We’ve asked Truly Marv exhibitor and wedding celebrant Bridget Garrett to talk us through celebration ceremonies…
Why Choose A Celebration Ceremony When It’s Not Legal?
Ask most people what the focal point of a wedding ceremony is and they’ll say it’s the joining together of two people in love. It’s an opportunity to get all the family and loved ones together to celebrate that love and witness the declaration of the vows the couple make to one another for the years ahead.
The focus has very little to do with the ‘legal registration’ of that marriage. That’s just a hoop to jump through in the process. A Celebrant led wedding celebration ceremony will put the focus firmly on you, the couple, at the centre of the day.
You have the option WHERE your wedding ceremony is held
You are not restricted to venues with a wedding licence. You can hold your ceremony outside in your garden or on a beach, in your favourite restaurant or a friend’s barn.
You have the option WHEN your wedding ceremony is held
No longer are you restricted to the hours of 8am to 8pm. At any time of the year, if you want a midnight wedding ceremony, or one at dawn, you’ll find a Celebrant to do it. Even for licensed venues, Celebrant led wedding celebrations can help if you cannot get the Registrar on the date you wanted. Weekends in the summer months are very busy and sometimes you don’t want to wait for another few months.
You can include WHAT you want in your wedding ceremony
You can be as creative as you like with your wording, your vows, your content and format. You can include any poem, music or reading. You can incorporate some religion if you wish Registrars cannot. This can be very useful for couples coming from different faiths who can include certain rituals into the ceremony. Symbolic elements such as hand-fasting, ring warming or sand ceremonies can be used creatively to personalise your ceremony too without time restrictions.
You can include WHO you want in your ceremony
You can include your family, friends, your children, even your pets!
You get HELP in putting your ceremony together
A Celebrant will meet you months before the celebration ceremony. They will get to know you and help you write your vows and the ceremony, liaising with you in the months running up to the big day. They will rehearse with you and work with other wedding professionals.
You are the ONLY wedding ceremony on that day
A Celebrant won’t have to rush off to another ceremony on the same day, this builds in some flexibility if things are running a little late so no need to panic!
So why choose a Celebration Ceremony?
The advantages of using a Celebrant to conduct your wedding celebration ceremony by far outweigh that 30 minute visit to your local Registrar during your lunch hour to get the legal bits done. Ceremonies for key life events really matter, so make sure your wedding ceremony is as memorable and as personal as you can make it.
Bridget Garrett is an Accredited Civil Celebrant living and working in Ipswich. She can be contacted at bridgetgarrettceremonies@gmail.com or by phoning 07913 203177.
