So what is a Celebrant?
So what is a Celebrant?
We can talk about ceremonies till the cows come home (it’s our passion after all) but the question we still keep hearing is “So what is a Celebrant and why would I use one?”
It can be confusing.
The dictionary says a Celebrant is “A person who performs a rite (a religious ceremony/solemn ritual)”.
This traditionally has meant a Vicar, Minister or Priest, with the ceremony being conducted in a church or chapel.
The Marriage Act of 1836 changed all that, as non-religious marriage ceremonies, led by a Registrar, were now allowed to be held in register offices.
So, Vicars, Ministers, Priests, and Registrars are all Celebrants – and so are Humanists (who also conduct non-religious ceremonies) too.
And then there are Independent Celebrants like The Ceremony People, who are slightly different from all of them – because we’re not bound by any religious or legal constraints, so your ceremony can be whatever you would like it to be, with absolutely no restrictions on what you can include.
And that’s important because your ceremony is a key part of your big day after all, so why should it be limited by rules and regulations outside your control?
Of course, you’ll still need to register your marriage to make it legal, but it’s simple to do and we can help with that.
The message we keep hearing is that couples who use an Independent Celebrant do so not only because of the freedom to choose and the personal touch – after all, you’ll really know us by the time the big day comes around – but the relief of getting the legal bit out of the way. By taking the pressure off, you can really relax and enjoy a stress-free day with all your family and friends.
After all, isn’t that what everyone wants on the most important day of their lives?
(Imagery by Camilla Andrea – www.camillaandrea.com)