People often ask me, what’s the difference between a civil ceremony and celebrant wedding? It’s a great question, so let me explain…
A civil ceremony (as well as some church ceremonies) are attended by a local authority registrar and this makes them legal. Civil ceremonies do allow for personal touches (I am also a registrar, so can vouch for them being lovely in many ways), but they are built around a template script. Legal weddings are time and location constrained, and the legal words must be spoken exactly. Civil weddings do not allow any food or drink in the ceremony room, religious content or connotation may not be included (many Celtic rituals for example). If you are looking for a timely, legal ceremony, at a licensed venue, then a registrar wedding is likely for you.
A celebrant wedding offers something different. Firstly, the celebrant meets with the couple beforehand and writes a highly bespoke script based on getting to know you as a couple. Personal vows and readings can also be developed and chosen together. Secondly, a celebrant wedding has no rules. You might want a religious prayer or blessing, a breaking of the glass; you might even want to jump the broomstick! This is your ceremony and should reflect who you are as a couple, and as individuals.
As well as no content restrictions at a celebrant wedding, this also applies to time and location. A registrar will often have others weddings to attend that day and a legal ceremony must take place at a licensed venue. Not so a celebrant wedding. The celebrant will only have your wedding that day, which means no rushing. And, if you’ve always imagined saying "I do" under the stars, on a beach, in a luscious garden, by castle ruins, or even in your own home, then a celebrant-led ceremony is the perfect fit for you.
A celebrant wedding is flexible, personal, and can be as formal or laid-back as you’d like. While these types of weddings are not yet legal, there is a simple additional step that can be taken quickly and cheaply at any register office. You can book a statutory or simple marriage (I can advise on this) on a separate date, where you simply say the legal words and sign the paperwork, in the presence of two witnesses (who can be anyone - I can recommend witnesses for hire if you’d like to keep this part of things entirely secret!). Then, your celebrant wedding will contain your chosen traditional elements - rings, readings, personal vows, music etc; as well as your choices of non traditional or religious elements - hand-fasting, tree-planting, jumping the broomstick; breaking the glass or standing beneath a chuppah... the list goes on and on!
Click the link below for an outline of my ceremony packages ❤️
