Weddings

You just got engaged - so what next?

Getting engaged is exciting. The start of a new phase of your life together, with many new adventures ahead.

Your wedding is your day surrounded by the people you love. You have the freedom to create a wedding which reflects your personality.

Choosing a celebrant to conduct the ceremony gives you the freedom to create a unique celebration. This can include elements which are not possible in a faith-based or civil marriage ceremony.

Making your ceremony unique

I can create a ceremony that matches your personality and can involve family and friends. It can include different rituals to express your love for each other.

Handfasting
Sand Ceremony
Oath Stone Ceremony
Ring Warming
Cocktail Ceremony
Lighting a Unity Candle

How does a celebrant differ from a registrar?

A registrar is an official employed by your local authority with duties to register births, deaths, marriages and civil partnerships. They are empowered to marry you and carry out all the necessary legal formalities. Registrars are busy people and may not be able to devote much time to the couple or the ceremony. As a result, many registrar ceremonies follow a standard template and have generic wording and vows. The time they can spend at the ceremony may be limited and they may not meet you before the day.

A celebrant is independent and focussed entirely on you and how your ceremony will run. They will meet you in the months leading up to the wedding and help you plan and develop a personal ceremony which will reflect you. You will also be able to hold your ceremony at any venue or location that you choose. You are not restricted to approved venues.

Whilst they do not have the power to marry you, your celebant can guide you through the steps you need to take to get a marriage certificate through a simple process at your registry office.

Creating the perfect wedding

A celebrant will work with you in the run up to big day, to ensure ever aspect of the ceremony is right.

Introductory meeting

An initial meeting will provide you with a chance to meet James and explore how he can help you. There is no charge for this meeting - as you need to be sure that there is a good connection.

Questionnaire

Once you have chosen James to work with you, he will send you a questionnaire to gather the key facts and to find out about you as people. It will also ask about any interests you wish to reflect in the ceremony.

Scriptwriting

Based on the information you have provided, James will draft a script for the ceremony including any words - like your vows - which you have written yourself. It will also include the rituals you have chosen for your ceremony.

Review and feedback

You will be provided with a draft of the script allowing you the chance to read through and feedback any amends and additional things you want to include. We will aim to finalise the script 3 weeks before the wedding day, so it's one less thing to worry about.

Rehearsal

It is beneficial to hold a rehearsal of the ceremony, so that all the participants are clear of their roles and where they need to stand. This doesn't need to be in the wedding venue, but ideally should include the key participants, with James on hand to guide you.

The big day

James will arrive ahead of the ceremony to ensure the room setting is correct, and check that people taking part are clear on what they need to do. The ceremony will then be conducted with your choice of words and music.

Find out more

If you are planning your wedding, contact James to find out how a celebrant can help you create something very unique and very special.