Kate writes custom poems for weddings and civil ceremonies. She also assists with speeches for the best man or woman and can assist you with your own verse, or reading out-loud skills.
Please do contact Kate if you would like her to write something for you, or to assist you with something you are writing.
The wedding poem that started it all... This is the poem that Kate, the Wedding Poet, wrote to read to her husband during their wedding ceremony. Kate says, "I thought I'd be OK, but when it came to it I was crying so much that my best friend, Maria, had to take over. It was really lovely and really moving sharing something straight from my heart with all my family and friends.".
Return to TopFor Wilbur
Sometimes, Wilbur, you are such a man Dodging my affection whenever you can Missing out on chances Of my advances Yet, sometimes, on the couch when the kids are in bed I lay my head upon your chest And you take your arm and draw me in And don't complain about my pointy chin And I find I'm in my perfect place With your chest against my face It's all about you and it's all about me It's everything we'll ever be It's Lotti's violin It's Maia's funny voices It's Tallulah's peculiar clothing choices It's family and friends Veg patch and pets It's the gone befores And the not come yets It's you're a top geezer And I'm a top bird There isn't a word Suffice to say It's A-OK And it's always going to be that way With your chest against my face I have found my perfect place My head, your chest The best
© Kate Tym 2008
Return to TopI Always Knew...
I always knew that the man I'd marry
Would click – click–clack into place
I knew he would love me and understand me
I just couldn't picture his face
I always knew that the man I'd marry
Would be decent and thoughtful and kind
I knew he'd be funny and edgy and sharp
Just like the man in my mind
I always knew that the man I'd marry
Would be the only one
Not like the ones that came before
The ones I'm glad that they're gone
I always knew that the man I'd marry
Would be deeply honest and true
I knew he'd be my everything
I just didn't know he'd be you
I always knew that the man I'd marry
Would hold me yet make me feel free
I can't believe it was you all along
Did you always know it was me?© Kate Tym 2005
Sarah had known Steve since her teenage years but they didn't get together until their late twenties. Sarah quickly discovered that Steve was everything she'd ever wanted in a man and to some extent couldn't believe he'd been right under her nose for all those years!
Return to TopKicking Up Sand
(Melanie)
How did I wait all my life
To find my love so true?
What a joy to come so far down life's path
And then find someone like you
(Arthur)
How did I wait all my life
To be so greatly adored?
By someone who fills their jeans so well
With whom I never get bored.
(Melanie)
How did I wait all my life
Without knowing that you would be it?
My generous, caring, self-assured man
With whom all the pieces fit.
(Arthur)
How did I wait all my life
To find such fantastic rapport?
For sunshine and laughter and dancing
With a woman I love more and more.
(both/one of you/line by line each - final line together)
Let's race through our life now together
In an open-top Spider car
Let's visit the souks, and piazzas
And check out every bar
Let's dance and dine
On good food and wine
As more and more our souls entwine
Kicking up sand
Hand in hand
Forever, with you, my love.© Kate Tym 2008
Melanie and Arthur are an older couple who have both been married before. They felt really lucky to have another chance at love. They live a lovely life taking time out every couple of months to go travelling together.
Return to TopFor Chris
I love the way your hair curls
Gently at your neck
And the way you need to concentrate
If you ever write a cheque
I like it how you laugh
When I say something funny
And you never call me by my name
You always call me 'honey'
I hate it when we argue
Or when you're in a strop
But usually a 'sorry' is
Enough to make it stop
I love the way on Sundays
You let me stay in bed
And bring me in the paper and
A soft-boiled egg
I know you sometimes bug me
And we have our different ways
You still like salad cream,
I like mayonnaise
You talk at me when I'm on the phone
And leave clothes in a heap
But I know that when you're not there
I can't get to sleep
You do the bins, you mow the lawn
You're very sexy too
I love your bum, I love your kisses
I love you.© Kate Tym 2007
Liz listed likes and annoyances regarding her man - including a long-standing "joke" argument about whether salad cream or mayo is better!
Return to TopThe Family Numerical
Once
There was me
Add two
Made three
The sum of which was hard.
A fractious fraction
In which I felt like the lowest common denominator
Then there was you
We added you on too
And made four
But we needed one more
So me and you
Did a sum or two
Some clever multiplying
And made another one to add on
That made five
Five - the perfect number
The equalizing integer
In our indivisible family© Kate Tym 2008
Maria was on her own with two kids when Gary came along. They then had a third together. She felt their relationship had always been more about them as a family than as individuals. And as Gary is an accountant, we thought he'd like the numerical theme.
Return to TopFor Will
When I was little I was told
I'd grow up and marry a prince so bold
I'd live in a palace - with turrets and towers
Listen to harps and skip through flowers
Then I grew up and reality bit
And sometimes life could be really quite...bad!
