FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Got Questions? Hopefully there are some answers here!
1. What do we get with a celebrant that we wouldn’t get with a registrar?
We will get to know you throughout your wedding planning journey and will guide you from the minute you book us until the big day. A registrar will meet you shortly before the ceremony. We’ll write a script that’s totally personal to you, rather than a script that’s prescribed by law and the same for everyone. A registrar will use the same script several times a day (“insert name here”) and, whilst the ceremony can be somewhat personalised with readings and music, your celebrant ceremony will be written completely from scratch, to completely reflect you as a couple from start to finish. We will only take on one wedding per day, so no need to worry if you’re running late, or things don’t quite go as planned – we won’t be sitting there watching the clock because we have to rush off to another wedding!
2. So we can really get married anywhere?
Yes! As long as you have permission of course. Celebrant ceremonies aren’t restricted to licensed venues (although that doesn’t mean you can’t have a celebrant at a licensed venue). Think of your back garden, family farm, your favourite restaurant/bar, a beach, by the river…the possibilities are endless!
3. Our family say it won’t be the same separating the legal bit from the celebration – how can we convince them?
To use an example from our lawyering days – did you celebrate when you signed the contract for buying your house, or when you moved in? Do people celebrate when a baby is born, or when the register is signed? The “legal bit” can be as low-key as you’d like it to be – you can save your vows, ring exchange etc until your proper ceremony!
4. Can we have a themed wedding?
Absolutely! Let us know what you have in mind and we’ll research away and come up with some amazing ideas and surprises for your guests. We can include little anecdotes or references, to a full blown themed wedding with costumes!
5. Will you liaise with our other suppliers?
Yep. We will arrive on the day at least an hour before the wedding to check in with you, the venue staff and/or wedding planner. We will also give the photographer a heads up if there are any surprises they need to capture! We also have loads of contacts within the wedding industry, if you’re still at the start of your journey and need some recommendations. We won’t get in the way of any on-the-day wedding co-ordinator, however – we will just work alongside them.
6. Can I throw in a surprise for my partner?
Oh yes! If you are happy that your partner will appreciate a surprise, we can work a surprise in without them knowing. It’ll need a bit of organising, but we’re great at keeping secrets! Just let us know privately what you have in mind and we’ll work it out.
7. We know we want something a bit different, but we don’t know where to start! Can you help us?
Sure can! Some people have a very clear idea of how they want their ceremony to be, so we will just work with you to fit everything you want into your perfect ceremony. If you don’t know where to start, don’t panic – that’s part of our job! We’ll sit down with you and get an idea of you as a couple, your likes and dislikes, ideas you’ve taken from elsewhere and take it from there!
8. There are two of you – how does that work?
Subject to our availability – take your pick! The beauty of booking with us is that you have access to a male and a female celebrant. If you have a personal preference as to who conducts your ceremony, just let us know. You can have us both together if you like!
9. Where are you based?
We’re based in the beautiful seaside town of Aberystwyth, but are totally willing to travel – who doesn’t love a road trip?! Local travel is included in our fee, but there’ll be an additional charge for travel for anything further afield.
10. We’ve seen that celebrants can perform symbolic rituals – do you?
Yes, but only if you want them! There is no such thing as a “one size fits all” ceremony. You can include more traditional rituals such as handfasting, unity candles or sand ceremonies; more unusual rituals such as cocktail making or tree planting; or we can work together to create a brand new ritual that’s completely unique to you!
11. If it’s not legal, why can’t my Uncle Dai perform our ceremony?
In short, he can. But by booking us, you can rest assured that we are professionally trained, certified and fully insured. We have our own equipment and you can rely on us not to get drunk before the ceremony!
12. We are of mixed faith – can the ceremony reflect us both?
Yes! We are independent celebrants, so our beliefs are of absolutely no relevance to your ceremony. We can include as many or as few traditions from each of your faither, or even come up with a new one to represent you both.
13. And we can really include anything we want in our ceremony?
As long as it fits within the constraints of your venue (and the law!) anything goes! Family singalong, flash mob, group shots to toast the happy couple – the sky’s the limit! But don’t think a celebrant ceremony has to be completely wacky. If you want a more traditional ceremony, but just want to be able to hold it in an unlicensed venue, or even just like the thought of being able to be a bit more free with your vows – that’s totally cool with us.
14. Will we get to see the script before the big day?
It’s up to you! You can choose to see the full draft of the ceremony, or we can send you more of a rough order of service, so that you know the order in which things will happen, but the wording will be a surprise to you as well as your guests. We completely appreciate that different couples will have different preferences, so we’ll leave it entirely up to you.
15. Do you have a privacy policy?
Yes we do – it’s here : Seren Celebrants Privacy Policy
16. Are you able to offer Welsh or bilingual ceremonies?
Yes! Nia is a fluent Welsh speaker and Huw is an advanced learner so we can offer everything from a couple of words to ceremonies completely in Welsh and anything in between!