How to get a humanist wedding in
England
Dreaming of a wedding that blends timeless elegance with storybook charm? England offers the perfect backdrop—from the rolling hills of the Cotswolds to the regal grandeur of historic castles and stately manors.
Whether you envision a cozy countryside ceremony or a lavish affair at a picturesque historical site, England’s rich heritage and amazing landscapes create a magical setting for your special day.
Who offers a humanist wedding in England?
Humanist weddings in England are offered by Humanist Ceremonies, which is part of Humanists UK.
Do we get to choose the humanist wedding celebrant ourselves?
Yes. Humanist Ceremonies provides a public directory of trained and accredited celebrants. Couples can browse a map and contact individual celebrants directly. Click here to find a celebrant.
Languages offered:
Humanist Ceremonies weddings are offered in English. Some celebrants may also speak other languages or be able to incorporate multilingual elements, so couples are encouraged to enquire directly with the celebrant.
How to book a humanist wedding in England:
You can search for and contact celebrants directly via the Humanist Ceremonies Find a Celebrant map, allowing you to see celebrants near to you or to your venue. Once you’ve found someone you’d like to work with: Reach out for an initial chat, their contact details will be on their page.
If you’d like to proceed, the celebrant will guide you through the next steps, including planning the ceremony and agreeing on a date. Please note that humanist weddings in England are not yet legally binding. You’ll need to have a separate civil ceremony at a register office to register your marriage in law.
Price:
Humanist wedding celebrants in England set their own fees. Prices vary depending on location, timing, and the level of customisation. This includes planning meetings, script writing, and officiating the ceremony. The price will be agreed between the couple and the celebrant.
The legal bit
Humanist weddings in England are not currently legally recognised. This means that while your humanist ceremony can be deeply meaningful, it will not, on its own, result in a legally recognised marriage.
To be legally married in England, you must also complete a civil marriage ceremony at a register office. Read more here. Many couples choose to do this quietly before or after their humanist wedding.
Humanists UK is actively campaigning for legal recognition of humanist marriages in England and Wales, as already exists in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Humanists UK has long called for the Government to use its powers under the Marriage (Same-Sex Couples) Act 2013 to grant legal recognition to humanist marriages but the Government has instead subjected the question to numerous reviews.
In 2020, the High Court ruled that the lack of legal recognition is discriminatory but stopped short of a ruling due to the then ongoing Law Commission review into marriage. In 2025, humanist couples have once again started legal action to challenge the Government’s inaction with the support of Humanists UK.
Humanists UK also offers symbolic weddings that do not have any legal status — for example, if you are already legally married elsewhere, or if you choose not to legally formalise your relationship at all.
How to get in touch
Humanist weddings in the UK:
This page is exclusively for humanist weddings in England. Click below for humanist weddings elsewhere in the UK: