This week’s inspiring stories come from two Ladies who have started to ‘make it happen’ for their businesses during the crisis and also Ladies who have used the time to make it happen for others.
Community over competition
Meet Debbie Skyrme, Bilingual Independent Celebrant.
Debbie said “As a wedding celebrant officiating across southern Spain for destination wedding couples arriving from all over the world, my initial response to lockdown was to launch a Facebook group “Celebrant Buddy”.
The aim was to connect wedding officiants from all over the world so where a couple could no longer travel to their perfect ceremony in the Spanish sunshine, I could connect them with a local celebrant to officiate a ceremony for them in their home country. Where people were still permitted to gather within number restrictions, so the ceremonies continued.
I am a big believer in community over competition.
A couple of weeks on…..
As travel within our own countries has become ever more restricted, Celebrant Buddy has evolved into a kind of sleeper cell!
We are now several hundred celebrants and officiants across all continents just itching for the day when we can go out there and deliver beautiful heartfelt weddings, vow renewals and elopements once more. The group will then come into its own.
Personally I have had zero cancellations from the Coronavirus restrictions, all my weddings have been rescheduled. But with 40 ceremonies to accommodate this year I have been proactive and am training up a member of Costa Women who will be able to deputise for me when I cannot be in two places at once as restrictions are lifted.
Having gotten to know my couples very well and crafted a ceremony for them, when appropriate and with the couple’s prior agreement, I will pass the script on to the lovely Deborah Johnson to officiate the actual ceremony – a shared fee is better than no fee and means that every couple will get their special day.
With some rescheduled weddings rolling over into next year I am using the lockdown time to train up a second deputy celebrant too – so even within the Coronavirus situation, jobs are being created!
Meanwhile I am posting daily upbeat rescheduled wedding advice across my social media platforms on @celebrantspain
I am blogging the heck out of Spain as a destination wedding location in various bridal magazines and sharing the posts of other suppliers, to keep a positive spotlight on our industry.
But most of all, every night at 8pm I am going “live” in Facebook from my personal profile debbieskyrme. You’ll find me standing on my roof top clapping, hollering and banging pots and pans, joining in with my neighbours in continued support of all those caring for us on the front line – it is such a wonderful release of energy and emotion too! Join me!
What Next?
And then we heard from Trudi Roscouet. Trudi said “I just wanted to share something that I have achieved and this is the launch of my 30 minute fitness sessions at 1200 Spanish time on fb live!
I never thought I would be able to do video or film but this time has made me realise that everything needs to be fluid. Life is never going to be taken for granted again. We need to consider all options.
Where is this going to take me I wonder?
Find out more and join in through Trudi’s Facebook page Vitality4you and leave a comment!
And finally, I was connected this week with Kara Jayne Caradas who is helping to feed the homeless, or those in need locally by connecting food donations. Their initiative has been shared into our local groups.
Kara, her twin Charley, and Costa Women member Pippa Jones are collecting food donations at Iceland Fuengirola on Monday, 6 April, from 10 am to 12 noon inside the shop. And on Wednesday, 8 April they will be at Iceland Puerto Banus from 12 noon to 1 pm in the car park.
Any items, big or small will be gratefully received.
If you want to share your inspiring story, do send me a message, or leave a comment below.
thanks Ali!!!
You are so welcome Debbie and thank you for realising collaboration is the new normal! x