How long should a Celebrant Wedding Ceremony be?

Unsurprisingly, I’m about to tell you, that there is no set length!

Your personalised celebrant ceremony can be as long or as short as you like!

All the same, here are some considerations, and ultimately what I think of as the ‘celebrant ceremony sweet spot’…

 Is a short wedding ceremony really what you want?

Sometimes, your instinct might be for a ‘short’ celebrant wedding or civil partnership ceremony. There may be good reasons why you need to be brief; venue restrictions, well-being considerations, or worrying about the tide coming in during your beach-based vows! 

It might be that you’re unsure how you feel about being the centre of attention for too long, or, perhaps when you’ve experienced other ‘standard’ wedding ceremonies (i.e. not celebrant-led), you’ve felt disengaged, it’s felt impersonal and been a template…a formality…the bit to be sat through before the ‘real celebration’ begins…

Your unique, celebrant wedding ceremony can (& should) be relaxed, engaging, and enjoyable!

A celebrant wedding or civil partnership ceremony will never feel impersonal, disengaging, or ‘just’ a formality, even if you include classic elements. Your guests will feel included, filled with emotion, and will celebrate you wholeheartedly. Nobody will be looking at their watch. Your individually-crafted wedding or civil partnership ceremony with a celebrant will start the celebrations in style – so why not take a few extra minutes to enjoy it?

Equally, as your civil partnership or wedding ceremony will be created especially for you, we’ll craft and create an atmosphere where, instead of feeling ‘on display’ or uncomfortable, you feel supported, cherished, and surrounded by love.

That’s not to say I’m advocating for an hour(s) long ceremony – unless that’s your dream!

 So, how much time might you want for your celebrant ceremony?

In my experience, you want to allow at least 20 minutes. Otherwise, it leaves little room for personal touches and starts to feel a little formulaic, much like a template registrar ceremony. Not the aim of a celebrant wedding!

On the other hand, you may prefer to remain within 45 minutes, unless you want to give space and time for many elements, multiple readings, performances, or more than one ritual – which you absolutely can!

My advice, based on all the civil partnership and wedding ceremonies I’ve created, is the elusive celebrant ceremony-length ‘sweet spot’ is 30-35 minutes, here’s why…

A wedding or civil partnership ceremony of around half an hour maintains a feeling of momentum and excitement, it has a lovely flow while giving time and space for each ceremony element to ‘breathe’. You don’t want your celebrant ceremony to feel rushed or details to be glossed over. Let’s include all those lovely tidbits in your story, let's leave room for laughter when your friends hear what happened after your third date, and let’s create space for a sing-a-long, ring-warming ceremony or for your grandparents to share their secrets to a happy marriage. There’s plenty of time for at least two readings if you want them, heartfelt vows, and space for a meaningful symbolic action.

So don’t rush through your personalised wedding ceremony, because you’re worried people might get bored or feel like it’s the same old story. It won’t be. It will be a joyful, wholehearted celebration of a unique story - yours!

Hi Lovely, I’m Kathryn. Looking for a celebrant who can create a unique wedding ceremoy for you that is filled with warmth and joy while also being meaningful and personal? Find out more here…