How to make your wedding ceremony feel more like you

A lot of couples spend months planning the flowers, food, decor, and colour palette for their wedding…but the ceremony itself can sometimes feel like the one part you don’t really have any control over.

The truth is, your ceremony can actually become one of the most personal and memorable parts of the entire day. If you choose a celebrant that is!

Here’s a few ways you can make your ceremony feel truly yours:

Include your story

We’re not just talking about how you met here, and how the proposal went (although both very important additions). We’re talking about what traits you love most about your partner, and what winds you up the most too! Perhaps you have a mutual hobby that’s taken you travelling around the world and some of your best memories and friends who have come to your wedding came in to your life through that hobby.

This is where celebrant ceremonies can really start to shine.

Write personal vows

These should reflect you entirely - if you aren’t much of a talker, then make them short. No one is expecting a poetic masterpiece - just a few genuine sentences can make all the difference.

If you love to chat then write as much as you like! There’s no time limit with a celebrant-led ceremony.

The vows guests remember the most aren’t the super polished ones - they’re the most genuine ones.

Consider the atmosphere, not just the schedule

You’re not just walking in to your ceremony to say some words and leave.

You want your wedding to reflect you, and this means thinking about how you want to feel during the ceremony, and also how you would like your guests to feel.

Does your relationship thrive on humour? Make your ceremony fun!

If you don’t enjoy the spotlight, have a relaxed ceremony.

If you want a warm, joyful, intimate ceremony then you genuinely can create that atmosphere with a celebrant-led ceremony.

Include the people, and pets, who mean the most to you

The world is your oyster here - there are so many options.

Have your son as your best man, your dog ‘sign’ your certificate with you, your Nana sing a song that means something to your family. Maybe your best friend plays guitar whilst your mum recites a poem, or your ferret is your ring bearer.

Don’t be afraid to do things differently

Hold your ceremony outdoors.

Walk in together.

Say your vows privately, before the ceremony starts

Arrange your seating in an unusual way (circular?)

Enjoy a shot after your vows

Include family commitments

There are no limits, I’d love to hear your ideas!

Add symbolic elements

These can be popular, but only include them if they actually mean something to you, they’re only one way of personalising your ceremony.

Consider a handfasting, a ring warming, unity candles, a sand ceremony, or a tree planting for example.

Choose wording that feels like you

Not everyone wants formal, romantic, traditional weddings.

Some couples want warmth, humour, and simplicity.

Some couples want something completely different - all are valid, and all are right…as long as it’s what you want.

At the end of the day…

Your ceremony doesn’t have to look like anybody elses.

Whether that means including your dog, getting married in a woodland, sharing private vows, or simply creating more of an atmosphere - the most memorable ceremonies are always the ones that reflect the couple at the centre of them.

And that’s exactly why I love celebrant-led weddings so much.

I wrote a blog on how to get legally married without compromising your ceremony which you may find really useful to read.

And this blog explains why I became a celebrant in the first place.