling or a support group. If you do need help, then reach out for it. You're not the first
person to need external help and most certainly you will certainly not be the last.
I undertook a bereavement counselling course in the attempt to gain some understanding after my father’s
death. Subsequently I worked as a volunteer counsellor at the Tadworth Court Children’s Hospital. I believe I
have been able to help others. I am not a professional counsellor, but I may be able to offer some empathy,
insights and comfort.
All is well.....
Death is nothing at all
I have only slipped away into the next room
I am I and you are you
Whatever we were to each other
That we are still;
Call me by my old familiar name
Speak to me in the easy way you always used
Put no difference into your tone
Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow
Laugh as we always laughed
At the little jokes we always enjoyed together
Play, smile, think of me, pray for me
Let my name be ever the household word that it always was
Let it be spoken without effort
Without the ghost of a shadow in it
Life means all that it ever meant
It is the same as it ever was
There is absolute unbroken continuity
What is death but a negligible accident?
Why should I be out of mind
Because I am out of sight?
I am waiting for you for an interval
Somewhere very near
Just around the corner
All is well.
Nothing is past; nothing is lost
One brief moment and all will be as it was before
How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting when we meet again!
The reason why....
I
have
included
this
page,
and
this
poem
by
Canon
Henry
Scott-Holland
is
that
it
gave
me
great
comfort
after
the
death
of
my father, who I loved very much.
Memories
are
wonderful.
You
do
not
ever
forget
loved
ones,
you
simply
find
a
place in your heart where they reside.
If
you
are
recently
bereaved,
please
accept
my
loving
wishes
for
comfort
from
the
pain,
and
its
easing,
which
comes
with acceptance.
Your dream wedding?
That yummy fairy tale moments you relished just as you were
dropping off to sleep.
Your wedding and blessing ceremony on Ibiza should be the
most beautiful, memorable, and magical moments in your
whole life.
It is therefore vital that you find ‘the best’ celebrant, and Hedley
Paul fulfils the quest for your Dream Wedding on Ibiza.
Creating and delivering the ceremony is a specialist task if it is
to be the life time memory you and your family deserve. Hedley
Paul takes great pride in his very personal and professional
approach to making your day special. He firmly believes that
you deserve better than an off-the-shelf ‘This is what we do’
ceremony as part of typical all-inclusive wedding packages.
While some couples use wedding planners, others diligently
search the internet themselves, which can be a daunting task.
It’s always uncertain territory, not always knowing who is
genuinely trying to help, and who is simply after a
kickback commission.
Hedley Paul is the preferred ceremony provider for many premier wedding planners and venues, and is very
happy to deal directly with you, meticulously working with other specialists to deliver your perfect wedding
ceremony on Ibiza. As the foremost English wedding celebrant on Ibiza he is totally independent – working with
the couple, rather than for wedding planners or designers on what is the most personal aspect of your wedding
day. Every ceremony is individually crafted in dicussions with you.
Professional, confident and competent, Hedley Paul delivers beautiful weddings of the heart for loving couples.
Hedley Paul IS the Ibiza Dream Catcher.
His weddings and renewal blessings on Ibiza focus on the wonder and magic of the energy and love between
soul-mates who have found their anam cara.
You can judge him by a few of the complimentary comments and pictures of past weddings.
A father and grand-father, Hedley Paul holds dearly the ethos of providing for his clients precisely what he would
expect for his children or grand-children: The very best, in an open and honest manner!
Each ceremony is carefully prepared in accord with the wishes of the couple to ensure that it is a lifetime
memory. He emphasises that it is their ceremony and must reflect their personal wishes, values and beliefs.
He believes in being fair and open. His fees are clearly shown on the ‘Prices’ page on his web site, and reflect the
time and effort and skills he puts into crafting and delivering a ceremony.
Hedley Paul’s lovely wife Eileen also works with Ibiza wedding couples, designing and creating the very finest
world class wedding cakes. Her work is published in several wedding cake magazines, featuring both traditional
and contemporary designs of her exquisite sugar-craft artistry.
Not without good reason was she crowned ‘Ibiza’s Queen of Cakes’ by local and international press.
Working separately or together, they can provide the two most important components to make your special day
exceptional – a beautiful and memorable ceremony followed by a delicious and breath-taking ibizacakes work of
art.
Testimonials for Hedley Paul at blessings-on-ibiza.com
Paul I would just like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for today. We had a wonderful time in the most beautiful location and your words made it perfect. Such a wonderful speaker and your words were loving and calming. You made all our family feel involved and special today. I will have some beautiful memories of today and wonderful photographs to keep the memories alive. Thank you for all your patience with me and for the beautiful Cava, it was very thoughtful. Best wishes, L&N xx July 2018 Hi HP Firstly, please can I just say thank you again for the ceremony, keeping my nerves at bay on the day and on the Friday before at the venue when I felt like giving up and going home because of the lack of communication with the venue! Secondly, I have been in contact with you for nearly two years and you have been attentive, patient and totally understanding of my needs and nerves (as a bride is, planning her wedding abroad) You have made this element of planning my special day so easy, and stress free - like it should be! Finally, it was so nice to be able to put a face to copious amounts of emails that have been sent back and forth between us since I first got in touch way back in 2016! Everyone commented on the lovely service which was the start to such a perfect celebration. You contributed to helping turn my dreams into reality on one of the most memorable days of our lives, so thank you again. Best Wishes, R&C June 2018 Dear Hedley Just an email to say thank you for our lovely ceremony at Elixir. Everyone thought it was beautiful and really moving. Wishing you all the best, Many thanks H&L There are not enough words to do justice to how wonderful our ceremony was, except to say it was absolutely perfection. Anyone planning to marry on the White Isle should look