Wedding Registrar, Celebrant or Officiant in Wales: What's the Difference and Which Is Right for You?
Photo Credit: Heather Winstanley Wedding Photography
I think it’s safe to assume that if you’ve landed here, you have some decisions to make about your wedding day.
Registrar. Celebrant. Officiant. They sound like they might mean the same thing. But they don't. And understanding the difference could be one of the most important decisions you make for your wedding day.
In my humble opinion, the person who leads the ceremony will set the tone for everything that comes after.
What Does a Registrar Do?
A registrar is a local government official. In Wales, they work for the register office and their primary role is legal. They are there to make your marriage official in the eyes of the law, and many do so in a beautiful and well-presented way.
These ceremonies are functional, relatively brief, and follow a set format. The registrar will ask you to make the legal declarations, you'll sign the register, and that's it - you're married.
They can take place at the local registry office, or at approved venues.
For some couples, it's exactly what they want. Simple, no fuss and straight to the point.
But there's limited room for personalisation. You can't write your own vows. You can't weave in your love story.
The ceremony is, by design, the same for everyone.
What Is a Celebrant?
A celebrant is someone who creates and leads entirely bespoke ceremonies. With you, your love and your relationship right at the centre.
There are no templates. No set wording you're required to use. No format you have to follow. A celebrant gets the absolute pleasure of getting to know you. Asking gentle questions that uncover your story, your values, and what makes your relationship yours. From that, your ceremony is created.
Perhaps you want to write your own vows. Or choose a reading from your favourite book or film. Maybe you’d like to symbolise your wedding with a handfasting. Or include a blend of languages and cultural inclusions to reflect who you are. It can be as creative or traditional as you like.
In Wales, a celebrant-led ceremony isn't legally binding on its own - you'll need to do the legal bit separately, either at a register office beforehand or by having a registrar attend on the day. Many couples do a quiet legal signing a day or two before and think of the celebrant ceremony as their “real wedding”.
For me, the legal proceeding was like registering a birth -the paperwork that was necessary. But our celebrant-led wedding ceremony? That is the one that matters to us. The one we planned for years. The one we celebrate our anniversary on and will remember for the rest of their lives.
Want the best of both worlds? Your legal proceedings and a celebrant-led ceremony on the same day? Absolutely do-able. In fact, I've supported many couples to do this very thing. There are so many ways to make it work.
What About "Officiant"?
I’ve seen this word appearing more and more, particularly on Pinterest boards and Instagram. It's largely an American term, and in the UK it's often used interchangeably with "celebrant."
The word itself isn't regulated here, which brings me to something worth knowing.
Not All Celebrants Are the Same
Anyone in the UK can technically call themselves a celebrant. There's no legal requirement for training or accreditation. Which means the quality, preparation and approach can vary enormously.
Some celebrants are trained and accredited through organisations like Humanists UK - like me - an organisation that runs a rigorous programme and holds its celebrants to ongoing standards of quality. I undertook a five-day training course, numerous assignments, and must undertake ongoing CPD and peer reviews.
A Humanist celebrant specifically conducts non-religious ceremonies. My beliefs are centred on this incredibly complicated and amazing human experience and the conviction that every life - and every love - deserves to be celebrated on its own terms. No religion. No assumptions. Just your story, told well.
Other celebrants may have completed shorter independent courses, which can still produce brilliant celebrants - but it's worth asking what training and ongoing peer review your celebrant has had.
Is a Celebrant-Led Ceremony Right for You?
If any of the following sounds familiar, I’d say YES:
You're not religious, or you're from different faith backgrounds, and a church service doesn't feel authentic.
You want your ceremony to feel genuinely like you, not a version of every other wedding you've attended.
You've been to a registry office wedding and thought "was that it?"
You want the ceremony to be the part of the day people actually talk about - not just the bit you rush through to enjoy the rest of the day.
You have a venue in mind that isn't a registered church or registry office - a barn, a garden, a beach, a mountain.
How To Know Who To Book
A good celebrant will welcome questions. A great one will have answers that make you feel immediately at ease.
My key advice is to notice how you feel talking to them. The best celebrant for you isn't necessarily the most experienced or the most polished. It's the one you trust to tell your story.
A Final Thought
I came to this work because of my own wedding. I remember realising that the ceremony should be the most important - and enjoyable - part of the day. The bit that captures everything you feel about each other and allows you to say it out loud, in front of those you love. For too many couples, their ceremony is lacking when it should be unforgettable.
That's the thing I most want to change.
If you're a couple in South Wales - or anywhere in Wales or the South West - and you're at the beginning of figuring all this out, I'd love to chat. Let’s arrange an informal cuppa and conversation to see if I'm the right fit for you.
Start your wedding day as you mean to go on!
Kimberley Jones is a Humanist-trained wedding and funeral celebrant based in South Wales, covering Cardiff, the Vale of Glamorgan, Bridgend, the Valleys, Swansea, and beyond. Get in touch to arrange a free discovery call.
