Wedding Celebrant in Suffolk
This week I would like to introduce you to the lovely Sylvia Brown. Who is an independent wedding celebrant in Suffolk, covering Cambridge and East Anglia.
Having worked with Sylvia, we both have the same can do, laid back and positive attitude which I love in a wedding supplier.
So Sylvia for anyone out there that doesn’t know;
What is a celebrant?
This is a question that I get asked a lot. As a majority of people when they attend a celebration don’t give it a second thought as to who is actually officiating.
So the answer is; a celebrant is a person who creates and conducts ceremonies for all occasions. Such as weddings, vow renewal, naming days and any other significant celebration.
How does a wedding celebrant in Suffolk work?
Once the couple have contacted me in regards to a booking the first thing I do is have a chat with them to arrange a meeting. At the meeting, which is never a formal affair, we chat and get to know one another.
I find out about how they met, what their likes and dislikes are, what their hope’s and dreams are for the future and lots more information, which will help me write their personal and unique ceremony.
I then get to work on creating the ceremony and will work with the couple and tweak the draft until it is 100% perfect. We will have regular contact and run through every element of the service. This can include any symbolic ceremonies that the couple may want such as hand fasting, unity candle, ring warming or any other.
There will be a rehearsal before the day to run through everything and put minds at ease! On the big day I will arrive early to ensure everything is as it should be, and then I shall tell your love story in such a heartfelt passionate way it will create an everlasting memory.
Why choose a wedding celebrant?
Choosing an independent celebrant for your special occasion will probably be the best decision you will make during your planning!
Yes I know that is a very bold statement to make, but let me explain.
With a celebrant led celebration, and for this instance lets just say a wedding. A fully trained and experienced celebrant will allow you complete freedom of choice in what I call the three A’s, Anytime, Anyplace and Any style!
Celebrants are not restricted by license, and therefore they are not restricted by time or place and so can conduct your ceremony absolutely anywhere.
From castles to stately homes, beaches to woodland or lakeside to mountain top, there are no boundaries with a celebrant. You really are free to have the day you’ve been dreaming of.
So if you fancy pledging your love on a beach as the sun sets, you can. Or say your vows on the mountain top as the sun rises, you can. Even exchanging rings deep in woodland under the canopy of trees, yes you can!
The three A’s are the key words here, you know you can hold your celebration Anywhere, Anytime but what about the third, Any style.
Whether you are thinking getting back to nature with a festival, woodland or outdoor style ceremony, or a grand stately home or Manor House themed with the glitz and glam of the roaring 20’s, or even a quirky full of colour and fun Cirque du soleil marquee type of celebration. A celebrant will relish in being part of your special day.
And not only do you get to have the most personal and unique to you ceremony, but you get a one to one guru who will work with you step by step, word by word until every element is 100% perfect.
We are unique too!
Every celebrant has their own unique style, flair and personality. Things would be pretty boring if we were all the same!
Some of us are laid back and chilled, some are spiritual and grounded, some are funky and flamboyant and others are just out there crazy!
Me? Well, I would say I’m a calm, positive, easy going, happy philocalist with a dry sense of humour and was once described as being “calmly crazy”!
All celebrants will do their very best for you, it’s our chosen profession. Our vocation in life and consequently your happiness is our happiness!
We believe in freedom of choice and don’t discriminate against colour or creed, to us love is love and we love what we do and this is reflected our work.
What is the difference between a registrar and a celebrant?
The main difference between a registrar and a celebrant is the legal aspect. The fact that registrar’s are not as flexible as a celebrant in regards to where and when your ceremony can take place, and what ceremony material can be included.
Because of legislation no religious or spiritual content may be included and Registrars have strict guidelines and rules that they have to abide by. To conduct a legal marriage a registrar has to be in a licensed place and they have to follow specific wording to legally bind the marriage. This is actually only two sentences which are the contracting words and declaratory words.
Unlike a celebrant you are unlikely to meet the registrar prior to the day of your ceremony, due to time constraints and there will often be several ceremonies each day. So your ceremony will be kept to a strict time table and may feel rushed and less personal than it would with a celebrant led ceremony. Because celebrants are not restricted by license there really are no boundaries of where or when.
How and when does the marriage become legal?
An independent celebrant does not have the power to legally marry you, YET! There are only two sentences that you have to say in the presence of the registrar to make your marriage legally binding. The easy solution is to have a quick and inexpensive registry office marriage either before or after your main celebrant led wedding.
The “legal bit” does not have to be done on the day of your wedding. The best way to think about it is this… Hatched, Matched & Despatched!
You register a birth after the arrival. You register a death after the departure! Births and deaths are not registered on the day and so your marriage doesn’t have to be either.
How much can a wedding celebrant in Suffolk cost?
The cost of a celebrant can vary considerably with no real specific reason why. Ranging from a few hundred pounds to a thousand pounds or even more! Most celebrants know their worth and charge their fee based on the amount of work that goes into creating a ceremony.
This can be many hours of writing scripts, poems and readings. Driving to and from meetings. Sourcing materials, batting texts and emails to and fro to put minds at ease from niggling worries. Rehearsals, organising music, setting up PA system or rearranging seating, and so on.
We also need to consider the cost of materials such as paper and ink and even the eventuality of cancellations! The thing to consider when booking a celebrant is this, your ceremony is one of the most important aspects of your day and that old saying of “you get what you pay for” is relative. Don’t buy the value range and expect the finest!
Lastly, how would I hire you as our wedding celebrant in Suffolk, what is the process?
That’s easy! All you need to do is get in touch via telephone, mail or message and we will have a chat and get the ball rolling. By making a date to have a meeting, we can do this virtually via skype or zoom, or we can meet in an outdoor area.
If you like me and would like me to be your celebrant give me the go ahead and you will receive a lovely welcome pack from me with all the relevant paperwork and some little thank you gifts. But most of all my utmost attention, professionalism and heartfelt thanks and appreciation.
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
With much love
Sylvia x
07929 089204
Being an unconventional wedding planner, a celebrant led wedding is becoming increasingly popular with my couples, especially with the hit of Covid-19. And rightly so, as it gives you complete control, from your vows to where you say them!
A big thank you to Sylvia Brown for answering my questions and thank you for reading.
x Jodie x
See my blog on What Does a Wedding Planner do? Here