Ceremony Choice or Ceremony Restrictions
We all love choice. We often take it for granted. Given the cost we pay for things, having a choice feels reasonable in the least & for some it’s a consumer right.
So when it comes to planning the biggest & happiest day of your lives, couples exercise this choice right?
So I feel the frustration that so many couples have when it comes to their ceremony.
If you have registrars to your venue to do your wedding ceremony (rather than doing your legals beforehand & having a celebrant wedding instead), there are many restrictions & I often hear stories of how this impacts upon a couples’ wedding experience.
Registrar restrictions include:
No locations other than a licensed venue & in designated spaces only.
No last minute changes. If the registrar thinks there’s even a small chance of rain the ceremony will not be outdoors.
No poems, readings, or music with lyrics with any reference to religion or spirituality.
No guests taking their pre-ceremony drinks to their seats, regardless of how hot it is.
No choice over what time your ceremony starts, you can only book available time slots left in the diary.
No delays. If for any reason the ceremony is delayed by more than 10 minutes it will likely be cancelled.
No idea who you’ll get. It could be the lovely & happy team or the ones who never seem to break a smile.
And the latest one I heard of from a frustrated couple this week who have now asked for my help…no animals.
The couple had planned on having an owl deliver their rings in the ceremony. The council say no!
So if you are happy with all these restrictions… no problem.
If however, like Becca & Matt you want your furry family member (in this case, Eric the pug) or an owl to bring your rings. You will need a celebrant.
Feel free to get in touch to find out more. No wonder nearly 1 in 5 couples last year employed a Celebrant. They chose a personal & unique ceremony written for them with no restrictions & where the couple’s experience is paramount.
📸: @garywalshphoto
Venue: @crathornehallhotel