DOING THINGS YOUR OWN WAY

Non-Traditional Weddings in North Wales

If the thought of picking a standard package from your local hotel with a registrar ceremony isn’t for you, then you’re in the right place.
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I help couples create ceremonies that put you at the centre of everything. You can reimagine traditions, skip the ones that don’t fit, and design a day that’s fun, personal and completely yours. Starting with a blank page can feel daunting, so here you’ll find ideas to make your wedding feel right up your street.

And if you've got a sneaking suspicion I might be the celebrant for you, find out more about celebrant ceremonies, see my prices and packages and then send me an enquiry right now.
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Can We Get Married Anywhere?

With a celebrant-led wedding, you’re not limited to licensed venues or hotel packages. You can hold your ceremony absolutely anywhere you want to.

That's not to say there's anything wrong with traditional wedding venues - in fact, North Wales & Cheshire have some amazing options. Talhenbont Hall, Nant Gwytheyrn, Larkspur Lodge and The Anglesey Barn are all great options.

But there are plenty of really special venues that are a little less traditional. Henbant Permaculture Farm, Llyn Gwynant Barns & Campsite and Bach Wen are amazing choices for nature lovers seeking a relaxed weekend celebration.

If you're planning a microwedding, there are tonnes of airbnbs and holiday rentals that can double up as a ceremony location, check out Bodorgan Inn (with it's own pub on site) and St Curig's Church.

You don't even need a venue at all. Katie & Seb got married in Katie's family home. Gina & Paul had a handfasting in the Ogwen Valley and Sally & Lee got married on the beach by the Ty Coch pub.

Kate Rostance, a wedding and funeral celebrant, smiling warmly outdoors against a rocky backdrop. She is wearing a floral patterned suit with a green top, holding a leather-bound notebook, and looks relaxed and approachable.

wedding's Aren't just for summer...

Autumn, Winter and Spring weddings can be the perfect choice for a lot of couples.

Wedding celebrant leading an autumn ceremony outdoors, standing beside warm orange and gold foliage. She holds a tablet while speaking beneath a wooden arch decorated with dried flowers, perfectly capturing the cosy, colourful atmosphere of an autumn wedding in North Wales.

Autumn Weddings

In Autumn Weddings, every hour is golden hour. The seasonal shift creates a glorious backdrop and beautiful colourschemes provided by nature herself.

Winter Weddings

Winter Weddings bring the atmosphere - fires cracking, candles flickering, plates piled high and everyone staying close to party the night away.

Bride holding a colourful bouquet of spring flowers while standing beside her partner during a Humanist wedding ceremony in Cheshire

Spring Weddings

Spring Weddings are all about great light, longer days and fewer crowds, what's not to love? Sure, the weather might be unpredictable, but when is it not in the UK?

Can We Get Married On A Beach?

You can. There are different rules depending on who is responsible for the land and how big your wedding is, but it's absolutely possible, and North Wales has some incredible options.

Sally & Lee got married on the beach they walk their dogs on every morning. They even had their dogs as ringbearers!

Just bear in mind, you won't get the beach to yourself, so it's worth considering a mid-week ceremony, earlier in the day, and picking a spot off the beaten track, unless you want uninvited guests witnessing your vows.

A personalised ceremony folder for Kate Rostance

Wedding celebrant Kate Rostance leading a mountain elopement ceremony in the Ogwen Valley, Snowdonia, with a couple and their dog overlooking Llyn Idwal and Pen y Ole Wen.

Can't We Just Run Away And Get Married?

Absolutely. If the idea of a big wedding makes you want to run for the hills, do it – literally.
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Elopements are about stripping it back to what matters most. Just you two, your promises, your walking boots - and if I'm lucky, you might bring your dog too. You can hike to your ceremony spot, I can help you find a hidden beach or waterfall, or the Ogwen Valley is one of many places Snowdonia / Eryri has to offer for dramatic landscapes and incredible views.

Microweddings are also becoming more popular. There's no need to have 100+ people at your wedding, if what you really want is to be surrounded by your favourite people in the whole world.

PLAN YOUR ELOPEMENT WEDDINGS

Can We Have A Handfasting Ceremony?

Handfasting is deep rooted in Celtic tradition, and can be used in addition to, or instead of exchanging rings. Hands are tied together with a cord, cords or ribbons as you say your vows to one another. Handfastings can be as simple or as elaborate as you like and can be a really lovely, non-traditional option for your wedding ceremony.

