It’s essential you choose the right celebrant for your special day as they are one of the most important, if not the most important, part of your wedding. If you make the right choice, your wedding ceremony will be stress-free and memorable.

As soon as you decide on a date, start making enquiries as good celebrants are usually booked well in advance.

When choosing your celebrant, here are some things you should find out:

Fees: Find out what their total fee is and make sure it includes any travelling and a rehearsal. (You don’t want to be hit by any hidden fees.) If their fee seems excessive, ask them why.

Experience: How long have they been a celebrant and how many weddings have they done? You will need an experienced celebrant who knows what they’re doing and, more importantly, can handle any unforeseen situations which may arise.

PA System: Do they have a decent PA system? Unless you’re having a very small wedding, a PA system is a must to ensure all guests can hear the ceremony. Make sure it’s a good one, too, as there are many inexperienced celebrants who only have a small system which may not be suitable if, for example, it’s a windy day.

Music: Music plays an important role in any wedding. There should be music playing as the guests arrive and, of course, during the ceremony e.g. as the bride walks down the aisle, signing the certificates and the introduction of husband and wife afterwards. Will they be able to play the music for you through their PA?

Rehearsal: Do they make themselves available for a rehearsal, if required (without any extra fee).

Professional Association: Are they a member of a celebrant association? Although this is not a legal requirement an experienced celebrant will understand the importance of being a member.

Backup plan: What happens if they’re sick on the day of your wedding? Do they have a contingency plan in place?

Extras: Check if their fee includes any extras, such as books or printouts containing ceremony vows and readings, etc. Will they provide help and advice on obtaining council permission or applications required to change your name, etc?

Timing: How long before the ceremony will they arrive? How much time between weddings do they allow if they have more than one on the same day? Make sure you choose a celebrant who does not have back-to-back weddings. A good celebrant will allow plenty of time in between just in case, for any reason, your wedding is delayed and running late.

Testimonials: Look on their website to see if they have any testimonials from couples whom they have married.

The next step is to make an appointment to meet with them or call them for a chat.

With the right person looking after your ceremony, you can be assured of a wonderful day!