What Do Celebrants Do?
A celebrant is someone who will write and conduct meaningful, personal ceremonies for special occasions such as a funeral, a baby naming or a wedding. Some celebrants do all occasions, some celebrants just concentrate on funerals and some focus on family ceremonies. Island Celebrants specialize in weddings, renewal of vows and naming ceremonies.
Where can you have a ceremony?
Lots of our couples choose to have their wedding ceremony at the same location as their reception ...... it’s all part of one big special celebration. Island Celebrants can conduct your ceremony anywhere you like - at your chosen venue, somewhere nearby such as on the beach, in a field, in a castle or even in your back garden. The ceremony does not have to take place in a licensed venue.
How does a Celebrant Wedding ceremony work?
Celebrant led weddings are common practice in Australia, the USA and throughout Europe. The form-signing, legal marriage and the wedding celebration are performed completely separately. Nowadays celebrant weddings and naming ceremonies are becoming more popular in the UK. A celebrant will meet with you to get to know you first. Then they will write a special ceremony script and talk to you about it. On the day, you have your unique ceremony in front of family and friends at your chosen venue.
Why choose a Celebrant led ceremony for my Wedding?
It's your special day, it really ought to be about YOU!
Our clients are looking for a celebration that reflects them, not the same impersonal words spoken at everyone’s wedding.
Island Celebrants work closely with you in the lead up to your ceremony to hear all about your ideas, provide inspiration where needed, and get to know as much about you as we can. Then we create a ceremony for you. We can include any wording, readings, music and customs that you choose ~ we have LOADS of ideas! In previous ceremonies we have helped to create quite a few beach weddings, a flash mob song and dance, a promenade through woodlands, the bride arriving on horseback, 45 bridesmaids making an entrance and a cowboy themed celebration.
We work with you and we create a ceremony especially for you.
What are the legal bits of marriage?
By law, you are required to register a birth, death or marriage at the local Register Office.
For marriage you must firstly give Notice of Marriage/Civil Partnership at your local Register Office. A period of time following that you can register your marriage. This is done at your local Register Office with two witnesses. Most of our clients choose to do this in casual clothes and save their wedding outfits for the ceremony. It can be done or the same or a different day to your ceremony. * We would always recommend you check with your local Registrars to clarify as government procedures can change.
The legal part of the marriage is made up of just a few key steps:
Firstly you need to prove who you are and that you are free to marry.
Declaratory Words: eg I do solemnly declare that I know not …….
Contracting Words: eg I call upon these persons here present to witness that I …………
take you …………….
The Signing of the Marriage Register
That is all!
The rest of the service – the bridal entrance, giving the bride away, the exchange of vows, the exchange of rings, music, reading, rituals, – is ceremony and does not need to be done by the Registrar.
How much does it cost?
A ceremony with Island Celebrants costs less than you think. We give a quote that includes all travel expenses and we sign a contract with you to agree that fee. No hidden extras.