FAQs

LEGAL NECESSITIES:

  • In a word, no… HOWEVER at any time before (or after) your wedding ceremony you can go to a local registry office and have the basic paperwork legalise your marriage or civil partnership in law; the same as you would do to register a birth or death. This can take as little as 15 minutes and should cost as little as £56 (current 2024-27 prices on the Cornwall Council website). You do NOT have to exchange rings, say your vows or go to a special licensed venue. All you need is two witnesses to obtain the legal paperwork.

    THEN, you are completely free to craft exactly the amazing wedding celebration that you want with your celebrant, instead of having to follow the templates and guidelines from the registrars.

    Note 1: Registry offices tend to advertise their far more costly “wedding packages” much more visibly than their simplest legal ceremony. They do not make it obvious that it is an option, so search for “STATUTORY MARRIAGE APPOINTMENT”. 

    Note 2: These cheaper basic slots at registry offices can be limited, so make sure to book one as soon as you possibly can, once you have decided this is the path you would like to follow. Additionally, not all local authority offices offer the basic fee package so be sure to check well in advance.

  • Yes, absolutely anywhere! Council registrars can only hold a ceremony at a licensed venue, but CELEBRANTS can officiate your ceremony in any place that is special to you. This may well be a licensed venue anyway, but it could also be unlicensed places such as:

    • A beach (see my blog for Dollar Cove, July 2024)

    • A clifftop

    • A field with a marquee (see my blog for Helford Passage, August 2024)

    • A campsite

    • A boat

    • Woodland

    • Private garden

    • Your home

    • A holiday home

    • Village hall

    • Any other ideas?

    If you are opting for any of these alternative venues, just make sure you have the required permission.

  • Yes, if you would like one. This can easily be incorporated into the ceremony. It wouldn’t be the same legal document as your marriage certificate but it would look official and fabulous and it would be a lovely inclusion for your ceremony and your photographs.

YOUR CEREMONY, EXACTLY YOUR WAY:

  • Visit my page on this subject and see my blog article “Celebrate your Celebrant” for more details.

  • Yes, this is often a real delight and there are so many ways that this can happen. Involving the most special people in your life and giving them specific roles is a wonderful way to enrich your ceremony and create the best experience for everyone you have gathered with you. As an experienced former teacher I have so many creative ideas of what you could do. See more in Symbolic Elements.

  • If this floats your boat, then let’s make it part of the ceremony. After over twenty years in the classroom, I have so many ideas of how to actively involve anyone you want in a creative and emotive way. Have you considered a flash mob? Let’s plan!

  • Absolutely, if you trust their involvement and believe it adds special value to your ceremony, then let’s figure out how you would like this to be done. 

    Note: I’m very relaxed with dogs, but may need your patience with other types of pets!

  • Yes, of course. I very much appreciate that there may be some specific religious elements or cultural elements of your wedding ceremony that you need to have there because you identify with them and they “make you tick”. I’m really interested to learn what is special to you and how we can weave these elements into your ceremony. 

  • Oh my goodness - there really is no limit. Whatever sort of elements reflect you as a couple will be so exciting to plan and include. Here are some of my suggestions:

    • Handfastings (see my blog photos for handfasting ceremonies July and August 2024)

    • Ring-warming wishes

    • Sand / wine ceremony

    • Flower and scent ceremony

    • Unity candle ceremony 

    • Broom jumping

    • Time capsule creation

    • Flash mob surprise

    • Ding-dong-along bells

    • Open to any suggestions based on your passions, interests, personalities!

    Note: any of these symbolic elements can be adapted to include any relatives or friends that you wish. They are all flexible to be interpreted and conducted to suit you which is so much fun. Also see the section Symbolic Elements.

  • Please see the relevant sections attached to my ceremonies pages. Each has a fee and exact breakdown of what that might include.

  • I will be completely upfront with you in our meetings of what these costs may be, but as a rule of thumb:

    • Mileage of 45p per mile over 30 miles from my home

    • Travel and overnight accommodation costs for destination weddings either in the UK or abroad

    • Additional purchase costs for symbolic elements (or you may wish to make these purchases yourself)

    • Presentation copy of your script as opposed to an emailed copy

    • Bespoke creation of driftwood art or similar unique piece to mark your day

  • Absolutely, do not worry at all. Some people feel perfectly comfortable doing this, yet others don’t. We all have our areas of “comfy”. I can support you a bit, a lot or even provide you with examples to help guide the process. I’m completely confident that together, we will craft the words you feel happy with.

  • I’m lucky enough to be based on the Lizard Peninsula in Cornwall and I imagine that most of my bookings will be in the local area. However, if you choose me as your celebrant and would like a ceremony elsewhere, I’ll happily travel to suit you, whether it’s in the UK or abroad. Naturally though, the expenses of this would be additional to the standard fee.