Aside from the two traditional wedding ceremony options, a religious ceremony or a civil ceremony with a registrar, there’s a third option which is growing in popularity, and that’s to get married by a celebrant. But many people ask, “What is a wedding celebrant?” before we answer that lets find out about the author.

About the author

I’m Amanda a modern celebrant who helps couples have the ceremony they deserve with real freedom of choice and personalisation. As a friendly award-winning celebrant, you’ll be guaranteed of a professional and stress-free approach to your big day. I have been featured in several newspapers and regularly write/blog for wedding magazines. To find out more check out my website https://amandasceremonies.com/

About the author

I’m Amanda a modern celebrant who helps couples have the ceremony they deserve with real freedom of choice and personalisation. As a friendly award-winning celebrant, you’ll be guaranteed of a professional and stress-free approach to your big day. I have been featured in several newspapers and regularly write/blog for wedding magazines. To find out more check out my website https://amandasceremonies.com/

What is a celebrant?

A celebrant is somebody who performs ceremonies to mark some of life’s biggest milestones. As well as officiating weddings, celebrants sometimes also perform, baby naming ceremonies, vow renewals and funerals. Celebrant’s often have nationally recognised qualifications, are members of professional associations and have business insurance.

Why have a celebrant ceremony?

The celebrant creates a personalised meaningful ceremony, specifically for each couple. There are no real limitations on the ceremony they create so couples have complete freedom to have their ceremony exactly as they want it. Celebrants perform a whole range of ceremonies from traditional to modern, themed, or boho, and within the ceremony there’s a choice of symbolic enhancements such as a sand ceremony or unity candle ceremony.

Where can celebrants marry you?

Celebrants are not restricted in where or when they perform ceremonies. So, because celebrant ceremonies are not limited to licensed wedding venues, couples have greater freedom of venue choice and can literally get married anywhere.

If you wanted to get married outdoors, in a location special to you, a sunset beach ceremony, or your favourite restaurant or boutique hotel then a celebrant can certainly make that happen.

The couple in this photograph wanted to get married on the lawn overlooking the lake, this wasn’t usual for this venue, but we made sure they were able to have their ceremony exactly as they had envisioned it.

Celebrant or Registrar – what are the benefits of having a Celebrant ceremony instead of a Civil Ceremony with a Registrar?

A registrar can only legally marry you at a licensed wedding venue or a registry office, and the ceremony must include compulsory regulations and legal declarations. Generally, couples are restricted in terms of choice vows, music and decoration. The registry office ceremony is a one size fits all, whereas with a celebrant you have freedom of choice, and the ceremony is totally personalised to represent you as a couple, it’s as unique as you are.

You can’t choose your registrar; they are assigned to you, and you meet for the first time a few minutes before the allocated time given to you for your ceremony. The ceremony lasts about 10-15 minutes, and the registrar usually has more than one wedding a day so they’re very time pressed. Any unexpected delays can be somewhat of a problem.

On the other hand, you choose your celebrant; they’ll be someone you get on with and who understands your vision. Celebrants form a close professional relationship with their couples so they can help and support you. The combination of your ideas and wishes, and their creativity and knowledge enable them to create your amazing, personalised ceremony. Ceremonies can include loved ones, pets, or guests, you choose the start time of your ceremony and with an independent celebrant there’s no limitations on any aspects, including the length of ceremony, many celebrants only do one ceremony a day!

What’s the Difference Between a Humanist Celebrant and an Independent Celebrant?

Humanist celebrants follow a Humanist belief system and follow Humanist principles and philosophies as a lifestyle choice. This can restrict your choice of some types of content, for example Humanists consider themselves to be non-religious. However, an independent celebrant like myself conducts ceremonies regardless of any personal religious beliefs, these are independent from my role as a wedding celebrant. Consequently, I conduct non-religious ceremonies but will also happily incorporate spiritual or religious aspects within the ceremony and can perform inter faith ceremonies too!

Humanist celebrants follow a Humanist belief system and follow Humanist principles and philosophies as a lifestyle choice. This can restrict your choice of some types of content, for example Humanists consider themselves to be non-religious. However, an independent celebrant like myself conducts ceremonies regardless of any personal religious beliefs, these are independent from my role as a wedding celebrant. Consequently, I conduct non-religious ceremonies but will also happily incorporate spiritual or religious aspects within the ceremony and can perform inter faith ceremonies too!

What sort of ceremonies do celebrants offer?
Please head to my ceremonies page for all the information about the incredible range of ceremonies you can choose from https://amandasceremonies.com/wedding-ceremonies/