no further than booking Hedley Paul. We communicated through email mainly, with one phone call and then a face to face pre meet at the Venue, La Casita which was also out of this world. For the picture perfect wedding I would highly recommend both Hedley for the ceremony & Johannes at La Casita for the venue, I promise you won't regret it. The wording was so well thought out & beautifully written. The sand ritual was just magical. I would say we found him by chance but I can't help but think Ibiza may have chosen you. Thank you for everything - 5 Stars! Comment: That was the most beautiful wedding ceremony I’ve ever heard. You realise you had all the women crying... and lots of the men too! Hi Paul. I just wanted to get in touch and say what a fabulous day we had yesterday. Christine was absolutely fabulous and we had many comments from guests on how unique and special the ceremony was. Please thank Eileen - the cake was incredible and looked beautiful and most of all tasted amazing! Thank you again D & D x I just wanted to say a massive thank you for our beautiful wedding vow renewal on Sunday. I'm not sure how many grooms have been taken poorly, but he was still blown away by the service and location (and the surprise of it all!) I'd recommend you to everyone and Cotton Beach Club is just stunning!! Thank you, thank you, thank you, it was everything i'd dreamed of and we're taking some incredible, precious memories away with us from our beloved Ibiza this year. Thank you to your lovely wife too for her scrummy cakes! Xx Lee & Em Evening Hedley hope you are well. D and I just wanted to send you a wee email to thank you for a lovely and very touching ceremony last Thursday. We both have much love for one another and the ceremony and kind words reinforced that in us both. Our whole family have commented that it was the most moving and emotional wedding they had ever been too so it is amazing to know that they all have special memories and feelings associated with it too. I think everybody left Ibiza last on Sunday with just a little more love and compassion in their hearts than what they came with. We are the lucky ones, we are still here and celebrating in Es Canar until Saturday and then we will take those special feelings home with us and fill our house with them. Please let us know the best way to give you any recommendations and we will be sure to give our best ones. Again, many thanks and be assured we will never take the words or promises we made to each other lightly. Take care. K&D Good afternoon Paul, Just wanted to say thank you for conducting our blessing on Monday 26th May We have had the most incredible 3 weeks, it’s been such a roller coaster and we can’t believe 1) it’s over and 2) how amazing it all was. All of our guest commented about how lovely the service was and we have you to thank for that - so thank you! Keep well and look after yourself, Danny & Nealy Hi Paul, Hope you are well, just wanted to say thank you for your help and the ceremony. Also please see the link below for the pictures that Marc took on the day. If there is any you woud like to use please feel free. All the best, Tanya and Greg Hey Paul and Eileen, Just a quick note to say thank you so much for all your work for our wedding Eileen - the cakes were delicious and looked so fab! They were exactly how I envisaged them they looked so cute! Paul - the ceremony was fantastic and thank you for guiding us through everything so expertly and calmly when we were both pretty nervous! We truly had the best day ever, and we will never forget it, so thank you for being a part of helping make that happen. I hope the rest of the season goes well for you. Best Wishes, Claire and Nathan x Good Morning Hedley, Once again thank you for our blessing, it was perfect for us, just what we had envisaged!! Can you please thank your wife for the cupcakes, they are amazing, I have hopefully managed to get some of the roses home intact!! Thanks again, Elaine and Les x Hello Hedley- I hope you're ok. A massive thank you from both of us for yesterday. It was a fab ceremony and an event we'll never forget! Please pass on our thanks to Eileen for the cakes. We continued into the evening, although the formal wedding breakfast turned into a plate of nachos back at Pikes as we ended our day! If it's useful for me to provide a testimonial or something please let me know. Thanks again. It was a pleasure meeting you. Best wishes Dave + Max Hi Paul, I just wanted to say another HUGE thank you for making our day so special. Can we do a testimonial for your website or anything like that? Also, if you would like to use any of Marc's pictures then please be our guest!! We feel Ibiza (& Es Vedra in particular) is now such a spiritual place for us - I can't stop thinking about how you said Ibiza chose us - we didn't really know why we decided on Ibiza but after hearing you say this and the fact that we changed venues to being so close to Es Vedra, I believe this statement to be entirely true!! Thanks again Paul, you really helped make our day surpass all expectations! Best wishes, J and H Hi Hedley Just wanted to say a huge thanks again for yesterday, your words were truly amazing and everything thought the ceremony was beautiful, it was perfect. Thank you again J and J Hi Hedley, thank you so much for everything! everything was perfect. i posted some pictures on your facebook. the view is so amazing, most people don't believe it's real haha! i will post up my pictures soon. Best, P Thanks again for your guidance and awesome ceremony script. We're very happy that your name was suggested to us :) A & C Good afternoon Hedley, M and I just wanted to drop you an email to say a huge thank you for performing such a beautiful ceremony for us. It was perfect! We loved the fact that you incorporated the bottle and sand into our ceremony as we had this in mind with the letters. Many of our guests said what a lovely ceremony it was and M’s dad commented about parts of your speech which he said he learned something new from, which we also did. We would love to leave you some feedback for your website, is this something you’d like us to do? Can I also ask if you’re able to email over a final copy of our vows which we’d like to keep as a wedding keepsake? Once again, many thanks for making our day so special. H & M HiHP We are really enjoying our honeymoon thank you! It was a total pleasure to have both you and Eileen with us at the ceremony and meal! I can't thank you enough not only for a beautiful blessing but for the help and support you offered helping making it a reality. If it wasn't for you I don't think it would have happened and myself and Mrs W will be forever thankful. From the moment we met you both you have been helpful, warm, generous and sincere people. We hope we will remain on contact with you for many years to come! If you are ever