What is a wedding celebrant and what do they actually do?

It’s all going so well! You’ve found your dream venue in Mallorca, your wedding date is set, the flights and hotel are booked. You’ve pinned down THE dress and the photographer and florist are on board – so far so good! But wait- who is going to perform your ceremony? What does the ceremony actually include anyway? Will the guests be bored rigid or can you make it your own? Here’s the lowdown…

1. What does a celebrant actually do?

We are here to work with you to create a memorable ceremony, with you and your love at the heart of it. First, we’ll usually have have a phone or Skype chat to get to know each other. We take you though the different part of the ceremony – from the arrival of the bride and groom, the welcome to the guests, the readings, the music for your arrival and walk back down the aisle, different ways of saying your vows and special elements like hand-fasting ceremony, wine box or white doves. Then, we ask you to fill in a questionnaire with some details about you, the key people involved and your plans so far. Discover more about our team here.

We advise you on how long the ceremony will take, the role of the ushers and other key players and other things to consider. On the day, we are there to calm your nerves, welcome your guests and guide you through, from when you arrive, to the moment you walk back down the aisle. so that you can relax and enjoy your ceremony in Mallorca.

2. We understand that the legalities take place at a register office at home before we come to Mallorca for the wedding- how does that work?

Yes, the best way to think about it is the legal part at home taking care of the paperwork side of things. We recommend that you keep it low-key – perhaps just you, some family members and your two witnesses at your local register office. Don’t forget to book your appointment – ideally two months or so before you come to Mallorca. Now, with everything in order, you are free to look forward to to your celebration here; exchanging your vows and making your commitment to each other in front of friends and family with Mallorca as your beautiful backdrop, eating your wedding dinner as the sun sets and sharing your first dance under the stars.

3. What is the actual script for the wedding ceremony? Can we make it more individual?

We have some really good wording which talks about love, relationships and what marriage means. This gives a structure to the different parts of the ceremony. and makes a great starting point. We’ll send you this early on in in our planning together. Next we add a section about your story, perhaps how you met and what’s so special about your relationship. The readings you choose, and your readers too, will also reflect the things and people that are important to you. You can also write your own vows which can be serious, funny or practical, to make your ceremony as individual as you are.

4. What about suggestions for wedding readings?

Finding the perfect readings – those which sum up who you are as a couple – are an important part of your ceremony. And it’s a wonderful way to include special friends or family members. They can be poetic, philosophical or romantic, inspired by travel, nature or even dogs. Drawing from dozens of examples for every kind of wedding, we help you find the right readings to fit your personalities and style. Check out some great readings here

5. How do we go about sorting out the music for the ceremony?

Whether you want your favourite song played through the PA, a string quartet, live singer, keyboardist, sax player or guitarist, the style and mood of the music you choose sets the scene for the ceremony. Get some inspiration here. If you decide on a live performance, you might need guidance on the right equipment and technical support to ensure it all runs to plan and everyone can hear clearly. We can advise on the musical aspects of your ceremony and suggest some good suppliers to help you.

6. What about timings, the flow of the ceremony and what happens afterwards?

Yes, we guide you through the timings for your ceremony, what happens when, who does what and sits where, and how to ensure everything runs smoothly.

One thing to note is that during the summer, temperatures during the day in Mallorca are very hot and so it’s usual for wedding ceremony to start at around 6pm. Typically, your ceremony will be around 30 minutes and will be followed by a one-hour drinks and canape reception during which your guests can mingle and photographs are taken. That means that you will be sitting down to your wedding dinner at around 7.30pm and you can expect your party to begin at around 10.00pm.

7. Who orchestrates the ceremony?

We do, from ensuring that the bride and her party are ready, seating the guests, checking that the groom is prepared, the Best Man has the rings, a spare hankie is available for the odd tearful moment, and the processional music is ready to go. Then we cue up the first song and begin. We guide you through the whole process so that you can relax and fully enjoy your ceremony.

8. Can you guide us on things like the order of the bridal party and who should sit where?

While many couples favour an informal seating plan for their ceremony (Pick a seat not a side!), we are more than happy to guide you on more formal ceremony seating and things like the order of the bridal party as they walk down the aisle.

9. Do you have a good knowledge of venues and planners in Mallorca?

Yes, and it can be very helpful if your wedding celebrant knows your venue, especially for a destination wedding where you can’t visit the venue much in the run up to the wedding, And if you are working with a wedding planner, we can liaise with him or her to ensure that everything is co-ordinated for the ceremony (timings, seating, location of wedding pergola or arch and sound system), making sure the details are co-ordinated and saving you lots of stress on the day. Get more planning tips here.

10. Do you have suggestions for suppliers who can help us?

It’s the easiest thing in the world when planning your wedding, to suddenly find that you need something or someone unexpectedly- a hair and make-up artist for a mum, a guitarist to play during your dinner, a wedding car to bring you to the venue. So while our focus is obviously on your ceremony, we can often recommend the right person to help you.