When you are planning your wedding, if you are anything like me before I joined the wedding industry, you might not have ever heard of a Celebrant. You will have seen 100s of church or registry office weddings but never understood the flexibility and originality that they can bring to your wedding ceremony. So, this guide gives you a head start on what you need to know about Celebrants and how they can help you create a unique and alternative wedding day.
Feature Photo Matt Glover Photography
What is a Celebrant?
Let’s start at the beginning.
A celebrant is someone who can officiate, that is perform, your wedding ceremony for you.
How does a celebrant ceremony different from a normal ceremony?
A Celebrant ceremony is totally flexible – literally! You can have what would be called a ‘traditional’ wedding ceremony, one that is totally bespoke and Off the Wall or anything in between! Your ceremony can include a number of rituals or religious elements or be a ceremony that has no religion at all. It is your choice.
Celebrants officiate at ceremonies from just the two of you – an elopement – to a ceremony with hundreds of guests. So, if you’re looking for a ceremony which is a little or very different to the norm, whilst also being very personal to yourselves, family and friends – a Celebrant-led ceremony will be the one for you!
OK so how does that work? I’m won’t be getting officially married with a celebrant?
At the present time in England and Wales a Celebrant cannot legally marry you. This may change in the future as the government has recently reviewed the Marriage Laws. The Law Commission recommendations on the future of the Marriage Law in England and Wales is due to be released soon. More information can be found out about this at @givecoupleschoicemovement.
There are couples who prefer to make a commitment to each other without the legal paperwork. However, most couples who have a Celebrant-led wedding do the official bit at a local Register Office a couple of days/a week beforehand. This can be with a full audience, or alternatively, with the couple plus two witnesses which is called a 2X2. As many couples nowadays prefer to make their Celebrant-led wedding Day ‘The One’ they spend their budget on that instead. So, starting off with the Celebrant-led wedding ceremony, you can then enjoy the full celebrations on your Wedding Day.
Tell me more about the different types of services
There are so many ceremonies and rituals that can be incorporated into your wedding ceremony. Trust me, at this moment somewhere in the world there will be a Celebrant creating yet another one! You might have already decided what type of ritual you want to add to the Wedding Ceremony, or you may have no idea. That is where your Celebrant comes in. As they get to know you, they will make suggestions and eventually you, the couple will make the final decision on what suits you and what you want for your Day.
What kind of ceremonies can you have?
There are so many different mini ceremonies and rituals many of which are based on the joining of the couple together known as ‘Union Ceremonies’ such as a hand tying, a sand ceremony, a candle ceremony or a drinking ceremony.
Thanks, may be offered to family and friends through a flower ceremony such as a rose which is the flower of love. Or you may decide to have a ceremony to mark the date of your wedding. A memory box can be created which contains a treasured bottle of wine or other alcohol that can be kept and drunk to celebrate your first anniversary. Inside you can place a secret love letter to each other to open on that date; and you can even add notes of best wishes from family and friends.
You might be a couple who love a laugh and have a ‘Couples’ Quiz’ to see who knows all about you. You may decide to ‘Jump the Broom’ to mark the end of the ceremony! The Sky is the limit! This is only the beginning of your journey in creating the perfect ceremony with your Celebrant.
Can I include my family or friends?
In the ceremony, you can include family and friends; not only to read a poem or play an instrumental piece. How about a surprise in your ceremony with family singing a favourite song. Or they could be included in the hand tying or sand ceremony and so on!
Pets can be included too! You want your dog to take an active part in the ceremony and be your ring bearer, Or the bride may choose to have her favourite horse in the field near-by.
A family could even combine a wedding with a naming ceremony! All these elements can be included in a Celebrant ceremony as there is no set scheme or order to the event! The Celebrant will design the ceremony to suit the couple!
Where can I get married with a celebrant?
Literally anywhere (within the realms of reason, of course!). Celebrants are in the unique position to be able to give their couples the type of ceremony they want and more often in an unusual location. You may be dreaming of saying your vows in a woodland copse or at a festival, being in your own garden or standing together on your favourite beach. Many couples love the idea of a boho-themed ceremony in a field full of Tipis.
Celebrant-led ceremonies can also take place in a magnificent industrial or city venue, in a deconsecrated historical chapel or in a grand country house.
The venue doesn’t have to be licensed as all the official bits happen elsewhere as we’ve mentioned above.
OK so I’ve decided a celebrant service is for me – what should I look for when looking for one?
Two key things – character and creativity. You want to find a celebrant who genuinely loves people and weddings. They have a great imagination a wealth of ideas and enjoy writing and creating the perfect setting for your ceremony. And most importantly someone you get along with. Most Celebrants will offer a complimentary Discovery Call via Zoom, Facetime or WhatsApp so you can have an initial chat to get to ask questions, meet the Celebrant and decide if you are a good fit.
So how will it work once I’ve chosen my celebrant?
Once you have chosen your Celebrant, they will start to get to know you and your relationship. And that’s when the fun begins! You will meet on a number of occasions depending on your time scale.
Whether you want a fun, relaxed, modern, Harry Potter, Disney, Star Wars theme … the list goes on; a Celebrant-led ceremony will deliver – in bucket-loads!
Do you want personalised wedding vows or a Ring Promise, your Celebrant will assist you with making all these choices. They’ll help you with choosing or writing your own vows and ring promises or even write them for you based on your wishes.
You can have whatever type or number of songs, music, readings or poems you want to create the perfect ceremony that matches your personalities, values and lifestyle.
Some Celebrants offer support with the choreography of the Day with a rehearsal so that you can prepare yourselves and other members of the wedding party for their role in the ceremony.
So lets wrap it up!
What’s not to like about having a Celebrant! They’re truly flexible people and you get the ceremony that you want. A unique and personal occasion which makes a wonderful start to your Wedding Day!
Meet Susan
Susan is a celebrant based in the Midlands who specialises in unique and alternative ceremonies for couples looking for something a little bit different. Whatever the location, Susan can help create a personal and unique wedding just for you. Also a member of the Leicester Wedding Network. All photo's of Susan below courtesy of Chris Stuart. Click on Susan's logo to the left to find out more.
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