Celebrants write, create and perform personal, unique wedding ceremonies
Writing a wedding ceremony can be intimidating. Couples can find websites that offer suggestions on readings and poetry, or how to write vows, and other sites that sell a pre-written selection of those elements. But if a couple is looking for a completely customized wedding ceremony from beginning to end, they will have to write it themselves or find someone to do it for them.
Celebrants are Trained in Ceremony Creation
Certified Celebrants are trained in the creation of unique, personalized ceremonies. They spend seven months studying ritual and ceremony creation and writing. Celebrant coursework includes discussion of interviewing techniques, integrating religious traditions when appropriate, or constructing secular ceremonies, ritual creation, finding resources for music, poetry and readings, finding the couple's "theme" and writing a ceremony expressly for them, including the story of how they met and their courtship and engagement, and creating deeply personal, meaningful vows.
Celebrants are knowledgeable about the many ways in which people marry - as an interfaith couple, combining aspects of two or more religions, as a spiritual but non-religious couple, or as a completely secular couple - and about the many variations in circumstances that couples experience, such as blending families and remarriage.
Since Celebrants study tradition and ritual, they are knowledgeable about existing rites, but are also encouraged to develop unique, personal rituals designed expressly for each couple. The art of creating ritual is open to possibilities of all kinds. Couples are not limited to having unity candles or presenting their mothers with roses. Celebrants think outside the box (however beautifully decorated it may be!)
The Bridal Bop
Just as couples aren't limited by what's traditionally been done with rituals and vows, they are also free to choose music that means something to them. A bride may choose to walk down the aisle to the traditional music, or she may prefer to start her walk with a song that she danced to with her soon-to-be husband. The bride and groom may choose to have music played throughout the ceremony that speaks to their hearts and souls, rather than to someone else's idea of what should be heard.
Celebrants are not Wedding Planners
As a rule, a Celebrant is not a wedding planner (although, like every rule, this one has a few exceptions). A Celebrant is involved with the ceremony, from initial interview, creation and writing, to rehearsal, performing the ceremony and signing the marriage license. A Celebrant will confer with other wedding professionals to ensure that the ceremony goes smoothly, but usually isn't responsible for any other aspect of the wedding.
