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    04

    Aug 2020

    Last Updated: 03/08/2020
    Harrogate
    Harrogate

    Rise in civil ceremonies inspires new career for Harrogate teacher

    by Newsroom

    | 04 Aug, 2020
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    Statistics from the ONS show that since 1992 three quarters of marriages have been civil ceremonies. A former teacher has become an independent civil celebrant due to the trend towards non-religious weddings.

    melanie-gail

    A former teacher has set up a new business in Harrogate offering civil ceremonies as a result of a growth in non-religious weddings, funerals and naming ceremonies.

    Weddings overall have been in decline over recent years, and religious ceremonies now account for less than a quarter of all weddings that take place in the UK.

    Data published this year by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that in 2017, North Yorkshire had a total of 4,606 marriages of opposite-sex couples, 3,443 of which were civil ceremonies with only 1,163 religious ceremonies.

    A chart showing marriage statistics since 1967 in England and Wales

    Former international teacher Melanie Gail has recently launched her new business in Harrogate. She told the Stray Ferret that the trend towards civil ceremonies sparked her interest in becoming an independent civil celebrant.

    She said:

    "The reason I am attracted to it is because I think it's great that it offers people the freedom of choice. They can choose to have it on their front garden, or on a mountain top, or in a forest.
    "People can get married whenever they want, provided they do the legal part in a registry office. They can have a ceremony which really reflects who they are."





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    As of August 1, larger wedding receptions can return but guest numbers will be limited to 30. Melanie argued that this may also make civil ceremonies more popular.

    She said:

    "Everything is becoming a lot smaller because of the legislations and potentially also a lot more intimate. With the new limits on numbers of guests at weddings, people are rethinking the venues they choose."