I love weddings as much as the next person – perhaps even more so, considering I made my whole job being a Sheffield wedding celebrant – but let’s be honest: sometimes, they can be boring.
I’m sure you’ve found your mind wandering during at least one ceremony, dreaming of when it might be finally time for the canapes and bubbles…and I’m also pretty certain that that won’t have happened during a ceremony led by a celebrant.
Celebrant weddings are many things, but one thing they’re definitely not is boring, because of the joyous flexibility they offer.
Celebrant weddings are many things, but one thing they’re definitely not is boring, because of the joyous flexibility they offer. In comparison, registrar weddings have a very rigid structure that they have to follow. This isn’t to say that all civil ceremonies are boring, but that sometimes they can feel a little formulaic because, well, they have to be.
A non-boring wedding alternative
So, how come celebrant weddings are the complete antidote to boring? Here’s a few reasons…
Your guests get to hear your story
With a celebrant wedding, your guests will get to hear YOUR individual story (instead of some template wording about the institution of marriage.) And I know we’ve only just met, but I reckon you’re pretty interesting, aren’t you?!
A celebrant’s wedding script reflects who you are, where you’ve come from, and where you’re going, too. They weave in everything, from the first time you met (if you remember it…) to the future you’re creating, with any funny, momentous or important moments along the way.
You get to choose the person leading your ceremony
And how do they get to know your story so well? Well, they get to know you, and vice versa. Instead of being assigned someone at random from the council's team of registrars, you’ll work with your celebrant in the run-up to the wedding.
Plus, you get to choose your celebrant, meaning you’re 100% in control of having someone who’s fun and definitely not boring – someone who matches your vibe, who’ll bring the vibes, and gets what you want from your wedding day.
There are no legal constraints
Because celebrant-led weddings aren’t legally binding ceremonies in England (yet!), they’re not bound by any legal constraints. For example, you can have the bar open for guests before the ceremony starts, which you can’t do with a legal ceremony, and they (and you, if you like) can have a glass of your favourite tipple during the ceremony.
There’s no time constraints, either
Whilst a (possibly) longer ceremony doesn’t strictly sound non-boring, hear me out: it’s a breath of fresh air compared with the structure of a registrar having to start on the dot of the agreed time (legally, being punctual is a whole thing).
Also, most celebrants only work with one couple per day, so you can start whenever you like. This means you’re not only able to have a relaxed vibe during the ceremony, where your guests can get comfy, but also a more relaxed vibe beforehand, with a much chiller start to your day!
You can personalise a celebrant-led ceremony in loads of fun and unusual ways
Because of the lack of formula, your celebrant-led wedding ceremony can be pretty much anything you want it to be. If this feels overwhelming, don’t worry: how you want your ceremony to feel is something your celebrant can help you work out (but if you’re looking for some inspiration, I’ve got a blog post here with 10 ways to personalise your wedding).
There’s more flexibility to include things that are culturally important to you
Because you’ll be developing the ceremony together with your celebrant, you’ll be able to talk everything through as you go. This means that instead of things being misconstrued as religious content and being excluded, you’ll be able to include culturally important ceremonies, rituals or items if you so wish.
Ready to take your next step towards a non-boring, alternative wedding? I'M THRILLED FOR YOU!
If you want more inspiration, you can check out my blog on how to make the most of your celebrant wedding. Alternatively, if you’re looking for a Sheffield wedding celebrant (oh and I do marry folk in the Peak District too). I’d love to chat about your plans.
Get in touch here to let me know some more about what you’re looking for, and how we can make it happen.
Image credits: Lianne Gray Photography. The images on this page are from Adam and Francesca's wedding at Hooton Pagnell Hall. Their ceremony was in the Summer House and it was a blast!