Celebrant or Registrar – What Feels Right For Your Wedding?
Introduction
When you’re planning a wedding, it feels like there are a million and one things to sort out, and one of those things is the legal registration of your marriage. For many, this will take place on the day of the wedding itself: a registrar will come to your venue with a legal celebrant, and after your ceremony takes place, you will sign a document to say you’re now legally married. However, what you might not realise is that this does not necessarily have to happen on your wedding day.
Just like registering a birth or death happens separately to a Christening or funeral, so can the registration of a marriage. You can go to your local town hall or registry office for a basic legal ceremony, and then have a completely unique and bespoke ceremony on the day of your wedding celebration. This blog will compare the two options so you can decide which one is right for you!
What’s the difference between a registrar and a celebrant?
The role of a registrar
A registrar is a government official from the local authority who can legally pronounce a couple as married or in a civil partnership. They are required for the legal bit of a wedding day, and it is their job to make sure that the marriage can legally take place in the run-up to the wedding and on the day.
A registrar can only perform ceremonies in a licensed venue or registry office, and the ceremonies that they will conduct stick to a set legal script. This means that there are limited options for personalisation, though you can choose your own vows from a small list of options and your own readings.
The role of a celebrant
An independent celebrant is different to the ones who lead legal ceremonies. They are an independent individual who creates personalised and meaningful ceremonies for couples after getting to know them over weeks, months, or even years.
Rather than meeting them for the very first time on their wedding day, a celebrant can offer help and support throughout the wedding planning process, as well as offering complete freedom in location and format.
This means you can get married anywhere, from your back garden to your favourite beach, it’s completely up to you! Your ceremony script will be fully tailored and bespoke to you, with complete freedom over any readings, family involvement and your own vows.
You can include any symbolic or spiritual elements you want, or none at all, and your celebrant can help you to decide the special moments that you want to celebrate on your day. The freedom and flexibility means that you can make as many changes as you like, all with the emotional support of your celebrant who can offer loads of advice to you both. The way I describe the difference between registrars and independent celebrants is to say that
“A registrar handles the legal format. A celebrant brings your love story to life on your day”.
Can celebrants legally marry you?
The legal requirements in England and Wales
In order to be legally married in England and Wales, certain requirements must be met (for example, both participants must be over 18 years of age), and these requirements must currently be verified by a government official.
This means that independent celebrants cannot complete the legal part of a wedding as they are not government officials. These legal declarations must be done with a registrar or in a place of worship, and they require a couple to “give notice” of their marriage with their local authority, as well as making sure they have two witnesses to their marriage or civil partnership.
As it is a legal process, legal paperwork must be filled out: this is called the “marriage schedule”, which must be signed by the registrar or religious official.
So, how do couples make it legal?
If you are interested in a celebrant for your wedding day, but you still want to make sure the legal stuff gets done, you can have a simple civil ceremony at your local registry office with two witnesses.
All registry offices must offer this as an option, and it costs around £50-£60. Often, couples choose a weekday for their official legal ceremony, then they can have a celebrant-led wedding ceremony on their big day!
This means that the legal requirements are done and dusted, and you don’t have to worry about them on the wedding day itself. Your marriage is official, but your wedding day is completely personalised to you, with all of the freedom and flexibility that a celebrant-led ceremony can provide.
For a legal, civil ceremony, you must:
- Sign a legal statement at your local registry office saying you intend to get married or form a civil partnership
- Choose what kind of ceremony you will be having
- Pick vows to exchange
- Speak to the registrar on the day to ensure the marriage can legally go ahead
- Sign the marriage schedule on the day
For a celebrant-led ceremony, you will:
- Meet with your celebrant to chat about what you would like your ceremony to look like.
- Write your own vows, or work together with your celebrant to write ones that are unique to you.
- Work with your celebrant to find the readings and/or symbolic elements that you would like in your ceremony.
- Read and approve any drafts your celebrant sends you.
- Relax on the day, knowing someone you know will be there to conduct your bespoke ceremony!
Why choose a celebrant if they can’t legally marry you?
Personalisation, freedom, and meaning
You might be asking: if a celebrant cannot legally marry you, what’s the point of choosing one?
Well, a wedding day is not just about the legal process of getting married; it’s about celebrating you as a couple!
