Hi You lucky couples who are planning your wedding have such a great choice of wedding ceremonies available to you in Ireland.
You can opt for A civil ceremony which is held by a Civil Registrar in their office or in a venue approved by a Registrar.
A traditional religious ceremony usually held in a place of worship such as a church.
Or a Celebrant – Solemniser led Ceremony which can be interactive with your guests and can include Ceremony enhancements which can be personalised such as the Sand, unity, hand fasting Ceremonies . A Solemniser is licensed by the State to conduct Legal weddings
Celebrant – Solemniser led Ceremonies include
An Interfaith Ceremony which is the option for couples of all faith paths or none who want to be legally married regardless as to their beliefs or orientation. Interfaith Ceremonies can be as humanist, spiritual, secular or atheist as you choose and may use language, music and readings of your choice
A Humanist Ceremony which is completely secular – 100% non‐religious, with no hymns, prayers or bible readings, mention of God or the afterlife.
Or A Spiritual Ceremony which is non denominational and in which couples invite those from the spirit world to be present with them to share their special day.
Or you can opt for a Celebrant led Ceremony where your ceremony is not a legal Ceremony.
Background:
Friday May 22 2015 was a red letter day for Ireland when we became the first country to approve same-sex marriage, with 1.2 million people voting in its favour. This vote sealed the changing of our Constitution to extend civil marriage rights to same-sex couples.
This was a historical day for Ireland, a social revolution and opened the conversation for freedom of religion and freedom of conscience. In turn the growing trend toward the Solemnisation of marriage outside of the parameters of mainstream Churches has also expanded and more and more couples are choosing to have their marriage solemnised in an Interfaith Ceremony, Spiritualist Ceremony, Humanist Ceremony or Civil Ceremony of marriage.
If you decide to marry in your venue how do you decide which option to choose for your wedding ceremony? An Interfaith, Spiritualist, Humanist or Civil Ceremony? It can be a bit confusing
Lets look at the 2022 Census Statistics:
In 2022 there were 618 same-sex marriages, 305 male and 313 female.
There were 22,555 opposite-sex marriages in 2022.
The average age of grooms was 37.4, unchanged from 2021. The average age of grooms rose from 27.3 in 1972 to 27.4 in 1982 and increased to 37.4 in 2022.
The average age of brides, increased from 24.8 in 1972 to 25.3 in 1982 before rising to 35.4 in 2022
There were 23,173 marriages (opposite and same-sex) in 2022 compared with 17,217 in 2021, an increase of 5,956 (35%). This increase is reflective of the lifting of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions and the resulting impact on marriage numbers in 2022.
Now couples have now more choice than ever when it comes to their special day but they do need to decide what they are prepared to forgo in terms of cost, location, and content.
In choosing your venue remember that for your marriage to be legally solemnised your venue must be a building or be attached to a building, have an identifiable address and be open to the public. Your venue can be outdoors providing it meets this criteria.
Everyone getting married in Ireland must register their Intent to Marry, NO LESS THAN THREE MONTHS prior to their intended wedding date. full details are available at How to get married in Ireland – HSE.ie
If you decide to marry in your venue how do you decide which option to choose for your wedding ceremony? An Interfaith, Spiritualist, Humanist or Civil Ceremony?
Hopefully this Blog will answer most of your queries and help you choose the right Celebrant for You!
If there is anything that I have not addressed or if you have any queries please do not hesitate to reach out to me;
Rev Brenda O’Grady
P: 00353 87 231 8324
W: https://weddingandfamilycelebrant.ie/
**** Firstly let me explain:
- What is a Solemniser?
- What is a Celebrant?
- What is a Civil Partnership?
What is a Solemniser?
A Solemniser is the legal term for those people licensed by the State to conduct Legal weddings. Only a registered solemniser can perform a legally binding wedding ceremony in Ireland. They also have an obligation to counsel the couple beforehand by guiding them through designing a personalised meaningful ceremony. A Solemniser can also be a Celebrant
What is A Celebrant?
A Celebrant can preside over a ceremony but are not legally invested to marry you. They can perform a commitment or a vow renewal ceremony in your location on any day of the year without constraint. A Celebrant cannot be a Solemniser unless they are registered with the HSE.
In Ireland these Celebrants are independent and you book them directly not centrally.
What is a Civil Partnership
A civil partnership is a legally recognised relationship between a same-sex couple people with rights similar to those of marriage.
What are the different types of Wedding Ceremonies in Ireland? – It can be a bit confusing and here I address:-
- A Civil Ceremony
- A traditional religious ceremony
- Celebrant – Solemniser led Ceremony
- a.) Interfaith Ceremonies
- b.) Humanist Ceremony
- c.) Spiritual Ceremony
- d.) Celebrant
A Civil Ceremony:
A civil ceremony is a non-secular (non-religious) and legally-binding way to get married in Ireland. If you choose to have a civil ceremony, there can be no mention of anything religious or spiritual in the ceremony. This exclusion extends to musical choices (no songs, hymns or prayers nor references to Angel’s or an afterlife) no religious iconography (no statues, no crucifixes present or religious pictures)
In a civil ceremony, a marriage registrar (a person who works for the HSE / State) will solemnise the marriage.
Civil Ceremonies fulfil the requirements of the State to legally perform the solemnisation of marriage, they can be held Monday to Friday and cannot be performed on Bank holidays, Saturday or Sunday.
You can have a civil marriage ceremony in either a registry office, or in a public venue that has been approved by the registry office.
Civil Ceremonies tend to be impersonal and very short. Although in response to demand Civil Registrars have adopted and are more accommodating in assisting couples to develop their Ceremony.
