The Celebrant: What It Means to Be a Wedding Officiant?
Have you been invited to a wedding and wondered what it means to be a celebrant? We’re here to help. A celebrant is someone who officiates the ceremony, meaning they are in charge of everything from beginning the ceremony through exchanging vows, prayers, rings, and more. They may also provide advice on how best to tailor your ceremony for those getting married as well as their family members or guests.
What is a Celebrant and what do They Do?
The Celebrant is an individual who is licensed to conduct wedding ceremonies. Celebrants are not clergy, but they perform similar legal functions for couples marrying in places where there is no state or religious licensing of marriage officiants.
Finding a Celebrant
The Celebrant should be chosen carefully because you want someone whose values are aligned with your own and will reflect the seriousness of your decision to enter into a lifelong commitment.
Celebrants vary in their approach and maybe more or less formal, but they should all take the occasion seriously and provide an appropriate level of marriage counseling as well as legal assistance regarding prenuptial agreements and other matters.
When you find a Celebrant you like (and can afford), you should meet to discuss the ceremony. Celebrants are familiar with many different types of ceremonies and can accommodate most requests unless they involve something illegal or impossible (such as having Elvis preside over your wedding). They may also be able to suggest other professionals, such as musicians or photographers, who might help make the day special for you.
Getting Married by Celebrant
You can get married anywhere that is appropriate. Many couples choose to do this in their homes, but you could also use an outside area (a park or garden) if it’s available. The Celebrant may suggest a specific place for the ceremony and will usually recommend an ideal time of day so that lighting conditions are good and the location is not crowded.
The Celebrant may also suggest someone to take pictures of the ceremony, recommend a good florist, tell you about their own musicians or reception staff if they have them. You can discuss with Celebrants what kind of music they are able to play at your wedding and whether there is any special music (from particular composers or specific eras) that you would like included. Celebrants should also be able to recommend professional musicians if they are not going to provide them for the ceremony themselves.
The Celebrant will write out a script for your wedding and have it typed up by a secretary so there is no handwritten text on any of the pages (this can cause problems with matching fonts and getting everything to line up properly). Celebrants will also have the text printed in a special booklet, usually bound with heavy paper or leather.
Booklet of Texts for Wedding Ceremony
The Celebrant should show you a copy of each page so that you see exactly what your guests are going to read. But until that moment, keep the Celebrant’s words about the booklet of texts for your wedding ceremony.
When it comes to wording and language there are no rules – you can be as traditional or creative as you like! For some people a modern approach is more suitable so they may choose not to use formal religious text at all; others feel more comfortable using traditional religious text. And, of course, you can use a mixture of both!
The Celebrant should show you a copy of each page so that you see exactly what your guests are going to read. But until that moment, keep the Celebrant’s words about the booklet of texts for your wedding ceremony.
How does it Work to Hire a Celebrant?
Celebrants are dedicated to helping you plan your wedding. Celebrations can be simple or grandiose and no matter the size, every celebration is unique. Celebrants may work on a one-on-one basis if you want a small ceremony with a few guests or they might create an event for several people such as weddings in churches, parks, and other venues. Celebrants are trained to provide for any need a couple may have.
Wrapping UP
At the end of this blog post, the celebrant is the most sophisticated, personalized and cost-effective way to plan your wedding. We are more than just a company that can provide you with all of the best venues in town or help find vendors for every aspect of your event.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
