What Does a Celebrant Do? A Guide to Their Role in Your Wedding Ceremony
- Cas Holmes
- Dec 29, 2025
- 7 min read
Updated: Jan 15
Understanding the Celebrant's Role
When I tell people that I am a Bedfordshire celebrant, they often take a moment to grasp what that means. I create and lead weddings, funerals, and baby naming ceremonies. Some wonder why anyone would choose a celebrant over traditional options. And they ask , what does a celebrant actually do?
Ever been to a ceremony that felt a bit… generic? That’s precisely what celebrants aim to change. As an independent celebrant, I craft personal, meaningful ceremonies that reflect who you are. In this post, I’ll explain what a celebrant does, why more people are choosing this path, and how it could be the perfect fit for your next big life moment.
What is a Celebrant?
A celebrant is defined by the Cambridge online dictionary as a 'priest who leads a religious ceremony or a person who leads a ceremony such as a marriage or a funeral'. However, independent celebrants are more than this. They are modern-day storytellers, weaving together words and emotions to create unforgettable moments.
The Origins of Celebrants
Celebrant-led ceremonies have existed for 50 years in Australia. The UK followed suit in the 1980s. Awareness is rising, thanks to programmes like Married at First Sight. The Economist estimated that 10,000 celebrant-led weddings took place in England in 2019.
The Role of a Celebrant in Ceremonies
From weddings to funerals and everything in between, celebrants play a crucial role in bringing people together. Unlike traditional religious figures or legal officiants, celebrants offer a more personalised approach.
An independent celebrant is typically not affiliated with any religion. They take the time to get to know families and couples, creating individualised ceremony scripts for weddings, funerals, and naming ceremonies.
So why choose an independent celebrant? They provide a level of choice and difference. For instance, a family may not want a religious service for their loved one. Or a couple might wish to blend cultures in their wedding. A celebrant can help incorporate these elements into the ceremony.
What is a Wedding Celebrant?
Did you know that according to Hitched and the Metro, a celebrant-led wedding is one of the biggest trends for 2024?
At first glance, having a wedding celebrant may seem unnecessary if you plan to see a registrar for legalisation. However, if you want a personalised and unique ceremony, it’s becoming popular to have a brief registrar ceremony at their office. This is often cheaper than having them come to your venue. For more details, see Quirky Weddings & Vow Renewals | Rites of Way.
You can then have the celebrant at your chosen venue, which is often less expensive than the registrar attending. Did you know that celebrants can conduct ceremonies in a wider range of places than registrars? Think back gardens, beaches, hotels, pubs, community halls, barns, etc.—just ensure you have permission from the landowner.
I also advise considering the flexibility of having a celebrant for a celebration of life or a naming ceremony. Currently, celebrants are not licensed to officiate a legal marriage in the UK, but changes are anticipated as a result of the Commission on Wedding Law reform. So what does a wedding celebrant actually do?
What Does a Wedding Celebrant Actually Do?
A wedding celebrant is the person who takes your story, your values, and your relationship — and turns them into a ceremony that feels genuinely you. Unlike a registrar, who follows a set script and legal format, a celebrant creates a personalised ceremony shaped around your personalities, beliefs, humour, and hopes for the future.
As a celebrant, I spend time getting to know you, understanding what matters most, and crafting a ceremony that reflects your relationship with honesty and warmth. I help you choose readings, write vows, involve family or friends, and create moments that feel meaningful rather than “by the book.” On the day itself, I 'hold the space', think of me as someone who guides the flow, and make sure the ceremony feels calm, joyful, and deeply personal.
The Process of Working with a Celebrant
The advantages of hiring an independent celebrant trained for this role are significant. They take the time to know you as a couple and family, learning your stories and values relevant to the ceremony.
You will speak with them on the phone, meet face-to-face or online, and communicate via email or text. You’ll receive questionnaires, check draft ceremony scripts, and complete necessary documents since you are purchasing a service.
Get to know your celebrant and ask how they can help you create your perfect ceremony. Remember to keep them updated with your decisions, as they are small business owners balancing their books.
Interested in how I can help you? Take a look at the ceremonies I deliver and my current offers.
The Benefits of Hiring a Storyteller Celebrant
Ultimately, celebrants are masters of ceremonies. Their primary objective is to create a ceremony that reflects your beliefs, values, and love story, tailored to your preferences.
They will assist with your questions, provide support, and advise how others can be involved in the ceremony. They liaise with your venues and suppliers, advise on vows, eulogies, readings, poems, and music, and manage the general order of the ceremony.
