Artistique Photography by Nicolette - Selecting your Marriage Celebrant

 

Artistique Photography by Nicolette

 

Selecting Your Marriage Celebrant

 

 

You will need to select your Marriage Celebrant soon after you have set your wedding date and chosen your Wedding Photographer.  I often recommend Marriage Celebrants to couples, as I get to work with a lot of them, so ask your photographer if they are able to recommend some to you, that is of course if you have already chosen your Wedding Photographer, but that should be first on your list after setting your wedding day!

It is important that you select a Marriage Celebrant whom you can relate to, feel comfortable with, and that they are willing to take the time to get to know you, will listen to your wishes and encourage you to have as much input as you wish, but like when selecting your Wedding Photographer, you should really like them!

 

You should ask to view photos, footage and testimonials.  You need to know how organised they are, do they have creative flair, are they flexible and open to any suggestions that you make?

 

I have listed some more important things that you will need to know:

 

1.     You need to know if you will get a proof of your wedding ceremony before your wedding day.  It is really important so you know what to expect on your wedding day.   This is a the order of events, so there are no surprises and also gives you the opportunity to confirm or change any announcements the Marriage Celebrant needs to make before, during or at the conclusion of the ceremony.

 

2.     Will the Marriage Celebrant be writing the vows for you or will you be able to have some input?  If you are writing your own vows, but unsure how to start, will the Marriage Celebrant be able to start you off?  They should be able to provide you with a comprehensive list of poetry, prose, choreography, symbols and music.  They should be able to offer you the different types of ceremonies e.g. sand, butterfly release, candle, ribbon, rose etc.

 

3.     If you plan to take your husband’s name, will the Marriage Celebrant submit your Marriage Certificate application for you?  Some Marriage Celebrants will do this for you, but you do need to check with them.

 

4.     Check what kind of insurances the Marriage Celebrant has.  Do they hold a current certificate for Public Liability and Professional Indemnity?  Do they hold a current Copyright License? 

 

5.     Do they use a PA system?  If so, is it cordless?  Can the PA system be used for music and if so, what format do you need to provide the music in e.g. CD, MP3 or Ipod?  Does their PA system meet the 2015 bandwidth changes?

 

6.     What type of outfit will the Marriage Celebrant be wearing on your Wedding Day? 

 

7.     If the Marriage Celebrant is suddenly unable to perform your wedding ceremony for you, what back up do they have in place, do they have another Marriage Celebrant who perform your ceremony?

 

8.     You need to know about fees and what that includes. 

 

9.     How many meetings will you have with the Marriage Celebrant before your wedding day?

 

10.  How long before the Ceremony will the Marriage Celebrant arrive before your wedding day?  Usually this is around 20 – 30 minutes beforehand, allowing time to set up, liaise with the Photographer and chat to the groom.

 

I hope these tips have helped you in your search for the best Marriage Celebrant for you on your special day.  Remember, if you haven’t chosen your Marriage Celebrant before your Wedding Photographer, ask them for recommendations, I certainly recommend!