To get married in Ireland legally, you must choose a Celebrant who is a Registered Solemniser with the Irish government. There are 3 basic types of marriage solemnisers in Ireland:

  • Church Solemnisers
  • Non-Church Solemnisers
  • Government Solemnisers

This might seem very simple and straightforward, with just 3 types of marriage solemnisers. But that’s where it begins to become very confusing.

We can figure out the following very easily:

  • Government Solemnisers are the HSE Civil Registrars.
  • Church Solemnisers are those ordained as part of a recoginsed Church ie. Priests, Pastors etc.
  • Non-Church Solemnisers are everyone else.

Now that might again seem very simple again, but it’s the Non-Church Solemnisers where the confusion begins! I’ll continue this tomorrow.