Question 1

How can a celebrant make our ceremony extra special?

Accepted Answer

A wedding celebrant should be there for you, from when you have your wedding date up to the day you say your vows in front of all your loved ones. They should support you, write your love story, attend rehearsals at the venue of your choice, advise on suppliers to use, and then of course officiate the ceremony. Your ceremony will be extra special because of all the care given to make you feel relaxed, confident and happy, to laugh and maybe even shed a tear or two! The best part? The ceremony can be held anywhere you wish, whether it's a field, garden or a posh hotel and it can be at any time of the day. It is all up to you! Before booking, check if your celebrant can perform any rituals you may want, such as handfasting, lighting candles, a sand ceremony, or even jumping the broom!

Question 2

My partner and I are planning an autumn wedding and were wondering how we could incorporate the time of year into our ceremony?

Accepted Answer

Just about anything and everything is possible with wedding ceremonies, no matter what time of year. Couples are becoming so creative, working with their celebrant to make their ceremonies their own by designing and sharing with their guests a service that is bespoke, personal and unique to them. An autumn wedding is so romantic and atmospheric with the golden colours and the smells of the season. Ceremonies can be held inside or outside (although wellies, umbrellas and blankets may need to be at hand). A late afternoon ceremony can be very evocative, making best use of the autumn light and ambience. Poems or readings that reference nature or the changing of the seasons are great to use; a couple of beautiful romantic examples are the evocative Harvest Moon by Neil Young or The Earth Turned to Bring Us Closer by Eugenio Montejo. You can add a handfasting using natural materials to symbolise tying the knot. Most importantly, your vows or promises can also reflect the season, and your celebrant can support you in writing something very special for you both.

Question 3

My hubby-to-be and I love Christmas and want to incorporate festive nods into our ceremony. Do you have any ideas of how we could do this?

Accepted Answer

Creating a magical ceremony with festive nods is exactly what an independent celebrant will do. Whether you want a sprinkling of Christmas (or a great big dollop), you'll work with your celebrant to create the perfect feel for your big day. Think about the music that you'll come into and exit to, and if you want to have a favourite festive piece played during the ceremony. Readings can be themed, and even your vows and promises can be built around your favourite festive movies or movie quotes, the gifts you've given each other over the years, or the places you've visited over the season. Symbolic rituals can also be added. A wine, gin or mulled-wine blending ceremony can bring the season to life and is something that your lovely guests can be included in too. Blend your chosen drink, then have a tot ready for your guests to toast you with at the same time. Handfasting ribbons with themed colours, a candle ceremony to light your way, or a holly bush or ivy bush planting are just some of the limitless choices. Whether you choose one to highlight during your ceremony or to do a few to sprinkle even more magic on the occasion, your ceremony will be the highlight of your day, creating that wonderful Christmas cheer!

Question 4

How can we make our wedding ceremony personal to us?

Accepted Answer

There are so many ways that your ceremony can be personal to you. Firstly, consider the use of a celebrant, they are not confined to the structure of legal words which a registrar would be, allowing you to think outside the box. It's your special day, so share your love story with your family and friends and take them on your journey together. Consider involving family members in different ways, be it through the use of a ritual during your service, such as a sand ceremony or hand tying and have your family choose colours that represent you as individuals and as a couple. There are so many options and bespoke rituals that can be created around your loves and passions; the possibilities are endless. Write your vows to each other. A celebrant can assist you with this if you wish, and your words can come from the heart and be specific to you as a couple. Location may also be very important, and with a celebrant, you are not restricted to a certain area of a venue, so if there is a special place you wish to marry which is personal to you, consider a celebrant. We can also incorporate animals into your ceremony and even have them place a paw print on your commemorative certificate at the end. The options are endless.

Question 5

How can a celebrant help us make our ceremony extra special?

Accepted Answer

Your wedding day is an important day for you both; the ceremony is the main event and a celebrant will help create a fantastic, one-of-a-kind opening that will set the tone and atmosphere for the celebrations that follow. Your celebrant will put you first. You will be the only couple that they look after that day and give their whole focus to. You are investing in them to create a seamless ceremony around you and your love story. It will be a very personalised ceremony that will bring you and your guests together, which you'll all remember with great love and affection. Your celebrant should be someone you can trust. You'll be booking a supplier with a high degree of skill and professionalism, who can engage your guests and lead from the front. Your celebrant will spend time with you beforehand to make sure they understand what you'd love to see in your wedding ceremony. On the day you'll know them well and you'll trust them to deliver so that you have a ceremony which encapsulates everything that's important to you both.

FAQs and expert advice about celebrant