As a Marriage Celebrant, I totally understand that couples have a budget to work with. But my advise is don’t just choose a Celebrant because they are the cheapest! Your Celebrant plays a major role for both the wedding ceremony and the lead up to your special day.
With this in mind, I believe that there are some questions that couples should ask:
1. Is there a good chemistry between you and the Celebrant….in other words, do you all get on well with each other and therefore feel confident that the person you have chosen will “deliver”?
2. Are you confident that your Celebrant will fulfill all of their legal obligations?
3. Will the Celebrant be easy to contact and available when you have a question or require another meeting?
4. Is the Celebrant currently registered with the Attorney General’s Department? Don’t be afraid to ask for proof!
5. Is the Celebrant listening carefully to what your requirements are so they will tailor a ceremony to suit your requests?
6. Does the Celebrant have good reviews from other couples?
7. Is the appearance and presentation of the Celebrant consistent to their photo on their webpage or Facebook page?
….and the list can go on!
I always like to have an initial meeting with couples so that these types of questions can be answered because often, the difference in price between Celebrants can be as little as $50 to $100. That being the case, I encourage couples to look beyond getting the “best deal” for a Celebrant and consider what the consequences could be….happy or disappointed!