What should we ask a Marriage Celebrant?

You’ve done the work of trawling through Google, Instagram and recommendations from family and friends.

You’ve found a celebrant who you think is a good fit and have set up a meeting to get to know them.

I can’t tell you how many times a couple has told me over a drink that they don’t really know what to ask me – and that is completely normal.

After all, we’ve all planned a party at some point in our lives, but how often do you plan a ceremony? When it comes to wedding planning, it’s often a case of you don’t know what you don’t know.

Below are some questions that might be helpful to work out if a celebrant is the right one for you.

Will we be your only wedding on the day?
There’s no right or wrong answer to this question; only the answer that feels right to you. Some celebrants will do several weddings in one day without a problem while others will book just one. I fall into the latter camp.
The reason I do this is because you are my sole focus for the day. If your wedding car breaks down, if there’s a wardrobe malfunction or if Grandpa gets lost on the way to the venue and you don’t want to start without him (all of which have happened to my clients at some point), you don’t need to worry that I will leave before you get there to meet my next booking.
The other reason is that by the time your wedding day rolls around, we have spent a while getting to know each other and there’s nowhere I’d rather be than next to you, soaking in your happiness.
What happens if you’re sick on the day?
This is a question that not many couples think to ask but is crucially important. What would happen, for example, if your celebrant lost their voice and could no longer make things official for you?
A prepared and professional celebrant will have a network of colleagues to call on (such as my wonderful colleagues at The Celebrant Society) and be able to tell you exactly what will happen should the worst occur.
What’s your style of delivery?
You may have already picked this up from email and phone interactions to arrange your meeting, but it’s also worth asking to make sure the celebrant’s style aligns with what you’re after for the day. The ceremony sets the scene for the celebration that follows, so choose wisely.
Do we see our script before the day?
Again, there’s no right or wrong answer to this question – it comes down to personal preference, but best to find out early so that everyone is on the same page.
All of my couples review their script in advance to make sure the tone is right, that all of the information is correct (there’s nothing more cringeworthy than hearing your story told incorrectly during your ceremony) and that the things most important to you are included.
Do we need a wedding rehearsal?
In my experience, rehearsals often aren’t necessary but if it’s important to you, you should flag this with your celebrant to make sure it is able to be accommodated.
What does your fee include?
Don’t be afraid to ask what the celebrant’s fees include. Does it include all meetings and paperwork preparation? Are travel fees or a rehearsal extra? Do they bring a PA system or do you need to provide your own?
How long have you been a celebrant/ how many weddings have you performed?
This will give you an idea of the celebrant’s experience and knowledge.
If you’re feeling nervous about standing in front of your guests, having someone beside you who has seen and done it all many times before may help put your mind at ease, but new celebrants will also be bursting with passion – and all celebrants were new once.
What happens on the day?
This question can give you an idea of what to expect in terms of running order. Ask the celebrant what time they’ll arrive, whether they’ll greet you both before the ceremony begins, who’ll cue the music and how long they’ll stay afterwards. And just quietly – unless the celebrant is a friend, you don’t have to invite them to the reception.

Of course, there’s plenty more you can ask to work out whether a celebrant is the right fit for you, from the usual getting-to-know-you questions you might ask anyone you’re meeting for the first time to the slightly more specific (real life examples I’ve been asked include my star sign, best Bond of all time and what I’ll wear on the day). So go on, ask!

If you think I could be the right celebrant for you, let’s chat.