Finding the Right Celebrant for Your Wedding

It’s happened you’re engaged! Congratulations! Now comes the fun/stressful/confusing part… Planning your wedding!

There are so many different suppliers that you will have to negotiate with and subsequently book to ensure your special day is full of happy memories, not memories that resemble scenes from the latest Hollywood horror blockbuster.

The one compulsory supplier you will need is a Celebrant. You now have the choice of having a religious ceremony, or a civil ceremony. When choosing your Celebrant, there are many things to take into account. Firstly and most importantly, check that they are currently registered to authorise weddings. You can check if your celebrant is currently registered by going to the Attorney General’s Department website which lists all registered celebrants in the “Marriage Section”. Once you have got your ‘shortlist’ of celebrants from recommendations, websites, etc it’s now time to start contacting them.

Celebrant FAQ’s

Chances are your initial contact with the celebrant is by phone. It’s recommended that you have a few questions prepared to ask the celebrants to help you get a better idea of what they offer and their personality. Some examples of questions to ask are:

• How long have you been a celebrant?
• What celebrant qualifications do you have?
• How many weddings have you conducted?
• Do you offer rehearsals at the venue?

If you are satisfied with the responses, the next logical question is what are their fees, what is included in their fees, and of course are they available to conduct your ceremony. You will then need to make an appointment to meet the celebrant/s and see if you suit each other and how you get on.  Is she or he your type of person? Do you “click”? You may need to meet with a couple or so before you feel happy. When you do meet, check to see what resources the celebrant supplies, and what information is made available to assist you with your ceremony. It is so important that you feel comfortable with your celebrant, and you can communicate openly and freely. This will help with creating your own individual ceremony that YOU want and that you feel comfortable with. Some
questions to ask to help decide on the celebrant that you will engage during the initial meeting are:

• Do they supply a variety of ceremonies for you to choose from?
• Do they have any special rituals, poems, readings or blessings for you to choose from if you wish to include them in your ceremony?
• Do they have a set number of times to meet with you to plan and prepare the ceremony?
• Do they have a portable PA system?
• How long before the wedding do they arrive?
• Do they book weddings close to each other on the same day?
• Do they offer a rehearsal at the venue and is there an extra charge for the rehearsal?
• Will you be charged travel expenses if you are not within a certain area/region that the celebrant works?

When you’re completely satisfied make your booking quickly. Good celebrants are booked well ahead and you don’t want to miss out on your preferred marriage celebrant.