I had happy times and tough times too
And then guess what - I met you
All the pieces clicked into place
From the moment I saw your chimp–like face
You were kind and thoughtful and very funny
You helped with the kids and leant me money!
How could I resist your fatal charms
When it felt so safe to be in your arms
You can be grumpy, yes that's true
And you won't put the seat back down on the loo
But to me you feel like the perfect fit
And now life never seems that...bad
Perhaps I've finally got my dream
I feel like part of a winning team
I want to be chained to you for life
So thank you, Will, for making me your wife
And anyway, you're really cute
And it's nice to see you in a suit!© Kate Tym 2008
Clare's poem for Will highlighted various points about him - good and bad - including the fact that she thinks he looks like a monkey!
Return to TopWhen Our Mummy Married Dad
When our mummy married dad
What a lovely time we had
Fancy frocks and wedding fare
And all our special friends were there
Mummy's dress was the biggest yet
With layers and layers and layers of net
Her shoes were silky her hair was curly
Her tiara with diamonds was really girly
Me and Maia and Tallulah too
Had dresses that were crisp and new
We had satin slippers on our feet
And our hair was really neat
Daddy looked handsome like a prince
Though the price of his suit had made him wince
And he said a lilac shirt was no good
But he wore it cos mummy said he should
We followed Mummy up the aisle
And Grandma had the biggest smile
The tent was huge, with balloons and flowers
The decorations had taken hours
Uncle Chris had a role to play
He seemed quite keen to give Mummy away
When the lady spoke to Dad and Mummy
I had butterflies in my tummy
Everyone grinned while Grandma cried
And I felt wobbly on the inside
Daddy and Mummy said some things
Before they had to exchange their rings
They promised to be nice and caring
And not to fight over things for sharing
And to stay together for the rest of their life
And the lady declared them husband and wife
And when they kissed everybody cheered
Which me and Maia thought was weird!
We had photos taken and ate lots of food
And everyone was in a brilliant mood
There were uncles and aunties and cousins and nieces
And babies who pulled all the streamers to pieces
There was eating and drinking, dancing and fun
And a piece of cake for everyone
Mummy looked like a Disney princess
And Daddy was far from his usual mess
Mummy says she thinks Daddy's the best
Head and shoulders above the rest
So everyone was as happy as they could be
Including Tallulah, Maia and me
It was the best party we'd ever ever had
When our Mummy married Dad!© Kate Tym 2008
Kate is an experienced writer for children. Her daughter read this out at Kate and Will's wedding - there wasn't a dry eye in the marquee!
Return to TopThanks to Auntie Claire
We'd like to say thanks to Auntie Claire
For being friends with Mark
Introducing him to Mum
Igniting that fateful spark
From the days at The Farm
Their paths sometimes crossed
But no hint of their future they saw
Till Mum flashed red knickers
From under her dress
And Mark thought he'd like to see more
Time trickled past and Mum often wondered
Why life was so complicated
Difficult and fraught perhaps she ought
To look at the men that she dated!
Then New Year's Day was the big way-hey
As Brighton rocked to the slim DJ
A different drum beat for Mark and Mum
A glimpse of a dream of what they'd become
A magical start to the year
It was Cheltenham that really did it
Dotted the I's and crossed the T's
Perfect weather and happy times
Eating fish and chips out of papers on our knees
Existing in a bubble
Bursting over with bliss
Why couldn't life always be like this?
Well, now it can with a covenant
A promise to treat each other how you should
And Mum's got over her personal tick
And worked out that easy is actually good.
So thanks Auntie Claire for your good taste in friends
And for starting the wheels in motion
For Mum and Mark and a lifetime of laughter
And a love that could fill the whole ocean© Kate Tym 2008
Becca and Mark had known each other for years before getting together at Fatboy Slim's Brighton beach gig. They decided to get married after a perfect weekend at a festival in Cheltenham with their four combined kids, sitting by the side of the road eating fish and chips.
Return to TopSerena and Chris
Chris was fed up with being single
Serena felt the dating itch too
They got on line and began to mingle
One click and the start of something new
Emails flew, texting fizzed
Things were getting flirty down the line
So many messages the time just whizzed
They hadn't met each other but they got on fine
Then came the day of the big blind date
Clapping eyes on each other face to face
Leaving it all to the hands of fate
All the pieces falling into place
They met at ten thirty, at five they parted
Not an awkward moment in between
A day of sharing, being open hearted
A shoulder for each of them to lean
Months together followed - toing and froing
All those relations they each had to meet
But everyone knew where this one was going
And Daisy the dog made the family complete
And now they're committing to a life together
Chris and Serena, the very best of friends
And we all know come fair or foul weather
Theirs will be a love that never ends© Kate Tym 2008
Chris and Serena had met through the internet. They did a lot of texting before they finally met up - what was meant to be just a coffee turned into a whole day and... the rest in history. Serena's mum read their poem at their wedding.
