Why So Many People Still Don’t Know What an Independent Wedding Celebrant Is (And Why That’s About to Change)

Picture this: a couple walks into a wedding fair, eyes sparkling, Pinterest boards brimming with inspiration. They’ve got florals, food trucks, and fairy lights on the brain. But when they reach the “ceremony” section, they hit a wall. Registrar or religious? That’s it?

Cue the confused blinking. Cue the missed opportunity.

🎤 The Celebrant Blind Spot

Despite the rise of personalised weddings, many couples still don’t know that independent celebrants exist—let alone what we actually do. Why? A few reasons:

- We’re not part of the legal system (yet)

In England and Wales, celebrants can’t currently perform legal marriages. That means we’re often left out of official wedding planning guides, registry office chats, and venue brochures.

- We’re not religious ministers

Some assume we’re just “like vicars but cooler.” Others think we’re glorified MCs. In reality, we’re the storytellers, ritual weavers, and emotional anchors of the day—without the dogma or the paperwork.

- We’re the ceremony rebels

Because we don’t fit neatly into a box, we often get overlooked. But that’s also our superpower. We create ceremonies that reflect the couple’s values, quirks, and love story—not a template.

🕊️ What We Actually Do (Hint: It’s Magic)

Independent celebrants craft ceremonies that are:

- Personal – Every word is written for that couple, not recycled from last week’s wedding.

- Flexible – Want to get married in a forest, on a boat, or in your nan’s garden? We’re game.

- Inclusive – We honour all backgrounds, beliefs, and identities. Love is love.

- Symbolic – From handfastings to candle rituals, we bring meaning to the moment.

We’re not just there to say “you may now kiss.” We’re there to make people laugh, cry, and feel something real.

🎪 Why It Matters

When couples don’t know celebrants exist, they miss out on the chance to make their ceremony the heart of the day—not just the legal bit before the party. They settle for “standard” when they could have had “soulful.”

And let’s be honest: the ceremony is the reason everyone’s there. Shouldn’t it be unforgettable?

📣 Let’s Change That

If you’re reading this and thinking, “Wait, this is a thing?”—welcome to the revolution. Independent celebrants are here to make weddings more meaningful, more creative, and more you.

So let’s spread the word. Share this blog. Tag a couple. Tell your venue. Because once people know what we do, they’ll wonder how they ever planned a wedding without us.