How To Organise A Humanist Wedding
Humanism has certainly hit the headlines lately. A high profile atheist bus campaign (‘There’s probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life’) attracted unprecedented interest in the British Humanist 
Association (BHA) and humanist weddings are gaining popularity.
Humanism
Humanists don’t believe in God, but in ‘the good within human beings, in their equality, and in the individual’s right to freedom of choice in the main decisions of life’. Humanists believe we can make sense of the world using reason, experience and shared human values, and we can live good lives without religious or superstitious beliefs. All clear?
Benefits
Humanist weddings are a popular option if you’re not religious, but rather like all the grandeur that goes along with traditional weddings.
They’re ideal if you want a highly personal ceremony. ‘Standard’ weddings impose strict guidelines on the time, place and wording. In contrast, humanist weddings let you make personal choices about the vows, readings, music and venue. There’s also no dress code…
Since humanist weddings are secular, they’re great news for inter-faith couples, who can design a ceremony to emphasise common ground, rather than attempt to accommodate religious differences.
Venues
A huge plus point for humanist weddings is that they can be conducted at any venue deemed ‘safe and dignified’, from your garden or favourite restaurant, to a zoo, mountain, beach or castle.
Legal stuff
In England and Wales, humanist weddings have no legal status, so if you want a legally binding ceremony, you’ll need to get your mitts on a civil marriage certificate at the register office first. The Humanist Society of Scotland (HSS), however, boasts celebrants who’re authorised to conduct legal marriages. Scotland is one of only six countries where humanist marriage ceremonies enjoy full legal status, along with Australia, New Zealand, Norway, Canada and the US.
Who marries you?
The BHA recommends that couples use an accredited celebrant who’s trained and licensed by the BHA or HSS to conduct humanist weddings. (Technically, anyone can conduct a non-binding ceremony).
The ceremony
Humanist ceremonies include vows crafted by the couple, music, readings and any symbolic actions that the couple choose to take, such as an exchange of rings, an embrace, hand-tying, candle-lighting, a wine cup ritual or a non-religious blessing. The celebrant will tell you about your options.
Planning shortlist
Having sorted a wedding date, you’ll need to organise this little lot:
- Contact the BHA or HSS to find a celebrant.
- Celebrant secured, you’ll need a venue. Most couples choose somewhere that’s significant to them.
- Now the biggie – do you want to make your ceremony legally binding? If you do, contact your local registrar to organise a civil marriage certificate (unless you’re marrying in Scotland).
- Finally, the trickiest bit. You and the Mrs need to agree upon the type of service you’d like and what you want to say. You’ll meet with the celebrant before the Big Day and he/she will help you devise a ceremony that’s personal to you. Celebrants answer questions, discuss ideas, make suggestions about readings and music and help to create a script that’s tailor-made to your relationship. They’ll help you explore your feelings and express them in words. (Oh joy). You can write the service yourself or adapt a ready-made option.
Costs
Here’s the nitty gritty. The cost for a humanist wedding varies, but typically, it will set you back around £300.
Check out Dan’s blog and his ‘big (humanist) wedding in a field.’
Are you planning a humanist ceremony or going traditional? Tell us why on the forum.
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Humanist wedding.
Hmm, sounds interesting.
But not for me definitely, what with a family of religious background!
Leave your response!