Celebrant-led wedding ceremonies are becoming more popular, as couples are finding they have a choice as to the type of ceremony they can have. Although in Wales and England a legal civil ceremony can only take place with a registrar, more couples are now following the ‘legal bit’ with a much more personalised and unique ceremony, that tells their story and puts their love at the heart of their celebrations.
One of the questions I’m often asked is what makes a celebrant ceremony so different?
Well, here are five reasons to help you decide!
1. A Celebrant-led ceremony is personalised and unique
With a humanist wedding, your ceremony will be unique and unlike anyone else’s. It will be entirely personalised, focussing on you, reflecting your love story and personalities, a true celebration of your love.
Having been a registrar for over 20 years, I can say that registrar ceremonies are, in the main, generic. A registrar will sometimes have to do several ceremonies a day and the only thing that differs between each one, will be the names of the couple. Registrars are nice people and want you to enjoy your special day, but, they have a legal job to do, have set regulations and rules to follow and are often on a tight timescale on the day.
As a humanist celebrant I have a wealth of experience to call on to help you create the perfect ceremony. Want to say your own vows, but don’t know where to start? Looking for that special reading? Looking to create your own symbolic rite? I can help you choose the parts of your ceremony that are important to you both.
If you’re looking for a ceremony that is all about you two, that celebrates your relationship, and you want to throw the rule book out of the window, then a celebrant ceremony is the way to go.
2. You’ll get to know the person who will be leading your ceremony
As part of the process of creating a ceremony, as your celebrant gets to know you both, you get to know them too! There will be time spent in meetings, either face to face or online, where your celebrant finds out your story – how you met, how you fell in love, how your relationship developed and any funny anecdotes and stories that make you the couple that you are.
Once I’ve spent time with my couples, I then write their ceremony, weaving their story together. Once the first draft is ready, we then get to work on it together, fine tuning the script until it’s perfect for their celebration.
I can’t deny that sometimes weddings can be nerve-wracking and stressful. However, I am with my couples every step of the way, offering advice, suggestions and ideas, the friendly and familiar face at the end of the aisle to greet you and a safe pair of hands to ensure your ceremony runs smoothly, bringing warmth, humour, and professionalism to your special day, so that you can relax and enjoy every moment of it.
3. Location, Location, Location
Unlike a legal civil ceremony, with a humanist wedding you can have your ceremony anywhere. It could be a place that has significance to you both, where you had your first date, or a favourite place, a village hall, your own garden, on a beach or at a licensed venue, the choice is yours. You really can celebrate your love in the location that is perfect for you. After all, it’s your day, your way!
4. A memorable ceremony for you and your guests
You invite your guests for a reason, they are the family and friends who are most important to you. Humanist ceremonies are inclusive, so your guests can be involved to. They can be included in your story, take part in a reading or a symbolic rite, such as a handfasting.
If you’re looking for ideas on how to make sure your guests can feel a part of your day, I’m here to help. One of the joys of being a celebrant is speaking to guests and hearing how much they enjoyed a ceremony. If you’d like a ceremony that is memorable, that you and your family and friends will remember and talk about over the years to come, maybe a celebrant-led celebration is for you.
5. How do I know who is the right celebrant for me?
Well, there are lots of celebrants around! As a humanist celebrant, I am trained and accredited by Humanists UK which is the most experienced network of celebrants in the UK. You can find out more about Humanism here (www.humanists.uk).
Once you’ve decided on the type of ceremony you want, the kind of tone you’re looking for, do your research. Check out websites, social media, reviews, check training and certification and arrange to speak to a few celebrants. Make sure you find the celebrant you click with, we’re all different! You’ll be sharing a lot of information with them, so you need to know you’re going to get on and can work with them. Choose the one who matches you most, who you trust will set the tone for your day. You can read all about my process here.