on the midland and need a room don't hesitate to contact us and yes our future trips to Ibiza will now have to encompass a sunset trip to es vedra and a coffee and cake on your terrace! Take care and keep in touch! All our love, C and S W x Hi HP, We just wanted to say THANK YOU for making the ceremony so lovely and "us". Everyone really appreciated your calmness and interesting things you said. People went crazy to find some quartz... hehe Thank you again! Sincerely, P&M Dear Hedley Paul We've just arrived back in the UK and I wanted to take the first opportunity to thank you again for such a beautiful naming ceremony. Everyone commented on how much warmth, dignity and grace you brought to the ceremony and I couldn't agree more. You welcomed A. into the world in such a kind and generous way it made her day truly magical. We can't thank you enough. With very warm wishes N,J, and A. Our Renewal of Vows was wonderful! Thank you so much - it was all we hoped for and more! G&S You made our day, your blessing was a blessing for sure. Thanks so much, it will be with us forever! xx (pic by Eva Kuiper) R and I can't thank you enough for the beautiful ceremony @Amante. We loved every minute of it, you made it so personal and meaningful! It was, by far, the most beautiful day of both our lives! A big thank you to you and Eileen. R&C Dear Paul, Just to say thank you for taking our blessing ceromony, we had the best day ever!!!! S. :) Hi Paul, Just a quick thank you for our wonderful ceremony on Sunday. It was absolutely perfect and exactly how we'd always imagined our wedding ceremony to be, although we'd never thought we'd be able to achieve it. Huge thanks and very best wishes. V&C Hi Paul, As promised, the wedding photos's for you. Feel free to use some on your website if you wish. Thanks again, the ceremony was lovely, and everyone said they enjoyed it :) P & S 2012 Hi Paul & Eileen, Thank you so much for the wonderful Ceremony you performed for us. It was really special and very touching. We can't thank you enough for making it an amazing day to remember. The cupcakes were so beautiful, everyone loved them. K & A Hi Paul ,just to say thank you for a lovely blessing ,everything went smooth !!!!!!!!!! S&L Hi Paul, I hope you are well and still enjoying life in Ibiza, you lucky thing! We just wanted to say thanks for all your work and words that you said for our ceremony, we had a wonderful day and a wonderful time in Ibiza. It was a blessing meeting you on the Sunday before as it calmed us down a lot and we felt much happier going into the final evening! I've attached a wee photo of you on the day. E & M Hi Paul and Eileen, Hope all is ok in Ibiza? I want to thank you both for making the day great, the service was lovely Paul and everyone comented on the lovely relaxed feel to it, which is just what we wanted. Everyone commented on how scrummy the cakes were, they all went in a flash so that tells you how good tey were, unfortunately I never got one! Roll on next year and our return to the lovely island. K & M Good Evening Hedley Paul, Eileen, Hedley Paul - from the moment we met you we knew that you were perfect to conduct our ceremony. You made it so personal and interesting, and we loved all of the little touches that we'd not thought about (the importance of a father 'giving away' his daughter, and the magic of Ibiza). Everyone commented on the service and said how beautiful it was. You also made us both feel completely at ease (not easy on such an emotionally charged occasion!) and we can't wait to watch it all over again on the DVD that a family friend is making for us.T & L Eileen - what can I say? The cakes were OUT OF THIS WORLD! Tom mentioned how beautiful the cakes looked the minute we'd walked back up the aisle! I knew (from the many samples you'd provided us with on the previous trips to Ibiza) that they would be amazing, but they exceeded my expectations. The tiny details you'd thought about such as matching the topper of feathers to my fan (that I had instead of flowers), the tiny hearts on the cupcakes, and the beautiful stargazer lillies completely overwhelmed us both. On top of this - they tasted sublime! We do actually have a chef as a close friend and he too raved about the lemon cake in particular! We took the chocolate cake back to our villa (where we were staying with family) the day after the wedding - and actually had 2 x family birthdays the following Friday - so the cake doubled as a birthday cake and was enjoyed by us all (not a crumb was left!). If either of you need any testimonials or anything for your websites/blogs please DO let me know - you honestly were a pleasure to meet (it was fate that we found you that day last year!), get to know, and to finally have at our wedding. You both helped to make it the best day of our lives and we can't thank you enough. T & L Hi Hedley, Hope you guys are well, thanks again for giving us such a beautiful ceremoney and cake!! O & L Hi Paul, I wanted to email you to say thank you again for a beautiful wedding ceremony last Saturday and for all your help, support & involvement - it has been lovely working with you over the past year or so - everything came together perfectly last weekend .........the vows of commitment we said to each other. They were just perfect. Thanks again for everything, really appreciate it all. F & L Hi Paul, Happy you have the pics and like them - of course, please feel free to use them on your site. I will of course recommend you. All good. Lovely to meet you and will be in touch next time on the island. L & J Hi Hedley Paul, Just a little hello and a thank you email from me and C..... Once again we would like to thank you for being part of our special day. All the guests we have spoken to said everything about it was fantasic, and the blessing was amazing. Also say thanks to Eileen for us, all the cakes went, but of course we have not eaten the top cake yet, we brought it back in good condition. Here is a few photos of the cakes, I’ll forward some of us three on the roof in a bit. M & C Hi Hedley Paul and Eileen, Tim and I just wanted to say thank you so much for everything! Our guests had nothing but praise for the service and the beautiful cakes! You really helped make the day very special! T & S
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My prices are all in British Pounds Sterling.
I can accept payment in Sterling or Euro.
Please take time to read our Payment policy
Ceremony fees
Wedding Vows and Blessing with readings and/or poems.
To plan with you & create the ceremony, rehearse with you, act as host and deliver the ceremony,
including a printed 'Order of Ceremony' card for each guest.
and a beautiful Certificate of Commitment in a protective folder:
2021 - £650 (reduced from £675)
2022 - £650 (reduced from £700)
Remember, with blessings-on-ibiza there are NO HIDDEN EXTRA CHARGES.
