Your wedding will be one of the most special days of your life, and you want it to be perfect. One way to ensure that your wedding day is as special as possible is by hiring the right celebrant. The right celebrant can make all the difference in creating a great atmosphere and ensuring that your wedding ceremony runs smoothly on your big day.
I have seen quite a few Sydney weddings in the past 9 years, and I can honestly say I’ve seen over 250 wedding celebrants at work, some more than others so I can safely say I know what makes a good celebrant over a mediocre one.
Wedding ceremonies tend to have a bad wrap for being the most boring part of the wedding day but it really does not have to be that way and I truly believe there is a celebrant for everyone out there.
Find the right celebrant and I truly believe your wedding ceremony will be the best part of the day!
So, here are my six tips for choosing a wedding celebrant for your wedding day.
Tip 1: Consider What You Want in a Celebrant
Your wedding will be unique, so you should consider exactly what you want from a celebrant before you begin your search.
Firstly, are you having your wedding in a church? If the answer is yes, then you won’t need a wedding celebrant. But if you’re not, then yes you will need a celebrant to make your wedding 1) Legal and 2) a whole lot more fun than purely signing the paperwork!
Think about how personal you want your wedding ceremony to be. Do you want your guests to share in your love story, and let your celebrant tell it to the world? Or would you prefer something more straightforward to to the point so you can get on with the party.
Consider also if there are any special elements that you’d like included in the ceremony such as music, readings, or rituals.
Would you like your ceremony to be personal, lighthearted, funny? Or just really simple and non personal?
Would you like to write your own personal vows, or have the celebrant help you?
Theses are some of the important things to consider when thinking about what do you want your wedding ceremony to be.
Tip 2: Research Different Celebrants and Read their Reviews
Once you have an idea of what type of celebrant you’re looking for, it’s time to start researching different options. Ask around among friends and family members who have been married recently – they may have good recommendations or even contacts in the industry who could help point you in the right direction. If not, don’t worry!
You can always search online and read reviews of local celebrants, or look up profiles on platforms like Facebook and Instagram. Or even ask your favourite Sydney Wedding Photographer if they have any recommendations. Im sure he will know a few good ones!
Tip 3: Interview Different Celebrants
Before making a decision, shortlist several celebrants for an informal chat so that you can get to know them better and determine whether they will be able to provide what you need for your big day. During this meeting, ask questions about their experience, what their approach is to the ceremony, find out if they are comfortable adapting their style if needed; enquire about their fees; and make sure that their personality is compatible with yours.
One important question to ask (and something you have not thought about) is, do they have a portable PA system that is able to be used outdoors and allows your guests to hear everything that is said?
As a Sydney Wedding Photographer, I’ve seen firsthand the difference quality sound systems make at weddings. Without them, whoever is talking can’t be heard and your special day is made less meaningful. Make sure that your celebrant has an audio system up to par – it’s important for you and all of your guests!
Tip 4: Trust your Gut
Meeting with the celebrant is a major decision, but did you get that intuitive “yes”? Were they punctual and easy to communicate with? Did their presence give off an aura of trustworthiness or uneasiness? Do you like their sense of humour and their personality?
Ultimately, if your instincts are pointing in one direction – listen! And don’t forget: when it comes down to making decisions like these, there’s no better guide than yourself.
Tip 5: Get Everything in Writing
Once you’ve both agreed on your wedding celebrant make sure that all details regarding fees, date availability, services offered etc., are clearly outlined in writing before signing any contracts – this will help prevent any misunderstandings down the line! Additionally, don’t forget to inquire about any additional costs such as travel expenses which may not be included in their quote upfront.
Tip 6: Have Fun!
Remember that your wedding should be fun! Don’t let yourself get too stressed out over finding the perfect celebrant – enjoy the process of searching for one who fits best with your vision and try to build a relationship with them so that they understand what makes your wedding unique. After all – it’s meant to be one of life’s happiest days!
A good celebrant who understands what makes your wedding unique is key when it comes to creating a beautiful atmosphere on your big day! By following these six tips – considering what type of service you need; researching different options; interviewing different candidates; getting everything in writing; and having fun—you will be able to find the perfect person for the job!
BONUS: Insider tip – David Lang Wedding Celebrant
Instead of a wedding photographer telling you how it should be, I thought I ask one of my favourite Sydney wedding celebrants David Lang to give you a bit of insight on how to choose a wedding celebrant.
David says, “the most important things are connection and trust. Their Celebrant is the person who they trust to be up there on their big day to tell their story, guide them through all the nerves and emotion and also be the one to sort out all the legalities.
Every Celebrant is different and brings a different energy to each ceremony”
David also mentions “I bring fun, years of experience and the best compliment I can get is that wedding guests assume that I grew up with the couples or went to school with them, because I get along with them so well. My whole goal is that I’m like one of your friends marrying you, So when I tell people they found me on the internet it takes a second to sink in! haha”
Here are the Sydney Wedding Celebrants featured in this blog post
If you’re still needing more help finding some awesome vendors for your wedding day, I wrote up a great blog post on my favourite 19 wedding vendors in Sydney that I love working with. I have worked with each and every one of them and highly recommend you check them out!
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