Bechtel, Jane

My background and experience     

I’m a recent graduate in Media studies and Religious studies, where I specialised in Early Islamic Philosophy, which fascinated me. I am married with two daughters, and live in a tiny cottage, with a huge garden.

What humanism means to me    

I do think of myself as a dedicated Humanist, and enjoy being involved on the campaigning side of the organisation, but I see that role as entirely separate to the ceremonies side of the organisation. To me a ceremony should focus on what is important to the people involved, not what is important to me.

 

How I feel about being a wedding Celebrant    

It’s such fun. I even love the moving of the chairs and things going wrong, and the last minute panics when the hairdresser is late, or the bride almost takes a swing at the photographer…there really is no more enjoyable way to spend your Saturday afternoon!

 

My approach to weddings    
I believe that as humans, we are communal creatures, and that we want to share the defining markers of our lives with those who are important to us. It is also probably the best excuse you can get for a really good party!

 

What I love most about conducting weddings    
I love writing, and the weddings allow me to be a conduit, the one that takes all the ideas and stories and feelings that a couple have expressed to me, and transforming them into the ceremony that they want.

 

My advice to you    

To keep your marriage brimming,
With love in the loving cup,
Whenever you’re wrong, admit it;
Whenever you’re right shut up. (Ogden Nash)

 

My favourite piece of wedding poetry    
Adapted from CAPTAIN CORELLI’S MANDOLIN

(Louis De Bernières)

 

My favourite piece of wedding music    

For singing, it has to the Beatles, ‘I want to hold your hand’, or ‘When I’m sixty four’, but for playing, ‘Signed, sealed and delivered’ by Stevie Wonder does seem so appropriate for the ‘wedding schedule’ signing break.