Wedding CeremoniesWhich Type Shall I Have?

By LINSEY JONES

When planning your wedding, one of the most important decisions you will make is choosing the perfect wedding ceremony for you both. This can be quite a minefield, as there are now so many different options, but there’s a perfect wedding ceremony style for everyone. From classic and timeless religious and civil ceremonies, to something more modern, meaningful and unique celebrant-led ceremonies.

So what are the differences between them all ?

A faith-based ceremony is a beautiful way for a religious couple to have a spiritual experience and a sense of significance and purpose during their ceremony in their place of worship, aligning with their faith.

A civil ceremony is a perfect choice for non-religious couples, as it provides some flexibility for where it is held and also for choices of readings and music, as long as there are no religious connotations.

Celebrant-led weddings can be led by a Humanist or Independent celebrant and can be held anywhere at all. Anything can be included into the ceremony, which can range from unity rituals, religious/nonreligious readings, a themed ceremony (Harry Potter, Rock Stars, Woodland, Festival, etc) and the scripts are freshly written for each couple.

An Independent celebrant is not affiliated to any organisation or faith, so religious elements, traditions, prayers, etc, can also be included, if the couple felt they wanted to do this.

Currently, Celebrants in England and Wales do not have the legal authority to marry a couple, as they do in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Consultations are ongoing and if the law is changed the officiant will be licensed (celebrant, registrar, faith ministers), rather than the venue.

Until this law is passed, which is hopefully over the next year or so, if a couple want to be legally married but have a celebrant ceremony, then they can have an appointment with the Registrar, make legal declarations and sign the register. Then they can have their celebrant ceremony wherever they choose and include any content they feel reflects them as a couple.

We are all individuals and each relationship is different - so therefore each ceremony should reflect the couple’s beliefs and values - whatever they may be. If you would like more information about celebrant-led ceremonies please get in touch.