Humanist weddings

Coronavirus regulations

In light of the coronavirus pandemic, all humanist ceremonies may lawfully continue, and must comply with national coronavirus regulations (which differ in each of the nations of the UK) and restrictions on numbers.

Our celebrants are being kept fully up to date on national and local regulations, both of which are subject to frequent change, and will be able to advise you on what is possible, including as to locations and numbers of guests, to help you plan your ceremony, your way.

Is a humanist wedding right for you?

Many of us who aren’t religious are looking for a wedding that is more flexible and personal than a civil or register office ceremony.

In normal circumstances, a humanist, non-religious wedding ceremony gives you the opportunity to marry where you want, when you want, and how you want. There’s no set script: it’s too personal an occasion for that. Instead, each wedding is unique. You can set the tone that’s right for you and choose your own words and music. Our celebrants are available to help you plan your perfect wedding.

Humanist weddings are perfect for couples who would like:

A meaningful ceremony that isn’t religious
To marry outdoors or at a location that isn’t licensed for civil weddings
The flexibility to create a personal ceremony that is unique to them
To get to know the person who will be conducting their wedding
To celebrate their marriage with family and friends but without legally registering – for example, when the formalities have already been conducted abroad.

Our celebrants are trained, friendly, and experienced people who will guide you through the process of creating a wedding that’s perfect for you. They will:

Get to know you and what you want from the occasion
Share their ideas and draw on their experience
Write a unique ceremony tailored just for you
Edit the script in response to your feedback
Conduct the ceremony
Give you a presentation copy of the final script.

Legal status of humanist weddings in the UK

In the UK, marriage is a devolved issue: humanist marriages enjoy legal recognition in Scotland, Northern Ireland, but not yet in England and Wales.

In England and Wales, couples who want to have a humanist wedding will often go to the register office to take care of the legal formalities in the days before or after their ceremony.

Humanist weddings have been legally recognised in Northern Ireland since 2018 and in Jersey in the Channel Islands since 2019.

In Scotland, Humanist weddings gained legal recognition in 2005. Ceremonies are conducted by celebrants trained by Humanist Society Scotland.

Same-sex weddings

We support marriage equality and all our celebrants are available to conduct same-sex weddings, including in Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands. Find a celebrant near you if you would like to discuss a humanist same-sex wedding ceremony.

How much does a humanist wedding ceremony cost?

Fees vary according to the distance travelled and what is wanted from the occasion.Humanist Ceremonies™ provides recommended fee bands, but always check fees with the individual celebrant.

Find out more about humanist weddings

You can download our weddings leaflet , see our Frequently Asked Questions, read a sample structure of a wedding ceremony, or look for celebrants who conduct wedding ceremonies in your area.

You may also like to buy a copy of Humanists UK’s book, Sharing the Future. This includes information and ideas on music and readings.

Humanist wedding ceremonies have featured in many blogs and wedding websites including the following:

Share your wedding photos with us

We’d love to hear from you if you’ve had a humanist wedding and would like to share your photos with us.

We love hearing from our happy couples, so please leave us your feedback on our Facebook Page, tweet us @humanistwedding or send us a photo on Instagram to @humanistceremonies.

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Humanist Weddings