Celebrant / Officiant - What’s in a Name?

The terms officiant and celebrant are frequently seen used interchangeably, particularly when someone is researching wedding options, but they are different.

An officiant is one that is working in an official or legal capacity. A celebrant is one that leads a ceremony of celebration and is a term also used by many religious denominations to denote someone that can serve communion (or the Eucharist)

Many ceremonies of life do not include a legal requirement and are focused solely on a spiritual celebration of life and love. Marriage is the ceremony which usually includes the legal requirement of making the marriage official via a marriage license. Marriage is also a unique ceremony in the number of places where the legal role of officiant and spiritual role of celebrant may be combined into the responsibilities of one person.

So why do I refer to myself as a celebrant?

Due to my training and the joy I find in the mysteries of love, I am, first and foremost, a celebrant.

It’s bonus to be legally recognized as an officiant for marriage and that I can serve in that capacity when and where required.