Celebrant vs Registrar: Why a Wedding Celebrant is the Best Choice for a Personalised Wedding in England
Hello, fabulous couples!
As you plan your dream wedding, choosing who will officiate your ceremony is crucial. While most couples invest time in selecting flowers, hair, makeup, and the perfect venue, the ceremony itself often gets overlooked as something to get over and done with.
Given that the ceremony is the heart of your wedding and the very reason you’ve brought your loved ones together, it makes sense to consciously think about who will marry you on your special day.
There are two main options for a non-religious wedding in England: a wedding celebrant or a wedding registrar. While both options have their merits, let’s explore why a wedding celebrant might be the perfect fit for you if you like the idea of crafting a truly unforgettable wedding ceremony.
Think about it, would you want flowers that the florist brings straight from two other weddings they’ve had that weekend, or a hair stylist that says you can pick from three styles only? I hope the answer is no, because you deserve it to be perfect and feel like everything you’re having is exclusively yours, or at least that it’s been chosen by you.
Let’s dive into why a wedding celebrant might just be the perfect fit for your big day!
Personalisation and Flexibility: Crafting a Ceremony Just For You
Celebrant:
Imagine a wedding ceremony tailor-made to reflect your unique love story. Sounds incredible, right? That’s exactly what a wedding celebrant offers. Celebrants are experts in designing deeply personalised ceremonies, customised to your tastes and experiences. Whether you want to include your favourite songs, share personal anecdotes, or incorporate unique rituals, a celebrant can make it all happen. They have experience and can share their knowledge and ideas with you.
They offer unparalleled flexibility, allowing you to choose any venue, from a scenic garden to a quirky barn, and set the ceremony time to fit your schedule. Usually, they won’t have another wedding booked on the same day, so if you’re delayed for any reason, they’ll happily wait for you and adapt seamlessly to your other wedding day plans. They also offer rehearsals before the wedding to ensure all elements run smoothly and that everyone is happy ahead of the ceremony taking place.
With a celebrant, your wedding will be a true reflection of who you are as a couple, and you’ll be married by someone you’ve met before, who has taken the time to get to know you and is invested in ensuring your day kicks off perfectly.
Registrar:
While registrars provide a standardised service, their approach can feel quite impersonal and rigid. You don’t get the chance to meet them before the wedding day, or a choice in who will be your registrar on the day, so you don’t know who you’ll be standing up there with, what their tone or energy is like, and what their preparations have been. They follow a set format or script, with little room for creativity and therefore are not likely to capture your individuality.
If you’re looking for a ceremony that stands out and feels uniquely yours, a wedding celebrant is the clear winner.
Creativity and Innovation: Break the Mould
Celebrant:
Are you a couple who loves to think outside the box or do things a little differently? Then a celebrant is definitely your best bet. Celebrants are masters of creativity, turning your wildest wedding dreams into reality. Want an outdoor ceremony under the stars, a themed celebration, or a totally unconventional setting? A wedding celebrant is not just about delivering a ceremony; they’re about creating an experience that’s as unique as your love story and tweaking it until you’re happy! They spend time with you to understand what is important to you both and can offer ideas and expertise on what will work well to achieve them. A celebrant can bring your vision to life with flair and originality.
Registrar:
If you’re seeking a straightforward, traditional ceremony, a wedding registrar might meet your needs. However, registrars typically have a more conventional approach with limited room for creative expression within their templated scripts.
If you want a ceremony that’s truly memorable and reflects your personality, a celebrant’s creative touch is the way to go.
Convenience and Accessibility: Your Dream Venue Awaits
Celebrant:
One of the best things about wedding celebrants is their flexibility when it comes to venues and timing. Whether you’ve got your heart set on a remote countryside location or a chic urban spot, a celebrant offers the freedom to get married exactly where and when you want. They do not need a licensed venue and they can work around your schedule and location preferences, removing potential stresses around your wedding planning experience and opening up unlimited possibilities. They’ll also happily liaise with people doing readings, music and any ceremony-specific suppliers ahead of and on your wedding day to ensure everything runs smoothly and seamlessly.
Registrar:
Wedding registrars usually conduct ceremonies at specific registry offices or approved venues, which can limit your options. If your dream venue doesn’t fall within their list of approved locations, you might find yourself having to compromise. This can also mean higher budgets as licensed wedding venues often come with an inflated price tag due to low supply and high demand. Your registrar will likely have a few weddings on the same day, so will need to be fairly rigid with timings and not be able to hang around for you if there have been delays.
If you want to get married where you want and have stress-free freedom with timings, then a wedding celebrant is the best option for you.
Legal Considerations: Simplifying the Process
Celebrant:
While wedding celebrants focus on crafting a beautiful and personalised ceremony, as things stand, you’ll need to complete the legal part of the marriage separately at a registry office (although we are hopeful this will change in the near future). This involves a simple visit to sign the marriage register either before or after your celebrant-led ceremony.