Celebrating your love story
- A tailored script: With a tailored ceremony script that celebrates your love story, your ceremony will be just as special and personalised as the rest of the day you’ve worked so hard to plan.
- Freedom to include loved ones: In a civil ceremony, family members and friends can only contribute readings to the ceremony, but with a celebrant-led ceremony, you have complete freedom to involve people in any way that fits you two; whether that’s with a song, a speech, or a symbolic or spiritual element like handfasting.
- A meaningful venue: You also have the freedom over venue choice and have your ceremony somewhere that’s completely special to you, rather than being restricted by licensed venues.
- Emotional support and guidance throughout: As well as this, you can rest easy knowing that your celebrant has worked with you throughout your planning process, they know you and your story and will offer all of the emotional support and guidance that they can.
- Having a registrar is a bit like the lottery: they are all professionals, but you will gel with some better than others and there is no way of knowing who you will get until your day itself.
- Personalised features: From dress code, to music choice, …..
NOTE: I haven’t included dress code, I have never known a licensed venue to enforce one, and I can only imagine the poshest ones do so?
Testimonial: Add a testimonial from one of your couples. We could use the Google Business Profile review.
When should you choose a registrar instead?
✅ Couples who want everything in one go at a licensed wedding venue
✅ Those who don’t want to plan two parts to the process
✅ Budget-conscious couples who prefer a straightforward civil marriage ceremony
What’s best for your wedding ceremony?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer — it depends on what matters most to you as a couple. Here are three common approaches couples take when planning their wedding ceremony:
OPTION #1: Registrar only at a registry office with two witnesses present
Ideal for couples who want to keep it simple, low-cost, and purely legal.
- Takes place at your local registry office.
- A short civil marriage ceremony with legal wording.
- You’ll need two witnesses.
- No personalisation — just the legal declarations.
- Usually, the most affordable option (fees vary by council).
OPTION #2: Registrar first, then celebrant (separate locations, times, or days)
Ideal for couples who want complete creative freedom on their big day.
- Do the legal bit at the registry office (or licensed venue) earlier.
- Then have your personalised celebrant-led ceremony on your special day, anywhere you like.
- Think of it like registering a birth: the paperwork is done separately from the celebration.
- This is the most flexible and meaningful option for many couples.
- Costs a bit more due to having both a registrar and a celebrant, but gives you full freedom.
OPTION #3: Both registrar and celebrant at the same registered location
Ideal for couples getting married at a licensed venue who want everything in one place.
- Registrar completes the legal paperwork at the venue.
- The celebrant leads the rest of the ceremony afterwards.
- It can feel more seamless, especially with a supportive venue and clear planning.
- May involve higher venue and registrar fees, but can save on logistics.
Final thoughts on creating your ‘perfect day‘ 💖
- Reassure couples that there is no “one right way” – it’s about what feels best for them
- Invite them: contact me for a chat about your unique love story
- Emphasise that choosing a celebrant wedding ceremony means freedom, personalisation, and joy
- Mention your process when working together. Ie agree to work together, book couples meeting, etc etc. Link to weddings page (perhaps a process tick list).
Understanding your ceremony vision
As a registered celebrant with x experience and a love for delivering ceremonies, I am well placed to help you realise your ceremony vision.
I can guide you on understanding the legal aspects of the ceremony so that together you will create a perfect ceremony personalised to you and your unique love story.
FAQs
Do I need a registrar or a celebrant?
It depends on what kind of ceremony you want. A registrar is needed for the legal part. A celebrant offers a personalised ceremony but can’t complete the legal paperwork in England and Wales.
Can a celebrant legally marry me?
Not in England or Wales — the legal declarations must be done with a registrar or in a place of worship.
Can a celebrant also be a registrar?
No — they are separate roles. A registrar works for the local authority; a celebrant is an independent professional.
Can we have both?
Yes — many couples choose to do the legal bit with a registrar and then have a celebrant-led ceremony that reflects their story and style.
Is it more expensive?
It can be, since you’re paying for both the registrar and the celebrant — but it also gives you the most flexibility and meaning.
Where can we get legally married?
You can legally marry at a local registry office or a licensed wedding venue with a registrar present. You can get married outside as long as the venue is licensed.
