27/07/2018
This was posted by another celebrant who has very kindly let me repost.. thanks Wanda xx
The Celebrant-led Wedding Trend -
In recent months, the trend for couples wanting ‘more’ when it comes to their wedding ceremony has steadily grown. Couples wanting a more meaningful, bespoke, more personalised ceremony and one that puts them at the heart of things, turn to an independent celebrant.
Hiring a celebrant to work with them allows couples to plan for a ceremony that is fitting for them and free from the restraints of the formal, legal ceremony. Even though civil ceremonies, organised with the local register office at a licensed venue remain popular, the highly sought-after opportunity to personalise the ceremony remains restricted. These restrictions are largely due to the sheer volume of weddings and lack of resources, resulting in couples only being able to choose from two or three, pre-designed ceremonies.
Favouring working with celebrants, couples enjoy the time they spend planning with their celebrant and the fact that they also get to know them well. They like it that a celebrant has the expertise to write a moving, soul stirring, amusing ceremony which is brimming with their personalities and uniqueness.
Couples hiring independent celebrants regularly express their delight at being able to share the story of their love with their family and friends, as well as the freedom it gives them to write their own wedding vows.
At this point it should be noted that a celebrant-led ceremony is NOT a legal ceremony. However, many couples choose to have their legal ceremony in a simple, no frills way, with just the required witnesses at their local registry office. Sometimes, couples marry abroad and upon returning home, they will hire a celebrant, so they can share their symbolic wedding ceremony with family and friends.
Working with a celebrant often means couples will have access to the celebrant’s vast poetry, music and readings library. Symbolic actions can be incorporated within the wedding ceremony and include everything from symbolic hand fasting to loving cups.
Couples are also seeking a more inclusive, intimate and relaxed ceremony at venues offering a more informal ceremonial area.
In their desire for greater choice over what is their special day, couples are also looking to venues to embrace this trend.
Here are a few ideas for venues -
• Make sure you are up to date with the direction couples are heading.
• Have promotional material showcasing the intimacy or your venue.
• Have a preferred suppliers list that includes a local celebrant.
• Establish good working relationships with local independent celebrants – the vast majority of whom, will be happy to talk to you about how to make the most of your venue.
• Work with your local preferred wedding suppliers and host a wedding fayre.
Wedding trends, like all trends, come and go. But this one looks set not only to stay, but to thrive.
