What is a celebrant?
Sue by your side performing a hand fasting at a wedding ceremony
WHAT IS A CELEBRANT?
A celebrant is a qualified professional skilled in writing and public speaking—someone who crafts and delivers meaningful ceremonies that celebrate life’s most significant moments.
With input from their clients, celebrants create and perform unique, personalised ceremonies, such as weddings, vow renewals, baby naming ceremonies and funerals.
3 reasons to have a celebrant ceremony:
1. FREEDOM With no religious or legal restrictions (though religious elements can be included if you wish), you have complete control over your venue, ceremony start time, music, and content. A celebrant-led ceremony offers flexibility and freedom.
2.BESPOKE and PERSONALISED Every ceremony is tailored to your story, making it truly one of a kind.
3. REASSURING Your celebrant will be with you as a calming presence to support and guide you throughout the whole ceremony ensuring it runs smoothly and to your brief.
Why have a CELEBRANT for your wedding?
More and more couples are deciding that the traditional way for marrying is not for them. The religious ceremony in a church or the simplistic ceremony at a registry office, does not offer what a couple have decided is their dream wedding.
A celebrant-led wedding ceremony is truly wonderful and unique as:
Your beautiful love story is interwoven throughout the ceremony;
It can be anywhere (so long as permission has been agreed), anytime and planned around exactly how you want it to be;
The venue can be anywhere you choose – cliff top, stately home, woodland, back garden, boat, beach, overseas;
No matter what, your own beliefs (or none at all) can be celebrated;
All diversity is welcomed;
Family, children, friends and pets joining in is actively encouraged;
Your wedding party can sit, stand, form a circle - anything you chose;
Guests can participate with poems, songs, readings and every word spoken will be meaningful;
Any music can play, at any time, during the service and sing-a-longs are welcomed;
Beautiful traditions and rituals such as sand-pouring, hand-fasting, ring-warming can take a part
And most importantly - you get to say the vows that are meaningful to you both. No one is going to tell you what you have to repeat because of tradition. These will be special words of love and commitment, some of which only you and your partner will understand (all of which will have your guests laugh and shed a little tear no doubt).
What else can a celebrant bring to your wedding day?
They will take the time to get to know you, your partner, your story and see what makes you two click, what makes you smile, what makes you giggle and what makes you happy – and they will bring all this to your ceremony. Your wedding script will be woven together, reflecting your story. There is no time limit to your ceremony - it’s your special day, so the ceremony should feel relaxed and exactly as you want it.
You pick exactly what you want for your big day – the ceremony should be joyous, the start of your wedding; it’s your choice, your day. The bridal party can dance down the aisle, you could have flower best men or flower grandmas, have a surprise song sung. The choice is yours.
They will ensure that your wedding celebrations start with the ceremony – not after it.
Your celebrant will support you every step of the way—meeting with you several times, helping plan your ceremony, arriving early on the day, and making sure everything runs smoothly.
At the end of your wedding day, you will have smiled and giggled a lot, maybe cried a few happy tears and relaxed enough to enjoy the best day of your life the proper way – with huge smiles, a happy heart and the feeling that the best part of your life has just begun.
How awesome is that?
A religious marriage can have drawbacks because:
it must be held at a religious venue
it cannot be held outdoors
it has no real audience participation
it must have religious content
it is restrictive regarding: readings, poems, timing, photography...even confetti, and
it can become a conveyor belt when there are multiple weddings at the weekend.
A registry office marriage only can have drawbacks because:
it can be characterless and bland
it is a short ceremony
sometimes there is limited space for family to attend
there is no religious content
there is no participation for the audience
it can be held in an approved building only and
there will be other couples queuing up, waiting for you to complete.
What's the difference between a Marriage and a Wedding?
Current statutory law states a civil marriage must be taken by a registrar or a religious ceremony by a religious official.
At the moment, (although this is very likely to change in the near future), a Celebrant cannot legally marry you.
The Perfect Solution?
Book a simple 2+2 legal marriage ceremony at a registry office—just a 10-minute appointment to sign the paperwork. Then, within days, have the wedding of your dreams—where you exchange vows, celebrate your love, and create memories with your family and friends in a heartfelt and special and completely unique ceremony.
This way, you get the best of both worlds.
Written by and permission to use by Susan Denham, Independent Celebrant