Tips on choosing the perfect Marriage Celebrant

The importance of a Marriage Celebrant and why you need to find the perfect one?

Choosing the perfect marriage celebrant is essential. You have to like them and have to feel comfortable, and they have to be within your budget. But there is so much more you need to know about a marriage celebrant and how you can find the right one for your wedding. It is not just you and your partner that has to feel relaxed with the celebrant, they also need to be able to make your guests feel comfortable and relaxed.

Why is a wedding celebrant so important?

Let’s face it. If you do not have a marriage celebrant or someone licensed to perform a wedding ceremony, you are unable to get married legally. Your wedding celebrant will help you plan your ceremony, and they will help you with vows if you do not want to write your own, and they will guide you through the entire process of your ceremony.

Research local wedding celebrants.

When you start looking for celebrants, it is a good idea to start researching. You can use Venuefinder.nz and social media but start with local first before to widen your search, to get an idea of who is closest to you or your venue, especially if you have a tight budget. Look at their websites and look at their previous weddings, and what types of ceremonies they do. This is good if you are after a particular type of wedding ceremony.

Email a few that you like, to see who is available on the date you have set for your wedding. Then compile a list of those you love.

Some important questions you need to ask your celebrant!

When you first email or chat to a potential wedding celebrant, you must ask the right questions to get the information that you need to see if they are the right one for you.

How much does it cost?

Celebrants vary in price, depending on their experience and travel. It is also good to get a breakdown of the costs if you feel you need to. But I can tell you the price will not just involve their service and the travel, but there is also the registration fee as well for you to get married.

What is their Cancellation Policy?

It is always good to know, as something unforeseen may happen, and you may need to cancel or postpone the wedding.

What is provided on the day of the wedding ceremony?

It is good to find out what they will have on the day. Marriage Celebrants will often provide their own amp and mic, and some might provide the signing table and other props.

What happens if they get sick or are unable to perform the service?

You have asked about the cancellation policy for you, but what if something happens and your celebrant is unable to perform the ceremony for you? You need to make sure that there is something in place for if that happens.

When do I need to book a wedding celebrant?

It is good to book them as soon as you possibly can, usually within the first 12 to 6 months of your wedding planning, but no later than one month before the wedding date.

Meeting with your celebrant before hiring them is essential.

Celebrants will usually want to hold a face to face consultation with you both before you hire them. This is so the celebrant can get to know you both as individuals and as a couple. They like to find out what you envision for your ceremony, so they know how best to help you plan the perfect wedding ceremony.