Celebrant question

jodyk

Hi All

Getting married in Waterford Castle next year and we really want the ceremony to have a church feel rather than a civil ceremony feel.

My finace's Dad got married two years ago and the man who did their ceremony was a bishop who had resigned and then become a justice of the peace. In their hotel, he performed a "mass" that felt exactly like a real mass, and he did the legal bit in with the vows and we would love something like that.

That man lives in Omagh so we think it will be too far for him to come to Waterford to marry us, so I wondered if any of you knew anyone similar to him around the Waterford area ?

Many thanks for your help

tatli_lokma

Don't think a Justice of the Peace is legally allowed to marry you in the republic. Where did your fiance's dad get married? was it south of the border?

Perhaps consider a spiritualist solemniser? But you would want to get looking into it very quickly as they get booked up far in advance.

jodyk

Thanks tatli lokma - yes he did get married in the Republic, it was in Monaghan. Maybe I'm using the wrong terminology by saying "justice of the peace" - what I mean is, they didn't have to go off to a registry office on another day or anything like that, it was all legal and fulfilled the requirements of a civil ceremony but it had a more "churchy" feel to it with him saying prayers and talking about God's blessings etc. Is that what a spiritualist solemniser does ?

pooch90

That was Fr Pat Buckley, he is allowed because he is still technically part of the church.
You would need a humanist or spiritualist or unitarian church member OP.

tatli_lokma

spiritualist would probably be most appropriate if you wanted a 'churchy' type atmosphere. The humanists are not religious and AFAIK the unitarians don't do offsite weddings. The spiritualists are a religious solemniser - some are more traditionally religious than others and could offer a ceremony not unlike a church ceremony. Best thing to do is ring around a few, see who is available on the date and then chat to them about what type of ceremony you want.

jodyk

Brilliant, thanks to both of you for the help. Will get onto a few and find out more.