10 Reasons to Hire a Wedding Celebrant

In 2003, I was 26 and newly engaged, giddy with excitement because my boyfriend had just popped the question. He’s from a British-Asian Hindu family, and I imagined we’d plan a joyful celebration that reflected both our worlds.

But as soon as the engagement was announced, the “helpful” suggestions started flying in from every direction. His family had their traditions; mine had their expectations. Everyone had an opinion on what kind of wedding we should have. That’s when I realised this wasn’t going to be the plain-sailing fairytale I’d pictured.

Back then, I had no idea celebrants were even a thing.

In the end, we did what many mixed-culture couples did in the early 2000s: we had the legal bit at the register office in the morning, followed by a Hindu ceremony in the afternoon. It was beautiful in its way, full of colour, meaning and family love, but it wasn’t the wedding I’d dreamed of. I’d made so many compromises to keep everyone else happy that the day didn’t really feel like us.

If I’d known then what I know now, I’d have had a blended celebrant-led ceremony - one that honoured both our backgrounds, reflected our personalities, and told our story in our way.

And that’s exactly why I’m now so passionate about helping other couples have the freedom and creativity I didn’t know was possible.

So, if you’re wondering whether to hire a celebrant for your wedding, here are ten reasons that might just make your decision easy.

1. Your Ceremony, Your Story

Every couple’s love story is unique, so why should your ceremony sound like everyone else’s? As a celebrant, I craft your ceremony around your story, your personalities and your values. No templates, no tick-boxes, no scripts recycled from the last wedding. Just pure you.

2. You Can Get Married Anywhere

Unlike registrar-led weddings, which have to take place in a register office or approved venue, a celebrant-led ceremony can happen absolutely anywhere: under a favourite tree, in your garden, by a lake, on a clifftop, in a woodland clearing or even in your local pub! Indoors or outdoors, formal or free-spirited, it’s completely up to you.

3. You Can Blend Cultures, Faiths or Traditions

Maybe you come from different cultural or religious backgrounds. Or maybe you want a spiritual touch without a formal faith element. Celebrant ceremonies are perfect for blending ideas, languages, music, and rituals from both your heritages, creating something deeply personal and respectful to both families.

4. You Can Include Symbolic Rituals

From handfasting and sand ceremonies to lighting candles or planting a tree together, symbolic rituals add beauty and meaning. You can include one, several, or none at all. There are no rules, only what feels authentic to you.

5. There’s Time to Tell Your Story

Your ceremony is the heart of your wedding day, not the bit you rush through to get to the prosecco. With a celebrant, you can include laughter, storytelling, and genuine emotion, the kind of moments that make everyone say, “That was so them.” And if you want to pop the prosecco during the ceremony, you can do that too!

6. You Get to Know Your Celebrant (and Vice Versa)

Unlike a registrar, who might only meet you on the day, a celebrant spends time getting to know you as a couple. We chat, laugh, and create a ceremony together. By the time the big day arrives, it feels like a friend is standing up there with you.

7. You can write your own vows

During a legal ceremony - whether that’s civil or religious - there is a prescribed set of promises and declarations you must make that form part of the legally binding contract. These can feel really impersonal and barely scratch the surface of what you really want to express to each other. During a celebration ceremony, you can make your vows completely your own. You can write them in secret and read them from cue cards that I will hand to you on the day, or you can repeat short phrases after me.

8. It’s Completely Flexible in Tone and Style

Want something romantic and tear-jerking? Done. Prefer light-hearted and funny? Done. Want a festival vibe or a rockabilly theme? Done. Done. As your wedding celebrant, I’ll help you set the tone that fits you perfectly… and I’ll even dress on brand if that’s your desire.

9. You can include audience participation

You have complete freedom to invite guests to take part - whether they’re doing a reading, a music recital or taking part in a symbolic ritual such as a ring warming. You could lead a sing-along or even include a quiz. Involving your guests makes them feel truly involved in your ceremony instead of being passive observers.

10. No Legal Constraints on the Day (for the Celebration Part)

Because a celebrant-led ceremony in England & Wales is not the legal marriage itself, you have huge flexibility in design and delivery. You’ll still need to complete the legal paperwork BEFORE your celebration ceremony, whether that’s earlier the same day or days/weeks/months before (see other article) but the celebration part is completely free from those constraints. 

What Happens Next

If this sounds like your kind of wedding, I’d love to help you bring your story to life.

Head to my contact page and fill out the short form - tell me a bit about you and your partner, and what kind of day you’re dreaming of. From there, we’ll arrange a friendly chat (no pressure, no sales pitch) to see if we’re the right fit for each other.

Together, we’ll create a ceremony that’s joyful, meaningful, and unmistakably you.

Written by Ruth Edmondson: a filmmaker and feature writer turned celebrant, bringing years of storytelling experience to the way we celebrate life’s biggest moments. Whether you’re tying the knot, renewing your vows, welcoming a new life or affirming a new name, Ruth will craft a ceremony that’s creative, joyful, and utterly personal.