Your questions answered…
What areas do you cover?
In broad terms, I cover the areas within Hampshire or a 30 mile radius of Southampton, excluding the Isle of Wight.
The main areas I can travel to are Southampton, Portsmouth, Winchester, Romsey and The New Forest.
I can however, travel further afield when needed at a rate of 45p per additional mile. All additional costs would be discussed upfront prior to any visits being made. There are no surprises or hidden costs incurred in my services.
Once you have decided that I’m the celebrant for you. Give me a call or fill in the contact form. I will check that I’m available on the date of your special day. I will then send you a booking form. This forms our contract explains how I work and what you can expect from me as your celebrant.
The booking form will need to be signed and returned as soon as possible. Once I have received the booking form, along with the booking fee; I will make a firm booking for the date of your ceremony in my diary. (The booking fee is deducted from the final invoice amount which is payable, in full, 6 weeks prior to the date of the ceremony.)
How do we book you?
To avoid disappointment, I would suggest you choose and book a celebrant sooner rather than later. Ideally as soon as you have a venue you need to start thinking about booking a celebrant. I am able to work at short notice but much prefer to allow plenty of time to craft and create your perfect day.
When should we book a celebrant?
I pride myself in giving the couples I work with my full attention, a professional service and an exceptional delivery of their ceremony on their special day. This can only be achieved by time, attention to detail, consideration and care. Thus, ensuring that all the ceremonies I create and deliver run seamlessly.
I therefore will only ever conduct one ceremony a day.
How many ceremonies do you conduct in a day?
No! You will have needed to have had a registrar conduct your legal marriage or civil partnership on or before the day of your celebration officiated by me. Or in a church if a religious ceremony is required. In order for his to happen you will need to contact the registry office to give ‘Notice of Marriage and to book a time and date for your ‘Statutory’ legal marriage.
Are the ceremonies you officiate legal?
Ceremonies can vary in length but in general a ceremony is around 20 – 30 minutes long. The chosen venue may have a bearing on how long a ceremony can be, as can what you wish to include in your ceremony. You may also need to add additional time for congratulations, toasting and photographs afterwards.
How long is a ceremony?
The simple answer is no. It takes just as much time, care and effort to craft and create a small wedding as it does a large one.
Is it cheaper to have a small wedding?
Is it true that a bride must be late?
No! It might have at one point been fashionable for a bride to be late but not now…unless of course there have been some unforeseen circumstances. The timing of a wedding is very important to the bride, groom but especially the officiant; who may have another ceremony after yours. A bride being late will almost definitely have a knock-on effect for the rest of the day. The majority of guests will have planned to arrive early. If the bride is then 30 minutes late; guests have additional waiting time and with increasing numbers of ceremonies taking place outside, this can be frustrating for your guests. There may not be adequate seating, shade or water…guests may not be accommodating to a bride who has made a conscious decision to be late.
I would suggest that your guests would appreciate a bride who arrives on time. As would the catering staff as they don’t have to delay the food. I am sure the photographer would much prefer to be relaxed taking pictures in the best possible light than have to take them in a hurry.
If you feel that you must be late then 5 minutes is permissible and it should be built into the timings of the ceremony so as not to affect other professionals on the day.
Is it OK to hold a ceremony outside?
Absolutely! However, I would always suggest that a back up plan be made. Especially as you never quite know what challenges the weather may have in store for you. You will want your day to be perfect and not to be spoilt by the rain.
Yes, you can! I can give as much or as little help or advise with this as required. You can repeat them after me, read them from a card or memorise them…it’s up to you.
Can we write our own vows?
Do we have to include religious elements?
The simple answer is no…not unless you would like to.
Yes of course! I am more than happy to accommodate this and we can discuss your wishes when we meet. If you wish to have a lot of religious content? I would advise that you seek the services of a minister.
Can we include religious elements if we want to?
Absolutely yes! When we meet together to discuss your ideas, I can explain the many ways family members and or siblings can be included in the ceremony. I always like to encourage friends and family to participate as much or as little as they would like.
Can we include family members in the ceremony?
Yes of course! We will need to discuss the legalities of using music. As long as it is commercially available there should be no problem. You can also have a singer and/or a musician play music if that is what you would like.
I can give you as little or as much help as possible with this as you feel you might need.
Can we include music, poems or readings?
My fees start from the prices stated below. As all ceremonies are bespoke, the end cost may vary from ceremony to ceremony. Additional costs may be incurred depending on what couples wish to include…
Wedding Celebration Ceremony or Civil Partnership Celebration Ceremony – from £600
Renewal of Vows, Partnership Celebration Ceremony or Commitment Ceremony – from £500
My fee includes almost everything you need for your perfect ceremony. The exception would be additional items which may be needed for symbolic actions or mileage.
What are your fees?
Yes, possibly the following…
Additional mileage, may be charged at 45p per when applicable for example; when travelling out of my designated area or when additional meetings are requested by the couple…don’t panic! I will explain everything clearly to you when we speak.
Items required to perform a symbolic action for example; a sand ceremony requires containers of some sort, preferably with a topper. Unity candle or candles etc. see (link to symbolic actions)
(all additional charges if applicable will be made clear to you from the start…trust me! There are no surprises, hidden extras or large bills!)