What's the difference between a registrar and a celebrant?
Registrar
Registrars in the UK are usually employed by their local council and are responsible for documenting all stages of someone’s life; from recording details of births in the area through to issuing death certificates. Registrars are probably best known however for performing marriage and civil partnership ceremonies in register offices or other approved licensed venues. A registrar can declare you legally married and can grant you an official marriage certificate.
Celebrant
Wedding celebrants are professionally trained, fully insured and are able to conduct a wedding ceremony but are not legally invested to marry a couple.
Should you choose to have a wedding celebrant officiate on your wedding day and require the marriage to be legally binding you need to ensure that you have done the following:
"You must sign a legal statement at your local register office to say you intend to get married or form a civil partnership. This is known as ‘giving notice’.
You must give notice at least 29 days before your ceremony. Notice of Marriage and Civil Partnership (per person). https://www.gov.uk/marriages-civil-partnerships/give-notice
You need to have arranged a Statutory marriage ceremony or civil partnership registration with a registrar present.
Once the legalities have been dealt with quickly and simply at a register office then your real wedding day is free to be whatever you want it to be.
Celebrant-Led Ceremonies
Gone are the days when weddings needed to be done by the book and each ceremony was similar to the next one. A wedding celebrant will not only ensure that your day runs smoothly from completing the couple's questionnaire to the actual ceremony, they will work to guarantee that the experience and memories that the occasion will impart upon you and your guests will be one that is truly unique and unforgettable..
Before deciding on the right celebrant you should do as much research as possible. Talk to friends who may have had, or know someone who has had a celebrant-led wedding and see if there is someone they would recommend. Try and speak to and meet with, as many celebrants as possible; this will enable you to find someone that suits the style and tone of your wedding and that you can build a connection with and entrust with the responsibility of creating your special day.
Deciding on the right theme and style for your ceremony
From the moment you say "I do" one of the questions you will be asked most frequently will be "what style or theme were you thinking of for your big day?"
Deciding on what is important to you as a couple will influence every decision you make, when it comes to creating your wedding day vibe and look.
Discuss together whether you're looking for an informal ceremony with a relaxed feel to it, or you'd like a more traditional tone? Maybe you'd like a combination of the two? Your decision will very much form the basis of your search for the right celebrant.
If you’ve decided to opt for a stylised wedding take your time to find a celebrant who compliments your theme and vision. By looking at pictures of them on their website you will have the opportunity to gain a sense of their personal style and appearance; it sounds superficial but remember, they are going to feature in your photos during the ceremony and they need to fit your style on the day.
The right celebrant will work with your style and personal requirements to create a bespoke ceremony. They will take the time to get to know you, individually and as a couple. By asking lots of questions they will gain an understanding of what is important to you, your marriage and your life together. A good celebrant will consider your personalities when creating your ceremony, allowing you to feel totally confident and at ease on your special day.
Use your chosen venue as a guide
Whilst you may be uncertain of the type of wedding ceremony you have in mind your choice of venue can help determine the right choice of celebrant.
It's worth asking your venue if they can recommend a celebrant to you. A celebrant who is familiar with your chosen venue can be an excellent place to start your search. However, don’t allow your venue to influence your decision when choosing a celebrant (or any supplier for that matter)!
If you have chosen an outdoor venue for your wedding consider choosing a celebrant with a strong voice or one who has access to a microphone and PA system to combat the sounds of nature and strange acoustics on the day depending on the location!
All celebrants have different styles – some will be more humorous, others more serious, while many will opt for including a symbolic element to their ceremonies – it’s important that you find a style that works for you.
The person you choose is going to support and guide you through one of the most exciting, but nerve-wracking days of your life - so it’s important that from the start you feel comfortable with them and that your connection is built on familiarity and trust. You should feel confident that they will deliver the ceremony YOU want.
Considerations when choosing your celebrant
Make sure your chosen celebrant:
Is a strong communicator – both written and verbal
Is confident and has an engaging demeanour
Do they listen to you?
Do you think they will take on board your thoughts and needs?
Has positive reviews
Is able to offer the type of ceremony you want
Is able to offer Symbolic Unity Rituals if you would like them included
Experience
Some of the greatest celebrants may not have worked in the field very long – whilst those that have been in the business for many years may perhaps be guilty of being less creative… It’s important to remember that years in the business aren’t everything when making a decision, and everyone needs to start somewhere. Someone who is recently qualified will have a fresh approach, be keen to make their mark and may be more creative.
When you’re looking to choose your celebrant, remember it’s not always about counting how many couples they have worked with – it’s also about their history and background in previous professions.
Ask them what they did before they become a celebrant? Do they have other employment? Do they have a history of public speaking? What made them decide to become a celebrant?
Celebrating people’s lives and their love is an incredibly personal service, and most celebrants are inspired by the people they work with – their reason for ‘why’ should also inspire you!
Making Contact
When contacting celebrants on your shortlist, ask them what your journey together will involve:
How many meetings before the ceremony will you have?
Would they be happy to help you write your vows?
Is a rehearsal included?
Can they suggest ways to include your guests?
How soon will you be able to see the first draft of your wedding script?
Are they able to include a prayer or religious reading if you would like one?
How do they feel about fancy dress on the day... Would they be happy to dress as Mary Poppins…?
These are all important factors which you need to consider when making your final decision.
When contacting people on your shortlist let them know that you intend to speak to a few celebrants before making a decision. Remember to let them know your decision (either way) as soon as possible once you have made your choice!
No celebrant will ever be offended to know you shopped around before saying yes.
Above all, choose a wedding celebrant who will be communicative and collaborative, and one who is as excited about your wedding as you are! Make sure that you 'click' when you meet; first impressions count, and this should be both a practical and emotional decision.
If you feel that I am the right person to create your wedding ceremony, I would love to meet with you, get to know your love story and work with you to craft your proposed ceremony and enable you to have the day you always dreamed of!
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