Non-Religious Weddings
Many couples are now considering these non-religious wedding ceremonies as an alternative to a civil ceremony because they get the freedom to be as creative as they want in their wedding.
What exactly is a non-religious wedding?
Non-religious weddings are also known as humanist weddings where the ceremony is free from most of the traditional rules which revolve around weddings. Humanist weddings do not have the need to take place in any religious venue and they can take place at any time of the day.
Many couples are now considering these non-religious wedding ceremonies as an alternative to a civil ceremony because they get the freedom to be as creative as they want in their wedding.
The popularity of non-religious weddings.
The UK is one of the nations of the world that welcomes and celebrates people from different cultural backgrounds. According to the charity, Humanism UK, the rate of non-religious weddings has increased by a massive 266% over the last decade. On the other hand, the rate of religious weddings has only been going down.
However, while non-religious or humanist weddings are not considered legal in some parts of the UK yet, including England, Wales and the Isle of Man, they have gained legal recognition in Scotland (2005), in Northern Ireland (2018) and Jersey (2019). An independent review found that a significant number of British Muslim couples usually do not go for a civil marriage after their usual religious marriage. But this culture of non-religious weddings is not just limited to Muslim weddings but is followed by many people in the UK today. And now, some couples are trying to get legal recognition for non-religious weddings in England and Wales as well.
How do non-religious weddings work and how are they different from religious weddings?
The primary point about non-religious weddings is that the couples can personalize their wedding ceremony according to their preferences, and that’s what makes it even more attractive to them.
A civil ceremony is usually performed by a registrar in a registry office or a licensed venue. On the other hand, if a couple wants to have a non-religious marriage, they can choose a friend or a relative to conduct the ceremony or find a celebrant. A humanist wedding is totally secular and does not follow any religious hymns, prayers or Bible readings like in a religious wedding.
When we talk about a religious ceremony, it is about uniting with your partner in the eyes of God, for any religion you have faith in. You have very little flexibility in the format of the wedding ceremony and you usually have to follow the typical standard format as far as the hymns, vows and speeches are considered.
But a non-religious wedding ceremony is for the people who are looking for something more flexible and intimate and it gives the opportunity to a couple to get married wherever they want, whenever they want and however they want. There is no set script like in a religious wedding ceremony and the couple can choose the tone that feels right for them and their own words and music.
A non-religious wedding is all about tailoring a unique event that feels distinctive and will not be constrained by the rules of any faith. But of course, if a couple wants to legalize their marriage, they can always visit a registrar and take care of the legal formalities a few days before or after the ceremony or at a time of their choosing.
Final Words
It’s ultimately all about personal choice and how you want your wedding to be. If you do not want the constraints of religion and faith in your wedding ceremony and you want flexibility in terms of venue, traditions, vows, etc- then a non-religious wedding ceremony will probably be the right choice for you.
See you next week.
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