Frequently asked questions
Where are you based?
The clue is in the title ;-) and for sure, I am based in beautiful Cornwall! However I am happy to travel wherever you might want for your ceremony, and I regularly have ceremonies in Devon and Somerset, as well as the occasional ceremony abroad if I am very lucky!
Although I love to face to face meetings with clients, a lot of the preparation can be done over Skype and email. So, it’s not an issue if you’re mega busy or if you live further afield. But if you're ever bombing down the A30 on your holidays, feel free to stop just after Bodmin Moor and we can catch up over a cuppa.
Will our celebrant ceremony be legally binding?
Sadly not in this country! Unless you are marrying in church, a legal marriage has to be conducted by Registration Service staff. This statutory ceremony can be completed at the Register Office in as little as ten minutes for around £50 (plus notice fees), and is the legal process of registering the marriage.
My couples generally choose to do this legal paperwork before their celebrant-led ceremony – enabling them to plan and enjoy their celebratory ceremony exactly as they choose, without any restrictions from the local authority. You can read a bit more about my thoughts on
wedding 'admin' on my blog.
PS. If you are renewing your vows - this is not a legal event anyway, so you should definitely book a celebrant for maximum fun and flexibility rather than book a Registrar ceremony!
What does a ceremony typically involve?
Every ceremony is totally unique and is written specifically for you! Some couples want a ceremony that feels quite traditional in its content and format; others take the opportunity to do something really different.
The beauty of a ceremony led by a celebrant is – there is no such thing as typical ;-)
From choosing a
unique location to the time of day, and with as many or as few guests as you want, even including the four-legged kind. You can write your own vows (or I can do that for you or with you), you can exchange rings or other tokens (but you don’t have to), you can include readings, music and
symbolic gestures - you really can do pretty much whatever you want.
What do you charge?
You will find my fees are a little less than the Registration Service attending your chosen venue, AND with the huge added benefit of having a ceremony which is completely personalised for you!
2021 fees for a weekend wedding:
-
£550 for ceremonies in Cornwall and £600 for ceremonies out of county
2022 fees for a weekend wedding:
-
£600 for ceremonies in Cornwall and £650 for ceremonies out of county
2023 fees for a weekend wedding:
- £650 for ceremonies in Cornwall and £700 for ceremonies out of county
If you are booking a wedding ceremony for a weekday, then you can take
£50 off the price! (And ask your other suppliers for a cheeky discount. too!)
For pricing for elopements, please do
get in touch.
CEREMONY WRITING SERVICE
If you have the perfect person in mind to 'officiate' at your ceremony, but aren't sure whether they can write the perfect ceremony, then I'd love to help you with this. New for 2021, for just
£450, I can create a personalised ceremony, which your friend or family member can then deliver. Just
drop me a line for more details.
You can read more about my thoughts on ceremony costs
on my blog.
I’m interested! What do I do next?
Let’s chat! Drop me a line, give me a call or we can set up a Messenger, Skype or Facetime conversation.
Once we’ve chatted, if you think you would like to proceed, I will send you an online booking form and ask for a (non-refundable) booking fee of £250 to secure your date and enable me to start working with you. (Note that this fee acts as a down payment to your final bill - it's not extra!)
I'll also drop you a contract - and then we can get cracking on your ceremony! Happy days!
How would you describe your style?
I'm a down-to-earth, super-friendly and deeply happy soul! With a cheeky glint in my eye, I try not to take life too seriously, but when it comes to your ceremony I will plan it meticulously, with maximum effort and attention to detail, so you don't have to worry about a thing.
Happiest when outdoors on a sunny day, my favourite ceremonies tend to be those alfresco - whether it's a beach, a meadow, woodland or garden, I do love a natural setting and I have a particular interest in eco and green ceremonies.
Intimate and informal weddings are another passion, so if you are planning a smaller wedding or elopement, we would be well suited! I enjoy some elements of tradition, although by nature I am a little unconventional - I've had a rather independent streak all my life :-)
My smile is my style - and everyone who meets me comments on it. I will be brimming over with genuine warmth for your celebration, and delighted to support you on every step of your joyful journey.
Are you insured?
Oh yes! I have insurance with an indemnity level of £4,000,000 which includes professional, public and products liability. A copy of my certificate can be produced on request (some venues require this as part of their booking process).
Are you a humanist celebrant?
No, I chose to train as an independent celebrant with the Fellowship of Professional Celebrants rather than The Humanist Society, as I follow no particular belief 'system' - apart from having an extra-healthy respect for this planet and all those we share it with.
Also, a humanist is a little more restricted than an independent celebrant, and cannot incorporate anything spiritual or religious in their ceremony; as an independent celebrant, I can include whatever you (or I) want, along with elements from any religion or spiritual belief system.
That said - most of the ceremonies I perform tend to be completely non-religious, but with elements of spirituality.
How involved will we be with planning our ceremony?
It is completely up to you! I usually find that couples have some outline ideas, but want some support in shaping them and making them happen. Other couples will present me with a blank piece of paper and it's completely up to me to create the ceremony that best reflects their personalities.
I see it as my job to to listen, get to know you, respond to elements you know you want, and throw in other suggestions that I think might particularly suit you. Whatever happens, you're in charge - but the end point is the same however we get there: a beautifully unqiue ceremony that you are delighted with.
How long will our ceremony be?
A ceremony is usually between half an hour and 45 minutes long. Have a read of this for more info!
Do you offer a rehearsal?
Generally, I don’t, as firstly, I want to keep all of the magic for your big day, and secondly, I just don’t think it's necessary.
We go over all the logistics in advance, so you will feel super-calm and super-prepared. On the day I always arrive at least an hour early, or earlier if needed, to make sure everything runs to plan. But if your ceremony turns out to be a more complex event, and you or I think a rehearsal would be a good idea, it can be arranged (for an additional cost).
Do you charge for travel?
Yes. I charge 45p per mile. I also charge for accommodation if your ceremony is beyond a certain distance, meaning I’d need an overnight stay.
But this is all made clear before you book – there are no surprise costs!
If you like what I offer but I am a long way away from you, and the cost of the ceremony, travel and accommodation is likely to be too much, then I provide a ceremony writing service - so if you have someone in mind who can deliver your ceremony, I can create the perfect script for them. The price for this is just £450 -
drop me a line for more details.
In the light of the Coronavirus, what happens if we need to postpone our ceremony?
As you might imagine, this happened pretty consistently through 2020 :-(
So if you decide to postpone, I will do my VERY best to accommodate a reschedule of your wedding ceremony to a date of your choosing and at no extra cost to you, as long as it is within a year of your original ceremony date. (For anything over a year, there may be an additional cost.)
Bear in mind that dates do get booked up some time in advance, especially Saturdays from May to September, so if you have flexibility for a weekday or Sunday, or a date outside the main season, there will be a lot more choice open to you.
But do not stress, we would work this out!
