5 tips for choosing a wedding celebrant
A celebrant isn’t just at your wedding to make it legit. They set the tone for the day and should make you and your guests feel super at ease so that they feel inclined to do things like laugh, cry, cheer etc. which means your photos will come back looking like people genuinely enjoyed themselves. They are there to guide you through the process, eliminate awkwardness on the day, and work with your other vendors to ensure your ceremony runs smoothly, occasionally putting out fires that you didn’t even know existed. It’s a skill that not everyone is cut out for, (not to mention the fact they’re sharing a pretty significant life moment with you). So, rather than picking the first Joe Bloe you find off page 1 of Google here’s some thoughts to consider.
One —What don’t you want?
Sometimes it’s easier to think about the things you dislike, rather what the things you do, especially if this is your first time getting married. Can you think back to a wedding you’ve attended where you thought to yourself “ugh cringe - I hated how the celebrant did that thing. I hope they never do that at my wedding!”. Bingo, you’ve got your first ick. Write these down! It will help you paint a picture for any future celebrants you end up chatting to when discussing the vibe you’re after.
Two —Do they have a good P.A system?
There’s no point in inviting all those guests of yours if nobody can hear you loud and clear. Get yourself a celebrant who has a high quality P.A (bonus points if they can play music through it) And for the love of god, make sure it’s got wireless capabilities! Yes most venues have access to power, but maybe your venue is in a field with cows in the middle of nowhere. Wireless, battery powered speakers and microphones are a must! If opting for live music (please opt for live music!) make sure your musician has this too.
Three — Read reviews
If a celebrant has been ‘celebranting’ for some time, they should have accumulated a good portion of testimonials from previous couples. You wouldn’t splurge on a good restaurant without checking its ratings on google, right? This is a great way to get some inside knowledge into other people’s experience of a celebrant.
Four — Stalk them
Not literally, please, but it’s definitely in your best interest to trawl through their website and socials for evidence that this is your person. Instagram and Tiktok are great avenues for this. If they do have TikTok (not everyone does) you might even see a more unfiltered/BTS side to your celebrant, which could help sway your decision. Bonus points if you can get them to show you some footage of them delivering a ceremony!
Five — Facetime them first
Try before you buy. It’s like making sure the person you’re going on a date with isn’t a weirdo/isn’t going to cat fish you. Many celebrants offer an initial Facetime/Zoom, allowing you to get a feel for their style, hear their voice and let them run you through their process. It’s also a good idea to have some questions ready to ask them eg. How early do you arrive on the day? Do you help with vows? etc. You usually know in the first couple minutes if you connect, and this will save you the hassle and time of meeting in person, only to discover they’re not ‘it’ moments after arriving.
