What Does a Wedding Celebrant Do?

The majority of couples I hear from are primarily through my email. People access my contact details through this here webpage or via a friend’s recommendation. 

Upon receiving your email (unless you hear otherwise with a bounce-back response), you will hear from me within 24 hours. 

The initial email from your end usually contains info such as;

• where the ceremony is being held and when

• questions include are you available and how much do you charge. 

• Sometimes they’re personalised with a cute little proposal story, sometimes not

If I am available, I say so with a quote attached and offer an obligation free chit chat in real life or on the phone/Facetime/Zoom. From this, we sense if we’d be a good team, I can also answer any questions you might have regarding the process. Following this, the ball is left in your court following and I’ll keep your wedding day as a priority whilst you’re mulling things over. If I get another enquiry for that day, I will touch base with you before engaging with the other couple. 

Suppose we decide that we are a good fit, this is when the fun stuff happens. I send out a questionnaire of which you and your lover fill out, usually independently of one another. Following your responses, we are able to begin crafting your ceremony… we send the draft to and fro until we decide that it feels like you.  

It is usually around this time when I encourage you to sign the NOIM, This is the legal doc that is to be signed in the company of a celebrant/or a JP ONE MONTH before your wedding date. 

From my end, ongoing support happens in many forms, especially in the way of Vows. If requested, I provide you with a simple vow format which can help prompt you. Writing your vows can be quite tricky, especially separate from one another, this doc is helpful in terms of prompts and although you won’t know the content of your partners vows, you will know the format. The vows are by far my favourite part of the ceremony and keeping them as a surprise for one another. (click this link for our tips on how to write your vows blog).

I will always offer a rehearsal the day before, if travelling is involved, I will usually email through a checklist for a virtual rehearsal. I am impartial when it comes to rehearsals, sometimes I think it makes people think too much, when doing what feels natural is all the guidance one needs. 

The actual day of your ceremony, I will arrive in good time, usually 1-2 hours beforehand and touch base with you separately, whilst answering any last questions. I will also have you sign a document called the ‘Declaration of no legal impediment to marriage’. Then I will leave you be. 

Once having officiated your ceremony. All legal paperwork, documentation, administration and lodgement costs are sorted from my end, including the commemorative marriage certificate. 

Technically I have two weeks to send your documents to the respective BDM, normally I do it ASAP. After they’ve processed your documents (allow 2-3 weeks), reach out to them via the world wide web and ask for your official marriage document (fee is around 60-70 bucks). This is the document you then use to change your name etc. if that’s your vibe. (click this link for our change my name blog).

Any more questions about the process, lemme know. 

Sal x

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