If you’re starting to plan your own wedding and perhaps you’ve never attended a celebrant-led wedding, you might be asking . . . what’s a wedding celebrant and why should I consider one?
This is a question that many engaged couples ask, as they begin to consider and make plans for their big day.
Well the answer is really quite straightforward. A celebrant-led wedding ceremony offers far greater CHOICE for all couples – and is, in it’s very nature, so much more personal than a registrar-led or civil ceremony.
This is simply because the wedding . . .
1.) . . .can take place ANYWHERE (no restrictions whatsoever on location – inside or in the great outdoors – and no need to book a venue with a marriage licence);
2.) . . .can include ANYTHING you wish (no restriction on content – as long as your celebrant is comfortable with what you’d like to include!);
3.) . . .can take place at ANY TIME (so if a candlelit, evening ceremony is for you – then that is what can be arranged)
4.) . . .can be ANY LENGTH – lasting as long or being as brief as you wish. If the start of your ceremony is slightly delayed, then no sweat – your celebrant isn’t likely to be dashing off to marry the next couple on the rota that day. Your celebrant won’t rush you or tell you you’ll miss your ‘slot’ (as a registrar will). I only ever take one wedding ceremony booking per day. That way each couple has my services exclusively – my undivided attention. This keeps everything relaxed and allows me to focus entirely on you two, and no one else.
5.) . . .can take place on ANY DAY – bank holidays included (if your celebrant is up for that);
6.) . . .enables you to truly personalise your wedding day with a ceremony written JUST FOR YOU and no one else;
7.) . . .can include bespoke vows and promises made in ANY WAY you wish. And whilst many couples choose to write their own vows, some even keeping these a secret in the lead up to their big day, others prefer to make the same promises, ‘saying after’ their celebrant, or reading from a card if preferred. No bog-standard words, regurgitated tens of thousands of times by other couples? Whatever a couple’s preference with vows, I’m always happy to guide and advise as much or as little as is needed, providing some suggested, fitting wording to get things started, if that is wanted; and helping to balance the wording, if couples choose to exchange vows that are different from each other;
8.) . . .can include and involve ANYBODY – as celebrant-led weddings give couples the opportunity to involve friends and family members in the ceremony – perhaps sharing readings, acting as witnesses to a certificate signing, taking on the role of ring bearers – or other symbolic moments which you might choose to include;
9.) . . .has a celebrant TAKING CONTROL of all the detail concerned with your ceremony, alleviating any worries or stress. A good celebrant will offer you a rehearsal (something I always encourage all of my couples to take advantage of); they will guide and support you – ‘holding your hands’ metaphorically speaking, throughout; ensuring that everything runs smoothly prior to and during YOUR ceremony.
10.) . . .will be conducted by someone you KNOW – and who you have personally selected to create and lead your ceremony. Would you really want a stranger rocking up on your big day, to conduct the most important part of your wedding celebrations? With a registrar booking, you will be allocated whoever is on the rota that particular day – so you’re unlikely to have met them before. If you’d much prefer to have a say over who leads your wedding ceremony, then the celebrant option is most likely the best one for you!
. . .
Very often the financial investment in a celebrant (alongside the basic legal registration) is actually no more than if a couple were to book a legally binding ceremony in a register office or church – or arrange for a registrar to attend a licensed venue.
If a couple wishes to be legally married prior to their celebrant-led ceremony (this is most often the case for couples with whom I work), then the legal formalities can be arranged and dealt with simply and easily, for a minimal fee, prior to the wedding day. For more information about this, go to the first question on my FAQs and contact page ‘How do we make our marriage legal?’
Still have some questions? Get in touch – I’ll be happy to provide more information, with no obligation.