However, if additional services are provided, eg sound system, there is an additional cost. If the ceremony is on Formentera, the fee will of course be higher, to reimburse travelling expenses. Renewal of Vows To plan with you & create the ceremony, rehearse with you, act as host and deliver the ceremony, plus an 'Order of Ceremony' card for each guest. 2021 - £575 2022 - £600 This assumes a smaller more private gathering. Sound support services for Ibiza ceremonies For guest numbers over 30 and up to 150 + you may need my professional PA sound system. For assembly music, procession and recession accompaniments, making your vows and commitments:- 2021 - £150 (This price is on the proviso I am providing the ceremony). This equipment is suitable for larger ceremonies, where a microphone is needed to ensure all present can hear the readings, vows and blessings. Two wireless and a wired microphone are included, to be used in conjunction with music input from either an iPod or CD player. Additionally, an input from a musical instrument/vocalist can be included. This system can be used where there in no available power source. Small sound system For assembly music, procession and recession accompaniments, recorded tracks and accompaniments:- £25 (assumes I am providing the ceremony). This system is suitable for small ceremonies, It is battery powered, and links with 3.5mm jack cable, or by which means you can bring your music on a smartphone or iPad etc. Other ceremonies and readings Life Ceremony - Readings and Eulogy To plan with you & create the ceremony, rehearse with you if appropriate, act as host and deliver the ceremony, which includes an 'Order of Ceremony' card for each person:- 2021 - £525 2020- £5755 Naming/Welcoming Ceremony To plan with you & create the ceremony, rehearse with you, act as host and deliver the ceremony, and includes an 'Order of Ceremony' card for each guest and certificates for the subject and immediate group:- 2021 - £575. 2021 - £600 Luxury chuppa hire To deliver/erect/dismantle a luxury white 'Chuppa' with tented interior roof:- £400 Decoration with flowers and/or ribbons etc would be additional. Readings These are by discussion, however please remember that sometimes a five minute reading can take several hours to prepare and rehearse. Please contact me so we can talk through your precise wishes.. e: hedleypaul@hedleypaul.com You can call the local number of your choice, if I am in the other country it will transfer to me. Ibiza (+34) England (+44) t: 971 338 244 t: 020 8123 0262 m: 664 689 575 m: 07909 917 120
Use
Remember to always say
'I love you'.
Sometimes we forget what is important in life.
The most important things are to love, and to be loved.
That is our sole and our soul’s purpose.
When love is new, we frequently say how we love someone; when our children are small, we reassure them by
reminding of our love for them. As they grow older it's probably not very 'cool' to be told by Mum or Dad that
they love you. Mums and Dads too may find it slightly disconcerting to tell a teenager that they love them.
At an early age I heard a story of the sadness over a tragic unexpected parting, where there had been no chance
of a fond farewell.
In later life, again, I witnessed a father’s grief at having lost his adult son. This was at a time when my children
were little.
I realised that such a thing could happen to me, and just how devastating it would be.
I determined then that whenever we parted I would tell them I loved them. My children are now adults, and
despite a little awkwardness (on both sides) when they were teenagers, we continue to hug and kiss whenever
we meet or part. We tell each other we love them, as a parting whenever we speak.
This page was prompted by my recent reading of a eulogy by a man to his beloved late wife who had suddenly
and recently died. He expressed sadness and regret at their rushed parting on that morning of her death,
having not made the time to say that they loved each other.
I felt so very very sad for him, not to have heard and hold that treasure of “I love you” as her final words.
So - Remember to always say 'I love you'.
Words are powerfully evocative - a phrase or a few cliché words can inspire us,
Music too. Music takes us to our past, to our dreams, and to breathless heights yet undreamed of.
Your ceremony is witnessed not only in physical terms by those present, but emotionally too. The energy of their
love wells up and strengthens the magnetism which pulls you together as a couple.
Clothe that moment of focus with threads of music, to evoke a wave of emotion, and passion.
Little wonder that so many shed tears of happiness.
Your ceremony can include several components of musical accompaniment.
The assembly music, played as people gather and wait in anticipation.
The processional music, to accompany the bride as she walks to join her husband to be.
The recessional music, to accompany the happy couple as they withdraw down the aisle.
You have the option of music, or song, either recorded or live
The choice of music for each of these can be challenging. Your 'special song' maybe?
Well chosen music helps to create the memorable occasion that is your special day.
Feel free to waltz down the aisle, or maybe jump and jive as your first steps together.
Remember though, this is your wedding, and Ibiza has no rules!
If you find the choice is hard, please talk to me as it, maybe a fresh mind can draw light to a solution.
If music be the food of love....
Can
your
wedding
guests
hear
your
words
clearly
???
???
???
An Ibiza wedding on a beach or in the open air is one of the delights of the island.
Being at one with nature, enjoying the sun, the blue skies, and the magnificent views
will melt anyones heart.
But can your guests hear what you are saying?
Nature has two sides and the gently crashing waves may be peaceful when you walk hand-
in-hand along the sand, but when you are nervously reciting your vows, those waves will
probably be drowned for most of your family and friends.
In the countryside, the rustling of leaves and foliage will also muffle sound.
Remember how in a church with bare walls, the sound is quite sharp due to reflected sound. In the open air of
course, there is no reflected sound to help carry our voices. During my career years it was fascinating to note the
different sound characteristics in lecture theatres and halls, and similarly in different churches. Open air events are
far more demanding acoustically that interior events.
Being a wedding guest on Ibiza involves considerable effort and expense. To go to that trouble and then not be
able to hear you say your vows would be very disappointing.
Many beach weddings are held adjacent to restaurants which front onto beaches and have a
sound system provides music for their guests as they dine or chill by the sea.
Having music rolling out across the sand is great, but hearing your vows broadcast loud and
wide across the beach is not quite the same. Only a few venues have systems which lend
themselves to wedding ceremonies, and invariably they have a dedicated set-up.
It is for that very reason that I offer the provision of a high quality professional
PA sound system which perfectly suits beach or open air events. It is
capable of addressing open air audiences of 120+ people.
It features a four speaker system, with multiple channel inputs for up to four
microphones, or musicians input in place of one or more microphone. The
microphones are all specifically chosen for their voice recognition qualities. It
additionally has inputs for iPod or CD player, allowing music of your personal
choice for processions up and down the aisle. If four mics ar required, I tend to
use two wireless, and two wired units. It is all fully operational on battery packs, and therefore is not hindered by
last minute challenges of ‘where’s the power supply?’
Naturally if a venue has a satisfactory systerm, mine is not needed, but sound is a detail which can be easily
overlooked or even dismissed. When selecting a venue, be sure to ask if they have a suitable sound system, and
what facilities it offers. If possible, have it demonstrated exactly as it will be provided to you.
For details of current prices of the sound systems, please
look at the prices page.
For smaller groups, I have a portable
speaker, with microphone.
Bring your own music on your smartphone, tablet or iPod
Hand Fasting - when you really do ‘Tie the Knot’
Originally a Celtic tradition, hand-fasting has been
adopted into many faiths and philosophies and is
practised worldwide, either fully, or as a component of
another ceremony.
Ibiza has an ancient and diverse heritage which readily
embraces the Celtic ceremony.
