We want to get married at 12pm, but the Registrar is only available at 3pm, what can we do?

Ask The Expert

4 Apr

Q: THE REGISTRAR ONLY HAS A 3 PM SLOT, BUT MY HEART IS SET ON 12 PM! WHAT DO I DO?

I am so frustrated. I have been dreaming of a midday ceremony so we can spend the whole afternoon celebrating in the sun, but the registrar is fully booked and can only offer me 3 pm. I feel like I am losing three hours of my wedding day before it has even started. Do I just have to accept it and change my whole timeline?

A: ABSOLUTELY NOT!

YOU CAN HAVE YOUR 12 PM DREAM.

I totally feel your frustration. Planning a wedding is a huge balancing act, and when a third party diary clash threatens your vision, it is incredibly stressful. But I am about to let you in on the wedding industry’s best-kept secret. The registrar’s schedule does not have to be your schedule.

If you want to get married at 12 pm, you can. The answer is to book a celebrant.

1. TAKE BACK YOUR TIME AND YOUR DAY

When you book a registrar, you are often just a slot in a very busy day of travelling between venues. They are on a strict clock, and everyone in the room feels that pressure. With a celebrant, you are the priority.

The 12 pm Flow: You get those extra three hours back. That means a long, lazy afternoon sipping drinks under the blossom trees, rather than rushing to squeeze your photos in before the sun goes down.
Space to Breathe: Your wedding won’t feel like a production line. You and your guests can actually relax and enjoy the moment. You can even be fashionably late without fear!

2. DITCH THE "LICENSED BOX"

Registrars are usually restricted to specific, licensed ceremony rooms, or a very specific outdoor ceremony space.

Go Outside: With a celebrant, the world is your oyster. If you want to say your vows in that gorgeous spot on the lawn under the trees, you can.
Your Music, Your Way: You get total freedom for your content. If you want a song that mentions God or has a religious word, such as Ruelle’s "I Get to Love You" or Alex Warren’s "Ordinary", you can have it. No one is going to tell you no to your favourite lyrics.

3. THE "2+2" HACK (IT IS SO EASY)

You might be wondering how to make it legal. It is actually super chill. You just do the paperwork separately at the register office, often called a 2+2. Usually held on an off peak day and time e.g. Tuesday 11am

The Vibe: It takes about three minutes. It is just you, two witnesses, and a signature. It is as low-key as signing a birth certificate.
The Simple Way: You do not even need to do rings or vows there. Save all the emotional, real stuff for your 12 pm ceremony with your friends and family.
The Cost: It has recently gone up to £62 plus the individual certificate fees, so it is very budget-friendly.

4. YOUR SUPPLIERS WILL LOVE YOU FOR IT

Here is the truth: I have never met a wedding team, photographer, content creator, videographer or musician who prefers a registrar over a celebrant. Your suppliers love the freedom of a celebrant-led day bring, just as much as you will.

Photographer Freedom: Photographers are used to tiptoeing around the registrar, they cannot stand in certain spots, and everyone has seen TikToks of the photographers getting told off (mid ceremony) for noisy shutter clicks. Celebrants welcome and work with your photographer to capture the magic from the best angles.
A Relaxed Relationship: Because your celebrant is not a stranger who just turned up five minutes ago and gave you a mini-interview grilling, the whole energy is different. You will be relaxed and laughing, which means you won't look stiff and awkward in your photos. You will look like you. Happy, chilled, and totally in love.

THE BOTTOM LINE

A celebrants fee usually works out to be around the same, or only slightly more than the fee a registrar charges to officiate a wedding at a venue. However, the freedom it buys you is priceless. Don't let a registrar’s diary dictate when you say "I do." Book a celebrant, grab that 12 pm slot, and own your wedding day!

Ready to find your Wedding Celebrant?