When couples start planning their wedding ceremony, they often focus on the obvious things.
The venue, the flowers, the outfits etc.
But there are some things you might not realise you’re getting when you choose a marriage celebrant.
And the best bit? These aren’t optional extras that get added to your quote later. They’re all included in my celebrant fee.
Here are five of my favourites.
1. As many meetings and planning sessions as you need
Your ceremony isn’t something you should have to squeeze into one conversation.
I want to get to know you properly, understand your relationship and work out what you want your ceremony to feel like.
So, if we need to meet more than once, we meet more than once.
If you suddenly have an idea six weeks before the wedding, we talk about it.
If you change your mind about something, we work through it.
If you need to talk through the order of the ceremony, your entrance, your readings, your vows or whether your dog should have a starring role, I’m here.
There’s no clock ticking and no feeling that you’re using up your allocated ceremony time.
The planning and meetings you need are included in my price.
2. Practice sessions for the things you’re not quite sure about
Some ceremony moments sound absolutely lovely when you talk about them until you actually have to do them.
Handfasting is a perfect example.
Where do you stand? Who holds what? When do you move? What happens to the cords afterwards?
And then there’s the wedding rehearsal itself. Who walks when? Where does everyone stand? When does the music start?
You shouldn’t have to figure all of that out yourselves.
I can talk you through it, demonstrate it and, where needed, practise it with you.
The aim is that when your wedding day arrives, you aren’t standing there thinking, “Erm… what are we supposed to do now?”
Any practice sessions or rehearsals we need are included too.
3. Help writing your vows
This one is particularly important to me because your vows should sound like you, not like something copied from Pinterest.
I’ll help you find the words.
That might mean talking through what you love about each other, remembering the moments that brought you here, working out what promises actually matter to you and helping you turn all of that into vows that feel natural and genuine.
And if you’re staring at a blank page thinking, “I literally have no idea what to write,” don’t panic.
You don’t have to do it alone.
Vow support is included in my price, as is a dedicated vow writing session if you’d like one.
4. I always adhere to the dress code
This one might sound like a tiny detail but it really isn’t!
If you’ve spent months creating the look and feel of your wedding, I don’t want to turn up looking like I’ve wandered in from a completely different event.
If your wedding is smart, I’ll dress smart, if it’s relaxed, I’ll dress appropriately for the setting. You get the drift!
Because although I’m there to lead your ceremony, I’m also going to be in a lot of your photographs and I want to look like I belong there.
It’s your wedding. You shouldn’t have to wonder what your celebrant is going to turn up wearing.
And yes, this is included in my fee too.
5. Oodles of joy!
Okay, this isn’t technically something I can put on a price list.
But it’s absolutely part of what I bring to your wedding.
I love weddings.
I love the ridiculous stories, the emotional moments, the nervous excitement, the laughter, the happy tears and the little details that make every couple completely different.
I’m not just there to stand at the front, read some words and disappear.
I’m invested in your ceremony.
I want to celebrate you properly.
I’ll probably get a little bit emotional. I’ll definitely smile. I might laugh at the bits that are supposed to make everyone laugh.
And I’ll be genuinely thrilled when I get to pronounce you married.
That’s one of the lovely things about choosing a marriage celebrant. You’re not simply booking someone to conduct a ceremony. You’re choosing someone who gets to know you, works alongside you and helps bring your ceremony to life.
And all of these little extras?
They’re included.
No surprise charges. No picking and choosing what support you need. No worrying that asking for another meeting or a bit more help will cost you extra.
Just me, getting to know you, helping you create a ceremony that’s completely yours and being there from the first conversation right through to the moment you walk back down the aisle together.
Because your ceremony isn’t just the bit that happens on the day.
It’s the whole experience of getting there.
And that’s exactly why I love being your celebrant.
Click here to discuss your perfect wedding.