The betrothed gaze into one another's eyes making
their vows and promises to each other, after which they
exchange wedding rings as their tokens.
The celebrant host or elder gently binds their wrists or hands together with a cord, sash or ribbon. This is the
actual 'fasting together' - a (red) cord, braid or ribbon signifying love and passion, and the knot indicating the
tender bondage of their mutual commitment.
So the couple 'tie the knot'.
In this age of quickie marriage and instantaneous divorce, the ancient tradition of hand-fasting makes more
sense than ever. Hand-fasting is a binding commitment between two loving persons that requires no
bureaucratic licensing to begin and no lawyers to undo. To those that choose to hand-fast, the commitment is far
deeper and binding as anything offered by the
Registry.
The hand-fast lasts forever until eternity, so long as
love remains. Even death cannot end a hand-fasted
union; there is no 'til death do us part' in the
ceremony. Of course many couples undertake the
legal contract of marriage as a marriage of the heads,
but regard the hand-fast as the marriage of their
hearts and souls.
The Setting
Traditionally, the hand-fast takes place outdoors, in as natural a setting as can be found. One of the loveliest
ceremonies this writer ever attended was on the rooftop of a villa on Ibiza, above the city and under the stars. It
is a occasion of joyous revelry and magical merriment, which provides a wonderful reason to dress flamboyantly,
and wear flowers in one's hair.
The Fasting
Usually, the fasting is presided over by a spiritual or family elder who acts as host, inviting the gathered guests to
bear witness and to enjoy the magic of the moment, with its acknowledgement and reverence for nature and the
elements. Ancient ancestors, absent friends are invited, and kindly spirits invoked.
In Conclusion
A Hand-fast on Ibiza is one of the most delightful celebrations. Sometimes, after the ceremony, the newly-
wedded couple jump over a broom, leaping together into their new life as one. After ‘Jumping the broomstick’.
Traditional 'cakes and ale' (cakes and champagne!) plus other delicious treats are shared in a wedding ‘breakfast’ -
the first meal of their new life together.
The age and origin of wedding sand ritual - sometimes called the Sands of Eternal Unity - is shrouded in history
and debate, there's no question about the clear symbolism and evocative nature of the ritual.
Blessings-on-ibiza have developed several
unique features within our Ibiza Sands of
Unity ritual.
We use sand from the local beach, which
naturally a thin crust of salt from Ibiza’s
shores, so the subtle energy of the Magic
White Island is with you always.
From a tray of sand harvested from the local
beach, the bride and groom each take a
handful (or two) and together pour the sand
into a bottle or jar while a short explanation by the celebrant reminds them, the couple, and explains to the
guests the symbolism of the ritual.
The celebrant then caps the container as a treasured memento and keepsake.
Instead of the sanitized routine of never touching the
sand, simply pouring some chemically coloured sand
from a jug, we ask you to grasp the Ibiza sand with
your bare hand. In so doing you each charge it with
your own personal energy, so it is hallmarked by the
combined subtle energy of Ibiza and you.
Blessings-on-ibiza.com are delighted to offer this
beautiful ritual as part of your ceremony with no extra
charge.
We will provide a small bottle/jar, OR
You can choose to have a decanter or bottle which you source personally,
Origins of the ‘honeymoon’
In a tradition dating back to ancient times, every marriage is sealed with a toast to each other by the Bride and Groom.
The toast was traditionally made by the ancients with a Mead wine, which is made by the fermentation of honey and spring water.
Mead was the normal wine, and the wedding celebrations lasted for a whole Moon’s cycle (28 days) and guests consumed
Mead for the duration, Woe betide the groom if the Mead ran out!!
This period of celebration became known as the ‘Honey-Moon’ or honeymoon as we know it today.
Originally as a shell or a wooden bowl, then latterly a metal cup, the Loving Cup was known as a ‘Quaich’ by the Celts across Britain.
Ibiza too has an ancient history and traditions, having been ‘discovered’ by by the Phoenicians over 600 years BC, after which they
introduced metals such as tin and copper to Ibiza which they traded from England.
Pewter was then a common metal for making cups and plates, and being soft, was easily
engraved and moulded.
The picture shows a pewter Quaich or Loving Cup. We use it exclusively for the Wedding
toast, as it carries beautiful Celtic Trinity knots.
Mead was traditionally made by Monks in their Monasteries as a by-product of their bee keeping activities. The Mead liqueur we
choose is an award winning ‘gold’ Mead created by Friary Vintners in Devon.
blessings-on-ibiza are delighted to offer this beautiful tradition as part of your ceremony with no extra charge. Our only reservation
is that if you wish to include ALL your guests in the sharing of the Loving Cup then we ask you to cover the cost of the additional
Mead consumed!
The best things in life can never be owned;
They only be given.....
A Smile, a Kiss, Love...
Origins of ‘anam cara’
In a tradition dating back to ancient times, every marriage is sealed with a ritual which symbolises the joining in
marriage and the love which eternally bonds the couple
This ritual uses elements from a variety of Celtic traditions. It can be adapted to your personal preferences.
As the guests arrive, they each receive a small pebble to hold during the Wedding Ceremony.
Introduction:
Bride and Groom - On this wedding day we celebrate the Celtic spirit of anam cara. Anam cara is translated from
the Gaelic as "soul friend". By entering into partnership with your anam cara, you join in an ancient and eternal
way.
To the ancient peoples, the four elements of FIRE, WATER, AIR and EARTH were fundamental to their lives and to
be respected and celebrated.
FIRE
(The bride and groom are invited to light a candle)
Your lives have burned as individual flames.
Let them now burn together as one. From their two candles, they light a third. Extinguishing their own candles,
they give themselves to the union of marriage.
WATER
Before there was life, there was water. Water IS life.
It sustains us, nourishes us, cleanses us, refreshes us...we are made of it. And
so, drink. Drink to your love you've shared in the past, celebrate in your
present, and look to in your future.
The couple take turns to drink from the loving cup, filled with water poured from a pitcher filled with water.
WIND
The wind is the soul, the spirit, the very breath of life.
Let now your life together begin with that subtle infusion of air and the touch of lips when you kiss.
