Personalizing Weddings: Choosing Unique Ceremonies
Many couples today are aware that they can personalize some aspects of their weddings, such as writing their own vows and lighting a unity candle. There are even books and websites that offer pre-written vows, blessings, readings that can be “plugged into” a ceremony or even personalized slateplates, like this one here https://slateplate.com
But some couples don’t have the time to cut and paste a ceremony, or can’t find an officiant who’s willing to be flexible about integrating things they have chosen, or simply lack the know-how to put it all together. Others aren’t satisfied with the material that’s available. They want a ceremony that is meaningful to them, that tells the story of their meeting, courtship, and decision to marry in a compelling way, while including deeply personal, often customized, rituals and readings to reflect their personalities, values and intentions.
Celebrant Ceremonies - A Personal Option
Some of these couples have turned to civil Celebrants to create ceremonies for them. Celebrancy, a fairly new movement in the United States, got its start in Australia in 1973. There, Celebrants undergo government-mandated training, and marriage celebrants must be registered and authorized to marry couples. In the United States, Celebrants are trained by the Celebrant USA Foundation in Montclair, New Jersey. Although Celebrants are not required to be licensed by the government in the US, those who perform marriages must meet each state’s requirements and file the necessary paperwork.
Students can take classes locally at the Foundation headquarters in Montclair, or online. They train for seven months in understanding ritual, constructing ceremonies and identifying markets for their services. While many Celebrants choose to specialize in weddings, others find their calling in performing funeral services or ceremonies for families, such as adoptions, baby namings and even divorce ceremonies. Some Celebrants provide the full range of services.
Unique Weddings
The beginning of a Celebrant-created wedding ceremony begins with an interview. The couple meets with the Celebrant, who asks questions, determines the type of ceremony the future bride and groom have in mind, and gives each of them a detailed questionnaire to complete and return. Then the writing begins.
The Celebrant mails or emails a draft to the couple, who review and suggest revisions. This continues until the couple is completely satisfied. The Celebrant attends the wedding rehearsal, provides working scripts to the wedding party, venue managers, musicians and anyone else participating in the wedding. The Celebrant performs the ceremony and signs the marriage license. After their wedding, the couple receives a keepsake copy of their unique, deeply personal ceremony.
Cost
Celebrants set fees depending upon a number of factors such as the length and complexity of the ceremony, the need for rehearsal, and whether travel is involved. Celebrants offer a free, no-obligation telephone consultation prior to signing contracts.
Planning
As with any other aspect of a wedding, the couple needs to consult the Celebrant as far in advance as possible, ideally six months before the wedding date, to allow for interviewing, writing and revisions.