Humanist Ceremonies vs Independent Celebrants: What's the difference?

What are the options?

When planning my own wedding, my husband and I weren’t really sure of the options that were out there for our ceremony. Most of our friends had used registrars or opted for traditional ceremonies in religious buildings. We had heard people talking about a humanism, but we didn’t realise that there was a difference between that and using an independent celebrant.

Later down the line (after taking on the role of Master of Ceremonies at the wedding of a close friend and loving it!) I decided to look into celebrant training. Finally, I gained an understanding of the real wealth of choice that’s out there - and there really is something for everyone!

Common threads

Both humanist and independent celebrants have got a lot in common. Both create personal ceremonies through communication with couples and conversation about their relationship and hopes for the future. Their scripts are varied and tailored to the individual, with no limitations on timings. Similarly, other than religious buildings, both can conduct their ceremonies in any location. This allows the couples using them to have a lot more choice and flexibility, without having to find licensed venues.

Subtle Differences

Humanism is a recognised worldview that champions reason and Science. The golden rule of the humanist community is to treat others how you wish to be treated and humanist celebrants conduct entirely secular wedding ceremonies. They cannot include prayers or blessings and, often, avoid music or readings that have overly religious connotations or undertones of worship.

In contrast, independent celebrants offer total flexibility. This allows them to meet the needs of all couples, whether they are non-religious, religious, mixed-faith or spiritual. They can create entirely secular ceremonies, but they can also weave in faith-based elements if their couples would like them. This could just be a small nod to the different backgrounds of the couple, or it could be more overt.

The Nitty Gritty

Humanist weddings are legally binding in Scotland, Ireland and Northern Ireland, but not in England and Wales. Ceremonies led by independent celebrants are not yet legal in the UK or Ireland. In the celebrant community, we are hopeful that this might change in the coming years as there is undeniable demand for greater flexibility and personalisation when it comes to weddings. In my view, wedding reform is long overdue and it’s definitely something to keep an eye on.

Takeaways

In essence, humanist celebrants and independent celebrants both have their couples at the heart of what they do. If you are non-religious and seeking a personalised ceremony, either option will work for you. If you are opting away from a ceremony in a specific religious building, but you do have religious or spiritual leanings, you’d be better opting for an independent celebrant.