In today’s blog, we sit down with Laura Gimson, a Humanist celebrant based in Warwickshire, to learn more about how you can make your wedding ceremony as joyful, heart-warming and individual as you are!
Hi Laura! So, first things first, tell us more about yourself and the world of celebrant-led wedding ceremonies!
Well…I’m heading into my tenth year as a celebrant, but my own wedding back in 2011 was actually the catalyst for deciding to train. We worked with a celebrant and I kept thinking what a joyful job it seemed. It turned out, I was right! No two weddings are ever the same so it means I never get bored, even with almost 200 ceremonies under my belt.
Back when I got married, it was pretty unusual to go the celebrant route but I just knew I wanted that creative freedom – a chance to mark our milestone moment in a way that felt really “us”. But the popularity of celebrant-led weddings has absolutely sky-rocketed in the last decade. So many couples now want a ceremony that’s meaningful but also full of personality, warmth and fun.
Can you share a bit more about what Humanism means and how this could be applied to a wedding ceremony?
In a nutshell…Humanism is about making the most of the one life we have. It’s about seeking to understand the world through logic, reason and evidence, and treating those around us with warmth, understanding and respect.
A Humanist ceremony is non-religious, but celebrating culture, roots and heritage is absolutely encouraged. Your ceremony will feel totally welcoming and inclusive, regardless of the faith or beliefs your guests may have. And you don’t necessarily have to ‘identify’ as Humanist in order to have this kind of ceremony.
Lastly, a Humanist wedding doesn’t have to be ‘alternative’. I’m not into wacky. I won’t be wearing tie-dye! My job is to mark the start of your marriage with a personal ceremony that really means something to you – a ceremony that does you both justice. Some couples opt to follow a very similar structure to a church wedding because they like the familiarity of it. It’s just that, in place of religion, we fill your ceremony with meaning, laughter, anecdotes and a healthy dose of honesty. It can have all the sense of occasion that a ‘traditional’ ceremony has. But rather than leaning on formality, we do it by creating a really special shared experience for you and your guests.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of a celebrant-led ceremony?
I’ll admit I’m biased – but the advantages are pretty compelling! So I’ll break it down into two parts: what a celebrant offers you, and what a celebrant-led ceremony offers your wedding.
In terms of disadvantages…see next question!
What a celebrant offers you
- Support and guidance from the moment you book – not just on the day
- An unflappable expert: calm, steady, and very hard to rattle
- A genuinely keen listener
- A great storyteller who knows how to land the moments that matter
- The opportunity to meet in person before your wedding
- An optional rehearsal if you need to steady your nerves or work out logistics
- A guaranteed friendly face waiting for you at the end of the aisle
- Ultimate flexibility; though not in the yoga way. I don’t bend.
What a celebrant-led ceremony offers your wedding
- A one-of-a-kind ceremony, written entirely for you
- A celebration of your story, your love, and the people who make up your world
- A warm, welcoming and inclusive atmosphere
- An experience that is honest, moving and beautifully authentic
- Moments of fun, laughter and real joy
- A tone-setter for the whole day, with guests leaving on a genuine high
What is the most common question you get asked by couples interested in a humanist ceremony?
It’s about whether Humanist ceremonies are legally binding.
Although they have legal status in Scotland, Northern Ireland, Jersey and Guernsey, in England and Wales Humanists UK are still fighting for that same legal recognition. A government review of marriage law is set to happen in 2026 which we’re hopeful will bring England in line with other parts of the UK but at the moment, there’s no definitive timeline for reform.
The good news is, it’s easy and cheap to do the legal bit separately. You book a ‘Statutory Marriage’ at your local registry office and in under 15 minutes, and for less
than £60, you can register your marriage. It means all the admin is taken care of before your wedding day, leaving your celebrant-led ceremony free of all the red-tape and with bags of flexibility and freedom.
What would you say to couples who are still deliberating between a civil and celebrant ceremony?
It might surprise you, but I would say that a celebrant-led ceremony isn’t for everyone. I need my couples to be open and willing to let me in. I can only write a personal ceremony if you trust me enough to share your story. So, if you want something quick and simple and you’d prefer not to share too much about your relationship, a Registrar is probably your best bet.
If however, you want flexibility, creative freedom and for your ceremony to be the absolute highlight of your wedding day, I’m your gal! Let’s do it!
Can you share a bit more about how you work with couples to bring their wedding ceremony to life?
It would start with a chat to work out if you think we’re a good fit for each other. The chemistry has to be right! I offer a no-strings-attached intro call on Zoom, or if you’re local to Leamington, I’m always happy to get together at a cafe or pub. Chats are always better with drinks and snacks!
Once you’ve booked and paid a deposit to secure your date, I’ll share a little inspiration pack which will give you plenty of ideas and get you both having some really constructive ceremony-related conversations. I’m here for you whenever you need me along the way. For some couples it means they keep in touch regularly and for others, they just quietly digest stuff and I don’t hear a peep until closer to the day.
About 4 months before your wedding, we’ll get together for a planning session (drinks and snacks are a must for this one!) My job is to help you work out what would suit you and come up with a ceremony plan that feels like a perfect fit. And of course, I’ll ask a lot of questions because at the heart of your ceremony will be your story – the why, the where and the how that has led you to embarking on married life.
I’ll write a first draft which I’ll send by email and we’ll tweak it together until you feel it’s exactly right.
On the day itself, I’ll be there not just to lead the ceremony, but to set the tone – calm, warm and joyful – so you can relax and simply be present.
This video is from a wedding I did at Compton Verney back in 2019 and is a really nice example of how my ceremonies differ from other off-the-peg options
We of course have to ask, what is your favourite thing about wedding ceremonies at Compton Verney?
I love that it’s not your average formal wedding venue because the ever-changing art installations inject a really rare and delightful level of quirk! I also love the flexibility Compton Verney offers for ceremony locations. I’ve done them in the Adam Hall, the chapel, and the courtyard and every option has a totally different look and feel.
And finally, what is one bit of advice you would give to our couples?
So much of wedding planning is about how things look – the outfits, the flowers, the décor, the invites. Your ceremony is about how your wedding feels. So rather than overlook it as a formality, let it be the ultimate vibe-setter – the springboard for everything that follows!
Want to know more about getting married at Compton Verney?
Get in touch with the team today via our online form, or by emailing events@comptonverney.org.uk
Want to know more about Laura?