How Long Should a Wedding Ceremony Be?

This is one of those questions that there’s not really an answer to, but everyone asks it anyway. So here are my thoughts.

A celebrant-led wedding ceremony typically runs somewhere between 20 and 40 minutes. The sweet spot for most couples is around 25–30 minutes. That's long enough to feel meaningful, personal, and unhurried, but short enough that nobody is getting twitchy waiting to get to the canapes.

What affects the length? Readings are one of the biggest variable as each one can add anywhere from 3–10 minutes. Unity rituals like handfasting add about 5 minutes. If you both want to say personal vows, that adds about another 5 minutes. Bingo, singalongs, mystery ring bearers. The more elements you choose, the longer the ceremony.

So is shorter better? Not necessarily. A 20-minute ceremony can feel rushed and anticlimactic. A 45 minute ceremony, if it’s telling your story, engaging your guests, and keeping them entertained can pass in the blink of an eye.

I always aim for my ceremonies to be 25–30 minutes. That absolutely can and will include the elements that genuinely matter to you, but let’s cut anything you're including just because you feel like you should. Why pad it out when we’ve already got so much good stuff to work with?!

One of the huge advantages of a celebrant ceremony over a registry office ceremony is that you get to decide the length. There's no fixed script, no legal minimum. We can go as long or as short as you want, and I'll help you figure out the right balance for you during the planning process.

Want to know more about how I structure a ceremony? Hit the button to get in touch.