What does a civil marriage celebrant do?

Image: TCN Celebrant Charmaine Barrett from Geraldton, WA Image: TCN Celebrant Charmaine Barrett from Geraldton, WA

Ever wondered what a celebrant actually does in preparation for your wedding?

Many couples don't really know what to expect when they first meet a professional civil celebrant. 

So here is a quick run down of the steps that a celebrant goes through in preparation for a wedding.  Different celebrants have different styles but this will give you an idea of what is involved:

  • Responding to enquiries about ceremonies
  • Initial and subsequent meetings with the couple
  • Phone calls and emails to stay connected and exchange ideas for the ceremony
  • Witnessing and receiving your Notice of Intended Marriage
  • Checking identity documentation
  • Providing a wedding ceremony planning kit or resources
  • Discussing your ideas for the ceremony
  • Preparing first and subsequent drafts of ceremony for you to approve
  • A rehearsal if you would like one
  • Preparing certificates and ceremony mementos
  • Attending ceremony with agreed equipment eg PA, signing table,
  • Conducting the ceremony on the day
  • Ensuring all legal requirements are met
  • Forwarding signed marriage certificate and other documents to the appropriate Registry
  • Providing information on ordering marriage certificate
  • Seeking and acting on evaluative comments from couple

Behind the scenes, as independent professional celebrants are in private practice, they also:

  • ensure all the activities meet the Code of Practice required of them by the Marriage Act 1961
  • need to keep up to date with the lastest changes in the law and with relationship education services
  • attend annual professional devleopment sessions and/or conferences
  • pay annual fees to cover the cost of the government regulation of marriage celebrants
  • ensure their websites and other advertising activities meet the government's Advertising Guidelines
  • participate in their celebrant association's networking on-line and/or face-to-face activities
  • ensure their office is equipped with appropriate stationery (legal and other) to resource their work
  • plan and network with other celebrants to ensure back-up systems are in place should unexpected illness or other circumstances affect their ability to proceed as your celebrant

To support all the above a celebrant requires a wide range of planning, organisation, business, marketing and other skills to run their celebrancy practice efficiently and effectively.

Just because they can make their work look easy - it does not mean that it is easy.

Professional civil celebrants care about making your day special!

 

Image: TCN Celebrant Charmaine Barrett

 

Last modified on Friday, 08 December 2023 17:19

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