Let Me Marry You!

This year saw the first World Celebrants Week (Woop!) - a chance for professional celebrants everywhere to engage with the public, and each other, and share their enthusiasm for this wonderful role.

National Celebrants Day first ran last year, on 20th November, and so #WCW2021 was a natural outgrowth of this. Each day had a theme, such as best advice for couples, or describing your favourite ceremony, and social media was filled with lots of inspiring stories and images. 

I was interviewed by Radio Humberside about it - the clip is below.

As vicars are mentioned, just to clarify, presently a marriage (in England & Wales) is made legal by a faith leader or registrar.

Marriage law is currently under review, and fingers crossed celebrants may soon be registered to conduct legally binding ceremonies.

In the meantime, it's a question of popping to the register office for a 10 minute registration of marriage, and then onto the personalised celebrant-led celebration - whether that's a big do or a micro-wedding, at any venue of choice and a time to suit.

If the Law Commission recommendations are accepted by the government, it will make things much easier for couples to have the wedding they want, their way.

The final report comes out summer 2022.
There have been much response to the need to modernise marriage. If you feel strongly that people shouldn't be forced to choose between a religious wedding, or a barebones civil service at a register office, then do write to your M.P.

Let them know that couples need the choice of a legal marriage conducted by a recognised celebrant (independent or humanist) also - so they can have the personalised ceremony that is most meaningful for them - at a time and place they choose, with the content that is right for them. 

Here's to positive change, and genuine choice! 
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