What is the difference between Registrars and Celebrants?
In short, Registrars work for the council and have the power to marry you in the eyes of the law.
Celebrants will help you to create a your own personalised ceremony, taking place wherever and whenever you would like. You can include personalised vows, live music, champagne and family.
It’s important to understand the difference between Registrars and Celebrants, so here is an article explaining more, so that you are fully informed and can make the right choices for your special day.
Getting the legal part of your marriage complete is not as daunting as it sounds. Think about it as signing a legal contract, most people prefer to get this bit out of the way a week or so before their Wedding of their dreams.
A bill has recently been introduced into Parliament to give Celebrant weddings the same legal recognition in England and Wales as they already have in Scotland and Northern Ireland – where the qualified individual will be licensed as well as venues. Watch this space
Here is a step by step guide to help you…
(The term wedding day relates to the day you have your wedding ceremony. The term marriage relates to the legal paperwork)
First of all, if you don’t already have one in mind, enjoy exploring to find your dream wedding location so that you can book your venue. As you are using an Independent Celebrant, your wedding can be in either a licensed or non licensed venue, so the world is your oyster!
Celebrant-led weddings can be anywhere, so pick a venue that suits you as a couple, the one that is “so you” and you totally love for whatever reason!
If you like a particular venue that is licenced that’s cool. You may even want your ceremony somewhere other than their licensed room, check other nooks and crannies that you can use a Celebrant for (gardens, rooftop terraces and so on…)
There are very few restrictions if you choose to use a Celebrant when it comes to location, (apart from permission to use the land, please make sure you have that).
Fact: Did you know that Celebrants can work outside at any time of the year? So if you are thinking of winter wonderland weddings, woodland ceremonies or sunrise / sunset timings, Celebrants simply need to pull on some thermals so that they are dressed accordingly
Once you have found your super dreamy venue, check out who your awesome Celebrant could be, (UK Society of Celebrants, Google Business, recommendations, ) and get in touch to check their availability. Ask for an intro chat too, make sure you guys fit.
This means that you are choosing someone right for you, that by your wedding day you already know and have a bond with them, rather than meeting a stranger on the most important day of your life (another advantage over a registrar booking, it is rare you know who turns up on the day).
Celebrants will ensure you have input to the format and content to ensure a 100% personal and unique ceremony.
Celebrants should only have one booking a day, so whatever time your ceremony is it should not matter, they will be able to give you their complete attention!
Legal blurb…
If you want a legal marriage, you will need to register your intent to marry, (at the registry office, not the venue). The reason you have to do this is so that the registration service has time to prepare your legal documentation (you’ll have to take ID to this appointment) and record the details of your marriage ( I call it the “contractual paperwork“).
Contact your local office to make this appointment and advise them of your wedding date, and let them know that you are booking your own Celebrant. This will cost £35 per person.
To give notice, when there, you’ll sign a legal statement saying you intend to get married and you can book a civil service appointment at the registry before or after your chosen wedding ceremony date.
As you are already planning your dreamy wedding day, for your legalities all you will need is a short simple service to complete your legal paperwork and declarations.
A registrar must carry out, or be present at, the legal service and the cost of a registrar is £46 at a register office
If you have a Celebrant wedding booked it is likely that when you attend your legal service you will not include personal vows and ring exchanges, often the personal elements are all left until your wedding day, making the legal signing short and sweet.
You exchange vows (these can be basic, save the personal ones for your wedding day!) and you and your partner sign the marriage schedule or marriage document at the ceremony.
You will be required to take two witnesses and choose one from each of the following legal statements:
Declaratory Words
“I do solemnly declare that I know not of any lawful impediment why I, *Name*, may not be joined in matrimony to *Name*.”
or “I declare that I know of no legal reason why I, *Name*, may not be joined in marriage to *Name*.”
Or By replying “I am” to the question “Are you *Name* free lawfully to marry *Name*?
Contractual Vows
“I call upon these persons here present to witness that I, *Name*, do take thee, *Name*, to be my lawful wedded wife (or husband).”
or “I *Name* take you *Name* to be my wedded wife (or husband)”
or “I *Name* take thee *Name* to be my wedded wife (or husband)”
The current Standard UK Fees Notice of Marriage are £35 payable to the registration service in which both parties live.
You will also need to book the Statutory Ceremony which is £46 (+£4 for your marriage certificate).
Great! Paperwork done! You are free to hold your dream wedding ceremony with your chosen Celebrant wherever and whenever you like! (You can do this with or without a legal marriage certificate)
Your wedding day venue is booked, your Celebrant secured and your intent to marry logged at the registration service with a date booked to do the legal paperwork…
That is it!
All hard bits are done! You don’t even have to exchange rings at the registry office; you can save that for your celebrant ceremony!
Now get on and enjoy yourself with all your wedding day planning with very few restrictions!
Destination Weddings: Most of my Menorca Brides will also go through this procedure, and will separate the legal signing. It’s a lot simpler this way!
