Disclaimer: Collaboration Post

You have got an idea of where and when you would like to get married, but have you thought about how? There is more than one way to get get married in the UK, so lets take a look at your options to see which one is best suited to your desires and your particular lifestyle. 

The Civil Ceremony 

With a growing secular population, the civil ceremony is a popular choice for those who don’t follow any religion. Your civil ceremony can take place in a register office or any place licensed to hold weddings under the Marriage Act. You will have to book a registrar for your wedding yourself. However, if you have some romantic idea of being married in a beautiful garden surrounded by sweet smelling summer blooms, you may be disappointed! 

You can marry in a licensed building, but the premises must be classed as a permanent building. This means that you cannot choose to marry in a park or garden or even on a beach or on a boat floating along a river in the UK. A temporary structure such as a marquee is also out as a wedding ceremony venue. However, since 2015, you can get married on a boat that is permanently moored in one place that has a wedding license, and also in the grounds of a building that has obtained an additional license that allows outdoor weddings to be performed within the grounds. 

Civil ceremonies held in Scotland must have notice forms submitted to the registrar up to three months (and not less than 15 days) before the wedding day. 

Church of England 

Previously, you had to be associated with a particular church to be able to marry there, but thanks to a change in the law, you are now allowed more flexibility. There only needs to be one of the partners to have a connection with the parish to qualify. You can book an appointment to talk to the church vicar to discuss your wedding.  

Church of Scotland

Your wedding can take place anywhere in Scotland, provided it is conducted by an authorised celebrant. You do not need to be a resident either. You must give notice at the register office for anything up to three months, or at least 15 days, before your wedding date. 

Roman Catholic 

One of the couple must be a baptised Catholic to be able to marry in a Catholic church. You may need to attend a marriage preparation course. Speak to your priest to find out. 

Jewish Wedding 

These ceremonies are usually held in a synagogue, but can also be held in other venues. 

A Humanist Ceremony 

As Humanism is a non-religious philosophical movement, ceremonies are not legally binding in England and Wales. Many couples choose to have a separate civil ceremony before having their humanist one. 

Your Confetti Colour Palette 

Your wedding colour scheme may play a part in every last detail, right down to the colour of your confetti. Your choice of confetti material can also be important to you, so you should do some research to make sure you can get the colours you want in your chosen material. 

Also, check with your wedding venue to make sure that they allow the throwing of confetti. Some wedding venues and churches don’t allow confetti due to it spoiling the surroundings or it not being considered to be environmentally friendly. Some establishments will allow confetti as long as it is all-natural or biodegradable, such as natural flower petals for example.

There may be a rule where the throwing of confetti is restricted to certain areas of churchyards. This may be because churches are used for weddings and funerals. It would be seem to be inappropriate for the vicar to conduct a funeral following a wedding where the entrance hall is strewn with brightly coloured confetti. There may not be enough time for a proper clean up between services. 

Some places allow the throwing of rice, but others consider it unsuitable because of local wildlife. Whereas it has been proven to be a myth that rice will hurt wild birds who may eat it, rice is however not good for ducklings to eat. If your wedding venue is closed to a body of water where ducks are present, you may want to check their rules about throwing rice. 

Choosing your colour scheme 

You can draw your colour inspiration from just about anywhere. You could choose all-white confetti to match your bridal gown, or go with pastel shades that match with your bridesmaids outfits. Your choice could be led by the colours within your bridal bouquet, or simply be a seasonal choice with spring or summer colours to match the season. 

Contrast your colours for greater effect 

The advantages of contrast colours with your confetti is that you will get a more enriched effect. Whether that be two shades with white and purple for example, to three or more contrasting shades that will be more eye-catching. 

Why not inject a dose of dramatic colour to your choice. Going bold with deepest black and red, or a vivid green and orange mixture will certainly add a dash of sparkle to your proceedings. Bold coloured confetti will also look very dramatic in your wedding photos and stand out well on your wedding film. 

Confetti containers

What will hold your confetti until it is used? If you have a themed wedding then you will want it to match in well with your theme. If you are having a 1940s retro wedding, then little baskets of confetti may seem too ‘English country garden’ to fit. If you give out small glass bowls full of confetti, then remember that these could be easily breakable and you don’t want any little accidents or broken glass left behind.

 Colour coordinated paper cones would be a good idea as they would match your colour theme and are lightweight and easy to carry. Small organza bags or striped sweetie bags are another option. Even handing out little envelopes stuffed with confetti is a nice way to finish off the ceremony. It would be a great backdrop to the classic ‘confetti photograph’ that most newly-wed couples like to capture.