What is the difference between a celebrant and registrar led wedding?
Choosing a celebrant led wedding gives you more flexibility as it does not have the same constraints as a registrar led ceremony.
A registrar is employed by the local authority and is able to perform the legal part of the marriage which must be held in a licensed venue. An independent celebrant is self-employed and is unable to perform the legal part of the ceremony.
Registrars may perform multiple weddings on the same day, and you would not usually meet them until the day. Legislation restricts certain content from being included in the ceremony, such as anything religious or spiritual, and the ceremony follows a prescribed script with little choice to make it bespoke to the couple.
When choosing a celebrant led wedding, couples tend to get the legal part completed a few days before the wedding day, allowing them to celebrate in a way unique to them. There are different options available, and your local authority will be able to provide details, but the cheapest option popular with couples is the 2+2 which costs about £57.
The 2+2 includes the legal elements needed to perform a marriage and is attended by the couple, 2 witnesses and the registrar. By doing the legal part separately, couples allow themselves the freedom to have a wedding day design for them, where they want, and how they want.