FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Simply put, a celebrant ceremony does not constitute a legally binding marriage. For your marriage to be recognised in law within the UK you must also complete the legal formalities in front of a registrar, which you can do before or after the ceremony.
For more information, click the link to view my downloadable guide: HOW TO LEGALLY REGISTER YOUR MARRIAGE
Registrars are employed by the local authority and are authorised to conduct legally binding marriage and civil partnership ceremonies. They are also responsible for the administration of registering births, marriages and deaths. Celebrants are self-employed and conduct non-legally binding celebration ceremonies.
Legalities aside, the most important difference is that with a celebrant, you will have someone who meets you in advance and who will work closely with you in order to create a wedding ceremony that is unique and personal to you.
Registrars provide a fixed format and all external readings, music, vows etc are vetted to ensure they comply with the law. They specifically exclude references to religious traditions, customs, or music. It is also unlikely you would get to meet them before the ceremony day itself.
Absolutely! Because celebrant ceremonies do not have the restrictions of a synagogue, church, or registry office, they can take place anytime and anywhere and have a religious, non-religious, interfaith or spiritual basis, containing traditions, rituals, and customs that you choose.
In theory, yes, but please remember that they can only do this in a specifically licensed room (if the venue has one) which may not be where the main ceremony is due to take place.
PLEASE NOTE: In my experience, there's always a lot going on for both bride and the groom (both practically and emotionally) in the hours leading up to the main ceremony, so it is generally better to have the legal side of the marriage dealt with a few days before or after the celebrant-led wedding ceremony date.
A Humanist Celebrant will not hold a ceremony that includes any religious content at all.
Yes! I can help you to construct a most beautiful and meaningful secular ceremony with no religious content, if that is your preference.
Of course you can! But do bear in mind that a professional celebrant is trained to create as well as being experienced in leading meaningful ceremonies that flow seamlessly and get to the heart of why you are making this life choice, whereas a friend or relative is often just figuring this out for the first time. There's a world of difference between someone who merely reads words and a professional celebrant who crafts a deeply personalised and emotionally resonant experience, understands ceremony etiquette and who brings an atmosphere of authenticity to proceedings.
Whilst I'm based in London, I perform ceremonies across the UK and have also officiated at destination weddings overseas including Majorca, Mykonos, Tuscany and Lisbon. Wherever you need me, I will be there!

Absolutely!
Give some thought to the sentiments you would really like your wedding reading to express, and the tone and style you want to hit. Do you want your wedding reading to be humorous, spiritual, romantic, traditional or something quirky and different? If you need help with this, I have a large selection of wonderful poems and readings and would be delighted to share these with you.
Although some interfaith couples choose to have a Ketubah (marriage contract) read out during the ceremony, many do not feel the need for a Ketubah but prefer instead to recite wedding vows.
For your ceremony, choose the style that best suits your personality. If you are anxious about speaking in public, you may want your vows posed to you in the form of a question. For example, when asked if you promise to love and cherish your partner, you simply respond with “Yes!” or “ I do!”
An alternative would be for me to ask you to recite a traditional form of words which I give you. Eg, “I, [Name] take you [Name] to be my wife/husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part.
Or perhaps you love the idea of writing your own vows and reciting them directly to each other at the wedding ceremony without either of you hearing or seeing them ahead of time. I can help you to construct these vows.
Yes, of course I can. It is your wedding ceremony and therefore should reflect your beliefs, values and wishes.
Many couples of Christian heritage have included hymns, bible readings and prayers in their wedding ceremony. Likewise, couples of other denominations have incorporated religious elements of significance to them.
Usually between thirty and forty minutes, dependent upon the traditions, readings or songs you choose to include.
Once we have had our initial meeting, within 72 hours I will email you an outline of what we have discussed, together with a booking form and supporting documentation. Once these documents have been signed and returned, they will form the Professional Agreement between us. I will pencil in your requested date and this will be kept available to you for 7 days.
To secure and guarantee your booking please do the following:
Sign and return the booking form and supporting documentation to me by email or post.
Within 7 days of our meeting, pay a 30% deposit using bank details provided in my covering email. Should you, for whatever reason, then decide to cancel the contract within 14 days of entering into the contract with me, this deposit will be immediately refunded. After this date, it will be non-refundable.
This date is then kept solely for you.
The remainder of the fee is payable using the bank details provided six weeks prior to the ceremony.
Most definitely. My client’s privacy is of paramount importance to me. I will always treat my clients with the utmost respect. Information, photographs and testimonials are only shared on my website and social media with your written permission.
To comply with GDPR data protection regulations, you will be asked to complete a GDPR form to confirm that you are happy for you are happy for Jonny the Celebrant to communicate with you and hold your contact details and your preferred method of contact. This form will be included in the booking form supporting documentation.
Yes, I am covered by £2m public liability insurance and £1m professional indemnity insurance.
You have the right to cancel the contract without giving a reason within 14 days of entering into the contract with me. Full Terms & Conditions of cancellation will be in the Terms & Conditions document supporting the Booking Form.