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Independent Celebrant-Led Wedding Ceremonies: Translating, Tweaking, and Innovating Traditions

Author

Listed:
  • Sharon Blake

    (University of Exeter, UK)

  • Rebecca Probert

    (University of Exeter, UK)

  • Tania Barton

    (The University of Law, UK; University of Exeter, UK)

  • Rajnaara Akhtar

    (University of Warwick, UK)

Abstract

This article explores ceremonial design of independent celebrant-led wedding ceremonies in England and Wales. It draws on a qualitative study which involved focus groups with celebrants and interviews with individuals who have had an independent celebrant-led wedding ceremony. Six factors are described which influenced how couples translated and tweaked traditions or innovated ceremonial elements: faith, heritage, values, kin, informality, and temporality. In line with a bricolage process, it is suggested that the keeping of and minor adaption of traditions through the personalisation offered by independent celebrant-led wedding ceremonies may support inclusion of relationship practices such as interfaith couplings and blended families. Examples of kinship display-work and self-display-work were found throughout participant accounts of their wedding ceremonies. It is proposed that both may act as an important means by which the needs of individuals for whom a religious or belief framework is not prioritised over other contexts of identification can be met in a wedding ceremony. Further research is needed to explore the transferability of these findings to larger samples, as well as specific sub-populations.

Suggested Citation

  • Sharon Blake & Rebecca Probert & Tania Barton & Rajnaara Akhtar, 2024. "Independent Celebrant-Led Wedding Ceremonies: Translating, Tweaking, and Innovating Traditions," Sociological Research Online, , vol. 29(4), pages 825-841, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:socres:v:29:y:2024:i:4:p:825-841
    DOI: 10.1177/13607804231211443
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. John Walliss, 2002. "‘Loved the Wedding, Invite Me to the Marriage’: The Secularisation of Weddings in Contemporary Britain," Sociological Research Online, , vol. 7(4), pages 60-70, November.
    2. Brian Heaphy, 2018. "Troubling Traditional and Conventional Families? Formalised Same-Sex Couples and ‘The Ordinary’," Sociological Research Online, , vol. 23(1), pages 160-176, March.
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