You’ve decided on a celebrant-led wedding—congratulations! I can say from my own experience, both as a bride and as a celebrant, that you have made a truly wonderful choice.
A celebrant-led wedding means you get a ceremony that feels authentically you. For example, at my own wedding, my techy, AI-obsessed husband generated a reading using AI about our love and our enormous baby (he was huge!), and then got my AI-hating "Professor Man of Honour" to read it out! It’s just not the sort of thing you can replicate in a Registrar ceremony. (With no shade to Registrars, of course—they are lovely people, just doing a very different job!)
A celebrant-led wedding isn’t just about the big day itself—it’s about the whole process. Crafting your wedding script should make you feel more loved-up than ever; it’s a real opportunity to pause, reflect on why you’re choosing to get married, remember what you love about each other, and celebrate what makes you laugh.
But why pick a celebrant trained and accredited by Humanists UK when there are so many options out there? Let me give you a few reasons!
The 'Gold Standard' Training
Wedding celebrants operate in an unregulated industry at the moment. Again, no shade here—there are some absolutely wonderful celebrants who happened to train with other organisations. However, Humanists UK training is widely regarded across the UK as the absolute gold standard.
Before I was even accepted into training, I had to undergo an interview. From there, I completed an intensive mix of online modules and two full weekends of hands-on training (which were so much fun, but seriously intense!). At every single stage, we were submitting assignments and honing our writing abilities.
It all culminated in a mock wedding—suited and booted! A particularly memorable moment for me was standing on a patch of grass outside at the university in Coventry, projecting my voice so everyone could hear me reciting Taylor Swift lyrics from further and further away. Anyone walking by must have thought we were completely bonkers!
The sample ceremonies we carried out were so varied: some indoors, some trekking up a hill to an imaginary clifftop while celebrants battled handfasting ribbons in the wind... another trainee even brought along three yapping toy dogs! Crucially, it isn't simply an "everyone passes" course. We all had to continue making amendments and edits to our scripts until they were perfect – showing the high level of attention to detail the training provided.
Continuous Quality & Ongoing Support
And what happens once we qualify? Humanists UK celebrants (whether for weddings, funerals, or naming ceremonies) are required to maintain continuous professional development and are regularly observed to maintain accreditation. You can be completely confident that any celebrant you book—whether newly qualified or with years under their belt—is at the absolute top of their game.
We also benefit tremendously from peer support. During my training, I was matched with an incredible mentor, Dawn, a highly experienced celebrant who shared so much wisdom with me. I was thrilled to observe her entire process, from her initial meeting with a couple right through to their wedding day.
Humanists UK also maintains active forums where celebrants share advice and real-world experience. As you can imagine, the forums are lighting up at the moment with the promise of legal marriage reform so close on the horizon! (More on that in my next post!) Plus, we benefit from strong links with Humanists Scotland and Humanists Northern Ireland, who have been conducting legally recognized humanist ceremonies for years.
Values, Inclusivity, and Purpose
Lastly—in my somewhat exhaustive list!—your wedding day isn't just a chance to reflect on your relationship; it can also be an opportunity to align with your personal beliefs and values.
Humanism was always close to my husband’s heart, having grown up in a deeply religious country. But if I’m honest, it wasn’t something I’d given a great deal of thought to beforehand. Our celebrant gifted us The Little Book of Humanism on our wedding day, and since then, I’ve reflected deeply on my own values and identity—and I can confidently say I am a proud Humanist!
Humanists believe that this wonderful life is the only one we have, that we can live ethical and fulfilling lives on the basis of reason and humanity, and that ethical decision-making belongs at the heart of everything we do. Humanists UK has also been at the forefront of campaigning for equality and rights—including LGBTQ+ rights, assisted dying, and marriage reform—for decades.
I have deep respect for the faith and beliefs of my close family and friends, and a Humanist ceremony for someone who holds religious beliefs is absolutely possible (and can be especially meaningful for mixed-faith couples or families). However, it was so important to us that our wedding reflected our own values rather than feeling like a rigid administrative exercise. Choosing a celebrant from Humanists UK helps you achieve exactly that.
Ready to start planning your ceremony?
You can find more information on Humanist weddings and view a registry of accredited celebrants via Humanists UK.
Or if you think I might be the right Celebrant for you, fill out my enquiry form!