If you have your Aunty Sue, Uncle Dave or Grandma Sally saying “it’s not the real wedding on the day” or something similar, then remind them that weddings are the only milestone that we worry about the legal registration being on the same day as the celebration. For example, we don’t register a birth at a naming ceremony or Christening, and we don’t register a death on the same day as a funeral. This usually gives them pause for thought…
Although registering the legal paperwork on a different day adds an extra step, it can be seen as a second opportunity to do something fun and celebratory for your wedding experience —perhaps wearing a different outfit and celebrating with a lunch or small dinner with really close loved ones afterwards. Often couples say they love having this intimate affair shortly before the bigger and wider reaching celebrations of their actual wedding day.
You may not want two days or celebrations and that’s fine too. Overall, it’s still a minor inconvenience for the incredible, tailor-made experience a wedding celebrant provides, and can cost as little as £50 if you ask for the simple two-witness option - this option allows you to keep it simple, turn up in casual clothes and keep the vows and rings for the celebrant-led ceremony, so this just feels like a bit of paperwork you’re ticking off the list.
You do have the option to get a wedding registrar to your celebrant-led ceremony to complete it on the same day, but there is often less availability for this, and the cost is much higher, so it’s often not the preferred option.
Registrar:
A registrar’s ceremony is legally binding and incorporates the legalities directly into the ceremony. While this may seem straightforward, it often means you’re bound to their set schedule and venue limitations, as well as their standard scripts, where the only difference between your ceremony and that of hundreds and thousands of others is your names being inserted instead of someone else’s.
Celebrants offer a more customised approach, giving you the best of both worlds—personalisation and still legal recognition at the end of the day for the sake of £50!
Overcoming Common Barriers: Embrace Your Best Choice
Celebrant:
Concerned about the cost or finding the right celebrant? Celebrant prices can vary quite a bit, depending on their experience, location, and ways of working, which means there are different celebrants to suit most budgets. From my experience and research, even the more expensive celebrants are not that much more than a registrar and offer so much more value.
For example, my fees (at time of writing) are around the same cost as a registry office ceremony with a registrar, in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire. However, the time, effort, choices given to you and the bespoke outcome from my fee, well outweigh the value offered by a registrar booking, where they turn up on the day and use a template script.
Celebrants are dedicated to making your day special without breaking the bank. With their help, you’ll create a ceremony that’s as unique and memorable as your love, which is where the value truly lies.
Overwhelmed by the choice of celebrants and not sure which ones to contact that might be right for you? Start with a directory like Humanists UK, or even a Google search for celebrants in your area. This is a good place to start locally specific. If you aren’t sure what area you want yet or are happy to pay travel costs, then you could start by looking on Instagram to see which kind of vibe or energy might be suitable for you.
Any celebrant worth their salt will encourage you to speak to a few wedding celebrants before making such a big decision and offer complimentary, no-obligation calls or meetings. These are valuable to do with I would say two or three wedding celebrants to see who you connect best with and get a good feeling about.
Registrar:
While wedding registrars are a reliable option, they don’t offer the same level of personalisation or flexibility. Choosing a registrar might simplify the process, but it comes at the expense of customisation and creativity.
You also don’t get the chance to meet and get to know your registrar before your wedding day, so it is more like being married by a stranger. If you’re after a custom wedding ceremony that’s distinctly yours and being married by someone who has taken the time to get to know you as a couple, a celebrant is well worth the investment.
If you’re after a custom wedding ceremony that’s distinctly yours and being married by someone who has taken the time to get to know you as a couple, a celebrant is well worth the investment.
FAQs: Why Choose a Celebrant Over a Registrar?
What makes a celebrant better than a registrar?
A wedding celebrant provides a highly personalised and creative ceremony tailored to your unique story. They offer flexibility in venue and timing, making your wedding truly special and memorable.
How does the cost compare?
Celebrants’ prices vary greatly depending on experience and location, usually landing at around the same or just a bit more expensive than a wedding registrar option. This investment ensures a ceremony that’s bespoke and unforgettable. Registrar fees are for a standardised service with less room for creativity, so therefore are less value for money.
How do I handle the legal aspects with a celebrant?
You’ll need to visit a registry office to complete the legal requirements either before or after your celebrant-led ceremony. This is a straightforward and relatively inexpensive administrative process and ensures your marriage is officially recognised.
Can we include personal or cultural elements in a celebrant-led ceremony?
Absolutely! Celebrants are experts at incorporating personal, cultural, or religious elements into your ceremony. They’ll work closely with you to include these important aspects in a way that’s meaningful and unique.
What if we need to change our wedding date or location?
Celebrants are generally flexible with changes to date and location. Discuss any adjustments as soon as possible to ensure availability. With a wedding registrar, changes might be more challenging due to fixed schedules and approved venues.
Conclusion: Choose the Best for Your Wedding Day
So there you have it!
While both celebrants and registrars offer valuable services, a celebrant stands out for their ability to create a wedding ceremony that’s truly personal and offers freedom of choice. From unparalleled creativity and flexibility to a focus on making your day unique, a celebrant ensures your wedding ceremony is as special as your love story, and as the rest of your wedding day plans.
Embrace the opportunity to make your ceremony unforgettable—choose a celebrant and celebrate your love in a way that’s truly one-of-a-kind.
Ready to create a wedding ceremony that’s uniquely yours?
Reach out today so we can chat and see if I’m the right celebrant to help you start planning the ceremony of your dreams!
Have a look at how we’d work together too.
Happy planning, and here’s to a wedding day that’s as fabulous as you are!