Marlee K Bruinsma, Civil Marriage Celebrant 0438 144 269
Phone 0438144269
TIP 1: Think about the type of celebrant and ceremony you want before you start looking.
Do you want someone who is very formal and takes charge, or someone who accommodates your ideas and thoughts and goes with the flow, a co-creator, someone professional and experienced, someone young or old, male or female, relaxed or controlled, someone alternative, someone happy and bubbly, someone creative…? Is a sense of humour important?
TIP 2: Decide if you are flexible with your date or it is fixed.
Find out early in the conversation if the celebrant is available on your day – this saves you time. If they aren’t available, you can move on to the next on your list. If you haven’t yet booked a venue or a time and day, or sent out invitations, and you’ve found a great celebrant, you may decide to change the day if they are not available on the day you planned.
Tip 3: Talk to a few celebrants before making a decision.
What does the celebrant’s voice sound like on the telephone? Does the celebrant seem friendly, approachable, professional, relaxed on the phone? Do they seem interested in what you want? Ask the celebrant to tell you a little bit about themselves – look for someone who will tell you about the qualities and abilities they bring to your ceremony, their experience and what they offer. Preparing some questions to ask each celebrant makes it easier to decide if they are the best celebrant for you.
Tip 4: Have some questions ready to ask the celebrant.
Some questions you might ask are:
- do you offer a selection of pre-written ceremonies or write an individual ceremony for me?
- do you have a PA system?
- can I write my own vows or do you provide a list of vows for me to choose from?
- are there any extra charges?
- do you include the certified marriage certificate in your fee or is this an extra charge? (You need this certificate if changing your name afterwards)
- what is included in your fee?
- what experience do you have with ceremonies?
- where do we meet up? (this could be their home/office or your home or a mutually convenient location but may impact on your time and travel costs)
- do you include a rehearsal in your fee or is this extra?
- more specific questions tailored to your needs, for example, do you speak German/Japanese, will you dress up in fancy dress for our theme, are you okay with heights for our cliff top wedding, can you scuba dive for our undersea wedding???
Tip 5: Book a celebrant early
Celebrants are often booked 12 to 18 months in advance. Avoid disappointment - book early.
You can download a copy of my ebook which contains extra information on choosing a marriage celebrant:
Freebie: How to choose a civil marriage celebrant for your ceremony
(PDF 470 kb)
It’s important that you feel comfortable with your wedding celebrant and confident that they can deliver a ceremony that is joyful , professional and appropriate for you as a couple and the style of wedding you have chosen.
Your wedding ceremony can set the style and tone for the rest of your celebration and your celebrant can make a big difference in this area.
I write a ceremony for you that reflects you as a couple and your relationship, one that your guests will relate to and enjoy. Together we share ideas and develop a ceremony for you based on your vows, any theme you have for your wedding, your bridal party, your venue, your style and personalities. You get to see your ceremony beforehand so that you know exactly what is going to be said and done. On the day, I dress to suit your occasion - formal or more informal, even fancy dress or themed.