If you’re embarking on the mammoth task of organising a wedding, you will have quickly realised that there are LOTS of decisions to be made. Many of them things you hadn’t even considered before and suddenly must have an opinion on!

Sorry to add another thing to your list – but choosing the right celebrant needs to be high up on your to-do list, too. Unlike with registrar-led weddings, your celebrant is someone you will work with for months before your big day, and someone who will get to know you very well whilst planning your ceremony. So, it’s important you know how to choose the right person for you.

As a humanist wedding celebrant, I spend a lot of time chatting to new couples and planning ceremonies. No two celebrants are the same – magic for one couple might be Marmite for another! It’s a very personal choice, but these tips should help you spot what to look out for.

How to find a celebrant

If you know what kind of celebrant you want, there are great resources for where to find them online. For example, if the humanist philosophy is important to you, you can find plenty of wedding celebrants accredited by Humanists UK, like me, using their “Find a Celebrant” tool. This is an invaluable resource that will show you popular celebrants working in your area. The Celebrant Directory is another great resource.

What makes a good marriage celebrant? Firstly, do you gel?

This is key! Your relationship will be close – you’ll be spending a good amount of time together; ultimately, your celebrant will be distilling everything you tell them over the course of your relationship to create a ceremony that is all about you. That’s why it’s important to pick someone who really understands you.

You’ll know when you found the right celebrant because they’ll feel like “the one”. I always know I’m talking to the right kind of couple for me because we’re laughing together within minutes of our first chat. I know the kind of couple I get on well with and want to work with, so it’s a two-way street – the celebrant will be sizing you up as much as you are them!

Do you have the same outlook?

I spend time with my couples understanding them and what they want from their ceremony. Everyone has a different idea – some people want a light, upbeat and fun ceremony, while others want non-stop romance. Speak to your prospective celebrant and understand how they work and what their natural ceremony style is. If a couple tell me they want something super traditional, for example – I know I’m probably not the right fit for them, and will tell them so. Instead, I make great recommendations elsewhere.

Does their website speak to you? What about social media?

When deciding how to choose the right celebrant, it’s a good idea to look at their social media as well as their website. Having a professional site is obviously key to helping you find the right person. A celebrant’s website should reflect their personality, both in images and text, and give you an idea of who they are and what they’re about.

Do they have good testimonials? Reviews?

Look out for testimonials from previous clients to get a feel for how celebrants work and what people think. Look out for reviews on other platforms too – like Google reviews and reviews on the Celebrant Directory.

Are they accredited? Where did they train?

This is super important. Making sure that the celebrant you are considering is trained by a respected body (SO CRUCIAL!).

Shop around!

It’s a good idea to have a chat with more than one celebrant to really get a feel for the type of people who are out there. Everyone is unique and works in different ways, so having a casual discovery chat with a few different people will help cement your decision.

How far in advance should you book a celebrant?

Right away! As soon as you have your wedding date fixed, finding a celebrant should be high on the list. Good celebrants get booked up very quickly, so once you’ve found the right person, you will want to get them locked in ASAP!

Good luck! There are lots of wonderful celebrants out there to choose from, so finding a celebrant who is just right for the both of you shouldn’t be difficult. If you’d like to have a chat and hear more about me and how I work, I’d love to hear from you. I’m a Brighton and London wedding celebrant but work across the UK and abroad.