Question 1

What are the benefits of having a celebrant-led wedding?

Accepted Answer

Many congratulations if you have just got engaged over the Christmas and New Year period. Are you starting to plan the type of wedding you want, especially the type of ceremony you would like? Do you want your celebrations to start with the ceremony, not after it? Do you want to have fun, laughter and happy tears? Many couples don't realise they have several options for their ceremony. You can have: •A civil ceremony that's held in a register office or a venue licensed for civil weddings. This is a non-religious and legally recognised ceremony. •A religious ceremony conducted in a place of worship such as a church, mosque, synagogue, or temple. It will be typically officiated by a religious leader, such as a priest, minister, rabbi, or imam. It incorporates religious traditions and rituals. •A personalised celebrant-led wedding that reflects your personality, values, and the love story you share. Unlike traditional ceremonies, celebrants have the flexibility to create a ceremony from scratch, that is truly one-of-a-kind and allows you to add your personality and heart into your special day. Throughout the wedding planning, your celebrant will spend time getting to know you to build a personal connection for the most important day of your life. This relationship allows the celebrant to truly understand your love story and create a ceremony script that provides a more heartfelt and emotional wedding experience. Couples love that they have the option to write their own vows too. It is your day, your way. Celebrants can incorporate creative and meaningful rituals into the ceremony, whether it's a unity candle ceremony, a hand-fasting ceremony or personalised vows that express your deepest emotions. This allows you to make your wedding a profound and memorable experience for you and your guests. You can even involve your guests, giving them a key role on the day, with special readings, songs, a part to play within your rituals or a limoncello shot halfway through the ceremony! With a celebrant, you have the freedom to choose your wedding venue, whether it's a picturesque outdoor location, a historic site, a castle, the beach, a woodland, or your favourite hidden gem. This flexibility allows you to select a setting that gives you your perfect day. Celebrant-led weddings are known for their inclusivity. Regardless of your gender, cultural background, neurodiversity, beliefs, or religious affiliations, a celebrant can craft a ceremony that respects and incorporates your wishes. This inclusivity fosters an intimate atmosphere, making everyone feel connected to the celebration. In choosing a celebrant-led wedding, you will create a meaningful and tailored ceremony that sets the tone for a lifetime of shared happiness. It will be like no other ceremony. It's worth noting that in England and Wales, at present, celebrants are unable to legally marry a couple. You would need to register your marriage elsewhere, such as at a register office. Many couples have a small register office ceremony a few days before their wedding, where they legally get married. But watch this space – The Wedding Celebrant Commission and Humanists UK are lobbying the government to extend the rights of celebrants in the UK and Wales to legally marry couples

Question 2

What are the benefits of booking a celebrant?

Accepted Answer

It's amazing how many times I am asked the question 'what does a celebrant do' and it makes me realise that we need to help couples to understand the options for their wedding day. I believe that life is all about choice but many people are not aware that they can choose to have a celebrant-led wedding, completing the legal paperwork at another time. Below is a definition of the options open to couples: - A minister of religion in a church - this may be the right choice for you and includes the legal registration of your marriage. - A registrar wedding in council offices - this is often referred to as a 2+2 because you repeat short legal wording with two witnesses and sign the marriage register. You are then officially married and this is usually only available Monday to Thursday with the fee ranging from £60 to £95 depending on the location. - A registrar-conducted ceremony at your chosen venue (if it has a wedding licence). With this option, usually you won't have met the registrar who attends and they may be conducting several ceremonies that day at set times. As above, you'll repeat the legal declaratory wording and sign the marriage register. You are now officially married and it will cost from £455 - £708 (in Cornwall). - A wedding ceremony led by an independent celebrant – that's me! Everything I do is about getting to know you as a couple and helping you to pick what you would like to include in your ceremony. There'll be plenty of love and laughter and you can also choose to have your ceremony on any day at any time, for example, a Sunday afternoon, and to hold it anywhere you like (within reason). What about your favourite beach or your gran's garden? The venue does not have to be licensed. You might like to also consider: - Warming your rings with love before the ceremony - Including family or friends in the ceremony - Having personal readings or poetry - Lighting a memory candle for somebody who can't be with you - Having a hand-tying ceremony with bespoke ribbons - possibly with family or friends joining in - A family sand ceremony if you now have a blended family to celebrate - Writing secret vows to share (I can help!) - Planting a tree together to take home with you for your patio or garden This is only a snapshot of the types of symbolic gestures that you can choose within a celebrant-led ceremony. Together, we can explore what is right for you and, as we get to know each other, you know that you can trust me on the day to look after you both – and any nerves you might encounter. I have the best job in the world and I love driving away after a ceremony knowing it was perfect for the couple. * At this time, a celebrant cannot legally marry you. However, the Government is reviewing the marriage law and we hope that things will change in the future. If you would like to know a little bit more about this, you can check out this website: https://gccmovement.org

FAQs and expert advice about celebrant