How to get a humanist wedding in
Northern Ireland
From the iconic Giant’s Causeway to the romantic ruins of Dunluce Castle, this land is steeped in myth and magic — perfect for couples seeking an unforgettable wedding.
Whether you’re planning a simple ceremony or a grand celebration, getting married in Northern Ireland means stepping into an enchanting storybook setting.
Who offers a humanist wedding in Northern Ireland?
Humanist weddings in Northern Ireland are offered by the humanist organisation Humanist Ceremonies, which is part of Humanists UK.
Do we get to choose the humanist wedding celebrant ourselves?
Yes. Humanist Ceremonies provides a directory of trained and accredited celebrants. Couples can browse the Find a Celebrant map and contact individual celebrants directly. Click here to find a celebrant in Northern Ireland.
Languages offered:
Humanist Ceremonies weddings are typically 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 Northern Ireland:
You can search for and contact celebrants directly via the Humanist Ceremonies Find a Celebrant tool.
Once you’ve found someone you’d like to work with:
- Reach out for an initial conversation.
- If you’d like to proceed, the celebrant will guide you through the next steps, including planning the ceremony and agreeing on a date.
- You don’t need to sign up for membership to book a ceremony, but your celebrant will guide you through the necessary agreements and fees.
Humanist weddings in Northern Ireland are legally binding (see below). Your celebrant will ensure all legal requirements are met to perform the wedding.
Price:
Humanist wedding celebrants in Northern Ireland 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 legal bit
Humanist weddings in Northern Ireland are legally recognised. This means that when conducted by an accredited humanist celebrant, your ceremony is legally binding and there is no need for a separate civil ceremony.
Legal recognition followed a landmark court ruling in 2017, and since then, humanist marriages have been fully accepted as a valid legal form of marriage in Northern Ireland, just as religious and civil marriages are.
Your humanist celebrant will be authorised to conduct legally binding marriages and will guide you through all necessary steps to ensure that your ceremony meets the legal requirements.
At present, UK marriage law (including in Northern Ireland) does not legally recognise non-binary genders. On marriage paperwork and in legal definitions, individuals must currently be registered as either “male” or “female”.
If you or your partner are not UK citizens, there may be additional documentation or notice periods required, depending on your immigration or residency status.
Please speak with your Humanist Ceremonies wedding celebrant for clear advice on how to ensure your marriage is legally valid.
How to get in touch
Humanist weddings in the UK:
This page is exclusively for humanist weddings in Northern Ireland. Click below for humanist weddings elsewhere in the UK: