What do celebrants cost?
Recently, one of my celebrant buddies was contacted by a couple enquiring about his services and pricing. I have no idea what they were quoted, but he was clearly too expensive because their reply was as follows:
You sound great, but we are only looking for a quick wedding. We want a celebrant to do the wedding and that’s all. We have everything covered. We have budgeted $400 - $500 just for a 30 - 45 minute ceremony.
Mikaela and Luke at Mali Brae Farm. Photo: Emma Wright Photography
Honestly, there is nothing ‘quick’ about delivering a marriage ceremony. This is what the time surrounding a wedding looks like for me.
I take time to dress appropriately for your ceremony – hair, makeup, clothing
Load all of my equipment (including charged-overnight electronic equipment) into my car
I drive to your chosen ceremony location, making sure I arrive at the venue one hour before the ceremony begins. This gives me time to do the following:
Check the venue for safety if location is in a public place
Set up my two PA systems
Check-in with other vendors such as your photographer
Start playing pre-ceremony music
Depending on where the two people are who are about to get married, work with them, reassuring them, etc.
Make sure guests are seated as required
Together with members of the wedding party, greet guests
Make sure whoever is supposed to have the rings has the rings, and I have spares just in case
If one person is arriving by car, I go down to greet and reassure that person when he or she arrives
I start playing your chosen processional music
I tell each attendant and the bride or groom when to start walking OR I’m standing with one party up the front, making sure whatever we have decided happens. ie. making sure the photographer and you can both ‘capture’ that first look
I professionally deliver an awesome marriage ceremony that has been written especially for and with you
My cordless microphones ensure your guests can hear everything that is said (what I say, what the two of you say, your vows, any readings guests might deliver)
I ensure all your documents (which I have typed up correctly in the days and weeks before the ceremony) are legally signed
I play music to entertain your guests while the legal documents are signed
I communicate any post-ceremony instructions to your guests (Is there going to be a big group photo? What is happening between now and the reception? Do I need to hint to guests that they’ll need to buy their own drinks before the reception?
I present you, the newly-weds, to your guests referring to you both according to your preferences.
I play your chosen recessional music
I often work with the photographer to make sure that big group photo can happen
I play post ceremony music while guests are still mingling and while photos are being taken
After the wedding, I load everything back into my car, come home, log into NSW BDM, scan and upload each document, enter the required information on the BDM site, request your Standard Marriage Certificate if required, and email you the details of the registration. I also ask you to let me know if you don’t receive the certificate via registered post, and I chase this up for you if necessary.
And this is just on the day. Before your wedding day, we have had lots of communication. We’ve met, we’ve completed and lodged your Notice of Intended Marriage, I’ve written your love story, I’ve helped you write your vows, and together, we’ve put together an amazing, personal ceremony which is the result of lots of work and lots of lovely clear communication.
And I won’t detail here the rigorous and ongoing processes required to become and maintain my marriage celebrant qualification.
As you can see, there is absolutely nothing 30 – 40 ‘minut-ish’ about this; I provide a premium and valuable service. I’ll also point out this little bit of irony: considering the celebrant is the only service essential to legally being married, I am probably the lest expensive item in that budget. And I must say, I’m really good value for money!
Contact me if you’d like to be Wed by Bec.