What Questions Should I Ask a Potential Wedding Celebrant?

If you are planning your wedding, and you are considering having a wedding celebrant conduct your ceremony, the chances are the first thing you will do is have a ‘discovery call’ with any potential celebrants.  These calls (or video calls) are a chance for you and your partner to ask any questions you may have about that celebrant, and how they can make your big day extra special.

However, you may not know where to start with this.  What question should you ask in order to get all the information you need to decide if they are the right celebrant for you?  Here’s a guide to kind of questions you may want to ask your potential wedding celebrant. 

What is your ceremony style?

This is key to making sure your celebrant fits with the vibe of your wedding day.  Do you want someone laid back, with a focus on fun.  Or are you going for a more traditional feel, with lots of heartfelt sentiment throughout.  Maybe you are having a themed wedding and you want a celebrant who will get on board with this.  There is a celebrant out there for everyone, you just need to find the right one for you!

Are you a Humanist Celebrant or an Independent Celebrant?

This is one that couples don’t often think of, as most people think all celebrants are the same in terms of what they can and cannot do in your ceremony.  While humanist celebrants can offer all the lovely personalisation and unique touches to your ceremony like an independent celebrant, they are not permitted to include on religious or spiritual references that are not humanist in nature.  So, if you would like a Christian blessing in your ceremony, or a Hindu ritual, for example, you need to go with independent celebrant.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

This is one of those questions that lots of people dread being asked, but getting an idea of what your celebrant likes to do, what their interests are, and what their background is, may help you decide if you are going to be on the same wavelength as each other.  Having common interests that you can chat about just makes the whole process of working together easier.

You may also want a celebrant who understands certain family dynamics, or how to include your kids or wider family in your ceremony.

How much experience do you have, and where did you train?

While being a celebrant does not require any legal qualifications, there are organisations that offer official accreditations and training.  Always check that your celebrant has this training as it is invaluable, and I would say essential for making sure your celebrant knows all the ropes. It offers your the reassurance that your celebrant has had to pass exams and carry out ceremonies in order to be doing this important role.

Experience is not as important as finding someone you click with, but the more experienced celebrants will know all of those little things about wedding days that no one thinks of, and they can be a brilliant source of advice when you are in this planning stage.  Pick their brains about everything from reserved seating to great wedding suppliers! They will know all the ropes when it comes to ensuring your day runs smoothly.

What is your writing process and timescales on the run up to the day?

You may want to find out how your celebrant likes to get all the juicy information they need to write your ceremony! Do they like to meet up in person, or do things online? How much contact will you have with them during the process of planning your ceremony? How long before the day will your ceremony be delivered to you? How do they like to communicate throughout this process? does this fir with your availability and lifestyle. These are all really important considerations, although celebrants can generally be a bit flexible to suit you.

Can you help us decide on symbolic elements or readings?

This, may not be up your street, but if you think you may want a ritual in your ceremony have a chat about some ideas together and see which ones the celebrant likes to do, or suggests may be a good fit for you.

The same goes for readings, as there are so many of these to choose from.  Your celebrant should be able to help you pick something that is perfect for your day.

How much do you charge?

No one likes to talk about money, but it is really important that you know how much your celebrant charges from the get go.  A qualified, experienced celebrant in the UK can charge anything from around £650 to £1000, depending on where you live, and how in demand they are. 

Be wary of celebrants offering their services at much lower rates.  You generally get what you pay for and many unseen hours go into crafting an unforgettable ceremony for you.  If a celebrant is offering their services for half the market rate, there is good reason for that.  Your ceremony is such an important part of your wedding day, so make sure it is in safe hands.

Also make sure you find out about any additional costs for travel or ‘optional extras.’ You should also check payment terms and what happens if you, or the celebrant, cancels!

Can you show us some of your testimonials?

It’s always a good idea to see what past couple have said about that celebrant.  You will get a feel for how they have worked with them throughout the planning process, and how they performed on the day. Good reviews offer lots of reassurance, so always look for these.

Remember, these questions are only a guide, so just keep in mind that the most important thing is that you feel you ‘click’ with your celebrant, and you feel they are someone you can get along with and work with. The more fun you have throughout your planning process, the better! Your celebrant should feel like a friend by the time your wedding day arrives.

If you would like a no obligation chat about your ideas for your wedding day, and what I can offer as your celebrant, contact me today.