How to Choose the Right Celebrant for You
Did you know there are almost 10,000 registered celebrants in Australia?
Ten thousand people who can marry you! We realise that number can feel pretty overwhelming when you’re looking for just one, so how do you go about finding the right celebrant for your wedding day?
1. Understand that not all celebrants are the same
Celebrants come from all walks of life, and with that comes a variety of personalities, style, approach and experience. Like dating, not every celebrant is going to be right for you
Think about how you would like your ceremony to sound and feel – are you a romantic who wants someone who is dynamite at telling detailed love stories which make you go ‘aww’? Are you a self-confessed geek who would like a celebrant who gets all your references, and can interweave these into the ceremony? Are you into theatre, and want someone who puts on a great performance?
Trust us, there’s celebrants which fit all categories: you just need to find them.
2. Work out your budget
Like many other industries, those within the wedding industry charge a variety of prices. From venues, photographers, florists, dress-makers. jewellers, everyone charges what they understand they are worth.
To give a ball-park figure, a celebrant can cost anywhere from $500 to $5000 – a huge difference. But a $500 celebrant is more likely to do a short, legals only style wedding, and may be newer to the industry. A $5000 celebrant may be providing lots of bells and whistles, is experienced and in demand.
If you’re after a ‘legals only’ type ceremony, you may be thinking of not placing too much importance on bonding with your celebrant. However, our members have done legals only which have been in the privacy of the couples’ home, and you may want to make sure you have someone you feel really comfortable within this space. Equally, the most expensive celebrant out there might be in your budget, may not be the right vibe for you.
Prices also vary according to location.
3. Ask your suppliers
If you’ve booked your venue and/or your photographer, ask them who they’ve worked with who they like. These two vendors, in particular, are the ones who know who’s who in the celebrant zoo, and can direct you towards celebrants who may fit your personality.
Equally, us celebrants find we often work with the same vendors, because couples who are attracted to a particular aesthetic, tend to book similar suppliers.
Most areas of Australia, whether in a city or a remote or rural area, have a pretty tight knit wedding supplier community, so ask around.
4. Go stalk on Social Media
Not all celebrants are on social media, and we understand that not all couples like to use it, but it can be a great resource for finding out more about a celebrant. You can find a lot from someone’s website, but sometimes their social media account will give you a further insight into them, and you can see what they wear, what they sound like (if they do stories or reels), where they work, how many weddings they do, etc.
5. Check out their reviews
Whether their chosen platform to receive reviews is Google or a wedding specific site, have a good read of their reviews – not just how many they’ve got, but what people are saying. If you’re after a funny celebrant, have other couples mentioned this? If you want someone who can calm your nerves, have other couples spoken about this in their reviews?
6. Look on our directory!
We know our members are awesome (seriously – they’re a fabulous bunch) so have a good old look through our 500+ members We’re sure there’s someone for you. You can find the directory here