EARTH
We must not forget the rock from which we are hewn, the very earth on which we live.
However fickle and variable the ways of humankind, there lies within us all something solid, unshakeable,
unmovable – like a rock.
Take in your hand the pebble you were given, find within yourself that piece of sure foundation that you would
share with Groom and Bride.
For a moment close your eyes.
Focus now on that inner strength as though you could bundle it up in a stone.
Visualize the future you wish for this couple and engrave it in stone.
(A moment of silence)
This is your gift to this couple.
It is the Celtic Stone Tradition.
Please come forward, quietly.
Bring these pebbles, made special by your love, and place them here in this bowl.
(Music plays while the guests each come forward with their pebbles.)
Groom & Bride, please cover these rocks with water of life...
(Bride and Groom pour water over the pebbles.)
The number of pebbles in this dish is the precise number of
people here today who bless you on your way.
They will bear unending testimony to the fact that they were here,
that they esteem you as husband and and wife,
and they wish the best for you that the earth can give.
.
The best things in life can never be owned;
They only be given.....
A Smile, a Kiss, Love...
Anam is the Gaelic word for soul, and cara the Gaelic for friend.
Therefore anam cara literally means soul friend; mo anam cara is my lifetime friend.
Celtic tradition, recognises the priceless treasure of love within friendship, the awareness that souls
connect and bond across time and space, throughout life and beyond bodily demise.
Your anam cara is someone to whom you look as the person to share, confess and reveal the hidden
intimacies in your heart. With your anam cara you can express your thoughts, your heart, to the very core
of your innermost self.
Your friendship with your anam cara is not simply a friendship, it is an act of respect, and of appreciation.
And so, the most powerful gift you can bring to your friendship with your anam cara is your consideration
and mindfulness. It is your bond to be ever present with your anam cara.
It is not unusual for many people to have an anam cara of whom they are not even aware. Their anam cara
may be the individual who offers them a space of light and peace, however they may not have this person
often present in their lives.
This lack of sentience ‘cloaks’ the friend and often it is only through the loss of the friend’s presence, and
the feelings of distance and absence that the true awareness of their anam cara is revealed. Maybe we
know this tradition by the phrase: Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
Celtic belief tells us that: The stranger does not come accidentally; (s)he brings a particular gift and
illumination.
This is why the anam-cara concept is so sublime because it allows us to cross the threshold into a primeval
unity of belonging.
Celtic spiritual belief is that the soul radiates all about the physical body. Perception and recognition of
which is referred to as a person’s “aura”. When you connect with another person, becoming completely
open and trusting with that individual, your two souls begin to exchange energy.
Your auras flow together; then you have found your Anam Cara or soul friend. You have achieved your
sole purpose, which is your soul purpose.
The Celts believe the development of your anam cara friendship assists you in awakening your awareness
of your best and truest self and helps you experience a greater joy in being with others than you know
before it’s arrival.
They believe too that this special communion births a new dawn as you lovingly and willingly open your life
to another. You enjoy a sense of belonging you’ve never previously experienced in a deep sense of special
companionship. All your needs for inner barriers, walls and shields gently
crumble and fall.
Your anam cara has your permission to walk, with respect and care into the
deepest reaches in your inner self, the quiet and special places within you, and
in so doing creates a sacred ground which you choose to share with them.
Naturally, it requires tremendous courage to allow someone so close, but when a friendship is of truth and
of light, and recognises its own amazing gift, there is your anam cara.
In everyone there is an inordinate need for a Soul Friend.
It is only in this love that you are understood, without façade or pretence.
All half-truths and shallowness fall away because you can be with them as you really are sharing an
indestructible bond.
Only love allows this precious understanding to dawn, and where you are understood, you are ever at
home.
And so, when gifted with your Anam Cara you have arrived at the most sacred of places - your true
HOME.
Hedley Paul can provide as part of your marriage, the ancient ritual of Anam Cara which uses small
stones/pebbles to powerfully bond you and your guests to your wedding day.
Buddhism - Typical Wedding Beliefs
Weddings are not a sacred part of Buddhism and consequently weddings
are more influenced by social custom than by doctrine.
They are considered to be a social rather than religious occasion.
The central Buddhist belief considers that life is a continuing process of
change, and that individuals should always be moving towards a state of
greater wisdom and awareness.
The Buddha did specify that a marriage should be based upon a
foundation of mutual respect, and that the couple should be equal
partners.
The format of the ceremony will depend on the accepted customs of the country it is performed in,
and the couple's personal likes and choice. No rules have been set by Buddhism.
Accordingly there are no rules regarding attire for Buddhist wedding ceremonies. However, both bride and
groom needs to be aware that their dress should be respectful of this formal occasion. Typically, in the West, the
bride will wear a dress and the groom a smart suit. They may choose to wear the official dress of their region or
country, or sometimes opting for their own choice. Guests should simply dress respectfully.
The couple may exchange rings as in Western tradition, but this isn't a necessary part of the ceremony. Following
the vows, the newly-weds will give thanks by lighting candles and incense around Buddha's image.
Having travelled in Thailand over many years, and with a life philosophy close to Buddhist principles, Hedley
Paul’s Buddhist wedding ceremony is invariably a life changing experience for the couple.
Each ceremony is created with the couple, incorporating each aspect and focus they wish to include. Some
couples choose to bless their marriage by listening to monks to chant (or recorded) from sacred Buddhist texts
while the proceedings are taking place. The guests and couple are then called upon to reflect on the words being
spoken.
A fundamental concept of Buddhism is tolerance and understanding of the cultures and traditions of the world in
which you live. Consequently the celebrations following a Buddhist wedding or blessing will be sympathetic to the
culture of the country or area in which the ceremony is being held.
One thing they will all have in common is the desire to celebrate the
commitment the couple have made. Most Eastern countries will
have spent many days preparing a huge feast for all the guests, and
in the West things will be similar, with a Wedding Breakfast meal,
often followed by speeches
This is an excerpt from His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s essays
‘Instructions for life in the new millenium’: (it can be included in
your ceremony)
“Take into account that great love
and great achievements involve great risk.
And that a loving atmosphere in your home
is the foundation for your life.
