Your wedding ceremony is the heart of your special day. To get married legally in Australia you need to have a Commonwealth Authorised Marriage Celebrant. With the current saturation of the celebrant market, couples are very much spoiled for choice. Choosing the right celebrant is like looking at a rich smorgasbord but only being able to choose one delicacy. How do you make the right choice?
The “look” your celebrant presents needs to match the style of ceremony you want. Visit wedding groups on Facebook and Instagram and check out the posts from celebrants. Look at photos of celebrants in action, read recent reviews, narrow down a list then meet and greet. The perfect celebrant will give you all the time you need, both before the booking and after the booking.
Have an idea about the ceremony you want and narrow the list of celebrants down to who you believe will best fit your vision.
Arrange a meet and greet, preferably in person, or via Zoom, and have a list of questions ready to ask the potential celebrant. The perfect celebrant should be able to answer all of your questions without hesitation and with confidence.
The list of questions to ask can be extensive, here are a few examples:
What sets you apart from other celebrants?
What is included in the various celebrant packages?
Are there any hidden costs?
How many weddings have you conducted as a celebrant?
What is your travel radius before travel and/or accommodation costs factor in?
What happens if you get sick and can no longer perform our wedding?
How long are your typical ceremonies?
Do you provide your own audio equipment, speakers, microphones, music etc.?
How many meetings do we get and do your services include a rehearsal?
Having met your short-listed celebrant your decision really should follow the below checklist:
Does the celebrant have the look we want for our ceremony?
Did we feel comfortable with this celebrant?
Did we feel this celebrant listened to us and connected with us?
Is the price of the celebrant’s service within our budget?
As we discussed our vision with this celebrant, did we feel a sense of excitement and visualise our ceremony with this person?
Once you have decided on your celebrant, it is nice to acknowledge the other celebrants you met and thank them for their time with you but you have decided to go with someone else. You do not need to give them a reason for your decision. An email is a good way to communicate and avoids the possible awkwardness.
Your celebrant is more than just a speaker—they’re the storyteller who brings your love story to life and the professional who will work with you to craft the beginning of your happily ever after.
Jamie Cartner’s 25+ years of experience as a Celebrant, MC, and DJ will ensure your ceremony is personal, professional, and engaging. Click on the link below to arrange a meet and greet with Jamie and see if he is the perfect celebrant for you.
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