Frequently Asked Questions

No. Members of the Irish Ethical Celebrants Society do not have solemnising status. If using an IECS member your legal marriage must be performed separately by a HSE Registrar (or equivalent for other than Irish legal marriages). The advantage of having a ceremony performed by an IECS member is that you can then celebrate your marriage in your very own customised ceremony at a time and place of your choice.

Yes, because the legals are done separately there is no restriction on the location of the ceremony.

Our ethos as Ethical Celebrants is one of inclusiveness and diversity, therefore the ceremony can be tailored to embrace both sets of beliefs.  Your celebrant will advise on the best way to do this.

Ethical Celebrants work 7 days a week.

Please take a look through our directory of celebrants. You must contact the celebrant of your choice directly to check their availability or to ask any questions.

Ethical Celebrants work with many couples who are travelling to Ireland for their elopement or destination wedding. Your celebrant may be able to advise on venues and other vendors to use. Once you have contacted your chosen celebrant they will advise on the next steps. The process is different if you are completing the legals in another country, or want to complete the legal component in Ireland.

This will depend on the amount of content you choose to include. The more readings, music, and other elements you include can increase the duration, but it typically lasts about 20 – 30 minutes.

Yes, this is quite common. Some couples choose to have a reading, others may light a candle,  and your celebrant will be able to advise on different ways to acknowledge those who have passed.

Ethical ceremonies are about celebrating life, whether it is a marriage, a new family member or an end of life celebration. The ceremonies are designed to be inclusive and to respect the beliefs and wishes of the individuals involved. Ethical celebrants are trained to a very high standard to create and deliver personalised ceremonies full of warmth and love.