Be gentle with the earth, be gentle with one another.
When disagreements come remember always
to protect the spirit of your union.
When you realize you’ve made a mistake,
take immediate steps to correct it.
Remember that the best relationship is one
in which your love for each other
exceeds your need for each other.
So love yourselves, love one another,
love all that is your life together and all else will follow.”
Ibiza is unquestionably one of the best places on our
planet to hold a sunset wedding.
Ibiza skies are pollution free, people travel here from all
over the world to view the purely unobscured stellar
bodies in our heavens.
To view the Sun physically setting into the sea you must
be on a Western shore; the Sun always sets in the West.
All the Balearic islands are relatively small, so Hedley Paul’s choices for
a Sunset Wedding include Cala Comte with a beautiful horizon dotted
with a few small uninhabited islands.
Hacienda Na Xamena is fantastic in late afternoon/evening - but as
summer progresses beyond the Solstice on June 21st/22nd the Sun
gradually sets farther West.
At Cap d’es Falco too... The Experimental Beach Club
looks towards Es Vedra. Just chill to the ambient sounds,
sip one or three of their famous cocktails.... And no,
you didn’t see pink elephants, but you surely did see
the flocks of
pink
Flamingoes feeding in the salt lagoons of Salinas.
Another dream turns into reality when you enjoy the sunset at Cala
Tarida with a breathtaking sunset at the Cotton Beach Club.
Opened only a few years ago, (I had the priviledge of hosting the first
wedding there) it has set its pitch to provide the most exquisite of chilled dining experiences. Your wedding on the
roof, witnessed by the setting sun, then dining under the moon......
Of course every coin has two sides, and on the East of the island you have the Moon Rise. One of
the most beautiful Full Moon rises can be seen from Amante Beach Club. Watching from the top deck
restaurant, the Full Moon rises eerily out of the sea line horizon, casting a translucent beam across to your
seat.... The Full Moon party of a lifetime! Ocean going ferries and cargo ships are
silhouetted against the sky, sea, and Moon..... Heady stuff.... And the food matches......
absolutely breathtaking!
Of course, pick any Western shore and you will experience an Ibiza Sunset....
Quite simply, on any beach you can chill together with a bottle of cava to toast the
occasion! Life can so easily be that good!
It will probably be best to start your photo sessions about 1½ hours before sunset. This gives ample time to
capture many breathtaking daytime photographs with the rich colours of deep blue ocean and powdery blue sky.
The second half of our photo session takes place at sunset when the spectacular yet drastic change of colours
and mood occurs. This allows you to get a huge variety in your photographs.
Copyright Policy
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The content of the blessings-on-ibiza website is under the following copyright:
Copyright © 2008 - 2018 Hedley Paul Spargo trading as ‘astroibiza’. All rights reserved.
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If any offending material exists on the blessings-on-ibiza or its support sites,
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The objective of this policy is to have a payment system in place with clear objectives regarding payment policies and dates which
objectives are measurable in terms of client service.
Prices are quoted in Sterling for simplicity to UK customers.
We accept nett payment in Euro (€) and Sterling (£), by cash, cheque, or credit transfer into an English bank. We do not accept any
form of direct card payment. Where payment is in Sterling, there shall be written agreement upon the rate of exchange. Any
transfer and/or exchange charges shall be met by the client.
Sterling payment may be made by PayPal or direct into our UK ‘astroibiza’ account. In such instances, we will raise an invoice. Please
note well that if PayPal is used, a 5% surcharge may be imposed to cover the additional costs and delays incurred by us.
blessings-on-ibiza (astroibiza) shall if requested provide a written pro-forma invoice, detailing the services to be provided, together
with dates and times, and price to be paid. This may be in the form of a pdf document by email.
To reserve and secure a date and time window for provision of any form of service, a deposit of £100 is required.
Until that deposit is received in full, and if relevant, cleared in our bank, we make no contractual commitment to
that date.
The balance shall be received in full by blessings-on-ibiza at least 24 hours before the event commences. This is
to ensure there is no embarrassment, delay or disruption of the ceremony for the client.
Should the balance not be received in full, blessings-on-ibiza reserve the right to exercise their right of lien, and withhold any or all
of the services contracted.
Should the client seek to change the date, and/or time, blessings-on-ibiza shall make every reasonable effort to accommodate the
change without additional charge.
In entering into contractual agreement with blessings-on-ibiza (astroibiza) the client implicitly agrees to accept and be bound by this
policy.
The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. The information is provided by blessings-on-ibiza
(astroibiza) and while we endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of
any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the
information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such
information is therefore strictly at your own risk.
In no event will we be liable for any loss or damage including without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any loss
or damage whatsoever arising from loss of data or profits arising out of, or in connection with, the use of this website.
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the nature, content and availability of those sites. The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or
endorse the views expressed within them.
Every effort is made to keep the website up and running smoothly. However, astroibiza takes no responsibility for, and will not be
liable for, the website being temporarily unavailable due to technical issues beyond our control.
As at: Sunday May 25th 2020
Spain will lift two-week coronavirus quarantine for overseas
arrivals from July 1
Foreign Minister Arancha González says via Twitter that “the hardest part is behind us,”
and that “health conditions will be guaranteed” for visitors
EL PAÍS - MADRID
The Spanish government is planning on lifting the two-week coronavirus quarantine requirement for overseas arrivals
on July 1. The decision was taken at an inter-ministerial meeting held today via video conference call.
Since May 15, the Spanish Health Ministry has required travelers arriving from outside the country to remain isolated
for 14 days. The government had said that the measures would be scrapped once the state of alarm was lifted. But
this weekend, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez suggested that the state of alarm – which has been in place since March
14, and has given the government extra powers to combat the spread of the virus – could be ended in some areas
before others, a process that may begin as early as this week.
Before May 15, the isolation period had only been applied to repatriated Spaniards and residents of Spain traveling
from Italy. The rules currently in place apply to all international travelers, with a few exceptions for specific types of
workers.
The travel sector was particularly concerned about the quarantine period, which has also been adopted by other
European countries such as the United Kingdom, for the effect that it would have on the arrival of overseas tourists
this summer.
