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 is attended by a local authority registrar and this makes them legal. Civil ceremonies do allow for personal touches, but they are built around a template script, and with very little contact between the couple and registrar. 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, and religious content or connotation may not be included (many Celtic rituals for example).
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 then be developed and chosen together. Secondly, a celebrant wedding has no rules. You might want a hand-fasting, 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.
Celebrant weddings are flexible, personal, and can be as formal or laid-back as you’d like. As well as having no restrictions on content, the same applies to time and location. A registrar will 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, 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.
While these types of weddings are not yet legal, there is an 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 (I can recommend witnesses for hire if you’d like to keep this part of things 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.
The Pòsadh (Wedding: Scottish Gaelic) Clock, made as part of my recent exhibition at Fitzrovia Chapel, symbolises the breadth of creativity we can bring to your wedding. Do get in touch to hear about what each number’s unique icon represents. Time to have some fun!
Click the link below for an outline of my “Full Monty” ceremony package:
