Picture the scene. The heat of the day is subsiding. Waves gently kiss the shore. Breakers scamper playfully on the horizon reflecting the light of the golden hour. A string quartet gently coaxes the notes of the most romantic song ever written while you step onto the sand, barefoot. All of the most precious people in your world have gathered to hear your love story and to bear witness as you make your personal vows to one another. All taking place under the watchful eye of the celebrant you’ve come to know like an old family friend. Just heavenly.
You can, of course, substitute the sand for a cliff-top view of the bay and the summer sun for an autumnal palette, or a secluded clearing in the woods, a secret spot in the family garden or on the farm, even the quaint village hall or rustic barn or grandiose country house. It doesn’t matter where you decide to tie the knot, a celebrant can deliver your wedding ceremony anywhere (with the landowner’s permission).
Celebrants also have so much flexibility – the ceremony can take place at the time you specify. But perhaps the most alluring feature of a celebrant-led wedding ceremony is that it is highly personalised. This means that couples not only have total choice when it comes to where their ceremony is held, but they have complete control over the content. Celebrants centre the couple’s story and will tell it as your guests revel in the glow of your love. They will support you in the creation of bespoke wedding vows and offer a range of symbolic rituals such as a handfasting to really make your ceremony sparkle. There are no limitations on musical choices with no song lyrics out of bounds.
A personalised and bespoke ceremony relies upon a very specific ingredient and that is the relationship a celebrant builds with their couples. Celebrants meet with their couples multiple times before their big day so they really get to know you and you feel safe knowing that you can trust them. Some even offer the opportunity to visit your venue with you in order to plan your ceremonial space or to rehearse your ceremony – a brilliant opportunity for those feeling anxious about standing up in front of family and friends.
In 2023, 1 in 5 couples opted for a celebrant with this set to grow. As of yet, a celebrant cannot perform a legal marriage ceremony. However, change is coming. Last year, the Law Commission issued a report recommending that the government change the Marriage Act to allow couples the choice to marry anywhere they wish. This, in essence, means that licensed individuals will be able to perform a legal marriage instead of a legal marriage taking place in a licensed venue. In short, in the not-so-distant future, celebrants in England and Wales will be able to perform a legal marriage (they already can in Scotland and Northern Ireland) ripping open a whole world of new possibilities.
If you would like to know more about celebrant-led weddings, get in touch.
Sam White is a celebrant based in Bristol who works all over the South West and beyond. She creates bright, modern and inclusive ceremonies for couples who want their story told with authenticity and warmth.
This article was originally published in issue 3 of the Big Southwest Wedding Magazine. Download it here: https://www.thebigsouthwestweddingfair.co.uk/download-magazine