As a humanist celebrant based in South Yorkshire, I’m a tiny bit biassed - but here’s 5 reasons why I think a celebrant wedding in Sheffield Just. Makes. Sense.
Ok, yes, let’s discuss the elephant in the room immediately: I am a wedding celebrant in Sheffield. Fine! You caught me! I bloody love Sheffield for so many reasons, and am incredibly proud to do my job as a wedding celebrant here and across Yorkshire; so really I’m just doing my civic duty in passing-on the reasons to have a celebrant wedding in Sheffield.
What are those reasons, I hear you say? Well, I'm so glad you asked...
5 reasons why a Sheffield celebrant wedding just makes sense:
1. Freedom and Individuality
A celebrant wedding gives you the freedom to do whatever YOU want for your ceremony. The spirit of this city is deliciously rebellious, and if you’re the kind of people who don’t like being told what to do – following in the footsteps of real-life Sheffield rebel Jarvis Cocker* – you might not want the more rigid, templated style of a registrar wedding.
By contrast, a celebrant wedding lets you be your true self, in all your glory. Your ceremony becomes about celebrating your personalities, your relationship and your story. As a Sheffield wedding celebrant I want my couples to be able to be fully themselves on their wedding day.
It’s an event you’ll remember for a really long time, so it’s wildly important that you can look back knowing you were completely, wholly authentic!
(*I’m referring here to when he mooned the audience at the BRIT Awards 1996. If you got that reference – you’re in the right place. And if you’re too young for it, I promise I also take part in culture from this millennia.)
2. Equality
The UK’s first women’s suffrage organisation was founded here in Sheffield, celebrant weddings carry on their legacy of equality – it’s one of the core principles of Humanism, in fact, so we have to practice what we (non-religiously) preach.
Celebrant weddings don’t have any rules about what you can and can’t say (within the realms of being a decent person, of course) so I won’t force you to use old fashioned language that reinforces stereotypes, I won’t make any assumptions about your sexualities, genders or gender roles, and I won’t automatically expect that one of you is going to be taking your partner’s name!
3. Fun
We all know a Northern crowd appreciates a bit of light entertainment, and a celebrant wedding is definitely more fun for your guests.
Don’t have your Nanan snoozing through a boring old “normal” ceremony – treat her to a celebrant wedding.
I'm not saying it will be a full on laugh-a-minute comedy set, but your ceremony can burst with life, vivacity and energy. (And, for what it's worth, this Sheffield wedding celebrant can handle heckling). Hearing about you and your partner, the funny stories of how you got together, the ridiculous antics you’ve been up to since, or just what you love about each other, is much more fun and personal. Whatever you decide works for you, your guests will love it.
4. Flexibility
Because celebrant weddings don’t require venues with a licence, you can be more adventurous with where you wed. In fact, you can have complete flexibility with venue choice.
And given that one-third of Sheffield is in the Peak District National Park, you might even be tempted to choose the great outdoors as the backdrop to your wedding vows?
Don’t get me wrong, celebrant weddings take place in brilliant licensed venues all over Sheffield too. Celebrant weddings still give you more flexibility in these instances – e.g. if you’re running late, I can wait until you’re ready to start with no quick turnover afterwards.
5. Meaningful
A celebrant wedding is an intentional choice, not a tick box. Just because you’re not religious doesn’t mean you don’t believe in anything. You have values that you live your life by, and you’ve found someone who shares them – so let’s celebrate that.
Sold on a Steel City wedding?
An excellent choice, if I do say so myself (which I do, over and over again, in this article.)
Sold on a celebrant wedding in the Steel City?
EVEN BETTER.
Read my bio below to see how I work, and if it sounds like a good fit then get in touch. We can chat all things Sheffield, like the best real ale pubs, what the heck they're doing with the old Cole Brothers building, and how much we love spotting Jess Ennis-Hill out and about... oh and of course, your wedding.
As a wedding celebrant in South Yorkshire it’s my honour to marry remarkable humans to their favourite people. My style is warm and judgement-free, to encourage couples to be their authentic selves on their wedding day. With me hosting it, your ceremony will be a life affirming experience which celebrates your individuality. My mission is to help people express themselves fully, and deeply connect with their loved ones during life’s milestone moments.
Photography credit: Hannah Brooke Photography. Hannah tells all about why photographers love celebrant weddings here.