Just Engaged? Here’s How to Make Your Wedding Ceremony Truly Yours

First of all, congratulations!

You’re engaged, what a wonderful moment to celebrate. Whether you’re bursting with excitement, feeling a little overwhelmed, or somewhere in between, this is the beginning of an incredible journey. Take a breath, enjoy the glow of being newly engaged, and know that it’s perfectly normal not to have everything figured out straight away.

Where to begin with wedding planning

For many couples, the first instinct is to search for venues and set a date. Those choices are important, but before you get swept up in dresses, décor, and dining, it’s worth pausing to think about the heart of your wedding day: your ceremony. This is the moment where you make promises, share your story, and set the tone for the celebration that follows.

Imagine your wedding ceremony: do you see yourselves barefoot on a beach, surrounded by friends in a garden, framed by oak beams in a rustic barn, or in the elegant setting of a country house? Starting with how you want your ceremony to feel helps every other decision fall into place more naturally.

Your ceremony options in the UK

When planning, many couples assume they must have a registrar or a church ceremony. But in reality, you have three main options:

• Registrar: A registrar-led wedding ceremony is legally binding, but it often follows a set format with limited flexibility. The words are chosen from a template, and there are restrictions on location and content.
• Church or religious building: A religious service is meaningful for many, but not everyone feels it reflects who they are as a couple.
• Celebrant: A celebrant-led ceremony is personal, flexible, and creative. You can marry in almost any setting, include meaningful rituals, music, or readings, and shape the ceremony around your unique love story.

If you’re wondering more about how celebrants differ from registrars, I’ve written a guide here: What’s the difference between a celebrant and a registrar?

Why consider a celebrant?

Your love story is unique, so why shouldn’t your ceremony be the same?

With a celebrant:

• Every word in your wedding ceremony is written for you, about you, with your story at its heart.
• You’re not tied to scripts or legal restrictions – we can include whatever feels meaningful to you.
• All love is celebrated here. As an LGBTQIA+ inclusive celebrant, I welcome every couple and every chosen family.
• The setting is your choice – garden, barn, beach, woodland, or even your back garden.
• You’ll be involved at every stage, so you feel confident and relaxed on the day.

Think of it as the difference between a standard service and a bespoke experience; your wedding ceremony should reflect your personalities, values, and dreams.

Things to think about early on

As you start planning, here are a few questions to guide your ceremony ideas:

• Where feels right? Indoors or outdoors, formal or relaxed, intimate or full of guests?
• Who do you want to involve? Family and friends can take part through readings, music, or rituals.
• What’s meaningful to you? Traditions, cultural elements, or personal touches you’d love to honour.
• How do you want to feel? Relaxed, joyful, spiritual, playful, or a mix of everything?

These aren’t decisions you need to make right now, but keeping them in mind will help you shape a day that feels authentically yours.

Your next step

To help you explore your options further, I’ve created a free guide: Your Ceremony, Your Way. It’s filled with ideas and inspiration to help you picture what’s possible, just pop your details in the form below and it’s yours.

You can also find out more about how I work and what happens in the process of planning your celebrant-led wedding here

However you imagine your day, your wedding ceremony can be modern, meaningful, and made for you. If you’d like to chat about your ideas, I’d love to hear your story.

Ready to start imagining your ceremony? Download Your Ceremony, Your Way today or get in touch with me to talk about your ideas. Let’s create a ceremony that feels truly yours.