Many people think
- they need a registry style wedding as an alternative to a church wedding, or
- they can only have a registry-style wedding by booking through a Births, Deaths and Marriages Registry Office.
In Australia for 40 years now, Australians have had the privilege of being able to have a civil wedding -
- conducted at a time and place of their choosing
- with words of their choosing to acknowledge of their love and values
- as short or as long as they like
- by an independent authorised marriage celebrant of your choice
ie a professional in private practice rather than one employed by a Registry Office or Recognised Church body.
You can ask an independent authorised marriage celebrant to give you
- some ideas of what such a ceremony would be like
- how you can have a registry style wedding in a venue of your choice.
- a quote for their services.
Australia has lead the way.
- In the UK, you would have to be married by Registry Office staff at a venue designated by the government.
- In France, you can only get married in a civil ceremony conducted by a State Approved Officer.
- a church wedding by a religion that the government has 'recognised' and approved to organise the civil witnessing and registration on behalf of the state, or by an independent religious celebrant. Often these ceremonies cannot be personalised.
- a registry office wedding by a Registry of Birth, Deaths and Marriages that the government has 'recognised' and approved to organise the civil witnessing and registration on behalf of the state.
- a civil wedding at a time and place of your choosing by a celebrant of your choice. Note: a couple have little choice about who will marrying them at a registry office and limited choice in regards to religious celebrants as these are appointed to work within a particular area, and often limited by the church in terms of where the ceremony can be conducted
- little choice about the celebrant or venue
- limited or no choice about the wording, and
- limited number of guest
a place and time of your choice.
But what if I want candles, readings, sand etc?
The biggest mistake most couples make is assuming that their wedding ceremony needs to be short, because they have heard or found religious ceremonies long and boring!
Most civil ceremonies can be as short as half han hour with the signing and presentation of the certificate or can be as long and can include as much as the couple want.
They are not boring, because profissional civil celebrants :
- use common everyday language which everyone can understand, whether they are relgious or not
- create an indiviual ceremony just for you - your way.
- deliver the wedding in a warm, friendly and relaxed style.
So you want a simple straight forward wedding:
Remember independent marriage celebrants are willing to offer a "registry-style" wedding (as described above)
- at the place of your choice, or
- even to provide you with a list so low cost venue alternatives in their local area.
- Rituals and/or traditions
- ndividual wording and vows
- lots more - ask your celebrant for further ideas or check out pinterest
With an Authorised Civil Marriage Celebrant you can have your ceremony your way, your time, your place.