FAQs
What is the difference between a registrar and a celebrant?
1
Registrars are local authority officials who carry out legally binding marriage ceremonies in line with legal requirements, in either register offices or other venues approved by the local authority. Celebrants, like Duncan, create completely personalised wedding ceremonies that can take place anywhere. Most couples who choose a celebrant-led wedding also have a simple ‘statutory ceremony’ with a registrar separately, to legalise the marriage.
Can we include any religious elements in our ceremony?
2
Yes. With a civil ceremony led by a registrar, there are legal rules banning religious content. With Duncan as your celebrant, there is scope to incorporate elements from one or more religious traditions. This can make what is essentially a non-religious event more accessible and inclusive for people of faith, whilst not alienating the non-believers. For example, you might want to invite a family member do a suitable reading from a religious text, or lead a short prayer. All this is up for discussion with your celebrant. Duncan is a humanist celebrant, but he also has a deep familiarity with Christian and other religious traditions and writings, and he’s happy to advise.
Are you LGBTQ+ friendly?
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For sure. As a gay man, Duncan has personally benefited from the struggles and achievements of equality campaigners in his own life. He aims to pay forward that debt by celebrating love in all its forms.
Do we have to be “humanists” to use a humanist celebrant?
4
No. Lots of people who don’t have a religious faith have values and beliefs that overlap with humanism, without ever feeling the need to use that badge. There’s no catechism and no entry test for using the services of a humanist celebrant, if you feel that’s the right choice for you as a couple.