There are so many ways a celebrant can make your wedding ceremony extra special. As a Celebrant, I’ve led the ceremonies for many couples across the southeast. Every wedding I have the honour of officiating offers a wonder fresh journey to take, and new stories to tell. I love getting to know my beautiful couples and telling their unique tales of love.
Working with over 50 couples a year and have always said this is honestly a dream job. I love being a Celebrant, especially when I know first-hand how much joy a beautifully written and officiated ceremony brings not only to the happy couple but also to their loved ones and very special guests.
The wonderful thing about weddings is they are constantly evolving, with trends coming and going all the time, but one change that has not abated, and that’s the desire to personalise. For a couple to make a wedding different and unique for the couple there is so much to choose from, You see it in colours, decor, entertainment, food, and also what a couple and their party wear.
Subsequently, this is also the same for couples wanting to personalise their ceremony and realise they do not have to settle for the same boring standardised script that a registrar-led ceremony does and can choose to have a beautiful bespoke Celebrant-led ceremony instead.
However, not every couple has been exposed to the benefits of having a Celebrant to officiate their ceremony, so I thought I’d share a few reasons why you should consider one.
But first! What is a Celebrant?
A Celebrant is someone who officiates wedding ceremonies, vow renewals, funerals, and baby naming ceremonies. When it comes to wedding Celebrants specifically, they work with couples to create a bespoke ceremony by entwining the stories a couple has shared along with details of the journey together, a celebrant will create a ceremony and exchange of vows that is 100% unique to the couple.
A celebrant-led wedding is very different to one given by registrar from your registry office. firstly there is barely any personalisation within the ceremony, and the experience is standardised for every couple.
The major difference is, however, a registry office wedding is legally binding, and a celebrant wedding is not. But that’s ok! All you need to do is book a "quickie ceremony" at your local registry office. Then you can have a real wedding ceremony with your celebrant.
Reasons You Should Choose a Wedding Celebrant
Hiring a celebrant to officiate your wedding can be one of the best decisions you will make when planning your wedding ceremony, and here’s why!
A Celebrant will provide a unique, personalised wedding ceremony tailored to your beliefs, values, and preferences. As a wedding celebrant, I work with lots of couples from all different backgrounds, and faiths, and one of the wonderful things I am able to do when officiating a ceremony, compared to a registrar-led ceremony, blends a couple's faiths and their beliefs into a beautiful ceremony that celebrates them both
Celebrants are experienced in creating ceremonies that are meaningful, memorable, and appropriate to the occasion
The role of the wedding celebrant is to create a ceremony that you’ll never forget. A moment that’s literally all about you, and the ones you love. To have someone really get to know you, and tell your story in a way that matches the whole theme of the day, is something that cannot be understated.
You can select your own Celebrant to ensure their style and approach match your vision. Registrars are appointed to couples based on nothing more than who is available on the day and time of your ceremony. The first time you meet is just 30 minutes before your ceremony.
However, when it comes to choosing your wedding celebrant, you have the power to decide who marries you. And for us, as celebrants, this means meeting couples either in person, or via Zoom, and seeing if we click.
This is a significant thing because the person presiding over your wedding is really going to get to know you, and you’ll be sharing countless personal stories with them. So you need to be certain they’re right for you, and that they’re going to tell your tale in a way that feels natural.
Celebrants help you to choose which rituals and readings you wish to include.
You would be amazed at how many marriage rituals there are, and as a wedding celebrant in Buckinghamshire, it’s my job to know as many as possible. Some of them you will already know, like ‘tying the knot’, that’s actually a ritual, otherwise known as ‘hand fasting’. Others are less mainstream, like ‘jumping the broomstick’, or having a sand or wine ceremony.
These little ceremonies symbolise the union of the couple, and they can be a really romantic and fun way to bring extra meaning to a ceremony.
Readings too are a vitally important part of celebrant-led weddings, helping to bring gravitas to the moment. These texts are wide-ranging, from modern to ancient. And it’s up to the celebrant to choose one or two that fit the couple, their story, and their theme. Check out my last blog for more help and advice on how to create the perfect reading.
We can provide guidance and support in the lead-up to the ceremony.
As the celebrant, it’s our job to make sure you feel happy and comfortable not just on the wedding day, but in the lead-up to it too. We’ll be there to answer any questions and provide support when you need it most.
We will ensure the ceremony runs smoothly and on time.
One of the last things you want on your wedding day is to be worrying about timings. Are we running over? Do we have time for that bit? Thoughts like these take you out of the moment and bring strain on the happy occasion. Well! You never have to worry when you book me as unlike many other celebrants I only book I ceremony a day.
Celebrants are so talented in organising a schedule, getting people together, and making sure everything runs on time. Having their experienced eyes and ears on your team cannot be overlooked.
We Help You Write Your Vows.
Not all of us are natural writers or orators. So for some, writing wedding vows is a scary prospect. But not with a celebrant by your side! We can gift you incredible one-to-one support throughout the vow writing process, and guide your prose so that it complements your partners’. An often overlooked aspect of vows, and something that can make the ceremony feel much more coherent. But don’t worry, we won’t tell your partner what you’ve written!
I do hope this post has guided you in understanding a few of the benefits to be had from hiring a professional wedding celebrant. It would be a pleasure to help you further, and actually, be your celebrant!
I’m fortunate enough to have been a wedding celebrant in Buckinghamshire for many years now and have created magical, personal ceremony moments for countless couples across the UK. Weaving together your stories, readings, music, and rituals such as hand fasting or unity candles.
I’ll create a ceremony that’ll set the stage for the next chapter in your life together. You’re welcome to find out more about what’s included in my wedding services, and the costs, via my ceremony fees page. And if you require any further assistance, or would like to book me as your Buckinghamshire wedding celebrant, please get in touch.
Written by Nicola West, Feb 2023
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