Weddings
Ian Harris Wedding Celebrant
Congratulations !
Your wedding day should be one of the best days of your life! a celebration of you as a couple and the journey of life you are taking together. No two couples are the same so no two weddings should be either. Unfortunately the options of a faith-based ceremony or a registry office may not reflect you as a couple or enable you to properly express your own story or background to put their unique spin on things. That’s where I can help,
A humanist wedding can take place anywhere, regardless of whether they’re licensed for weddings. You want to get married in a castle? Up a mountain? In your back garden? At a festival? I would love to help you do that and I will work with you to build a ceremony that is centered around you including, music readings and rituals that truly reflect your love and relationship.
I love creating, writing and delivering fun ceremonies that truly reflect the couple getting married. Ensuring they reflect the values and attitudes of a couple, their personal histories and interests. To deliver either the traditions or rituals of personal significance required of the occasion or the informality and celebration of joy requested by the couple and in most cases both!
As a humanist I am happy I work with people of all races, gender orientations, sexualities and cultures. I don’t make assumptions about how people define themselves or their love. I am here to celebrate love in all its forms.
What’s the process?
Wedding planning:
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A no obligation video chat or short face to face meeting to make sure we’re a good fit A quick guide to planning your wedding ceremony, taking you through the process, things to think about e.g. readings and poems
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A super-detailed planning meeting with me to work out how we can make your special day as feel-good as possible.
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If you’d like to write your own vows, I will guide you through the process
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Drafting and editing a ceremony script completely unique to you two (this is always a two way process to ensure you get exactly what you want).
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A rehearsal in the days leading up to the event
On the day:
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I only book one ceremony per day, so you have my undivided attention
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I’ll always arrive at least an hour before the ceremony is due to start to make sure everything is exactly as we’d planned and to coordinate with venue staff, photographers, videographers, and anyone else
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I’ll deliver the ceremony as we planned, including any symbolic acts that feel right to you like handfasting, ring warming, unity candles or something we create together
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I’ll leave you with a keepsake presentation copy and digital copy
When do you need to pay?
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A non-refundable booking fee of £150 is required to secure your date.
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50% of the remaining balance is required when I send you your script.
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The final balance is due 14 days before your ceremony.
Humanist ceremonies are not currently legal in England and Wales, although this is a work in progress. For most couples, this means signing the legal paperwork in a statutory registration. This costs around £57. (This along my fee is usually cheaper than a registrar charges especially for weekend weddings!)