FAQs about a celebrant
What is a celebrant?
A celebrant is a trained professional who will create and conduct a bespoke ceremony for your important life event, such as a wedding, vow renewal, naming day and more. Unlike a registrar, a celebrant is not restricted by specific and required frameworks, which means your ceremony can be entirely your own.
Is a celebrant the same as a registrar or government official?
No. Registrars or government officials perform legally binding ceremonies that have and follow specific legal and required procedures.
What do you provide for your services?
Pre-ceremony planning with me online or in person (depending on where you live) where we’ll talk about your needs and get to know each other better. Following this, I’ll send you a detailed script for your whole ceremony – which you will get to approve before your big day. On the day itself, I will officiate your ceremony, arriving an hour before everything starts.
Can a celebrant legally marry us?
No. Currently only a registrar or government official (depending on where you live) can legally marry you in a legally-recognised building. But once you’ve done that, a celebrant can help you celebrate wherever, whenever and however you like.
Are celebrant-led ceremonies legally recognised?
The ceremony is not legally binding, so many couples choose to do the legal part separately before having their celebrant-led ceremony as the main event for friends and family.
What ceremonies can a celebrant do?
A celebrant can help create and conduct wedding ceremonies, vow renewals, naming ceremonies and other life-changing events.
Can we include personal vows, rituals or symbolic elements?
Absolutely! Whether you’d like handfastings or unity candles, a memory box, playing some music, specific readings, rituals or celebrating different cultures and traditions, it’s your day, your way!
Can I really have a ceremony anywhere?
Yes, anywhere you want! Beaches, mountains, gardens, private homes, chapels, hotels, forests, the only limit is your imagination (and local permissions if needed). And, although I’m based in Granada, Spain, I’m happy to travel to where you need me.
Can you find us a venue?
Whilst I’m not your wedding coordinator or planner, I’m more than happy to recommend some venues near where I live, but the booking and coordination will be your responsibility.
Can you work with my wedding coordinator / planner?
Absolutely, once we’ve agreed that I’m to be your celebrant, you can connect me to your coordinator/planner for all the fine detail.
What’s your take on inclusivity?
Everyone’s talking about inclusivity, and for me it’s no different. We all need to challenge each other and appreciate that need. No matter how inclusive you think you are, there’s always the need to continue to learn and make sure that your unconscious bias is continually educated. For me, it really doesn’t matter who you are, what you are, where you’ve come from or where you’re going – we’re all the same and we should all have the same opportunities. It’s immensely important to understand and appreciate how different cultures, backgrounds, beliefs, choice of life partners and religion all play a part in someone’s special day. What’s right for one ceremony won’t always be the same for others. A ceremony should always be about the people being celebrated but equally it should be inclusive for everyone to share in the happiness and love.