Frequently asked questions

Which areas of the UK do you cover?

Well, as the name suggests, we are based in beautiful Cornwall - but we regularly and happily travel to ceremonies in Devon, Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire. We charge a little extra for ceremonies outside our home county as travel can really impact on time - and of course there is a mileage fee to factor in. Nearly ALL of our clients are from outside Cornwall, so while we love to have face to face meetings with clients, inevitably a lot of the preparation is done over video calls 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 at Celebrant in Cornwall HQ!



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. Our 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 our 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?

The beauty of a ceremony led by a celebrant is – there is no such thing as typical ;-) We've had short ceremonies, long ceremonies, informal ceremonies held in relaxed outdoor settings, more formal ceremonies held in gorgeous venues - ceremonies with surprise sing-a-longs, ceremonies with handtyings involvng all the family - ceremonies with a Mr and Mrs game, ceremonies with readings delivered by video - ceremonies with lots of guests, ceremonies with no guests - ceremonies with the dog as the ringbearer or best man - ceremonies with witness bingo - BASICALLY - your ceremony will be completely UNIQUE TO YOU. And we love it that way!



What do you charge?

Our 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 and 2023, click through to our pricing guide
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 Lisa would love to help you with this. New for 2021, for just £450, she can create a personalised ceremony, which your friend or family member can then deliver. Just drop her a line for more details. You can read more about our thoughts on ceremony costs on our blog.



I’m interested! What do I do next?

Let’s chat! Drop us a line, give us a call or we can set up a video meeting. Once we’ve chatted, if you think you would like to proceed, we will send you an online booking form and ask for a (non-refundable) booking fee of £250 to secure your date and enable us to start working with you. (Note that this fee acts as a down payment to your final bill - it's not extra!) We'll also drop you a contract - and then we can get cracking on your ceremony! Happy days!



How would you describe your style?

We are down-to-earth, super-friendly, girl-next-door types with deeply happy souls! Relaxed but professional, we try not to take life too seriously, but when it comes to your ceremony we will plan it meticulously, with maximum effort and attention to detail, so you don't have to worry about a thing. We will be perfectly suited if:
- You want a fun, heart-felt celebration that isn't boring, very formal or religious
- You love the idea of making your ceremony personal and meaningful
- You want your ceremony to be the best bit - not the boring bit - of the day - You recognise we offer a value-for-money, bespoke service.



Are you insured?

Oh yes! We have insurance with an indemnity level of £4,000,000 which includes professional, public and products liability. A copy of our certificate can be produced on request (some venues require this as part of their booking process).



Are you humanist celebrants?

No, we are independent celebrants - Lisa trained with the Fellowship of Professional Celebrants rather than The Humanist Society - as we follow no particular belief 'system' - apart from having an extra-healthy respect for this planet and all those we share it with.
 That said - humanists are non-religious people who believe that this life is the only life we have, and who make sense of the world through logic, reason, and evidence. Humanists place human welfare and happiness at the centre of their ethical decision-making. Our ceremonies fully embrace the humanist ethic.



How involved will we be with planning our ceremony?

How involved would you like to be? We usually find that couples have some outline ideas, but want some support in shaping them and making them happen. Other couples will start a blank piece of paper and it's completely up to us to create the ceremony that best reflects their personalities. It's our job to to listen, get to know you, respond to elements you know you want, and throw in other suggestions that we think might particularly suit you. Whatever happens, you're in charge - but the end point is the same however we get there: a beautifully bespoke ceremony that you are delighted with. It's no coincidence that most couples describe their ceremony with us as 'perfect' :-)



How long will our ceremony be?

Again - it's your call! There's no template, so it's completely dependent on what we create together. But if you want a ball park figure, then 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, we don’t, as firstly, we want to keep all of the magic for your big day, and secondly, we 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 we arrive in good time to make sure everything runs to plan. But if your ceremony turns out to be a more complex event, and you (or we) think a rehearsal would be a good idea, it can be arranged (for an additional cost).



Do you charge for travel?

'Fraid so! We charge 45p per mile, and very occasionally we also charge for accommodation if your ceremony is beyond a certain distance, meaning one of us would need an overnight stay. But this is all made clear before you book – there are no surprise costs! If you like what we offer but we are a long way away from you, and the cost of the ceremony, travel and accommodation is likely to be too much, then Lisa provides a ceremony writing service - so if you have someone in mind who can deliver your ceremony, she can create the perfect script for them. The price for this is just £450 - drop her 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, we will do our 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!