How to organize a successful secular wedding?

Some couples decide to unite and celebrate their love not to the Church, but by making a secular ceremonyoften after passing before the mayor. This type of marriage has above all a symbolic and romantic dimension, fully customizable. We also talk about engagement ceremony. The celebration can take place in any place (a holiday home, a field, etc.), follow rituals decided by the bride and groom, and especially the couple’s relatives (family, friends, etc.) can unite them, read texts or even sing in their honor. The bride and groom say they are “yes” in complete freedom and having a ceremony that resembles them in all respects.

What is a secular wedding ceremony?

A secular ceremony is different from a religious marriage ceremony. The bride and groom choose to unite in complete freedom, by organizing as they see the course of the ceremonywhich does not respond to any civil or religious codes.

Namely thatIn France, only the civil ceremony, at the town hall, has a legal value. Religious or secular ceremonies are authorized, but must be organized in addition to a civil marriage. In the same way, from a tax, social or professional point of view (taxes, survivor’s pension, mutation priority, succession …), the civil ceremony is the only form of marriage recognized by the State.

For a lay marriage ceremony, There is not a typical course to follow. Married future can choose to organize the ceremony as they see fit. But, generally, a secular ceremony takes up the main lines of a classic ceremony, namely:

• The installation of guests by the officiant at the place of ceremony
• The entrance of the bride to music, alone or with a loved one
• The entrance to the bride in music, alone or at the arm of a loved one
• The speech to introduce the officiant
• Possible inventions of relatives (speech or reading of a text)
• Symbolic rituals
• The exchange of wishes
• The exchange of alliances
• The kiss of the newlyweds
• The groom exit

What are the rituals of a secular ceremony?

Bride and groom can decide to practice symbolic rituals who are in their image and who will punctuate the secular ceremony. There are different rituals to do during a secular marriage, including the sealed wine ritual which consists in placing a bottle of alcohol in a wooden box. You can reach a letter for the loved one. The box must then be sealed and only be opened in several years. There is also the ritual of ribbonswhich links the hands of the bride and groom with ribbons of different colors which have a whole meaning (red for passion, green for prosperity, black for wisdom, etc.), or the ritual of the tree at greeting. The guests write their wishes for you on papers they hang on to the branches of a tree.

To organize a secular wedding ceremony, this is done in several stages. You can be very methodical by grouping in an Excel file everything you want to do and determine the chronological course of the ceremony. Before D -Day, you must:

Choose a theme that suits you

Your secular ceremony must tell a story : yours! It will therefore be important to think, with your half, your wishes and everything you want to say on this special day. Do not hesitate to develop a plan and fill it with memories, two adventures, declarations of love or anecdotes. Then, list everything that is close to your heart: a particular entry, music, quotes, the intervention of one of your loved ones or the organization of symbolic rituals, this will allow you to define the general atmosphere of your wedding.

Choose a place

Most secular weddings are organized, after civil marriage, in an outside placelike the garden of the family house or the exteriors of the room where the reception will take place. But it can very well take place in a barn on the farm, in a field in the countryside, on a beach or in the Hotel reception room. Whatever the place, think of logistics: sound, chairs, tables, ark … Then make sure to have a B plan if ever the good weather is not there!

Choose an official

The secular ceremony must be chaired by an officiant, who will be responsible for playing the master of ceremonies from start to finish. This can be a childhood friend, a parent, a brother, a sister or a professional officiant.

Choose a decoration

You can, as for a traditional wedding, Imagine the decoration of your dreamswhether romantic, bohemian, bucolic or even exotic.

Choose rituals

Regarding the rituals, there is something for everyone: planting a tree, sand ceremony, dropping doves, forging its footprints, ritual of the padlock, creating a work of art … are all ceremonials which symbolize your union in an imaginary way. Finally, nothing prevents you from integrating texts or religious songs if you wish.

If you wish, you can also call on a professional officiant who can celebrate your union and help you for the organization. Generally, the choice is made on an officiant depending on the feeling which is felt during the interview with the professional and the bride and groom.

This service has a cost and can quantify in several hundred euros depending on the offerings of the officiants. On the Mariages.net website for example, there are advertisements of officiants of secular ceremony at 250 euros up to more than 1000 euros. Several sites and agencies offer the services of officiants such as MC2 My love Or Burdimilion.

What decoration to choose for a secular wedding ceremony?

In terms of decorationeverything is more or less allowed for a secular wedding ceremony. The main thing is that the decoration corresponds to your tastes and also to your budget. Romantic, refined, rural, bohemian, seaside decoration … Here are some inspirations in photo:

What speech to make for a secular ceremony?

Several speech accompany a secular marriage. The ceremony begins with a Ceremony’s reception word. Then come Text readings previously chosen, The speeches of the various gueststhe music and songs that are linked according to the program you have established. The officiant or the master of ceremonies is responsible for making transitions, presentations or any explanations of symbolic rituals. Secular marriage usually concludes with a Speech by the bride and groom which can be akin to an exchange of vows.

How long does a secular ceremony last?

We consider thata secular ceremony lasts between 30 and 45 minutes Maximum, not much more, otherwise the guests. But then again, no rule is official!

What is the overall cost of a secular ceremony?

The cost of a marriage with a secular ceremony is on average 15,744 eurosAccording to a recent study.net marriages, based on information provided by more than 27,500 couples.