Newly engaged couples may be asking many questions amidst their excitement: Is the Church the place for our wedding service?
Do we want to have our marriage certified at the local registry office?
Do we want a registrar to attend an approved venue?
Or… Do we want a personalised ceremony led by a celebrant in any venue of our choice?
Everyone has different views about their special day, however, knowing your options is an important part of your decision.
CHURCH
Many people choose their own local church, but you might like to marry in a different church because it has special significance for you through family or other connections.
How wonderful to drive past the local Church, Chapel or Cathedral knowing your vows were exchanged in a place of worship with God’s blessing!
You can have music of your choice and include religious or non-religious readings and poems.
There may be some restrictions if you have been divorced, but it is possible. You need to speak with your local vicar or priest to discuss the possibilities.
REGISTRY OFFICE
Some people prefer a standard service in a registry office; this is the simplest way to be legally married. Two witnesses are required. No music or readings. This is by far the cheapest option (currently £68.50).
It is also possible to have other types of ceremonies at the registry office, with varying numbers of guests. See your local council website for more information.
REGISTRAR VISIT
For those who have a specific venue in mind, it is important you ask the question: Does the venue have a license to legally marry you? A registrar will come from the register office and lead a ceremony. Most of the planning can be done online with the couple selecting from standard paragraphs. There is an element of personalisation, which is super to make your day your own.
The fee in North Yorkshire is £575 for a registrar to attend an approved venue. Unfortunately, it is unknown which registrar will be present on the day, but you know they will be able to legally marry you at the approved venue.
CELEBRANT-LED CEREMONY
If you are looking for a more personalised ceremony in a venue of your choice – a beautifully converted barn, by a lake, in a garden, or in the manicured gardens of a hotel – maybe a celebrant-led ceremony is for you. Celebrants cannot currently perform legally binding marriages in England and Wales (In Europe and Scotland, this is possible). There is currently a Law Commission weddings review, which will give celebrants the right to legally wed couples in times to come.
For the time being, many couples choose to have a two-stage wedding. Firstly, a standard service at the local registry office; secondly, a relaxing and completely bespoke ceremony with their family and friends in a venue of their choice.
There are many fabulous celebrants across the country, who work alongside the couple in the months prior to their wedding. Often a great friendship develops, so the couple have the best of everything – someone with whom they feel comfortable, personalised vows, their love story shared in a unique way, any music they choose, hymns or songs, readings, prayers or poems, and even having their guests raise a glass throughout the ceremony! There are many traditions including hand-fasting, a sand ceremony, or ‘Jump the Broom’ which could be planned to be completely unique. Your local celebrant will have lots of ideas – it’s what makes their role so exciting! Fees vary, but it is a good idea to talk to different celebrants to find one matching your ‘vibe’ and your budget.
YOUR DAY. YOUR CHOICE.
It is important to really think about how you’d like your ceremony to look. Do you want the traditional vows, or would you prefer to write your own? Would you like to be inside or outside? Do you want music, poems or readings? What about something unconventional, like hand fasting? Do you want a level of control over the ceremony? There’s no right or wrong answer here. It’s about what you both want – what will make it special for you?
Article by Jo Hudson, Hearts of Yorkshire Celebrants www.heartsofyorkshirecelebrants.co.uk
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