The Spanish government, however, has recently shifted its position on the summer season, having initially suggested
it would have to be written off due to the coronavirus crisis. Given the positive progress of the epidemic in Spain,
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced on Saturday during a televised address that the sector should start to get
ready for the summer season, and that overseas tourists would be welcomed into the country under safe conditions
from July. He also encouraged Spaniards to start planning domestic vacations from as early as June.
Writing via Twitter today, Foreign Minister Arancha González said that “the most difficult part [of the coronavirus
crisis] is behind us. From July we will gradually reactivate international tourism, we will lift the quarantine and
ensure safe health conditions.”
The announcement should give the tourism sector a further boost. Spain usually receives more than 80 million
visitors a year from overseas, and the sector accounts for more than 12% of gross domestic product (GDP).
Deal on free movement
On Sunday, Finance Minister and government spokesperson María Jesús Montero said during a press conference that
Spain would be seeking international consensus on the free movement of travelers “at least” with countries that send
the highest number of tourists to the country, such as Portugal, France, the United Kingdom and Germany.
The minister added that the government would seek an agreement with countries from the Schengen area, rather
than bilateral deals with a variety of countries.
As at: Wednesday May 13th 2020
Uncertain times continue, changing on a daily basis.
While it is easy to see where we are today, planning for the future is mighty difficult.
A significant change (in my opinion) is that the UK, and then Spain have announced new
quarantine rules for (most) people entering those countries. For the first 14 days in the
country, they will need to self quarantine. That implies not leaving their residence, whether
their own property or rental villa. Hotels are still in lockdown, but that may change. So far,
there is no mention of venturing out for food etc to supermarkets. Cafes and bars are open.
This appears to mean that two weeks quarantine upon entry into Spain or UK, so four weeks
in total if you are a tourist between either country.
The current ‘State of Alarm’ in Spain continues until May 23rd, with phased reduction of
restrictions, which are not clear to everyone, as they vary from region to region.
So far this week I have had several more postponements to 2021, with only October 2020
weddings still in place.
My fear is that the reduction in restrictions, both in Spain and UK may well cause a ‘second
spike’ and harsher restrictions being re-imposed.
Dates for 2021 are filling as a result of normal bookings for that year, plus postments from
2020. This applies to all sectors, whether travel, accommodation, or services such as
weddings and parties. I commend you to act accordingly.
I’m spending this quiet time talking to couples, either booking new dates or arranging revised
dates.
I happily meet couples on Skype, Whatsapp and Zoom (sorry, not Facetime) where we can
discuss the details of your marriage ceremony - the focal point of your wedding day.
Blessings and best to you all….
Hedley Paul
Martin Makepiece posts a web page which has much accurate and valuable information, not
just about San Antonio.
As at: Monday March 23rd 2020
Sadly, we live in very uncertain times. The whole world is a different place and the situation
changes daily.
Britain is encouraging individual isolation, which probably will soon become enforced to
some degree.
Ibiza already had a very strictly enforced lockdown, now until April 12th. Hotels, bars and
restaurants have been closed down by the government.
There is only one flight per day to and from Madrid and Barcelona, for residents and
emergency services. Ferries are only bringing commercial vehicles with essential goods.
The Guardia Civil are halting all but absolutely essential travel with heavy fines of up €600 for
transgressors already imposed.
While I obviously cannot predict the future, it is by the day more probable that your
ceremony may not be able to go ahead this year, at least until August, for a variety of
reasons.
You (or I) or your guests may contract the virus, be
isolated or locked down.
There may be a continuing travel ban imposed either by the
UK, or by Spain, so you will be unable to travel to Ibiza.
Airlines/Ferry operators may well cancel further
flights/ferries.
The venue and/or your accommodation may still be
enforcibly in isolation/lock down. Hotels, Bars, and
Restaurants are closed.
The Island Consell may extend its current ban on all
meetings or parties.
While this is most disconcerting and distressing for everyone, I wish to offer the following
small reassurance.
I will hold deposits paid for postponed ceremonies and agree an alternative date. There will
be no charge for the change. Naturally this is subject to availability of dates times.
The revised booking may be this year – 2020, or next year 2021, and will be at the same price.
I will not take advantage of your misfortune.
Where I am already committed, I will endeavour to arrange for you an alternative celebrant,
again at the same price.
If you should choose to hold your ceremony in the UK (or elsewhere) instead of Ibiza, I am
happy to consider that alternative.
I will be as flexible as possible to ensure you still enjoy your special day.
I understand that you may wish to discuss alternatives and possibilities, in which case please
email me at hedleypaul@hedleypaul.com following which we can meet via Skype
(hedleypaul) or ZOOM video link (please request a link).
Blessings and best wishes,
Hedley Paul
stay safe!
You may have arrived on this site from Ibiza-Weddings-Spain..... if not, and you’re planning your wedding and
maybe organising it yourself, have a look.
Everything you need to create your own special day. A wide variety of wedding facilities and services providers
that allow you to pick and choose according to your budget.
ibiza-weddings-spain.com
The bride’s wedding dress is a focal part of the celebration. It is a symbol of the importance of the occasion, a wear-
once garment to be admired for its lavishness.
Wedding cakes too are a significant symbol of that special celebration. Lavish and unashamedly luxurious, the cake
was once the whole of the ‘wedding breakfast’, that celebratory feast to mark the festive occasion.
This is an unashamed promotion for my wife Eileen ‘IbizaEileen’ who runs Ibiza’s premier cake making business -
ibizacakes.com which produces fantastic celebration cakes with the most amazing taste and appearance. Make no
mistake, these are unquestionably the best cakes on Ibiza! That is why she was named ‘Ibiza’s Queen of Cakes’.
There are many people making cakes on Ibiza, but the ‘Queen of Cakes’ is in a league of her own.
Have a look on Eileen’s web site and also her Facebook page. See picture galleries of hundreds of stunning cakes, -
all her own creations - Eileen NEVER NEVER uses ‘stock’ pictures from the internet of someone else’s work There’s
also all kinds of valuable information about visiting, planning your wedding and getting married and celebrating on
Ibiza. Enjoy!