Celebrant ceremonies in Cornwall.Celebrant in Cornwall on the beauty of celebrant-led weddings.

What is a celebrant ceremony and how do they work?

Here at Boconnion, we are experts in tailor-making every aspect of your special day. The details are as important to us as they are to you – and then some! And while we know that you will be keen to get on and start the celebrations, we encourage you to think carefully about the wedding ceremony itself, which is why we offer all the options of a church ceremony or a celebrant ceremony.

The celebrant ceremony is probably the least well-known but is becoming an increasingly popular option, particularly for those couples wanting a ceremony outdoors. Whether it’s set among the wildflowers of the meadow, amidst the blossoming apple trees in the orchard, or under one of the towering oak trees on our stunning estate, a bespoke ceremony inspired by nature is certainly one of the top trends for 2021.

We talk to our recommended supplier, Lisa of Celebrant in Cornwall, about the beauty of independent celebrant-led weddings and what they offer today’s conscientious couples.

Photo by Steven Prebble Photography

Just what is a celebrant-led wedding?

A celebrant-led wedding, when created and delivered by an independent celebrant, is a personal, meaningful and totally bespoke ceremony for those couples wanting a completely unique and authentic wedding experience.

An independent wedding celebrant is just that – free from any restrictions! Increasingly, officers from local authorities are calling themselves celebrants, which is definitely causing some confusion! It’s important to recognise that their role is very different to an independent celebrant – they exist to complete the legal requirements of the marriage (which you can do quickly and cheaply in a 15 minute appointment at a Register Office) and they do not have the same flexibility (or dare I say it – creativity) as a celebrant operating independently.

An independent celebrant is all about building a relationship with the couple from the get-go; they will tailor the ceremony to meet the exact requirements of the couple, and it will be written in a deeply sincere style, which will fit with the couple’s values and lifestyle and reflects the individuality of the partnership. And a celebrant will undoubtedly bring new ideas and a fresh energy to the day, so it will be unlike any ceremony that guests have seen before!

Photo by Mandy Donneky

So it’s quite different to a legal wedding? 

Absolutely. In the legal wedding there is a script, with set phrases and words you must state in which to be legally married. There are also limitations as to what can be included in the content of the ceremony, as well as when and where it can happen. The local authority officers are likely to be attending many ceremonies that day; you won’t meet them before the event, you won’t have established a relationship with them and they won’t have the flexibility of hanging around for the sun to come about, or to wait for Auntie Joan and Uncle Bob who are running late.

I always say to my couples, and it’s my humble opinion of course, a wedding day shouldn’t be about standing quietly in front of a suited official, repeating the statutory wording and signing the legal paperwork. I don’t think it should be about rules and judgement, or be based on a script with limited options from which to choose the very words that bind you together.  To me, that’s just wedding admin, and you can do that in advance of your celebratory event.

A wedding day should be joyful, fun, flexible, creative and expressive - and truly celebrate love, commitment, friendship and family. And a ceremony led by an independent celebrant will give you just that!

So how can couples personalise their wedding ceremony?
How this happens is very much up to the couple, but I am there to guide them with inspiration and ideas, including those for symbolism and ritual which they might not have previously considered, but will ensure their day truly reflects their personality. 

These might include a handfasting – a  simple but romantic ritual, dating back thousands of years, and from where we get the phrase ‘tying the knot’. The couple’s hands are bound together by rope, ribbons or even flowers, representing the binding of two lives together. Traditionally the couple would then stay tied together for the rest of their wedding celebration, but not many couples choose to do that these days!

It might include candle lighting - the couple have an individual candle which represents themselves. They can light it themselves or it can be lit by parents, close friends and passed to them. They then merge their flames to light the unity candle, symbolising their union in marriage and the coming together of families. Their own candles remain lit. The unity candle is then kept, and lit on special occasions or anniversaries.
It could include a sand ceremony -  where family members each have a vial of (different) coloured sand, and one by one they pour it into a central vessel, where it layers in different colours, representing the coming together of individuals into one family. Or the family members pour the sand simultaneously, causing the grains to blend and create a new colour, representing a new stage in life. The same ceremony can be performed with water (or even better, wine!), blending to symbolise the unification of a couple or family.

A ring blessing is another popular ritual – the couple’s wedding rings are passed from guest to guest during the ceremony, receiving their well wishes and blessings along the way. They are then returned to the couple who exchange them as a symbol of their love. Alternatively, you can set up a table at the entrance of your ceremony venue giving your guests an opportunity to ‘warm’ or bless the rings as they walk in - to avoid any disasters, the rings are usually secured to a piece of ribbon and fastened to a cushion, or placed in a box.

The rose ceremony is another favourite - the red rose, representing true love, is most frequently used in this ceremony but you could use whichever flower you choose, or even a variety, or one which has particular symbolism to you. The couple each has their own flower, which they first exchange with one another and then place in separate vases. Family and/or guests then add their flowers to a central vase. The ritual is completed by the couple adding there roses last to the central vase, symbolising the joining of two people and their families.

And there are many, many other ways you can personalise the ceremony – my job is identify the ideas and actions which best represent the couple!

“It’s my absolute pleasure to create and deliver your one-of-a-kind ceremony!”

And will it still feel like a wedding day?

Well that depends. If a wedding day to you is about signing a piece of paper in front of an official you’ve never met and are never likely to meet again, then no, it probably won’t feel much like a wedding day. 

If it’s about standing up with the one you love, with a celebrant who has got to know you and is fully invested in making your ceremony the best it can possibly be, among all those people who are important to you, taking part in a ceremony in which anything goes and should make you laugh and cry, involving your friends, family and even furry ones, then yes, it will feel like a wedding day – but much, much more so!

A celebrant will undoubtedly bring new ideas and a fresh energy to the day, so it will be unlike any ceremony that guests have seen before!

How can couples find out more?

Head on over to my website www.celebrantincornwall.co.uk where hopefully there is all the information to answer your questions. I’d be delighted to have a chat with you via phone or video link if you’d like to connect in person.  If you decide to go ahead, I’ll send you an online booking form, a request for a booking fee to secure your date, and a contract so we have an agreement in writing. This is the point I start working with you – and from which your date is reserved for you, and you alone. Then it will be my absolute pleasure to create and deliver your one-of-a-kind ceremony – which is exactly how it should be!