Blog

06 October 2018

What do I charge for a Wedding?

So what do I charge as a celebrant fee for a wedding?

Generally, when I receive an enquiry, this is usually the first question I get asked. In reality, its not an easy question for me to answer. Not to be protective of my pricing, but all weddings appear to be the same but can have different needs. Things that run through my mind is:

How many guests will you have?
Where is the wedding?
Do I need to bring along my portable PA system?
How far is the wedding located?
Do you want anything special that will impact on the price?
Did you want a wedding rehearsal?

Generally, with one phone call with the bride or groom, I am able to provide you with a verbal quote and follow this up with emailed quote detailing all the inclusions and exclusions shortly after our discussion.

In this way, I am tailoring my celebrant fee to your ceremony needs. More than likely I am not doing myself a favour financially by not advertising a set price regardless of the size and complexity or travel, however, as a Celebrant is one of the most important components to a wedding , I always want to provide value for money to a couple.

So I hope this explains a little more about I go about quoting fees and hope more couples will enquire with Celebrade.

Here are some of the reviews from my couples

25 September 2018

Ever thought of eloping in Brisbane?

If you have thought of eloping in Brisbane, have you ever thought of a lunchtime wedding?

I like to think the definition to elope is to run away secretly in order to get married. So can you really elope in Brisbane and is it a really hard thing to do? With some planning it’s not difficult at all and especially if you have Celebrade involved. It is my goal to make the process of preparing and conducting your wedding as smooth as possible. Not everyone wants to have a lavish wedding and guest list of more than 150, so a quick and simple wedding at a convenient location is a great way to go.

In the movies, you see a couple making a rushed decision and getting married. Unfortunately, you cannot do that easily in Australia. The Marriage Act does not allow couples to elope or marry without giving the Celebrant at least one months’ notice (unless a shortening of time is approved by the Registrar of the Queensland Births, Deaths and marriages). But for a lunchtime wedding for example, we would meet as soon as possible and complete the notice of intention to marry form signed and certified by a Celebrant.

As soon as the time has lapsed and you are ready for the ceremony, we would meet at the place of your choice and as long as you had two witnesses, your ceremony would be completed within 20 minutes. It’s that easy. Many of my couples have small ceremonies and then go off to their favourite restaurant to celebrate.

Contact me to find out how I can help you to make this special event a reality.

16 September 2018

Coffee Shop Weddings

I had a recent enquiry from a potential bride seeking a quote from Celebrade wanting to know how could they invite the witnesses and a small group of family and complete the paperwork to get married at a coffee shop. So I thought, I would write a little bit about the process of marrying at a coffee shop. The reality is that regardless of the size of the wedding, there are minimum requirements that must be said at a wedding. These include the monitum and the wedding vows. The monitum is Latin for "warning". A Civil Marriage Celebrant is required to recite a monitum from the Marriage Act and it informs a wedding couple of the legal expectation of the binding nature of marriage within Australia.

Both couples need to recite the standard wedding vows in the Marriage Act "I call upon the persons here present to witness that I (full name) take thee to (full name) to be my husband/wife/partner". A good celebrant like me will do what is necessary with flair and meaning and never be perceived as being over the top. So a wedding at a coffee shop can be done, as long as you have two witnesses and are prepared to hear and recite some important words in accordance with the Marriage Act. Regardless of the size of the wedding, every wedding (even at a coffee shop) is very special to the couple and it's my job to make the ceremony and legal process as smooth as possible.

If you want more details, please don't hesitate to contact me through my inquiry page, Facebook page (www.facebook.com/celebrade) or @celebrade

08 September 2018

Enquire and Book Now to receive a special discount offer from Celebrade

I want to do some more weddings in 2018 and have weekends available. For a limited time, anyone who books with me for a wedding by 30 September 2018, will receive a 10% discount off my standard price. The wedding does not need to be held in 2018. I love to do weddings and have some terrific reviews from my easyweddings website for you to check it out at Celebrade Easywedding Reviews I would be happy to receive an enquiry from you.

05 September 2018

Simon and Tuini

Simon and Tuini

It was so much fun with the marriage of Simon and Tuini recently. Both of them said to me at their marriage ceremony, it doesn’t need to be long and very simple. I could tell that both of them loved each other so much this marriage ceremony was the final part of their great lives together.

At the marriage ceremony, I remarked the following:

The journey to the marriage ceremony started several months ago when they first met with me at the local Shopping Centre to go through the paperwork and for all of us to get to know each other more. What I really enjoyed from that first meeting was how I could see Simon and Tuini are so comfortable with each other. The meeting was very relaxing but at the same time we all were focused on what we needed to do for the marriage ceremony. What I really love about being a celebrant is how people meet and you both tell me what stood out to you in those early moments.

Tuini said to me “Who would have thought that four years ago, meeting up at work would have brought both you and Simon together and standing here today.” You tell me this “spark” happened around the time Simon had farewell drinks at work as you were departing back to New Zealand. Apparently, Simon, you have specifically bought a drink for Tuini forgetting about the other girls at this function. Tuini has an outstanding question and it is “was that because you only had eyes for her”. I think we know the answer to that question as we stand together in this ceremony conducted by Celebrade