In contrast, a minister of religion or registrar must adhere to a specific approach and form of words by law or belief. This may be more appropriate for some families. However, this is about extending choice when many are unaware they have one.
A celebrant has the flexibility to create a unique experience for you and your guests. They can add symbolism at the request of families and couples, such as sand, wine, rose, and candle ceremonies, jumping the broom, hand tying, blessings, and anything you suggest, within reason! For more information, see here.
How to Choose the Right Celebrant for Your Ceremony
Spoiler alert: everyone is different! Celebrants come in all shapes and sizes, which is helpful since one size does not fit all. Some celebrants specialise in various spiritual approaches, LGBTQIA+ focus, paganism, or humanism, cultural understandings, life experiences, or in my case, including a love of dogs! Use a web search to find local or specific celebrants. Word of mouth, social media, and website directories can help you find the ideal celebrant for you.
Q&A: What Does a Wedding Celebrant Actually Do?
Q: What does a wedding celebrant actually do?
A: A wedding celebrant gets to know you as a couple and creates a ceremony that feels genuinely personal. Instead of using a standard script, a celebrant writes a ceremony for you — shaped around your story, your personalities, your values, and the atmosphere you want on the day. They help you choose readings, write vows, involve family and friends, and create a ceremony that feels warm, meaningful, and unmistakably “you.”
Q: Do you offer any support before we even book?
A: Yes — I offer a free wedding ceremony audit. It’s a gentle, no‑pressure way to look at where you’re already clear, where you might want support, and which parts of your ceremony could be shaped more intentionally.
Q: Do you help with vows?
A: Absolutely. I offer a vow challenge booklet full of prompts and ideas to help you find the right words, and I also offer 1:1 vow practice sessions so you feel confident and grounded when reading them on the day.
Q: How do you help us stay calm before the ceremony?
A: I share a guide to staying calm in the run‑up to the day and on the day itself. It includes grounding techniques, gentle reminders, and practical tips to help you feel steady, supported, and present.
Q: How do you get to know us?
A: Through relaxed conversations, questionnaires, and gentle prompts that help you share your story in a way that feels natural. My background in health and social care means I’m used to listening deeply, holding space sensitively, and supporting people through important life moments. It’s never an interview — it’s more like chatting with someone who genuinely wants to understand what makes your relationship special.
Q: Can you help us choose music for the ceremony?
A: Yes — I love helping couples choose music. I have a background in music, so I can guide you through options that fit the tone you want, whether that’s something modern, classical, acoustic, or completely unexpected.
Q: Can you help us choose readings or poems?
A: Definitely. I’m a poet and part of a poetry community, and I also run a local book group, so I’m always surrounded by beautiful words. I can suggest readings, poems, or prose that match your personalities and the mood you want — whether you’re after something modern, heartfelt, funny, or quietly powerful.
Q: Is your approach inclusive?
A: Completely. Inclusivity is at the heart of everything I do. Your ceremony will honour who you are — your identities, your cultures, your family structures, your beliefs (or non‑beliefs), and the way you love. Every couple deserves to feel seen, respected, and celebrated.
Q: Can we include personal elements like rituals, readings, humour, or pets?
A: Yes — and I love when couples make their ceremony their own. You can include symbolic rituals (handfasting, candle lighting, ring warming), readings, music, personal promises, cultural elements, and as much humour as feels right. And if you’d like to involve your pets, even better — dogs as ring bearers, “dogs of honour,” or simply having them present as part of your story can make the ceremony feel even more personal.
Q: Do you write the whole ceremony?
A: Yes. Your ceremony is written for you, shaped around your story and the tone you want. Every element is crafted to reflect who you are as a couple.
Q: What happens on the day?
A: I arrive early, check the space, coordinate with your photographer, videographer, and venue team, and make sure everyone knows what’s happening. I lead the ceremony with warmth and confidence, keeping everything flowing smoothly so you can relax and be fully present. I am with you to support you- even when things go wrong.
Conclusion: The Importance of a Celebrant in Creating Meaningful and Memorable Ceremonies
Celebrants create an emotional connection between you and your guests, making the experience meaningful and unforgettable. Let them create a ceremony that celebrates your love, journey, and legacy. These can become unforgettable experiences and memories.
If you want to add a touch of magic to your special occasion, now you are clearing ion what a celebrant can do, please consider hiring a celebrant. A hidden hero/ine exists in a world filled with endless love stories and unique life journeys—the celebrant. But then, I would say that, wouldn’t I?!
Please contact me on 07305002858 or ritesofw@gmail.com or using the contact form on the bottom of the welcome page to discuss your ideas, tell your story, and how I can help you make your dreams come true.
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