What’s a Humanist wedding?
A Humanist wedding is the most personalised way to celebrate your marriage!

What happens in a Humanist wedding ceremony?

We’re not bound by any set formula. Typically, couples choose elements from traditional and modern weddings - music, readings and vows. I like to include a symbolic action, like a ring exchange or a hand fasting too.

What makes a Humanist wedding really special is the emphasis on the personal; using words and music that matter to the couple and telling the couple’s unique love story. This is my favourite part of the wedding ceremony!

Choosing the parts that are important to you, I can create a ceremony that celebrates your love in a way that feels true to you and your values.

 

How does a Humanist wedding ceremony feel?

Does a celebrant wedding feel real?

How long is a Humanist wedding?

It’s difficult to describe how different a Humanist wedding ceremony is. Unlike a registrar-led wedding, I can really invest my time and energy in getting to know you. This means I can create a ceremony script that is truly ‘you’: that gets to the bones of who you are as a couple and why you’re choosing to marry.

It also means I can create the perfect ceremony for you both, setting the scene for a relaxing, fun and engaging wedding ceremony.

My couples thank me for helping them feel relaxed, calm and joyful during their non-religious wedding ceremony - oh and fun!

As real as a real thing can be! Centring your love and your story, using familiar symbolic acts like a ring exchange, and using the recognisable structure of a wedding makes your ceremony feel real. But my ceremonies have more feeling than a traditional wedding, creating an emotional centrepiece for your day and a true celebration of love and marriage!

Think of it like this: when you register a baby, you celebrate their birth with a christening or naming ceremony. Nobody invites their family to witness the form being filled in at the register office - so why are weddings different?! The real, meaningful bit is the bit you invest your emotions into. That’s doubly true if you’re working with a celebrant like me, who invests her own emotional energy and passion into creating your perfect wedding ceremony.

I advise my couples to keep the wedding ceremony around 25-30 minutes - that’s the golden length of time for creating a sense of ceremony without people getting fidgety! If you’re having an elopement ceremony, it can make sense for it to be shorter though, perhaps 15-20 minutes.

Some celebrants pride themselves on writing really long wedding ceremonies and including stacks of symbolic actions. As a professional wedding celebrant experienced in creating engaging ceremonies enjoyed by you and your guests, I strongly advise against this. Telling a story as succinctly as possible is an art, but one that is appreciated by your guests, I can assure you!

A newly married couple walk down the aisle of a grand chapel.
A beautiful bride smiles, holding a champagne glass.
In a grand panelled room, a bride and groom sit laughing and holding hands as they hear their love story being told by their wedding celebrant.
A bride and groom sit during their wedding ceremony, laughing and holding hands.
A groom places a wedding ring on a brides finger, in front of a floral moon arch
A wedding ceremony with two brides smiling at each other, holding hands, with a Humanist wedding celebrant reading vows, and guests seated in the background.
A groom places a wedding ring on his bride's finger, as their smiling wedding celebrant reads their vows
A wedding celebrant leads a wedding ceremony in a leafy garden
A groom places a wedding ring on the finger of his bride
Two men in tuxedos are walking down the aisle of a decorated wedding venue, holding hands and smiling. Guests are standing on either side, clapping and watching them. The venue has ornate wooden walls, string lights hanging from the ceiling, and flor
A smiling couple walk down the aisle. He is wearing a tux and she is wearing a white dress and veil. Her father is clapping for them.

Love letters from my couples…

  • Two grooms hold hands as they make their wedding vows in a grand English manor house. They are surrounded by exuberant roses.

    "We are beyond grateful for Rachael as she made our day truly amazing. From the very first meeting, she exuded warmth, professionalism, and a genuine passion for honoring our love connection. Her attention to detail and her ability to understand and incorporate our love story into the ceremony made the day incredibly personal and memorable. Her calming presence helped us both feel relaxed and focused, allowing us to fully enjoy the moment. The way she conducted the ceremony was nothing short of magical. Her words were heartfelt and beautifully delivered, capturing the essence of our relationship perfectly. Our guests were equally impressed, many of them commenting on how touching and unique the ceremony was. She struck the perfect balance between humor and sincerity, ensuring there wasn't a dry eye in the house while also bringing smiles and laughter. We couldn't have asked for a better celebrant. We will cherish the memories of our ceremony forever.

    Jordan + Greg, an American wedding at Allerton Castle

  • Three people standing outside a classic historic venue, celebrating a wedding. The bride holds a bouquet of flowers, flanked by a woman holding a champagne flute and a man in a suit with a boutonniere.

    "Can we say once again how grateful we were for everything you did to make our wedding ceremony what it was. We've had so many people say how lovely it was and how clear and engaging you were. I LOVED your enthusiasm for aghd ceremonies and was so impressed how quickly you learned about them, even before our Zoom meeting!”

    Parisa + Callum, Leeds Mansion wedding with Persian aghd ceremony

  • A couple kiss on their wedding day beneath a canopy of colourful lanterns.

    "Rachael was the perfect celebrant for our humanist ceremony. She was completely on board with our rather short time frame and wasn’t phased that we were trying to plan a wedding in about 7 weeks! She still took the time to get to know our story and put together the perfect script that combined both personal touches and some laughs for our friends and families. After the ceremony everyone commented on how personal the ceremony was and how they think all weddings should reflect the couple as ours did. Rachael was always so easy to talk to and made the process of planning the ceremony enjoyable and stress free. We had the perfect day and a huge part of that was our ceremony thanks to Rachael.

    Megan + Chris, White Syke Fields wedding ceremony

  • A newly married couple walk through a panelled wooden door on their wedding day. The groom wears a kilt and the bride carries a bouquet of purple orchids.

    "Rachael made us, and all our guests, feel so at ease throughout the whole ceremony! Our guests kept saying they felt as if she’s known us our whole lives! She took the time to get to really know our story and build a ceremony around it. Rachael’s personality and ability to bond with people make her the perfect wedding officiant!"

    Lauri + Mark, wedding ceremony at The Milner, York

Love what you’re reading? Get in touch with me to see if we click. I cannot wait to hear about your wedding ideas, and help you create the wedding ceremony you deserve!

Want to know more about me? Head to the homepage or read my FAQs.

Rachael xx