Choice of Person
Celebrant: You can choose your wedding celebrant based on personality, style, and vibe during the ceremony delivery! I will work with you months in advance to design your bespoke ceremony perfectly, and I will even consult you about what you would like me to wear on your big day to make sure I match your colour theme.
Registrar: You do not get to choose your registrar and will only meet them a few minutes before the wedding ceremony starts.
Ceremony Personalisation
Celebrant: I will write your ceremony script completely from scratch. It will feature your love story, choice of music, readings and songs and feature handwritten personal vows and promises. Symbolic rituals, cultural elements or religious ceremonies can be incorporated, and your loved ones can be involved too. It can be light-hearted, fun and joyful, to deeply sentimental and emotional, depending on your preference.
Registrar: They will follow a set script and the ceremony will have a formal and structured tone.
Venue Flexibility
Celebrant: I can marry you ANYWHERE. From beaches to woods, from art galleries to theatres, from a field to your family home. There are no restrictions on where you can have your ceremony.
Registrar: They can only conduct weddings in venues licensed for legal ceremonies. This includes registry offices, approved indoor venues and outdoors within specific boundaries.
Legal Authority
Celebrant: I do not have the legal authority to marry you. You must go to your local registry office before or after your wedding day to sign the legal marriage paperwork (if you want to make it legal, that is). It costs around £50.00 to do this. Think of it as when you go to have a birth registered before having a celebration such as a naming ceremony or a christening.
Registrar: A registrar is an official appointed by the government to oversee marriages. They must ensure that all legal requirements are met during the ceremony, such as signing the marriage register and saying specific legally required wording.
IDEA: Why not combine both by signing the legal paperwork at a registry office with a registrar and then have a celebrant-led ceremony before or after? You can save the exchange of rings, vows and promises until your wedding day.
IDEA: Or you could even have a registrar attend on the day. We could do your wedding ceremony first, and then you can go off briefly to sign the paperwork with the registrar and have photographs whilst your guests enjoy a drink and canapés.
Costs
Celebrant: Our fees can be very similar to a registrar, but with a celebrant, you are getting a completely personal script and ceremony, with your entire input into everything. You are getting my undivided attention for months on end, meetings in person and on video call, communication through WhatsApp or email, assistance with your promises and vows (should you want to write them yourself) and elements added that are not prohibited in registrar-led ceremonies. Not to mention that I can meet you at your wedding venue for a rehearsal or over a video call, I only attend one ceremony a day; I can do any time or day, whatever length you like, and I can conduct our ceremonies anywhere (some locations may need permission). You will only meet your registrar for the first time minutes before your ceremony. Whereas we will work together for months before your big day.
Registrar: Often a shorter ceremony with little to no contact before the big day and the ceremonies can feel rather formal with no personalisation. For as little as approximately £50.00, you can do your legal paperwork at the registry office and then have a celebrant-led ceremony on your wedding day.
Time Constraints
Celebrant: I have a completely flexible schedule. I can conduct your ceremony on a weekday, a weekend, sunrise, sunset, morning, noon or night. I will only perform one ceremony daily so you have me for as long as you need. This is particularly handy if you are running over schedule. I will make sure your ceremony feels relaxed and unhurried.
Registrar: They have tight schedules, often performing multiple ceremonies a day. If you're running late, they may not be able to wait for you as they may have to rush onto their next appointment.
Religious or Symbolic Elements
Celebrant: I can incorporate religious, spiritual, cultural or symbolic elements into your ceremony. Whether it's handfasting, a unity candle, a sand ceremony, a wine box time capsule, planting a tree, ring warming, a rose exchange ceremony or singing your favourite song together, I will make sure your ceremony is completely personal to you and a reflection of your values and beliefs.
Registrar: Religious or spiritual references such as readings, prayers, hymns and rituals cannot be included.
If you are interested in a celebrant-led ceremony, I would love to have a chat with you! Please send me a message on my contact form and we'll go from there.
Love Claire
Photos by Maxi Photography
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