A celebrant is an alternative to a marriage registrar or a vicar or other faith leader. I can conduct any ceremony you like, anywhere you like and at any time. 

No.  In England and Wales, to make your marriage legally binding, you simply need to book a quick register office appointment with your local Council to complete the legal paperwork and statutory vows.

Because the paperwork is split from the actual celebration, it frees us up to hold your actual wedding ceremony absolutely anywhere, any time and exactly how you want it.

The least expensive way is to do something called a Statutory Declaration. This is the two of you and two witnesses in an office (not a ceremony room) saying your vows and signing the register. Enquire costs with your local Council.

This is the civil equivalent of having your banns read. It’s an appointment with the Registrar to show ID to prove you are who you say you are and that you are legally free to marry (e.g. if you’ve been married before, you need to show your Decree Absolute). You can give Notice up to a year before your legal ceremony and as little as a month and a half before. We recommend giving Notice to Marry at least three months before your legal ceremony. You give Notice to Marry at the Register Office that is nearest to where you live.

Absolutely, in fact I highly encourage it.  But please don’t worry if you aren’t sure where to start.  I can provide you with inspiration when we meet up.  Whether you want your vows to be deeply romantic, light-hearted and funny, or a mixture of both, I will help you find the perfect words.

Most of the ceremonies I create last between 20 and 30 minutes.  This leaves plenty of time for your unique love story, readings, any symbolic rituals and your vows.  It’s long enough to feel deeply meaningful, but structured so that it never drags.

The magic of an independent celebrant is that there are no rules.  Unlike registry offices or humanist ceremonies, which have strict restrictions on religious or spiritual elements, we have complete freedom.  If you want to blend cultures, include a nod to a childhood faith, add a modern handfasting ritual, or keep it entirely secular – the choice is 100% yours.

We start with a relaxed chat where I get to know you both, your dynamics and what marriage means to you.  Every scripts is written from scratch to reflect your journey.  You will receive a full draft well before the big day, so we can tweak and perfect it together until it feels exactly right.

Completely up to you!  While it is not mandatory, a rehearsal is a wonderful way to calm any nerves, walk through the spacing and timings, and make sure you feel entirely relaxed and ready to enjoy every second of the real moment.

I bring a high-quality, battery-powered PA system and wireless microphone.  This means that your guests will hear every word clearly, whether you are getting married in a rustic barn, a grand hall or outdoors venue.

While I plan to be there with bells on, life can happen.  For your total peace of mind, I belong to a wonderful, supportive network of professional celebrants.  In the rare event of an emergency, a trusted colleague would step in with your fully approved script, ensuring your ceremony goes ahead seamlessly.

The answer is generally yes, depending on the circumstances which can be discussed at our meetup.

Either email me on annettecelebrant@gmail.com or give me a ring on 07949144467.  I can arrange a Zoom, WhatsApp Call or face-to-face meetup with you.

It’s helpful if you have a venue and date in mind, but I also have lots of suggestions for fabulous venues in the surrounding areas in West Midlands and Warwickshire.

A £250 booking fee will secure the date and get you in the diary and then I’ll be in touch in plenty of time to plan and prepare your ceremony. (£100 is non-refundable, £150 is refundable up to 6 months before the ceremony date and non-refundable thereafter.)