How Does This All Work? The Celebrant Process Explained
Woo-hoo, you’re engaged to marry your best friend!
Where to from here?
Planning a wedding can be overwhelming, but your celebrant should guide you through the legal side of things and take care of the nitty-gritty of the ceremony for you. Be sure to find the right celebrant!
Now, I can’t speak for all of the other marriage celebrants out there, but I’ve outlined my process below so you know exactly what happens from booking to the big day.
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After our initial chat to make sure I’m the right fit for you, your booking is confirmed - I’m going to be your celebrant - woohoo! This means that your wedding date is locked in my calendar and just FYI, I don’t do more than one wedding in a day, so you know that you have my 100% undivided attention.
At this stage, I also give you access to a secret section of my website with loads of helpful content - possible ceremony formats, ceremony inspiration and ideas, vow help and examples, readings, music… It is completely up to you if you use any of the content or ideas, but it’s there if you need it.
We’ll also set a date for a meeting with the three of us.
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We discuss any ideas you have for your ceremony and I ask questions to gauge how you want the ceremony to look, feel and run
We fill in the first of the legal paperwork, the ‘Notice of Intended Marriage’, if we haven’t done so already
I then take all the information you’ve given me and design a ceremony that fits with your vision!
The booking fee of $100 is paid
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You review the ceremony design, make any comments and advise of any changes you’d like and I rewrite it as necessary. This process can go back and forth a few times until it’s just right! In the lead-up to the wedding day, you might change your mind about elements of the ceremony and I’ll amend to suit and make suggestions.
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Two weeks prior to the wedding, we confirm the final draft of the ceremony and the remaining celebrant fee is paid.
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If you’ve opted for a rehearsal, we run through the ceremony so you are completely at ease with how it will all go on the day.
We also sign an important Statutory Declaration.
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On the wedding day, I arrive at least 30 minutes prior to the scheduled ceremony start time. I touch base with vendors and participants and make sure everyone is ready to go.
We sign the three necessary forms at the conclusion of the ceremony and then I leave you to enjoy yourselves!
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After the ceremony, I lodge all your paperwork with the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages.
I hope this helps you to understand the process, from booking your celebrant to your wedding day.
Keep in mind that I am always here for all the questions, big or small and after the ceremony too.