The Benefits of Booking a Celebrant
You don’t need me to tell you what an effect COVID-19 has had on weddings. Your special day, which I no doubt you had planned for months or even years, was suddenly snatched away and the world felt as if it were ending! 2020 definitely seemed to be the year that never was. During the ‘lockdowns’ I found myself focussing on every single news bulletin that was televised, checking news channels on the internet, just hoping and praying that there was some light at the end of the tunnel, which sadly faded away with every new case detected.
We can fast forward through all the ‘Lockdowns’ to ‘Lockdown 3.0’, which lasted for an eternity in the winter months. Next came the roll out of vaccines providing us, in the words of Star Wars, A New Hope. And now we have now arrived to this point in time. The 14th June 2021, the all-important announcement from the Prime Minister, ‘Freedom Day’ on the horizon. I was perched on the end of my seat, constantly checking my watch for 6pm, feeling the tension from every couple waiting for some news. So, it wasn’t the ‘Day of Freedom’ that we all hoped for, but it was the first bit of positive news for weddings! Okay, so there are still some restrictions for ceremonies taking place prior to the revised ‘Freedom’ date of 29th July, but it does appear manageable for most couples and venues to accommodate.
Start Booking…
Now is the time to start planning your new date, but this too may create its own issues, with the limited availability of registrars and licensed venues taking bookings? In many of the Home Counties, registrars are not accepting appointments until the end of the year, or some even into the next. However, this is not all doom and gloom, there are some simple solutions and rewards to reap from this, and the purpose of this blog is to raise awareness and hopefully give you the opportunity to have that special day you dreamed of.
Marriage Verses Ceremony…
We all know that without a religious wedding, the only way to be legally married in England and Wales is with a registrar, at a registry office or special area of a licensed venue. But your wedding day is not about the legalities of the marriage, it is about the ceremony – the exchanging of vows, the readings, the presence of your special guests witnessing your commitment to each other and the all-important kiss at the end! None of this form any of the legal requirements to be married, they are the bits that make the day the most memorable to all those present, especially yourselves. You may be thinking why would I employ the services of a Celebrant if they can’t conduct a legal marriage? Well, we have already said, the wedding is all about the ceremony, and that is something a Celebrant can conduct without having to abide by the legal restrictions.
Your ceremony is created for you and only you, a blank canvas just waiting for ideas. From the moment of your first consultation, which could be months or even years before your wedding, we will begin to build a friendship with each other, with unlimited contact, either face to face or embracing technology in the form of video calls. Quite often or not couples do not have the opportunity to meet with a registrar until several minutes before their wedding and because of the nature of their role, they have to conduct several weddings a day in various locations. Personally, I would only perform one wedding in a day, focussing my time on my couple and allowing for any unforeseen delays by things that are out of our control.
Celebrants can conduct ceremonies anywhere, they are not restricted to only using licensed venues, which opens many doorways to some spectacular locations. It would be the time to let your imagination run wild with thoughts of weddings by a lake, castles grounds or even adding that personal touch such by utilising a friend or relative’s garden. I have a passion for rustic woodland settings and unlicensed barns or a wedding that I am officiating at very soon in a wine vineyard. The possibilities are limitless!
Another beauty of having a bespoke ceremony created for you, means you can customise your own vows to each other, have poems read and your own music played. You can even add symbolic rituals like a unity sand ceremony, an oathing stone or jumping the broomstick. Family and friends can also take part creating something truly unique and memorable.
So where does that leave you with regards to the legalities of marriage? Registry offices do not openly advertise this, but any couple can have a basic statutory marriage, with two witnesses for as little as £57. (This is based on Hertfordshire and Essex prices for 2021). So, wouldn’t you prefer to complete the legal aspects of a marriage for a minimal price and invest your excitement in the perfect wedding ceremony, especially designed for you, with contents that reflects you as individuals and as a couple?
I am hoping that this is ticking some boxes as you plan your special day? Well, you are still reading this, which is a good thing. From me, you would receive support and advice from the get go, providing reassurance that we’ve got this! I would liaise with other vendors such as venue staff to cater for any special requirements you may have and coordinate with your photographer/videographer, providing an order of service, so they can capture those all-important memories.
