Wedding Celebrants FAQs

Wedding celebrants provide a bespoke ceremony, with no rules or regulations. This is at a venue of your choice, licensed or unlicensed. As your professional wedding celebrant, I will not be a stranger to you on your big day, as you will have met me at least twice. The truly personal ceremony is all about you and your relationship, and your character will be stamped all over it.

A Registrar is a government official and can perform ceremonies only in venues licensed for marriages using specified contractual wording to legalise it. No spiritual or religious content may be used, and the couple will not have met the Registrar before the day of their marriage.

Not necessarily. Most couples do prefer to register their marriage before the Celebrant Wedding ceremony. However, if you would prefer to register your marriage afterwards, this is OK too.

Sadly, at this moment in time, no, although wedding celebrants are campaigning to get this changed. You will need to register your marriage in a Registry Office before or after your celebrant wedding ceremony in order to make it legally binding. This normally takes about 15 minutes. You need to take 2 witnesses with you, and it is similar to registering a death or birth. Depending on the area, the cost is in the region of £45. This can be done before or after your celebrant ceremony.

No. A celebrant wedding ceremony is all about celebrating your love and relationship in a way that is special to you. There is no need to legalise it if you don’t want to. However, it does mean, in the eyes of the law, that you are not legally married. If you wish to legalise your marriage, this can be done at a registry office either before or after your wedding ceremony, in much the same way you register a birth or death, you just need 2 witnesses to join you and it costs an average of £45 dependant on the area you live in.

Certainly not. Signing the register is simply signing the legal paperwork. The most meaningful part of your wedding day surely is the words you say to one another, your vows, and declaring your love and commitment in front of your family and friends. Wedding celebrants make this very personal and memorable. It is inconvenient that you can’t do it all at the same time but the inconvenience is completely outweighed by the advantages.

That is a choice for each individual wedding celebrant, but yes, I most certainly do.

I predominantly work in the south west, but I am willing to travel anywhere. Naturally, the cost of travel expenses and overnight accommodation will be added to the cost.

Yes! I am always willing to travel overseas to assist with a destination wedding. Contact me to discuss your plans and destination, and I will provide you with a specific quote based on your intended wedding location. (I charge a daily rate whilst I’m away from the UK, plus all travelling expenses and accommodation.)

It is very important to me that we do meet – preferably twice. Initially just to make sure that we all get along and I’m the right person for you. I prefer to do this in person but sometimes logistically this just isn’t possible so can meet over skype or facetime. The second time is crucial and it’s when I really get to know you both and get a proper feel for your relationship and characters.

Normally, this isn’t necessary as we will have discussed the ceremony in great detail beforehand. However, if you want to hold one, I shall certainly attend, but it will mean some additional travel expenses.

The beauty of engaging wedding celebrants is literally anywhere you like, provided you have permission from the landowners, of course.

Yes. You can do this yourself or with some help from me. Sometimes it’s tricky to get started, but once you get going, you’ll find it quite easy. Alternatively, you may prefer the more traditional recognised vows, which I will supply you with samples of, and then you can choose the ones that suit you best. You can read them yourselves or repeat after me. It’s your day, so you do it the way that you both prefer. We will keep in close touch throughout, and I shall give you as much help as you need.

No, and that’s the beauty of engaging wedding celebrants. The content of a Celebrant Ceremony is not restricted to any culture, faith, or religion. If you wish to incorporate a cultural or religious tradition into your ceremony, you may.

Wedding celebrants may vary in the style of ceremony they offer. However, I am more than happy to include symbolic ceremonies. Hand Fasting, Sand Ceremonies, Unity Candle Ceremonies, Jumping The Broom. Just give me a call and we can discuss anything you like.

Oh yes. Let’s face it, pets are members of your family too, so why shouldn’t they be there? The only restriction you may get is from your chosen wedding venue.

Certainly, wedding celebrants are not governed by laws and restrictions! Your ceremony is about you and your personal style. I actively welcome your ideas, no matter how crazy, wacky, or unusual they may seem!

Absolutely. You can choose anything you want. Lyrics from a song, religious, non-religious, silly, or sentimental. Again, unlike a registrar-led wedding, there are no restrictions. This is one of the main reasons why couples book wedding celebrants, their wedding ceremony is truly personal to them.

Of course. Whatever rocks your boat! Again, there are no restrictions on the wedding ceremony. With a registrar wedding ceremony, this is not possible, hence why so many couples choose wedding celebrants over a registrar. We really do give you the freedom to create a memorable day!

People encounter many changes throughout their lives and often wish to commemorate individual rites of passage in their own unique ways. I will work with you to provide bespoke ceremonies for all occasions that are important and personal to you. These may include… birthdays, anniversaries, baby blessings, wedding vow renewals, moving home, coming of age, divorce, or anything else which you may wish to commemorate. Some wedding celebrants also provide celebration of life ceremonies, in place of a funeral, however, this is not a service that I offer.