How to Choose a Wedding Celebrant

What to Look For, What to Ask and When to Book.

Most couples book the venue first, then the photographer, and somewhere further down the list one of you says, "Oh, we should probably sort out a celebrant."

That's completely normal. It's also worth taking a little more time over this one, because your celebrant is the only supplier who'll be standing right beside you at the moment you get married. They hold the microphone, the paperwork and quite a lot of the emotion in the room.

The quick answer

Choose a celebrant who is authorised to marry you in Australia, who you feel comfortable talking to, and who listens to what you want before telling you what they offer. Then check that their package matches the kind of ceremony you have in mind, whether that's simple and legal or full of your story.

Book them once you've locked in your date and venue. Legally, your Notice of Intended Marriage has to be with your celebrant at least one month before the wedding (and it can be lodged up to 18 months ahead). Popular dates fill up long before that, so earlier is kinder to your stress levels.

What to look for in a wedding celebrant

You feel comfortable with them

This matters more than anything else on the list. You'll be sharing how you met, what you love about each other and maybe a few things you'd rather Uncle Pete didn't hear. If you can't relax with your celebrant over a coffee, it's hard to relax with them in front of 100 guests.

After a first chat, ask yourselves: did we laugh? Did we feel listened to? Did we walk away knowing more than when we arrived?

They're authorised to marry you

To legally marry you in Australia, your celebrant must be an authorised marriage celebrant. You can check this yourself on the Australian Government's register of Commonwealth-registered marriage celebrants on the Attorney-General's Department website. It takes about two minutes and it's worth doing.

They listen before they suggest

A good celebrant asks a lot of questions early on.

• What do you want the ceremony to feel like?

• Who's important to you?

• Is there anything you definitely don't want?

One of the things I often tell couples is that it's fine not to know yet. Plenty of people turn up to our first conversation with nothing more than "we don't want it to be boring." That's a perfectly good place to start.

Their style suits yours

Some couples want lots of laughter. Some want something quiet and heartfelt. Most want a bit of both. Read their reviews, look at their social media and, if you can, watch a video of them speaking. You'll get a feel for their tone very quickly.

They're organised

Pay attention to how they answer your enquiry. Do they reply clearly? Do they explain what happens next? A celebrant who keeps you informed before you've booked is likely to keep doing it afterwards, and on the wedding day that organisation becomes your peace of mind.

Questions to ask a celebrant before you book

Take this list to your first chat (or send it by email if that's easier):

1. Are you available on our date, and are you comfortable travelling to our venue? Ask whether travel costs extra.

2. What's included in each of your packages?

3. How will you get to know us?

4. Can you help us write our vows? And do we have to write our own?

5. Do you provide a microphone and sound system?

6. Is a rehearsal included, and do we need one?

7. What happens with the legal paperwork, and what do you need from us?

8. What's your plan if something goes wrong?

9. Can you also MC our reception? Some celebrants do both, which means one less supplier to brief.

10. How do we stay in touch while we're planning?

When should you book your wedding celebrant?

As soon as you have your date and venue confirmed.

There's the legal timing and then there's the practical timing. On the legal side, your Notice of Intended Marriage has to be with your celebrant at least one month before your wedding, and it can be lodged up to 18 months in advance. In some limited circumstances a shorter notice period can be approved, but that's an exception and not something to plan around.

On the practical side, celebrants can only be in one place at a time, and Saturdays book out first. Booking early also gives you time to think about your ceremony properly, without writing vows the night before.

If your wedding is only a few months away, don't panic. Get in touch anyway. It's often more doable than people expect.

How much does a wedding celebrant cost in Brisbane?

Celebrant fees in Brisbane and South East Queensland vary quite a lot, and that's because celebrants offer very different things under the same job title.

What usually affects the price:

•How personal the ceremony is. A ceremony written from scratch around your story takes many more hours than a short legal ceremony.

•The number of meetings and how much support you get while planning.

•Vow help. Whether from a few templates through to one-on-one guidance.

•A rehearsal, especially an onsite one.

•Sound equipment. Will the celebrant supply a PA System.

•Day and time. Weekend weddings are often priced differently from weekdays.

•Travel, depending on how far the venue is and what travel is required.

•Extras such as MC services or rituals designed specifically for you.

When you're comparing quotes, put them side by side and compare what you're getting. The question that matters most is: "Does this package give us the ceremony we want?"

How to compare celebrant packages

Most celebrants offer a few levels of service. Ignore the package names for a moment and work out which kind of couple you are:

•We just want to be legally married. Look for a simple legal ceremony. Short, sorted, done.

•We want it personal, but we don't need our whole story told. Look for a ceremony with some personal choices and help with vows.

•We want guests to recognise us in every part of it. Look for a fully written ceremony with a story session, vow support and a rehearsal.

•We want family, ritual and real depth. Look for a package that includes ritual design, involving children or parents, and more planning time.

That's exactly how I've set up my own ceremony options, from Just Legals Ceremony, Simply Us Ceremony, Your Story Ceremony and The Signature Ceremony. If you read a description and think "that sounds like us," you've probably found your fit.

If you can't decide, ask. Any good celebrant will happily talk you through it without pushing you towards the most expensive option.

Something couples don't always realise

After 18 years of standing beside couples, I can tell you the ceremony is rarely the part people expect to remember. Then it turns out to be the part they talk about.

What makes the difference isn't how fancy it is. It's whether the words sound like the two of you, and whether the person holding the microphone can read the room, knowing when a joke will land, when to pause and when to let a moment breathe.

So when you're choosing your celebrant, trust your gut. If you came away from the conversation thinking "she gets us," that counts for a lot.

Frequently asked questions

Do we book our venue or celebrant first?

Usually the venue, because your celebrant needs a date and location. Book your celebrant soon after.

Can any celebrant marry us legally?

Only an authorised marriage celebrant (or an authorised religious minister or registry officer) can legally marry you in Australia. You can check a civil celebrant on the Attorney-General's Department register.

How many times will we meet our celebrant?

It depends on the package. A legal-only ceremony might need one meeting. A fully personalised ceremony usually involves several meetings or a dedicated story session.

Does a celebrant travel to the venue?

Most do. Check how far is included and whether there's a travel fee beyond that.

Can our celebrant also be our MC?

Some celebrants offer both. It means the same calm, familiar face guides your guests from the ceremony through to the reception.

What if we don't know what kind of ceremony we want?

That's very common, and it's part of what your celebrant should help you work out.

Let's have a chat

If you're starting to look for a celebrant, I'd love to hear what you have in mind, even if all you know so far is the date and that you don't want it to be stiff.

Have a look at my wedding ceremony packages, or get in touch and let's talk about your wedding]. No pressure, Just a conversation to see if we're the right fit.