Return to TopAmanda and Carl
Auntie Amanda worked at the dentist, just for a day or two
Who could ever have imagined that as the start of something new?
But with the post that morning there came a nice surprise
A pair of shorts, a panther tattoo and some lovely sparkly eyes
Lorraine got his number and Amanda went after her date
She wanted the male who delivered the mail and she wasn't prepared to wait.
But Carl's a laid-back fella who chatted and agreed to meet
Little knowing they both were about to be swept right off their feet
Fast forward to February, a leap year, a time for romance
Amanda still knew what she wanted so she leapt at the chance
Writing it out in petals just ended in a mess
So she popped the question face to face and Carl, of course, said yes!
He had his ring and she choose hers, one she would hold dear
Carl was so shocked by the price he had to have a beer!
Now they're together forever, balancing parts of a pair
Amanda who's ready in a flash while Carl's still doing his hair
He's fantastic in the kitchen, she's a culinary zero
She's every doggy's dream, he's a guitar playing hero
Together they like family, friends and lovely grub
And evenings relaxing in their blow-up bubbly tub
We're so glad that the dentist was on Carl's postal round
And we're so glad for the happiness that each of you has found
We wish you health, and wealth and blessings from above
But most of all we wish you years of happiness and love
We know the pets, if they could talk, would like to say so too
They're glad Amanda's found a man who doesn't mind the zoo!© Kate Tym 2008
Amanda is a dog groomer with lots of pets and Carl is a postman. Amanda proposed to Carl on February 29th. She tried to spell out 'Marry Me' in rose petals... but it didn't quite work out! Amanda's niece read out their poem.
Return to TopWhat Would We Do Without Terry?
What would we do without Terry?
With his sticky up dark hair
He's part of the family, one of us
We can't think of him not being there.
What would Mum do without Terry?
Before him we think she was sad
I think he came to her rescue
And for that I'm very glad
There was life before Terry
But somehow it wasn't the same
It felt like one person was missing
Before Terry came
Terry Tutu Football Mad Hairy Sweaty Man
You take me places like 'Go Ape' you're Chelsea's biggest fan
George thinks you're handsome, Iz says you're always red
But she also thinks you're nice to cuddle like a favourite ted
In the whole world so big and wide you're Mum's favourite one
Along with her two daughters and her brilliant son!
If she's happy we're happy, and you seem to hold the key
You're cool calm and funny which is good enough for me
The only problem having you as a permanent fixture
Is too many pants getting into the mixture
But I guess the boxer problem can be smoothed out
If it means we'll always have you about
It's nice you and Mum looked for a thing just the same
A wonderful warmth, a feeling that doesn't always have a name.
A place to find belonging, from where you never want to part
With a person and small people who have taken you to heart
So thank you Terry Tutu now Mum never ever seems blue
And even better we suspect she may have rescued you!© Kate Tym 2008
Mel gave Kate a list of things her children had said about Terry - including the fact that her son and Terry always got their pants mixed up! Mel's son read their poem.
Return to TopThe Father of the Bride
Hello everybody. I'm Mark, The father of the bride I'm delighted that you all are here to share my joy and pride I know that Kev and Hannah want you all to have a good time So to save you from a boring speech I'm doing mine in rhyme! Hannah is our daughter and for myself and my wife The day she was born was one of the happiest of our life We were told we might never have children of our own So it's with wonder that I see how beautiful they've grown It's been simply magical watching Hanna's life unfurl And now we're overcome with joy as Kev takes on our girl She's always been a lively one and we've seen a mishap or two Including the time she locked herself in the local playschool loo Another time when we took a walk down a country lane Hannah was sent flying by a lolloping Great Dane But when she fell or got upset, cross or in a muddle Grandpa Les was always there for support and a cuddle I can still see her now running away from me Off down the lane in search of Granpa's comfy knee Today is such a special day with people from far and near From Thailand and America and all of them held dear There's Gronma here from Leciester and Nic a 'very special guest' Grandparents Eileen and Les not to mention all the rest Everyone who's here in this wonderful seaside room Means something very special to both the bride and groom Our thoughts are also with those who are no longer here Granparents Doug and Evelyn whom all of us hold dear Everyone who knows Hannah knows how truly lovely she is Though she does have the capacity for getting in a tizz That's where Kev comes to the fore, we're glad that he's around To be a calming influence, feet firmly on the ground It’s seems to be a truism that opposites attract And when it comes to Kev and Hannah we can't refute that fact He's football mad, an athelete, a real sporting hero Whereas Hannah's athletic prowess is approximately zero Although having said that, she does love her bike Remarkable as she found it hard to move up from a trike! And now she pedals everywhere racing there and here I often get a phone call - wind whistling in my ear But then I've seen her driving skills which let's say didn't thrive In fact in one or two lessons we didn't make it off the drive! Hannah did