A wedding celebrant explains | The low down on celebrant weddings at Haarlem Mill

One of our favourite things here at Haarlem Mill is that we can host the ceremony portion of your wedding day in a dedicated space… And that we get to indulge in a secret happy cry from the back of the room, as we watch you marry your beloved. Having witnessed both registrar weddings and celebrant weddings, we can safely say that we have a soft spot for the latter. Celebrant weddings are a lesser known option for your ceremony, but believe us when we say they are so worth considering! If you’re wondering what the heck a celebrant wedding is, don’t worry we’ve got you

covered. We’ve invited Meg Senior, wedding celebrant, to give us the low down oncelebrant weddings in our gorgeous little corner of Derbyshire.

A regular at Haarlem Mill, Meg Senior is a wedding celebrant from just down the road in Sheffield. She creates life affirming ceremonies for laid-back couples in Derbyshire and all over the world. We like her style because she makes her couples the stars of their celebrations, whilst completely putting them at ease in front of their guests. Whenever we have a Meg Senior ceremony in the calendar we know to expect laughter, happy tears and lots of personal touches that set the tone for the whole day. You can find out more about her at megsenior.com

Q: Before we get stuck in, tell us who you are and what you do please Meg.

A: The simple answer is: I’m a wedding celebrant, I marry people! It’s my job to help couples have a wedding ceremony that is truly personal and memorable. I’m all about making the planning process fun and a little bit romantic. And I make it my mission to celebrate each couple’s unique qualities andindividuality. At a basic level I write and then host each wedding ceremony, and couples choose to work with me (or any celebrant in fact) because they get to choose the person who will marry them. In reality this involves helping couples to tell their personal love story, and to understand their values and hopes as they prepare to say “I do. Forever.”

Q: Here at Haarlem Mill we host civil ceremonies (AKA registrar weddings) and celebrant weddings too. What’s the difference?

A: The biggest difference between working with a wedding celebrant and a registrar is the limitless level of personalisation that is possible with a celebrant. Registrars must follow a set script during a civil ceremony. There is legal wording to say and not much time given to anything else. On the other hand, couples can create something totally unique to them when working with a celebrant. Civil ceremonies are focussed almost entirely on the institution of marriage, which is similar to how religious weddings are centred around promises made to a god/gods. In contrast celebrant weddings are about the individuals in the relationship: Their personalities, values and hopes, their funny stories and happy memories. Think of a celebrant wedding as a non-religious ceremony which is meaningful and highly personal for the people gathered together on your wedding day. Your guests won’t have heard the words being spoken a million times before at a million different weddings. You as a couple won’t have to say anything you don’t agree with. And you can soak in the atmosphere safe in the knowledge that your celebrant knows you well and wants the best for you.

Q: Why would Haarlem Mill couples choose a celebrant wedding rather than have a quick cheap registrar ceremony?

A: Oh gosh firstly, registrars aren’t that cheap considering your ceremony is going to last around fifteen minutes and be completely generic wording. But don’t get me started on that! In my experience Haarlem Mill couples are creative and discerning, and looking for luxury and seamless service. Generally speaking they want to intentionally choose each element of their celebration without unnecessarily complicating things – So it suits them to intentionally choose a celebrant they can meet in advance of their wedding ceremony, rather than have an unknown registrar assigned to conduct their wedding.

Couples getting married at Haarlem Mill are all wildly different, so will have different reasons for making each choice for their weddings. Their reason for having a

celebrant wedding might be:

- Choosing who is going to marry them, and getting to know them like a new friend

- Having the freedom to include any elements, traditions, readings, music or other personal touches that are meaningful to them

- Placing importance on the atmosphere of the ceremony, so they can relax and enjoy it (rather than be super nervous and want it over with)

- Being able to express their individuality and share their passions

- Allowing guests get to know them deeply through hearing their personal story

- Making the ceremony the BEST part of the day and a proper party starter!

Q: Can you tell our couples what to expect the planning process to be like if they book a celebrant wedding?

A: Similar to booking any wedding supplier, it takes a bit of time to find a wedding celebrant but once you find someone you click with the process should be enjoyable. The first step is to find a wedding celebrant you can imagine spending time with and getting to know. Do some research of possible candidate’s websites and social media accounts. Get an idea whether they have a similar vibe to you. Then set up a chat via video call so you can ask any questions and make sure you have chemistry. After booking I guess each wedding celebrant works in their own way. Personally I create a fun planning experience you can look forward to. Forget decision-fatigue and wedding-stress – they can get in the bin – our chats will be relaxed and low pressure. I’ll send you on a date night and lend you my wisdom/ideas/inspo (but only if you promise to ignore anything you don’t like). Essentially I’ll ask the right questions to help you say what you want to say through your super personalised wedding ceremony. Usually I meet with couples face to face at least once before their wedding day (unless you’re living internationally and we need to meet via video). Lastly we’ll make tweaks to the ceremony wording until you’re happy that it is just how you want it to be.

Q: Finally, what do you love about celebrant weddings at Haarlem Mill? (We have to ask!)

A: What’s not to love?! Haarlem Mill is stylish without being boring. I adore Haarlem’s cool industrial edge, teamed with a high end, cosy vibe and outstanding hospitality. Here’s my note to couples who are thinking about booking Haarlem Mill: After your ceremony if you don’t fancy asking your guests to wait around until they’re allowed back into the main part of your wedding venue (*cough* like other venues *cough*) this place is perfect for you. There is plenty of space so couples can relax in the knowledge that their ceremony space is dedicated to the ceremony. My number one favourite thing is the warm welcome from Shannon and the team every time I visit!