You can invite family, chosen family and friends to place the cords over your hands, or it can be a moment just for you two.

Clair & Janine read their vows to one another with their hands fasted. Gina and Paul knotted their handfasting cord with each vow they made to one another.

It’s tactile, visual and deeply personal, and a perfect way to bring a touch of tradition into a modern, non-religious ceremony.

Close-up of a couple during a Humanist wedding handfasting ceremony in North Wales, with red and grey braided cords wrapped around their hands to symbolise unity and love.

More Ideas To Chuck In The Mix

Two dogs wearing floral collars sit calmly on a pebbled beach, ready to play their part as ring bearers in a seaside wedding ceremony. Their relaxed pose and matching flowers add a joyful, personal touch to a dog-friendly wedding day.

Fun &
Interactive

Live quizzes about your story can get a laugh
Ringbearer fun - hide the rings under chairs, rope the dog into it or let little ones bring a bit of chaos
Surprises for your guests (or you!)
Singalongs! (like being back in primary school, but every song is a banger)

Close-up of a handfasting ceremony where two people’s hands are bound together with colourful climbing ropes, symbolising unity and commitment. The vibrant cords and natural outdoor setting reflect a personal, non-traditional wedding ritual celebrating connection and adventure.

Meaningful & Personal

Handfasting with cords that mean something to you
Personal vows, shared with your partner for the first time on your wedding day
Personal letters shared with guests or sealed for your future selves to open
Incorporating moments of stillness or movement

A live wedding artist’s painting on an easel, capturing two brides celebrating under a gazebo with bouquets raised. Paintbrushes and a palette sit nearby, highlighting the creativity and charm of having a live sketch artist capture real wedding moments in art.

Creative &
Quirky

Live sketch artist capturing your ceremony as it happens
A pre-ceremony shot, or mid-ceremony toast to the happy couple
A shared drink ritual, with a tea, a cocktail or a local speciality
Dress codes and colour schemes
Mid-ceremony selfies

Rod and Dan laugh with their celebrant outside Brinsop Court after their Hereford wedding ceremony.

Real Weddings, Meaningful Moments

Couples tell me the same thing again and again - they wanted a ceremony that felt authentic - no awkward moments and cringy bits. They didn't love the idea of being the centre of attention, all things considered and they felt there had to be a better way.

Spoiler: it was me. I'm the better way.

Clair & Janine said “There aren’t enough superlatives for how we feel about having Kate as our celebrant. She created the exact ceremony we wanted – joyful, full of love and humour.”

Sally & Lee said "If you want your wedding to be authentically your story, if you want a celebrant who feels like more of a friend than a service, if you want a unique beautiful ceremony - then choose Kate!"

Rod & Dan said: "Kate relayed our relationship to our guests perfectly, adding humour, sincerity and making the ceremony so much more personal. She really gave our guests something to enjoy. Kate is just perfect and we would 100% recommend"‍

READ THE REVIEWS

Why Choose A Celebrant For A Non-Traditional Wedding?

The short answer is: because registrars can't. They are bound by standardised formats and scripts, which leaves little room for personalisation and meaningful ritual. They can only marry you in licensed venues or in registry offices as well, which means your mountaintop elopement is not on the card with a registrar wedding.

But with me, there's nothing off the table.

As a celebrant, I get to know my couples in the 3-24 months between booking me and their wedding day, and we craft a meaningful ceremony together based on getting to know you both, and what makes you tick.

Get married how you want, where you want and with who you want, and I'll be by your side every step of the way.

CELEBRANT WEDDINGS

HEAR FROM THE HAPPY COUPLES

Utterly unforgettable, deeply romantic and entirely "us".

Are humanist weddings LEGAL in england and wales?

According to an announcement on 2nd October 2025, they soon will be.

However, until then, in England and Wales you’ll still need to complete the legal paperwork separately while Wedding Law Reform continues. Think of it like registering a birth: the celebration comes first, then the formality is done later. It might sound confusing, but it isn’t - and I’ll guide you through it step by step.

got questions? see FAQs

Kate x

Contact

So. What are you waiting for?

I work with a limited number of couples each year so I can give their wedding days the attention they deserve. If you think I'm the celebrant for you, check out my packages and prices, and then get in touch to talk dates and plans.

check my availability

Kate Rostance, wedding celebrant, smiling at her laptop — waiting for you to get in touch.

Non-Traditional Weddings in North Wales