There’s no denying just mentioning the word “wedding” and it feels like you need to take out a second mortgage or increase the limit on your credit card, but as the age old saying goes – you get what you pay for. And what you should get for your money is day of incredible memories so it’s worth the investment.
An increasing number of people now choose to have a civil ceremony for their wedding, using the services of a celebrant, instead of a religious service. A celebrant is authorised by the government to officiate weddings.
In simple terms, the price of a celebrant, reflects their knowledge, experience and how in-demand they are.
The typical marriage celebrant costs range from $600-2000 in Sydney which includes writing a customised wedding ceremony and officiating it.
It may be tempting when you’re getting quotes to pick the cheapest, but it may not always turn out how you expect. Choose a celebrant that you get a good feeling about and which is the right fit for you. As your wedding day represents your relationship journey, pick a celebrant who will set the tone perfectly for the day.
Entry level cost are generally based on what’s known as doing your “legals only” which is just the required lines as per law with no personal touches including vows or how you met and your love story. At these ceremonies, it is often only the bride and groom and two witness which need to be over 18. You can either use a celebrant so you can have it at a venue of your choice or you can have the ceremony at the NSW Births Deaths and Marriages office which will cost you from $469 depending on the day/venue.
Choosing a celebrant
While pricing is important, it should not be the only factor for choosing the marriage celebrant for your wedding. You want a professional that will make your special day go smoothly, give you piece of mind, make you feel at ease and offer you an unforgettable experience.
Your wedding is meant to be the most important day of your lives, so you should choose a celebrant that is the right fit for you both, you feel a connection with, reflects who you are as a couple and take into consideration their reputation, reviews, and experience.
When it comes to understanding the cost of a celebrant, it might help to look at everything they put into making your ceremony run seamlessly. A typical service includes multiple meetings, a customised ceremony script that details your love journey, vow writing tips and inspiration, examples of readings and poems, a rehearsal, the use of a great PA system, submitting paperwork, ensuring the ceremony is legal and binding, help with applying for your official marriage certificate, and guidance if you’d like to change your name. A celebrant will also arrive an hour before the ceremony to set up, make sure everything is going smoothly and calm down any nervous bridal party members. So, in most cases, the celebrant will spend 10 to 20 hours preparing for a ceremony. Now does it make sense why they charge what they do?
Seasonality may have an impact on a celebrant’s fees. So, if you want to cut costs perhaps consider getting married mid-week or in winter or summer as this may affect the cost of your celebrant. And be aware some additional fees maybe applicable if you need your celebrant to travel a long distance.
Remember a great ceremony sets the tone for the whole day and can have the party started before you’ve even said, “I do.” It’s also important to remember that each vendor you employ for your wedding is a small business, and there are many costs associated with running their service, from GST to insurance and superannuation. Wanting best smile for your big day? Visit here and get some tips.
Celebrants are much more than just a 20-minute ceremony on the day. What you pay for is a unique experience in the build-up to your reception. And in return you’ll receive a personalised service skilfully presented and experience that we’ve often spent years crafting.
Inputs and Credits:
Team Our Best Day Ever
Central Coast Party Hire: The Party Hire CO
