Planning your wedding day should be an exciting journey of creating a celebration that truly reflects you as a couple. If you’re looking to have a non-religious wedding ceremony that’s deeply personal and unforgettable, a humanist wedding led by a Humanist Ceremonies celebrant offers endless possibilities. Together with your celebrant, you can craft a ceremony that tells your unique story, celebrates your values, and sets the perfect tone for your life together. Forget generic scripts – this is all about you!
You can find out more about humanist weddings here.
Here are 8 ideas to inspire your personal wedding ceremony:
- Find a humanist celebrant: The first step in creating a unique and personal wedding ceremony is to connect with a Humanist Ceremonies celebrant. These highly trained professionals, accredited by Humanists UK, are experts in crafting and conducting non-religious wedding ceremonies that are meaningful, personal, and perfectly tailored to you. They’ll work closely with you to understand your story, values, and vision for your wedding day, guiding you through the process of creating a ceremony that truly reflects who you are as a couple. To find a celebrant who can bring your dream ceremony to life, you can visit the ‘find a celebrant’ map.
- Share Your Story: This is the heart of a personal non-religious wedding ceremony, and might include how you met, significant moments in your relationship, and your hopes for the future. It’s a chance for your guests to truly understand and celebrate your connection.
A humanist celebrant can work with you to weave your journey as a couple into a compelling narrative. - Personal Vows: Instead of traditional pre-set vows, why not write your own? This is your opportunity to express your love and commitment in your own words, making your promises truly meaningful and heartfelt. Read our blog which offers guidance on crafting your own vows: Writing your own wedding vows or speak to your celebrant – they’ll be able to give you some advice if you become lost for words when writing your vows.
- Readings that Resonate: Choose readings, poems, excerpts from your favourite, or even song lyrics that hold special significance for you as a couple. These readings can reflect your values, your story, or your outlook on life.
- Meaningful Music: Select music that evokes emotion and reflects your personalities. From your first dance song to instrumental pieces during key moments, music can add a powerful layer to your ceremony. If music is of great importance to you, consider having some live music as part of the ceremony.
- The Symbolism of Ring Warming: Involve your guests in a tangible way by incorporating a ring warming ceremony. Your wedding rings are passed around among your guests, who each hold them for a moment and imbue them with their good wishes for your future together.
- The Ancient Tradition of Handfasting: Embrace the beautiful symbolism of handfasting. Your hands are gently tied together with ribbons or cords, representing the binding of your lives. This ancient custom offers a visually stunning and deeply meaningful moment in your ceremony. You can learn more about symbolic gestures like handfasting on the Humanist Ceremonies blog: Handfasting at a humanist wedding.
- Involve Loved Ones: Ask family members or friends to participate in the ceremony through readings, musical performances, or by sharing a few words of wisdom or love. This personal touch can make your ceremony even more special.
Why choose a Humanist Ceremonies celebrant for your non-religious wedding?
We’ve been delivering humanist, non-religious funerals for more than 125 years, and are committed to delivering the very best service to the families we work with. Our Humanist Ceremonies celebrants offer:
- Gold star training and ongoing CPD
- Annually accredited by respected national charity Humanists UK
- DBS checked, and fully insured (public liability and professional indemnity)
- Transparent complaints process, in the rare cases it’s needed
- Work as part of local, regional and national networks for support, sharing best practice, and emergency back-up
A personal wedding ceremony crafted with a Humanist Ceremonies celebrant ensures a celebration that is both meaningful and memorable. Choosing your humanist celebrant means you’re on your way to creating a truly authentic and moving non-religious wedding ceremony.
While humanist marriages are legally recognised in Scotland, Northern Ireland, Jersey, and Guernsey, humanist wedding ceremonies currently do not have legal recognition in England and Wales or the Isle of Man. Your celebrant can provide guidance on the legal aspects you’ll need to consider alongside your humanist ceremony.
Find a non-religious wedding celebrant near you: https://humanists.uk/ceremonies/find-a-celebrant/weddings/
