FAQs Couple & Family Ceremonies

 Are celebrant-led wedding or civil partnership ceremonies legally binding?

 

No. To be legally married, or to have a legal civil partnership, a couple will need to complete the legal side of the ceremony at the local Register Office, or in a church, before the celebration ceremony. Most people who choose to have a celebrant-led ceremony book a short, legal, '2 plus 2' ceremony – i.e., the couple, plus two witnesses (cost - approx. £80 - £90 total).

 

So, what’s the point of having a celebrant led wedding or civil partnership ceremony?

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Choosing an independent celebrant gives you the freedom to create the most special ceremony which reflects all that is important to you as couple – including your choice of location. I can weave in your ideas, your words, and your music choices, so that your ceremony truly reflects you both, with no restrictions.

 

Are there any rules about where or when we can hold our ceremony?

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None at all. The ceremony can be held whenever, and wherever you want – in a hotel, a castle, a back garden, on the beach, in the woods, by a lake – the possibilities are endless, as long as you have permission from whoever owns that land, location, or venue.

 

If you are planning to hold your ceremony outdoors, you will need to make sure that you have a gazebo (or similar shelter) that can be used - just in case!

 

How long before a ceremony should we book your services?

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When you have decided the date and venue, that is the time to book your celebrant. Deciding on who you would like to lead your ceremony is a very personal choice, and when you find the right person, it is important to book your date with them as soon as possible.

 

Can we involve our guests in the ceremony?

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Yes, there are lots of ways to involve your guests – for example, they may do a reading, say a prayer, or join in with a symbolic action.

 

At the Naming Ceremony of a friend's baby, they planted a tree. Can we do something special like this?

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Yes, there are various symbolic actions that you might choose to add into your ceremony. I will be able to discuss them with you when we meet, and you can read about them on my website.

 

On the day of our ceremony, how long will you be there?

 

​Normally I will arrive at least an hour before the start of the ceremony. I will then leave when the ceremony has finished, so that you can move on to the next stage of your celebration.

 

What happens if you are taken ill, or have an accident, and can’t make the ceremony?

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I have a network of other professional celebrants who are available to stand in. In the unlikely event of me being unable to attend, I will find a suitable replacement for you.