Humanist Weddings in the UK: What They Are & How to Plan Yours
Learn everything you need to know about Humanist weddings in the UK, from the ceremony and rituals to finding the perfect celebrant
Humanist weddings have risen in popularity in the UK, with over 1,000 taking place in England and Wales each year. But what exactly is a humanist wedding ceremony, and how can you have one yourself?
Many couples are now considering non-religious wedding ceremonies as an alternative to civil ceremonies. But what is a humanist wedding, is it legal, and do you need to be a humanist to have one?
We spoke to Humanists UK, the charity campaigning for equal human rights and home to the longest-established humanist celebrant network in the UK, as well as humanist celebrant Laura Gimson to explain what humanist weddings are and what the ceremonies involve.
- What is a Humanist wedding?
- What happens during a humanist wedding ceremony?
- Are Humanist weddings legal?
- Your guide to humanist celebrants in the UK
What is a Humanist wedding in the UK?
A humanist wedding is a non-religious ceremony that allows couples freedom from many traditional wedding rules. Ceremonies can take place anywhere, at any time, and couples can create a truly personal celebration.
Deborah Hooper, Director of Ceremonies at Humanists UK, explains that ceremonies can feature a variety of customs, including handfasting, drinking from a quaich, walking down the aisle together, and even including pets.
Humanist celebrants craft personalised scripts for each couple, focusing on their love story and shared values rather than using templates or standard declarations.
What does a Humanist believe?
A humanist does not adhere to specific religious beliefs and emphasises living ethically through kindness, compassion, and making the world better. Humanists generally do not believe in a God or an afterlife, drawing their moral values from human experience.
Humanist celebrants conduct ceremonies for all life milestones, including weddings, vow renewals, baby namings, and funerals. They are accredited by Humanists UK and support the charity’s campaign for a fair and secular society.
Laura Gimson says, "Humanists UK campaigns tirelessly for equality and fairness. They helped legalise same-sex marriage and decriminalise abortion in Northern Ireland. A portion of my earnings from every ceremony supports their work, so couples contribute to a fairer world."
What happens at a Humanist wedding ceremony?
According to humanism.org, a humanist wedding ceremony typically includes:
- Arrival of the couple (individually or together)
- Introductions and welcomes
- Words about love and commitment from a non-religious perspective
- Reading or poem
- The couple’s story – how they met, shared values, and hopes for the future
- What marriage means to the couple
- Reading, poem, or song
- Couple’s promises or vows
- Meaningful symbolic act (e.g., handfasting)
- Exchange of rings
- Pronouncement as married
- Words of well-wishing
- Closing and departure
Popular symbolic rituals include:
- Handfasting: Hands tied with a cord or sash while reciting vows – the origin of 'tying the knot'.
- Hand-holding ceremony: Couples face each other and hold hands, sometimes forming an infinity symbol representing everlasting love.
- Candle ceremony: Separate candles representing individual lives are combined to light a third candle, symbolising the joining of lives.
- Unity sand ceremony: Couples pour coloured sand into a container, symbolising their intertwined lives. Children can also participate.
Other symbolic acts may include stamping glasses, swapping garlands, jumping the broom, releasing doves, gift-giving, or wine and flower rituals.
Difference Between a Civil Ceremony & a Humanist Wedding
While both are non-religious, civil ceremonies are legally recognised and must follow strict content and script guidelines, with no religious elements allowed. Scripts are often standardised.
Humanist ceremonies are bespoke and reflect the couple’s personality, with no restrictions on gender, race, sexual orientation, or location. Celebrants can also conduct bi-lingual ceremonies (Welsh, French, Spanish, Italian) or in British Sign Language like Audrey Simmons.
Laura Gimson says, "A celebrant-led ceremony can take place anywhere meaningful – a forest, garden, cliff, narrowboat, cinema, or ski slope."
Are Humanist weddings legal?
Humanist weddings are legally recognised in Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Jersey, but not in England and Wales. Couples must register their marriage at a registry office before or after the ceremony. A civil registration can take as little as six and a half minutes and costs under £50.
Humanist vs Independent Celebrants
Independent celebrants can include religious content for couples of any faith. Humanist celebrants typically do not include religious wording but can creatively honour cultural traditions.
Laura explains, "I’ve included a glass smashing for a Jewish groom and a unity candle for an Irish Catholic couple. If you want religious content, an independent celebrant is the best choice."
Couples don’t need to be humanists to have a humanist wedding, though many develop an affinity with humanist philosophy.
How to Choose Your Celebrant
Meet or video call your celebrant before hiring. Ensure there is chemistry and shared understanding. Ask what sets their ceremonies apart and check reviews. Humanists UK has a network of over 500 trained celebrants for couples in the UK here.
Humanist Celebrants You Can Hire in the UK
These celebrants are all based in the UK and loved by Hitched couples, so take your pick!
1. Sue Walder
Sue specialises in helping couples celebrate their love in a humanist way. She takes pride in getting to know each couple and personalising the ceremony to make your special day perfect.
- Price: from £750
- Hitched couples say: "You won’t find a celebrant more caring, flexible, reliable, and truly honoured to host your wedding than Sue."
2. Jean Steele Humanist Celebrant
For those still unsure if a Humanist wedding is for them, Jean is happy to meet for a no-pressure consultation before you make your choice to find out if a humanist wedding is what you're after.
- Price: from £500
- Hitched couples say: "We couldn't be happier with the incredible ceremony Jean prepared and delivered for our wedding in Edinburgh. As a gay male couple from New York, we truly valued how Jean took the time to get to know us, both individually and as a couple.
3. Helen Phillips
If you're new to the idea of a Humanist ceremony Helen will hold your hand through the whole process. She's a two time winner of the Hitched wedding awards and has a wealth of experience crafting special ceromonies.
- Price: from £700
- Hitched couples say: "We are so grateful to have had Helen as a part of our wedding day. Her words were absolutely perfect, capturing the essence of our love story with such warmth and authenticity."
4. Laura Gimson
Laura trained with Humanists UK nearly 10 years ago and has since gone on to win awards for her celebrant services. She takes pride in crafting ceremonies that might just end up being the highlight of the whole day!
- Price: from £1,200
- Hitched couples say: "We can’t express how perfect and special Laura made our ceremony. She shared the story of our relationship so perfectly, as well as keeping it light hearted and fun just like we asked."
What happens when you meet your celebrant?
Couples typically meet for a couple of hours to share their story, choose readings and rituals, and plan the ceremony. The celebrant crafts a script, guides you through the process, and attends your wedding to deliver the ceremony. Couples receive a keepsake script afterwards.
Where can you have a Humanist wedding?
Humanist weddings can take place anywhere meaningful. Popular venue ideas include:
- A tranquil beach
- A magical forest clearing
- A historic venue
- A personal garden
- A boat
- A cliff with dramatic views
- A festival-style barn
- An art gallery
Duration of a Humanist Wedding Ceremony
Humanist ceremonies can range from 25 minutes to over an hour, depending on the couple’s preference.
Cost of a Humanist Wedding
Costs vary based on location, experience, and time spent. Humanist celebrant fees range from £450–£1,300, similar to a registrar with venue fees included.
Booking your Celebrant
Book early; experienced celebrants can be reserved up to a year in advance. Search online, speak to several celebrants, and ensure they match your vision and tone.
Benefits of a Humanist wedding
- Bespoke, personalised ceremony
- Inclusive for LGBTQ+ and interfaith couples
- Location flexibility
- Gold-standard training and public liability insurance for celebrants
Explore Hitched’s celebrant page to find a humanist or independent celebrant in your area.
