So, how much DOES a celebrant charge?
Like many people, my least favourite thing to talk about in life is money. However, being a service provider, I understand that it is completely reasonable that people want to know in advance what they will be outlaying, and exactly what that fee includes. You have a budget, and you need to work out what money is going where, and what the priorities are.
But first, please allow me to debunk a common misconception!
A common comment that celebrants hear is that they charge too much for ’20 minutes of work’.
Put simply, it is so much more than the 20-30 minutes everybody sees at the wedding ceremony!
WHAT WE DO
A typical marriage ceremony will involve the initial contact with the couple via phone/ video call/ email. Or there may be a face-to-face meeting or three. The Notice of Intended Marriage must then be filled out, and various documents need to be supplied to us in order for us to fill it out as per the law. We need to be satisfied that individuals getting married understand the nature of marriage and that neither is being coerced. That they are giving informed consent.
We need to have a thorough working knowledge of the Marriage Act and the Regulations, and be able to give the right advice pertaining to any marriage-related scenario.
Then, it’s our job to find out what we can do for you as far as the ceremony content goes. To create a ceremony for you that reflects those wishes. This differs greatly from couple to couple.
Writing a unique ceremony for each couple is wonderful and challenging, and it takes up much of the time involved as far as the celebrant’s job goes. We provide help with your vows if needed.
We offer couples guidance through the legal process, advice on various aspects of the ceremony where needed, and perhaps a rehearsal. I turn up to the ceremony about half an hour to an hour prior to its commencement and liaise with venue staff, musicians, the wedding/event planner, and photographers to ensure everyone is on the same page and things will run smoothly. I provide a PA system for the ceremony, the vows, and sometimes your choice of music to be played through it. It’s my job to make everything flows naturally so that all you need to do is turn up and enjoy!
And of course, there is an art to delivering an engaging, relevant, personalised ceremony that you and your guests will love!
After the ceremony we have the paperwork to lodge, ensuring it is all filled out correctly.
Conducting the actual ceremony- the ’20- 30 minutes’- is the least time-consuming element!
There are other boring costs involved in being a celebrant- exactly the same as with any sole trader or small business. Annual registration. Annual Professional Development. Insurances. Equipment. Travel. Wardrobe costs to make sure we look professional and appropriate for every type of wedding. Legal paperwork… you get the drift! So, like any business, we need to ensure that our outgoings are incorporated into our fee in order for us to sustain our businesses long-term. These outgoings will differ from celebrant to celebrant.
FINALLY…
Couples will sometimes spend a considerable amount of money on a venue, flowers, outfits, catering, photographer, and outfits. The celebrant’s costs are generally a very small fraction of what everything else costs. And yet, it is the ceremony itself that is the point of the whole day- creating meaning, emotion, and ensuring the party is kicked off with an awesome ceremony- not a boring when-can-we-end-this-and-get-to-the-drinks one! Creating a meaningful and personalised ceremony for each couple; going above and beyond what is expected of us; this is what you are paying for when you engage the services of a Commonwealth Certified Civil Celebrant!
YEAH BUT HOW MUCH?
From celebrant to celebrant, fees can vary from the $400 mark to the thousands of dollars. It just depends on all the above factors. Having an experienced celebrant may also cost more, as you are paying for someone who has nailed the art!
Hot tip:
Have a look at the reviews of some of the celebrants in your local area, and also look at a few websites and social media sites of your local celebrants- and go with one that you really like. One that speaks to you- you look at their Instagram, or website, and think ‘Yep that’s the one I want for my big day’. And if there’s only a marginal difference in price between that celebrant and the cheapest you can find, I’d go with the one you like every single time!
There’s a full, transparent list of my fees on this page, and I will be happy to send you more information of all the inclusions when you get in touch!
I also offer MC services for your reception– a professional service that ensures that your friend/family member you are considering for the job can just relax, imbibe, not worry about keeping to schedule, coordinating other vendors, troubleshooting and trying to figure out engaging ways to introduce your speakers and grab attention when required.
Contact me for any questions/my availability at heidi@byronbaycelebrant.com.au or ph. 0404047313 and I will be happy to help!