better at other things, and in her thirst for knowledge She went and studied Tourism at Alton's famous college Then to Ibiza, working hard in the sun Learning about life and having lots of fun But even then she still had thoughts for those of us who missed her Paying for a hotel for her parents and her sister Taking us to Bambudha Grove for some truly lovely grub And getting VIP tickets to a very trendy club And then Hannah made her way back to this wonderful seaside town Bought a basement flat, got a job and began to settle down Unfortunately for her the flat was always under water And for a little while we had a 'bag lady' for a daughter But nothing would defeat her, and in true Hannah style She'd clean it up, redecorate and move on with a smile And then came the holiday that was to change her life She went to Ibiza our daughter and came back a future wife Of course she didn’t know that then, they met on her last day She had to head back home while Kev was going to stay But after that they kept in touch and found the feelings grew Until it reached the fateful point where both of them just knew That together forever was the only way to be And so back to Ibiza for a proposal by the sea Romantic Kev dragged her to the rocks, for what she didn't guess But when he popped the question she did, of course, say yes! Now comes the time for words of wisdom, some fatherly advice I advise, around each other, try always to be nice Support each other through hard times and show that you care Add in a lot of laughter and you're over half way there But I don't think you need advice from family or friends As I feel certain yours will be a love that never ends So raise your glasses with me now to salute the happy pair To Kevin and Hannah and the future that they'll share We wish you health and wealth and blessings from above But most of all we wish you years of happiness and love I think that they'll do very well with all my handy tips So on to more important things - I want my fish and chips!
© Kate Tym 2008
Mark was very nervous about having to prepare and read a speech at his daughter's wedding. He was delighted when Kate, The Wedding Poet, took the task out of his hands and wrote a wonderful speech in poem form instead.
Return to TopMy One-in-a-Million Man
Tall, dark and handsome The perfect gent Sometimes I feel like you're heaven sent You understand me You're my sky, my ground You're the centre point I revolve around You're chaos to my order You're dark to my fair Life's no fun when you're not there The path you walk is wild and free But you'll take a gentler stroll for me You're unflappable, patient And so polite When the world's all wrong you make it right You're impulsive - Jumping up to capture a scene To remember a happy place you've been I'm so glad you've chosen to share your life with me And Lily, of course, makes the perfect three You're a man in a million Which can't be ignored As it takes quite a lot to stop me getting bored You're the final perfect piece In the puzzle of my life And I'm so happy to be your wife It's a wonderful new chapter The opening page Now all I need to do is stop you wearing beige!
© Kate Tym 2008
Ella read this to Gareth at their wedding. It's a lovely personal poem - straight from the heart.
Return to TopThe Boy Who Carried My Bag
At school French lessons were our connection
You blushed as you borrowed my pen
I didn't see what you'd become
I didn't know back then
That you would be my everything
My best friend and confidant
The one who fills me with confidence
The only one I want
Life has moved full circle
From the carefree teenage me
To the woman who you have married
Who you've helped to feel free
We've climbed a mountain together
From the bottom to the peak
And to think that way back in the day
I said that you were a geek!
But now I've had to eat my words
As I realise more and more
That you're kind and gentle and thoughtful
And everything I adore
A hundred and sixty two weary miles
Always kept us apart
But now the divide has melted away
As we make a brand new start
You say that you need me
And I know that I need you
The boy who blushed and carried my bag
Has become my love so true© Kate Tym 2008
Charlotte and Rob were at school together. They then went off and lived separate lives before meeting up again, by chance, over twenty years later when they both joined a group climbing Kilimanjaro! Charlotte read her poem to Rob during their speeches.
Return to TopThe Ties That Bind
Once there was a unit
A mother and a son
Passionate and protective
Keeping him her only one
But fate had a different plan
A merging with another
A father for the mother
A sister and a brother
The building of a family
A home safe and good
Honed by a carpenter
From true and lasting wood
He is calm to her fiery
She is frugal to his flash
She is careful and thrifty
While he likes to spend the cash
He's a strong man, yet gentle
Creative and kind
And together they have faced things
That form the ties that bind
So the time has come for marriage
A sealing of the deal
An acknowledgment of the love and trust
That Mum and Justin feel
Today is about a future
Filled with joy and light and love
Horse rides and happiness
And blessings from above
It hasn't always been fairytale
But there has been lots of laughter
And no matter what, I'm sure there'll be
A happy ever after...© Kate Tym 2008
Tina and Justin had blended their two families getting together after Justin's first wife died. They have since built a house together and faced serious illness, coming through it all as strong and happy as ever. Tina's son, Barnaby, read their poem.
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