Decisions, decisions!

You’ve found The One. Tick. Congrats. The two of you have decided to marry. Good for you. Those are big decisions. Give yourself a pat on the back. Hard work done. Time for a cup of tea. Or is it? 

Choosing to get married is a life-changing decision, to state the obvious. Working out when, and where, and how to do it may feel like the easy bit, by comparsion … at first, anyway. There are so many things to think about. Choosing what type of venue to go for is a key decision. So many things will flow from that, with so many implications - including big financial ones. Are you going for a religious ceremony, in which case you’ll get married in a registered religious building. Same sex couples beware: you’ll need to check whether your preferred religious building is registered for same sex marriages - Church of England churches aren’t, for example. 

If you’re not looking for a religious ceremony in a religious building, you may opt for a civil ceremony. These are led by local authority registrars, either at a register office or in one of the many venues approved by the local council. Some of the registrar weddings I’ve been to have been wonderful occasions. If you’re looking for maximum scope for personalising your wedding ceremony, including the option of using a venue that’s not local authority-approved, or an outdoor venue, then a celebrant-led wedding ceremony may be your preferred option. In that case, you will also need to think about having a statutory ceremony at a register office, to ensure you’re legally married as well as having the ceremony of your dreams. 

And the list goes on! The decision tree seeems to grow more and more branches and twigs every time you think you’ve made all the choices. Can you still see the wood for the trees? Talking things through with a celebrant, if that’s an option you’re considering, might be time well spent. Each couple is unique, with unique wishes and priorities - there’s no single right answer that’s going to suit everyone.