Firstly – if you have had to reschedule your wedding during the COVID-19 pandemic, I’m so very sorry. It feels cruel, doesn’t it? Although it’s done with good reason, most of us aren’t perfect, and I’m sure I would feel anger, sorrow, jealousy and rage at the unfairness and frustration at all the organisation that’s just gone down the drain. If you are feeling any of those things – I’m sorry. I wish it were different.
Now, you may be looking at rescheduling. And that’s where there may be some difficulties. Registrars were already booked a year ahead when this started, now they have another summer’s worth of weddings to fit in. You might not be able to get the day or time you wanted. So, what on earth do you do?
This might be the time to consider celebrants. They are also going to be very busy, but they are also flexible and creative. At the moment in the UK, celebrants can’t do the legal part of a wedding. At its most basic, marriage is signing a legal document with two witnesses. No vows or ring exchange are actually needed.
For most people, the vows and the rings are the wedding. Signing a register is often just a lull in the ceremony. So why not consider doing the two things completely separately? After all – you register a baby’s birth before you have a naming ceremony or christening. You register a death before you have a funeral and a wake. You can register your wedding midweek when demand is lower – and have a ceremony later.
With a celebrant led wedding, there are generally no restrictions. (There are exceptions, but I am a Heart-led celebrant and my focus is on your beliefs and your wishes). There are certainly no restrictions on where you can have your ceremony. No registered venue required – if you want to get married in a hotel you can, or in your back garden, or in a tipi in the woods – let’s do it! For most locations all you need is the landowner’s permission. I don’t start with a basic script already written – I start with talking to the two of you, finding out your story, your values, and what would make your ceremony absolutely perfect for you.
You can write your own vows, I can help or I can do it for you. Want a handfasting as well as a ring exchange? Absolutely, let’s do that. Want to involve children? Amazing – there are so many cool things we can do.
I will only do one wedding in a day, so if you are ready early and want to start – no problem. If someone important is running late – that’s ok, we can wait. You are the sole focus of the day.
So, if you are having to rethink and rebook your wedding – why not consider what is most important to you – is signing the register really critical to your day? If it’s not critical – why not consider a legal registration and a celebrant designed and led ceremony.
If this sounds like it might be something you might be interested in – I am happy to have a no-obligation chat with you. Get in touch! xx
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