Celebrant

A celebrant is an individual who officiates at ceremonies, leading rites and often delivering spoken elements, readings, and vows. The term is used across religious, secular, and civil contexts, and can apply to weddings, funerals, name-giving, vow renewals, and other rites of passage.

In religious settings, a celebrant is typically an ordained clergy member or a lay leader recognized by a faith community to preside over services. In Catholic contexts, the celebrant is the presiding priest at the liturgy. In other traditions, rabbis, imams, monks, or gurus may fulfill the role. In secular contexts, civil or secular celebrants are licensed or authorized by government to conduct legally binding ceremonies, including weddings, often focusing on non-religious or humanist themes. Some jurisdictions also recognize humanist or non-religious celebrants who provide personalized ceremonies.

Responsibilities of a celebrant include planning the ceremony with the participants, selecting or writing texts and vows, performing rituals, ensuring legal compliance (such as signing marriage licenses), coordinating logistics, and providing pastoral or ceremonial guidance. Training and qualifications vary widely by jurisdiction, from formal ordination or ministerial credentials to official certification for civil celebrants.

Selection and cultural role: Couples or families choose a celebrant based on beliefs, style, language, and the desired tone of the ceremony. The choice may affect the ceremony structure, inclusivity of rituals, and the handling of legal aspects, making the role central to how a rite is framed and received.