Why Non-Religious Ceremonies Are Fast Becoming the New Normal

For generations, life's biggest milestones were almost automatically associated with religion. Weddings happened in churches, babies were christened and funerals followed familiar religious traditions.

But society is changing and Wales is changing particularly quickly.

According to the 2021 Census, 46.5% of people in Wales now describe themselves as having "no religion", compared with just 32.1% ten years earlier. At the same time, the proportion identifying as Christian fell from 57.6% to 43.6%.

In other words, "no religion" is now a more common response in Wales than Christianity.

And the way we marry is changing too. Across England and Wales, 83% of marriages in 2022 were civil ceremonies, compared with just 17% that were religious. Thirty years earlier, civil ceremonies accounted for only around half of marriages.

So perhaps the surprising thing isn't that non-religious and Humanist ceremonies are becoming increasingly popular. It's that we still sometimes think of them as the "alternative".

For many couples, a non-religious ceremony is increasingly the natural choice because it reflects how they actually live their lives.

But choosing a Humanist or celebrant-led ceremony isn't simply about taking religion out. It's about discovering how much more you can put in.

The joy of a bespoke ceremony is freedom.

What you want. When you want. Where you want. With whom you want.

Want to get married at sunset instead of squeezing your ceremony into a traditional afternoon timetable? You can.

Want a Tuesday wedding because the date means something special to you? Brilliant.

Want 200 guests? Wonderful. Want six? Equally wonderful.

Want to wear a traditional wedding dress, a fabulous trouser suit, sequins, shorts, Doc Martens or something nobody else would dream of wearing to their wedding? Go for it.

And then there's the location. A beautiful hotel, a garden, woodland, a beach, a marquee, somewhere overlooking the Welsh countryside or simply a place that holds special memories for you.

The ceremony itself can be equally individual. There is no standard script into which your names are inserted. Your story can be funny, romantic, poignant and occasionally gloriously irreverent. Children can take part. Friends can contribute. Your dog can carry the rings. You can include music, poetry, readings, handfasting or completely invent your own traditions.

Simple or spectacular. Formal or relaxed. Stylish or quirky.That's the point.

There is also no requirement for everyone involved to share the same beliefs. You don't have to identify as a Humanist to appreciate a ceremony centred on people, relationships, love and the life we are living here and now. Humanist ceremonies can be particularly welcoming for couples and families with different backgrounds and beliefs, as well as LGBTQ+ couples who want their relationship celebrated authentically and without assumptions about what a wedding or family "should" look like.

There is currently one important legal distinction. Humanist marriages are not yet legally recognised in England and Wales, so couples choosing a Humanist wedding usually complete the legal marriage formalities separately and then hold their personal ceremony with their celebrant.

For many couples, that's not a disadvantage at all.

It can mean separating the legal transaction from the emotional celebration: completing the necessary paperwork simply and then devoting their wedding day to the promises, people, stories and experiences that actually matter to them.

Perhaps this is the real reason non-religious ceremonies are becoming so relevant. People haven't stopped wanting ceremony. We still want to stand in front of the people we love and make promises. We still want to welcome children into our families. We still need to come together when somebody dies, tell their story, laugh about them, cry for them and say goodbye.

We haven't lost our need to mark life's milestones. We're simply changing the way we choose to mark them. And for a growing number of people in Wales and beyond, that means a ceremony built not around what tradition says they should do but around who they actually are.

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Why Celebrant-Led Weddings Make Commercial Sense for Hotels in Swansea and South Wales

In an increasingly competitive wedding market, hotels are under pressure not only to attract couples, but to deliver experiences that feel seamless, personal and premium. One area that is often overlooked – yet has a significant impact on guest flow, operational ease and overall satisfaction – is the wedding ceremony itself.

Celebrant-led weddings are rapidly becoming a strategic advantage for forward-thinking hotels, offering flexibility that traditional register office ceremonies simply cannot match.

Unlike registrar-led ceremonies, which are bound by fixed schedules and limited to around 20 minutes, celebrant-led ceremonies are designed entirely around the couple and the venue. Registrars typically work to tight timetables, often conducting multiple weddings per day. This can mean ceremonies scheduled at less-than-ideal times, such as late morning, and strict requirements to clear rooms quickly to accommodate the next booking.

For hotels, this can create pressure points: rushed guest movement, limited reset time for staff, and ceremonies that feel disconnected from the rest of the wedding experience.

Celebrant-led ceremonies remove these constraints. A professional celebrant works with one couple per day, allowing ceremony timings to align perfectly with the hotel’s operational flow, staffing plans and broader event schedule. Whether a venue prefers a 2pm ceremony to optimise check-ins, a later start to allow room turns, or a golden-hour ceremony to maximise bar and terrace use, celebrancy offers genuine flexibility.

This is particularly well aligned with boutique and luxury venues such as those within the Morgans Collection, where individuality, atmosphere and guest experience are central to the brand.

Rachel Morgan, Head of Events at Morgans Collection, comments:

“Couples increasingly want weddings that feel relaxed, personal and unhurried. From a venue perspective, working with a celebrant gives us far more flexibility to design a day that flows beautifully – for the couple, their guests and our team.”

 Another key advantage for hotels is collaboration. Celebrants work closely with venue event managers, chefs, operations teams and AV suppliers to ensure the ceremony enhances, rather than disrupts, the wider wedding day. With over 30 years’ experience in event planning, celebrants who understand venue logistics can proactively support schedules, troubleshoot timings and act as an additional layer of reassurance for couples and staff alike.

 Of course, transparency around legalities is essential. In England and Wales, a legal marriage must still take place via a register office or licensed venue. However, many couples now opt for a simple statutory ceremony using only the required legal wording either before or after their wedding day. This approach ensures compliance without compromising the hotel ceremony, allowing venues to host the meaningful, personalised celebration that couples and guests truly remember.

From a commercial standpoint, celebrant-led weddings can enhance perceived value, support premium pricing and improve guest experience scores. From an operational standpoint, they reduce time pressure and allow hotels to manage wedding days more effectively.

Ultimately, celebrant-led ceremonies enable hotels and couples to operate as one team. When the ceremony dovetails perfectly with the venue’s timeline, brand and service standards, the result is a smoother wedding day, happier clients and a stronger reputation for exceptional events.