Say YES to a Celebrant led wedding!

Why a Celebrant led wedding could be the ideal choice for your dream ceremony.

Congratulations on your engagement!

What happens next?

The decision to say ‘Yes!’ was the easy part, now there are several more decisions to make.

So many things go into creating your wedding day. The venue you and your loved ones are gathered together in, the outfits, flowers, the cake! You’ll likely be looking at photographers, rings, caterers. 

But at the heart of a wedding is the love and commitment between you and your partner, and the moment this all comes together is during the ceremony. 

Did you know there are several options for how you do this? Let’s look at the possibilities.

Religious Ceremony

Some couples may want to have a religious ceremony and marry in a church or other religious building, officiated by a vicar, priest or other religious minister. The church may have 2 or more ceremonies happening on the same day, so it’s essential to check the timings. The average church wedding costs start around £530, excluding reading of Banns, services of church verger, heating, music and non-local parish fees.

Civil Ceremony at a Licensed Venue

Many wedding venues may advertise they have a License to conduct Civil Ceremonies, where two local authority Registrars will attend the venue to conduct the ceremony. For this type of Civil Ceremony, costs can vary widely depending on the county, day of the week and time the wedding starts, but can start at around £655, excluding giving notice, certificates and add-ons. The two Registrars will likely attend several weddings on the same day in their county and you will meet them shortly before your ceremony begins.

Civil Ceremony at a Register Office

Alternatively, a couple may choose to go a Register Office such as a Town Hall. There may be a choice of rooms of various sizes and style where the ceremony takes place, with space for a limited number of guests. The room will likely be used for several other ceremonies during the day, so timings will be need to be adhered to. Costs start around £500 with increases for certain days and times of the week.

Or….you can have a Celebrant led wedding ceremony. 

According to Hitched uk, Celebrant led weddings are now one of the most searched for terms for those planning their wedding. Around 10,000 Celebrant led weddings took place last year.

Why? Because couples want more choice, more creativity and less restrictions on their ceremony, and are discovering that they can have a bespoke wedding ceremony with a Celebrant. 

One of the main differences is that the couple will sign their legal paperwork at a Register Office, separate to their ceremony with their guests. This is a simple process which can be completed in the days just before (or after) the ceremony. Legalising your marriage costs around £60 and you will need two witnesses. This is also a popular choice for couples who want to have their wedding ceremony abroad.

With a Celebrant led wedding, you get a ceremony that is unique to you. You also have the bonus of getting to know your Celebrant in the months before your Big Day, so you’ll have a friendly and familiar face guiding you through the whole event. Your Celebrant can guide you on writing your vows, readings and music, the staging of your ceremony and offer beautiful symbolic rituals such as handfasting, or how about a cocktail toast to add some creative flair!

Don’t forget you must ‘Give Notice’ of your marriage at your local Register Office at least 28 days before your legal marriage date. You will need an advance appointment and personal documentation to do this.