frequently asked questions

What’s the difference between a humanist celebrant and a registrar?

A registrar is a government authorised official who can legally marry a couple. They will conduct a ceremony that conforms to stringent framework and guidelines, with specific legal wording and a strict time limit (…15 minutes max).

A humanist wedding celebrant, on the other hand, can create a ceremony that caters to exactly who you are as a couple and include everything you want to share. We can write personalised wedding scripts, choose any location (…barns, licensed venues, gardens, clifftops, beaches…. basically, anywhere you like!) Your ceremony will be bespoke from start to finish, which means a more fun, meaningful, original wedding for you and your guests.

Find out more on more blog: What is the Difference Between a Civil Ceremony and a Humanist Ceremony?

Are Humanist wedding ceremonies legally binding?

Currently in England and Wales, Humanist wedding ceremonies are not yet legally recognised. In Scotland and Northern Ireland, they are. Humanists UK couldn’t be working harder to try and change that, and it is now a case of when, not if, England and Wales will catch up. But until that happens, you will need to have a legal ceremony as well as your Humanist one.

The couples I work with normally do this in a lowkey way at the registry office a few days or weeks before their big wedding. The legal part of getting married is very simple and can be done for as little as £40 - it essentially consists of signing the register, much like registering a birth or death. Then, they celebrate their anniversary on their big wedding day, when all of their family and friends were there to witness.

I am happy to give you more guidance on combining a humanist wedding ceremony with a legally binding one.

Do you have to be a humanist to have a humanist wedding?

Humanists generally believe in living an ethical life that embraces empathy and equality for both people and the natural world. Many of us have humanist views without labelling ourselves as humanist. You can absolutely have a humanist ceremony whether you not or choose to define yourself as one.

Do you officiate LGBTQIA+ ceremonies?

Of course. Love is love is love.

How long does a humanist wedding ceremony last?

This is up to you, and often depends on what is included in the ceremony. In my experience, an ideal ceremony is around 30 minutes long.

What does a celebrant say at a wedding?

As a celebrant, I spend a lot of time with a couple, getting to know who they are, how they want to feel during their ceremony and how they want their guests to feel.

Rather than following generic wording that is read at any and every registrar-led wedding, a celebrant will create a bespoke script filled with personal touches.

A celebrant ceremony can include readings, songs, poems etc. that reflect a couple. Here are my favourite non-religious ceremony readings and tips on how to choose your wedding readings.

How far in advance do I need to contact you and book you in?

The longer the lead time, the better. The best thing you can do is get in touch as soon as you start thinking about planning your ceremony.

Can I have a humanist wedding anywhere?!

Yes — that’s the beauty of a Humanist ceremony. (Safety permitting, of course!)

Religion is important for some of our family members. Can we include any nods to it?

Absolutely. Humanist weddings aren’t strict like registrars. I’m happy for you to choose any reading, music etc you like, and can help to frame anything religious in an appropriate way. I have lots of suggestions about how to cater for more religious members of the family in a sincere way, without compromising your own beliefs.

What about writing our own vows?

Writing your own vows comes straight from the heart, and nothing can capture how you feel more than you. I’m very happy to lend my experience here and we can come up with something fitting together.

How far will you travel?

Wherever you need me to! I am usually a wedding celebrant for ceremonies in London and Brighton, with my normal catchment being the south of England, but I’m from the north originally so I’m happy to travel up there, and I LOVE doing weddings abroad :)

How are you accredited?

I’m a Humanist wedding celebrant accredited by Humanist’s UK. That means I’m highly trained and am regularly observed and peer assessed to assure standards, with ongoing CPD to maintain my accreditation. I have full Professional Indemnity and Public Liability insurance via the Humanists UK network.

What about the price?

Weddings start from £1100. The fee includes our pre-meetings, drafting you a totally bespoke wedding script, as well as any redrafts. And of course, the ceremony itself delivered on the day. I don’t charge VAT.

Expenses for weddings further afield will reflect travel costs/time and overnight accommodation, airfare etc if relevant. I always keep expenses to a bare minimum where possible. I charge 45p per mile for travel outside of Brighton (when driving), or if using public transport, all direct costs are payable by the client.

When considering your options, it is worth noting the price of booking a registrar to come out to your venue for the ceremony. The price is often not dissimilar to working with a celebrant (depending on your ceremony location).

Do you do script writing and coaching?

Yes. If you have someone you know doing the ceremony on the day, I can create your bespoke script for them to deliver. Get in touch to enquire about pricing.

Getting a non-professional in to do this isn’t something I really recommend, for many reasons! But if your heart is set on it, I also offer 1:1 coaching so that they are as prepared as possible on the day.

Do you mentor other celebrants?

Yes, I am a qualified mentor for Humanists UK. When you sign up to do your training, you can request for me to be your mentor.

If you have any more questions about Humanist ceremonies, please visit my Contact Page to get in touch.