The HSE Registrar typically allocates a Registrar, charges a fee with an additional charge for travel to your venue and the couple provides their own materials for ceremony enhancements.
A Traditional Religious Ceremony
A Traditional Religious Ceremony is usually led by the clergy of the mainstream religions and held in a place of worship such as a church.
Or a Celebrant – Solemniser led Ceremony
A Celebrant – Solemniser led Ceremony which can be interactive with your guests and can include Ceremony enhancements which can be personalised including but not limited to the Sand, unity, hand fasting Ceremonies, rose ceremony, wine box ceremony and many other innovative ways to include your family and guests etc!
If you want your wedding to be a legal wedding then you must choose a Solemniser to hold your Ceremony. Solemniser led Ceremonies include:-
a.) Interfaith Ceremonies
An Interfaith Wedding Ceremony is a legal Wedding Ceremony for persons of all beliefs or none led by an Ordained Interfaith Minister who is registered with the HSE as a Solemniser of Marriage, can Legally Solemnise marriage in Ireland.
Interfaith Ministers have taken a vow of inclusivity, welcome diversity of beliefs, gender, orientation, colour, nationality, ability and culture within the bounds of Irish law. Interfaith Ministers can hold your Ceremony on any day of the year at any time including Bank holidays, Saturday or Sunday.
Interfaith Ministers are Ordained Ministers professionally trained in different religious traditions, ritual and spiritual or humanistic beliefs. For administration purposes Interfaith Ceremonies are classed as Religious on the HSE list of Solemnisers as they actively promote understanding between persons of different religions or beliefs and persons of no belief to increase acceptance of others, rather than to alienate.
An Interfaith Minister will guide you through the process of creating your humanist, spiritual, secular or atheist Ceremony written just for you ensuring that it reflects your beliefs and wishes, personal stories, philosophy of life, and personality. They will help make the planning through to delivery of your ceremony as stress-free and simple as possible.
Your Interfaith Minister will provide you with ample sample reflections, affirmations/ blessings and vows. Interfaith Ministers have the freedom to create your ceremony, your way and have no requirement to speak about any parent organisation during your ceremony.
The length of the ceremony will depend on the number of reflections, ceremony enhancements or the music you include.
Your Ceremony can be interactive with your guests and include bespoke elements including Hand Wrapping/ Hand Fasting, Secret Box, Truce Bell, Sand, Stone, Unity Candle, Jumping the Broom, and many more.
In Ireland Interfaith Ministers have been professionally trained in the creation of bespoke legal ceremonies, are independent, are booked directly with the Celebrant usually following an introductory meeting and they provide a personalised service to you.
An Interfaith Ceremony typically costs €550 / €650 with most Celebrants forgoing an additional charge for travel and providing the materials for ceremony enhancements.
In Ireland Interfaith Celebrants are independent and you book them directly not centrally.
b.) Humanist Ceremony
A Humanist wedding ceremony is completely secular – 100% non‐religious, with no hymns, prayers or bible readings, mention of God or the afterlife.
It is a non-religious ceremony that is legally recognised.
Humanists do not believe in God or the supernatural, instead relying on scientific evidence and human achievements. Humanist ceremonies are open to any couple who have similar philosophical beliefs and are often an option for couples that have different beliefs. You can personalise a Humanist Ceremony but it cannot include any religious references. The Humanist Ceremony does not permit, the inclusion of references to an afterlife, angels, God or prayers, music or reading with a religious content and they can occur on any day of the week.
A Humanist Ceremony is restricted by content as the Solemniser is obliged to open the ceremony by outlining what humanism is.
Humanist Celebrants – Solemnisers are booked centrally through the Humanist Association of Ireland website where a Solemniser is assigned to you.
Humanist Celebrants – Solemnisers typically charge a fee with an additional charge for travel and the couple provides their own materials for ceremony enhancements.
c.) Spiritual Ceremony
A Spiritual wedding Ceremony be performed any day of the week, in the venue of choice, indoors or outdoors.
Spiritualism is a religious movement based on the belief that the spirits of the dead exist and have both the ability and the inclination to communicate with the living. The afterlife, or the “spirit world”, is seen by spiritualists, not as a static place, but as one in which spirits continue to evolve
Modern Spiritualism can include a very wide range of beliefs and world-views. Those who follow it are united in believing that communication with spirits is possible. Spiritualists communicate with the spirits of people who have physically died. Such communication is thought to be beneficial to the dead and the living.
In Ireland spiritual is defined as ‘ A religious person may be spiritual, but a spiritual person is not necessarily religious, thus all activity be it physical, emotional, intuitional and so forth that leads towards greater perfection, goodness and wholeness is therefore spiritual.’ (Wickapedia )
Spiritual Ceremonies can incorporate references, either in music or content to prayers.
Spiritual Celebrants – Solemnisers are booked and allocated to couples centrally through the Spiritual Union of Ireland website.
Spiritual Celebrants – Solemnisers typically charge a fee with an additional charge for travel and the couple provides their own materials for ceremony enhancements.
d.) Celebrant
And there are Celebrants who preside over a ceremony but are not legally invested to marry you. They can perform a commitment ceremony in your location on any day of the year without constraint.
In Ireland these Celebrants are independent and you book them directly not centrally.
BEST OF LUCK WITH YOUR PLANNING!
If there is anything that I have not addressed or if you have any queries please do not hesitate to reach out to me;
Rev Brenda O’Grady
P: 00353 87 231 8324
W: https://weddingandfamilycelebrant.ie/
