When planning a wedding, choosing a suitable celebrant quickly becomes one of the most important decisions you make, and is a key component to the success of your special day.
A harmonious and respectful relationship between you and your celebrant is essential in shaping a wedding that not only runs smoothly, but also is true and reflective of your unique relationship.
Unfortunately, finding the perfect celebrant can be difficult, so we’re sharing with you the tricks of the trade, our expert tips for finding your match!
Visit the celebrant’s website – Do your homework so you don’t waste your energy on dead ends. You will gain a strong sense of a celebrant’s services and level of professionalism, and learn about that particular celebrant’s approach to marriage.
Are they a celebrant association or network member? – If so, this usually means that the celebrant will be up to date with current knowledge, practice and trends in the celebrant industry. There is also an increased chance that they will have a stand-in option if they are unable to perform your ceremony last minute – it’s better to be safe than sorry!
Reputation – Researching a celebrant’s reputation through customer feedback, reviews, testimonials, and word of mouth will give you more certainty in your choice.
Availability – The first step after finding a promising celebrant candidate is to enquire about their availability. If a celebrant is very popular, it is important to book them long in advance. If they are unavailable, another option before crossing them off the list is to consider a mid-week wedding most celebrants and venues are less busy on a weekday and will generally offer mid-week discounts.
Phone interview – You can tell a lot from a person’s voice – do they have good communication skills? Are they personable? Do they articulate and enunciate? Will they present well?A phone interview with a celebrant saves you the trouble of meeting in person with candidates who fail to tick these initial boxes.
Chemistry – It’s important to feel comfortable with your celebrant. You should feel as if they understand your relationship, and that you can work in a team with them to create the exact ceremony that you’re after. This can be identified through a consultation meeting/interview where you sit down and discuss your wedding face to face.
Location – Choosing a celebrant based far away from your wedding destination can be a gamble. Factors such as traffic and loss of direction are at higher risk on your wedding day when a celebrant is unfamiliar with an area. Make sure you consider the celebrant’s means of transport.
Equipment – A celebrant should provide his or her own equipment. If they do not, you will find yourself with extra costs on presentation gear e.g. microphones and amplifiers. Without these additions, you could find your guests struggling to hear the ceremony.
Fee – Lastly, the cost of a celebrant should match the amount of work at hand, and coincide with your budget allocations. If fees are high, you should ask for a breakdown of costs. On the other hand, low costs could mean a lack of quality e.g. not providing their own equipment, so be careful.
A wedding ceremony is a very personal experience therefore choosing your celebrant should be treated with a great deal of sensitivity and consideration. In saying that, there’s no need for it to become a stressful process, so a plan of action is essential. Following this guide will have you on your way to finding your celebrant soul mate.
