The Role of a Wedding Celebrant

A Wedding Celebrant is a person who has been trained to provide you with a customised Ceremony.

Celebrants in England and Wales are not currently able to make a marriage legally binding, therefore you and your partner will visit your local Register Office prior to your ceremony (I can help and support you in this process).

As an Independent Wedding Celebrant I will work with you to plan and officiate your Wedding Ceremony, your wedding is your vision and we will work together to ensure your Wedding comes to life.

I will help and guide you through the process, how the ceremony unfolds, personalising vows, incorporating rituals like candle lighting or tree planting, suggesting poems or readings and tailoring the day to your specific requirements.

I will work closely with you and, if you so wish, your family and friends, to write a bespoke meaningful ceremony which conveys your relationship, dreams and goals.

An Independent Wedding Celebrant can perform your wedding Ceremony wherever you would like (all within the guidelines of Health & Safety of course). Do you have a visions of saying your vows in your favourite spot, maybe where you or your partner proposed, or have you dreamt of walking down the aisle in your parents' garden. We can work together to achieve your vision.

Your Ceremony, Your Way

A Celebrant can carry out, or perform, ceremonies which mark important life events or milestones. This includes ceremonies such as Weddings, Vow Renewals, Naming Ceremonies and Funerals.

What type of ceremony can I have?

Being an Independent Celebrant means you can have your ceremony, your way...

Traditional Ceremonies. You may wish to have a more traditional ceremony, thereby want to include a religious element, such as a prayer or a hymn, maybe you have a relative who is a vicar and you would like them to recite a religious reading, or a prayer to include loved ones no longer with us.

Spiritual Ceremonies. Perhaps you are spiritual and wish to acknowledge your connection to the Divine through poem or music. You can incorporate symbolic rituals that reflect your spiritual values.

Inclusivity. Are you a same sex couple looking to have your ceremony your way - I will confirm with you the terminology you wish to use and the nature and language which reflect your needs and wants.

Themed Ceremonies. Are you or your loved ones Star Wars fans and want to base your ceremony around a passion - ' May the Force be with you', whatever the inspiration behind your thoughts, we will create a themed ceremony tailored to you and your loved ones.

Whatever your passion, together we will create your visions.

What is the review?

Currently in England and Wales a marriage is only legal when officiated by a Registrar, (an official employed by the local authority). The Marriage Act dates from 1836, it has had a few changes along the way, but primarily remains unchanged. Back in July 2022, the Law Commission completed its report as to how couples can marry and where. The main difference being that rather than a venue being licenced, the officiant would be licenced. Therefore there would be universal rules for all weddings of all faiths and civil ceremonies.

The new reforms would simplify the process and give couples more choice. With Labour's landslide victory in July 2024 the Marriage Reform was unfortunately not on their manifesto, we await for government to catch up with the times and bring the marriage laws in to the 21st Century.

What is the difference between a Humanist and an Independent Celebrant?

Humanists UK is an organisation promoting Humanism in Britain and from their website www.humanists.uk they note... "Many people are humanists without even knowing it. If you are a non-religious and look to science, reason, empathy and compassion in order to live an ethical and meaningful life..."

There are many similarities to Humanist and Independent Celebrants, they both require you to have a legal ceremony at the Register Office beforehand, they both personalise and write a unique ceremony, they both guide you through your journey. So what is the difference?

A humanist is non-religious and as such any ceremony does not contain any religious reference. Whereas an Independent Celebrant can and will incorporate religious and spiritual elements into the ceremony at the couple's request. For example, if you had a singer at your ceremony and you wanted them to sing 'Ave Maria', if your celebrant was Humanist you wouldn't be able to have the words sung, whereas at an Independent Celebrant ceremony it would be allowed.

What is AOIC?

The Association of Independent Celebrants is an association for celebrants across the UK. Why does this matter to you?

By being a member of the AOIC you can rest assure that I am trained to their standards and abide by the Professional Standards for Celebrants. Ceremonies from the Shire are insured with the AIOC which means you can rest easy knowing we are covered should anything happen. Being a member of the AOIC also ensures we have support and up-to-date training, if there is a change in the law or circumstances then we have the back up to ensure we are working correctly. We also have numerous resources at our disposal, if I don't know the answer to one of your questions then I will know someone who does.

Being a member of the AOIC is the mark of quality and reliability and your assurance that you're in safe hands.

Final thoughts

Choosing a celebrant isn't just about finding someone to lead your ceremony. It's about finding someone who will understand your story, honour your values and help you create a day you'll remember forever.

If you're ready to craft a ceremony that reflects the true essence of your relationship - whether under a canopy of trees, in your family's garden, or surrounded by lightsabers, I'm here to help you make it happen.

Let's create something beautiful together... because "every story deserves a beautiful telling"

Best wishes, Gail x