Holding your Outdoor Wedding Ceremony in a PapaKåta Teepee or Sperry Tent
Having recently received so many stunning images of outdoor wedding ceremonies being held in, or with the backdrop of our PapaKåta Teepees and Sperry Tents, we wanted to share these images with you and with them some accompanying information about holding your own outdoor wedding ceremony. We didn’t, however, realise the legalities, terminology or endless possibilities of holding your own ceremony at an outdoor destination. Enlightened by the information supplied to us by two of the UK’s leading figures in Celebrant ceremonies, we thought we’d share this with you, informing and hopefully inspiring you to embark on your own outdoor wedding ceremony journey as part of your PapaKåta wedding.
With so much information and beautiful images to accompany it, we will be sharing this advice over two blog posts. First up we will be covering outdoor wedding ceremonies in England & Wales. Check back next week for information and tips on planning your ceremony in Scotland.
Without further ado we’d like to hand you over to Samantha Kelsie at UKCelebrant.co.uk, an expert in her field as a leading Celebrant in the UK, who, as well as being an authority on these matters is also lovely, personable and has the experience of having worked with us on PapaKåta celebrations in the past…
Samantha Kelsie UK Celebrant
Kate & Mark’s Sperry Wedding Ceremony by Tom Halliday Photography (Samantha of UK Celebrant pictured centre)
What is a Celebrant?
A celebrant is someone who is trained to provide a custom made ceremony which is unique and personal to you. Unlike a registrar, there is no legal limitation or restriction as to what you can include in a Celebrant Ceremony. You have the freedom to create a ceremony which is appropriate to you and your way of life and can celebrate in a more meaningful way with a bespoke ceremony which encapsulates your love, style, and personality.
What are the benefits of using a Celebrant?
Personal: A celebrant will work with a couple to create a ceremony which is unique to them and their love. No two ceremonies are the same, just as no two couples are the same.
Flexible: A celebrant ceremony can freely incorporate different aspects of religion, symbolism, or cultural tradition if desired… or none at all.
Unrestricted: A celebrant ceremony can take place anywhere you choose; indoors or outdoors, and whether or not your venue holds a marriage license.
PapaKåta couple Becs & Chris’s backyard Teepee outdoor ceremony by The Memory Box Ceremonies, Images by Lee Garland Photography
Who might prefer to use a Celebrant?
Memorable: Any couple wishing to celebrate their commitment in a way which is more unique and personal to them.
Symbolic: Any couple wishing to include a symbolic ceremony such as a Hand Fasting, a Sand Ceremony, a Dove Release, or any other symbolic, religious, or cultural tradition which is meaningful to them.
Beautiful: Any couple wishing to marry in any venue, whether or not it is licensed for legal marriage.
NOTE: A celebrant ceremony is not a legally binding ceremony. For a couple to legalise their marriage, they must book an appointment to visit their local registry once to register their marriage. The couple will not need to say their vows or exchange their wedding rings when signing the marriage register. There is NO LEGAL REQUIREMENT for the registrar to attend the couple’s wedding venue or be present at Celebrant Ceremony. For more information refer to Samantha Kelsie’s guide ‘How To Legalise Your Marriage’ or visit UKCelebrant.co.uk
UK Celebrant Samantha Kelsie’s couples seen here at their PapaKåta Sperry Tent Weddings Image credits clockwise from left: Sarah Gawler Photography, Tom Halliday Photography & Liam Collard Photography
Top Tips for Planning a PapaKåta Celebrant Ceremony
Be Imaginative
Celebrant ceremonies have no restriction. Repeat: celebrant ceremonies have no restrictions.
This means that you are offered the freedom of choice to make your ceremony as personal as you wish. You can include elements of your personality, style, beliefs, and culture, by incorporating different themes, readings, symbolic ceremonies, or even religious content. Or, if you prefer simple and traditional, that’s cool too! Your celebrant will work closely with you to write a ceremony which reflects your personal love story and your way of life. No two weddings are ever the same, just as no two couples are the same either.
PapaKåta couple Erin & Ben’s beautiful & unique hand fasting ceremony captured by Howell Jones Photography*
*Visit the PapaKåta Gallery to see more images from Erin & Ben’s Sperry Wedding HERE
Get to know your celebrant
Unlike with a registrar, you have the freedom of choice to find a celebrant who you feel matches your personality and your day in advance. Spend time meeting your celebrant, whether face to face, over the phone, or on Skype, to ensure that you are comfortable with each other and the role that he or she will play in your day.
Own Your Day
Want to walk in together? Let’s do it. Plan to write your own vows? Do it too. No vows at all? No problem. Want to ask your guests to sing a Mcfly song? Sure, why not. Can we have a handfasting? It’s on! It’s your day your way, so be vocal with your ideas and design the ceremony that suits you, not your template.
Make an entrance
Your Papakata tent will be set up at least a day or two before the wedding. Make sure you set aside sometime the night before the ceremony to pop down with your bridal party and test out the space. Play your music, listen out for the sound cues, and time yourself walking down the aisle, so you can make that perfect entrance the next day!
Stunning Ceremony space for PapaKåta couple Jodie & Donnie captured by John Day Photography*
*Visit the PapaKåta Gallery to see more images from Jodie & Donnie’s Teepee Wedding HERE
Plan for wet weather
We all dream of a big outdoor ceremony; PapaKåta Tipi or Sperry Tent in the background, blue sky up above. But it doesn’t always work out that way. Make sure you allow enough space inside your tent to be prepared to move inside should you need to bring the ceremony undercover.
Save the Big Bits for the Big Day
If you’ve chosen to have a celebrant ceremony, you’ll also need to legalise your marriage in your own time either before or after your wedding day. This can be organised at your local register office by arranging to have a simple Statutory Ceremony a few days before, where all you will need to do is say the legal declaratory and contractual words before signing the registrar. Keep it short, keep it simple. There is no need to say your vows or exchange your wedding rings in the legal service, so you can save all the lovely bits for your nearest and dearest on the big say itself.
PapaKåta Teepee couple Fay & Graeme following their woodland ceremony, Image by Melissa Beattie Photography*
*Visit the PapaKåta Gallery to see more images from Fay & Graeme’s Teepee Wedding HERE
How to legalise your marriage in England and Wales
In England and Wales, a legal ceremony cannot take place in a venue without a license. For your marriage to be made legal, you must also book to attend your local register office either before or after your ‘wedding day’ in order to sign the legal marriage register. You do not need to get dressed up, invite guests (with the exception of two witnesses), say your vows, or exchange your wedding rings in this ceremony.
A celebrant ceremony offers you the flexibility to hold your wedding ceremony in any location, indoors or outdoors, whether or not the venue has a license for marriage. This means you can even hold your ceremony in a Papakata Sperry Tent or Tipi!
A celebrant ceremony is purely symbolic but can feature all the elements of a ‘traditional’ ceremony if you wish, or something altogether alternative. Your guests can remain none the wiser as to when you legalised your marriage by law, but they will see you make your true love commitment.
Samantha is based just outside of London but travels to all areas of the UK and abroad upon request. Her next PapaKåta Teepee wedding ceremony will take place in Leeds this autumn, and she can not wait!
Samantha Kelsie | UK Celebrant | UKCelebrant.co.uk
Next week, we’ll be introducing you to the lovely Gerrie & Susan Douglas-Scott of Humanist Weddings Scotland, the aficionados of Ceremonies in Scotland and equal marriage royalty in their own rights!
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