“IT WAS SO US!”
Celebrant
“It was so us!” Phrases like this are the best thing a celebrant can hear and also explain the essence of a celebrant-led event.
Your actual ceremony may only be half an hour of your day and - as things currently stand in England - is not your ‘legal marriage’, but it remains the centrepiece of the day you have chosen as Your Wedding so make sure it’s personal to you. Celebrant led ceremonies have very few limitations on location, time, content or tone so are the ideal to choice to deliver “special”.
Whether you want simple and intimate, funny and fabulous, or grand and romantic Wedding Di will work with you to create and deliver a ceremony which is authentic and meaningful to you by bringing your unique story and vision to life.
In line with the brand, there’s nothing more calming than knowing that you have worked together to ensure your bespoke ceremony is filled with all the elements which will celebrate who you are as a couple, delight and surprise your guests and bring you all moments to treasure.
Please remember that you, the couple, are responsible for ‘dealing with the legalities’ to deliver a legal marriage if that is your plan. Wedding Di doesn’t mind whether that’s before or after - just let her know so she can choose the right words!
PRICING
Celebrant
Travel costs relate to base locations in Southsea and Chippenham although other locations can be discussed
Core Costs:*
Ceremony start time 10am - 9:30pm Monday to Sunday excl Bank Holidays £800
Ceremony start time 10am - 9:30pm Bank Holiday £1000
Ceremony start time from 8am, or from 10pm to Midnight Additional £200
Creating the ceremony but not delivering it (e.g. for wedding abroad) £500
Delivering another celebrant’s created ceremony £250 (Additional £200 for Bank Holiday or early or late bookings as above)
Travel to venue up to 45 minutes each way will be at no cost
Optional Extras:
Writing of vows £75 per person
Checking of vows £40 per person
Attendance at Rehearsal POA
Materials for any ceremony enhancements TBA
Note: Giving Notice and attending a Statutory Marriage Ceremony are the couple’s responsibility and at the couple’s cost
*Wedding Di also supports Vow Renewal; Anniversary; Adoption; and Naming ceremonies - prices will be discussed once requirements are known
What do you get as standard when you book Wedding Di as your celebrant?
Please note, our initial meeting will not be charged up front so you pay nothing unless you book me!
1 - 2 hour meeting with both of you to gather sufficient up front information to draft a ceremony personal to you. (Many couples cover this in an hour but I suggest leaving two so we are not rushed)
I will then write and send you the first draft of the ceremony together with any suggestions you have asked me to make regarding additional content
If I decide a Venue visit would be helpful and it’s possible and cost-effective to do one then this is also included. These are rare, and only for the most unusual choices as usually a call with the venue will suffice!
Ongoing feedback and review by email until both of you are happy with the final script
A virtual read-through before the day, if this is something you would like. Many couples don’t have this but it’s there if it will settle your nerves…
4 hours ‘exclusive use’ of my time on your Wedding Day, to allow for anything unexpected - included within this, I will always arrive 1 hour before the ceremony start time to check in with the venue, ensure things are as they should be, check the Best Person has the rings, etc. Of course, I will be out of your way once the ceremony has ended - this is purely to reassure you that we have any slippage covered
Delivery of the 25 - 35 minute ceremony
Commemorative Certificate if you choose to have this in your ceremony
Keepsake copy of the ceremony script
Public and Products Liability Insurance of £5m and Professional Indemnity Insurance of £1m
FAQs
Q. Surely it’s much more expensive to use a celebrant if you still have to get legally married at the Register Office?
While most couples don’t make this decision based on cost alone - ‘getting wed’ is often a minor part of the overall budget - it can in fact be just as affordable to have a personalised, celebrant-led ceremony.
Here’s an example using current costs on a Register Office site:
With the exception of a Church of England wedding, every couple must give notice at a cost of £70 per couple so this element has been ignored for this comparison.
A simple, statutory ceremony held mid-week in a small room at the Register Office with 2 witnesses costs £57.
So the most cost-effective Wedding Di ceremony, plus your statutory marriage starts at £457.
This compares very well with having the Registrar attend your choice of venue (from an approved list, and under a fixed roof under current regulations) - this will cost between £556 and £1,146 with the higher prices being for the most popular days of the week and ceremonies after 5:15pm. Included in this is a non-refundable fee of £65 to reserve the Registrar for your venue and date.
Q: Why do people like to use a celebrant?
People’s reasons will be personal to them but here are a few:
They love the idea of a ceremony written especially for them.
It’s important for them to include spiritual or religious elements - perhaps from different belief systems.
They value the ability to have built a relationship with the person who is delivering their ceremony before the day.
Q. Will you marry same sex couples?
Of course! (Although see other information on the legal marriage) Many same sex couples choose a celebrant-led ceremony to be able to reflect their unique story and personalities. Same sex couples with religious beliefs cannot always marry in their place of choice so are attracted to the ability of a celebrant to include religious content. Wedding Di welcomes all couples and has completed LBGTQ training.
Q. Will you be around before and after the ceremony?
When you book Wedding Di as your celebrant, you secure a 4 hour window of time on your special day (excluding travel). This allows for at least an hour on site before the ceremony to check every last detail (including the whereabouts of the rings!); to speak with key people such as the available members of the wedding party and the venue organisers; to allow for short delays for whatever reason; and to ensure that nothing feels hurried for the couple and their guests.
Q: Are there any limitations on where Wedding Di will deliver a ceremony?
There are very few places where you cannot hold your ceremony, although the couple will be responsible for obtaining any necessary permissions and paying any fees. Wedding Di will discuss this with you during your planning meeting and throughout your preparations to ensure that you are considering critical elements such as Health and Safety in your excitement! It’s also important to think about what you would and would not find acceptable mid-ceremony - for example, a ceremony on your favourite beach may sound idyllic but are you happy for frisbees, children, dogs, or other people’s mobiles to feature?....
Q: How can we prepare for our meeting with Wedding Di?
Rest assured, Wedding Di will take you through the planning meeting step by step but there are a few things you might like to think about beforehand although none are essential! Think about important people on your guest list and what if any roles you would like them to play; chat about how ‘traditional’ you are - for example, many brides will have assumed that their father will ‘give them away’ because what else would you do, but what if you have been living together for several years already, or you are as modern as a modern thing and now you come to think about it you don’t like the message behind this activity...; if you have a blended family, or any form of family challenge, come prepared to chat through how that might play out - you don’t need to have all the answers, just be prepared to talk!; think about things you loved at weddings you have attended and also things you absolutely know you don’t want at yours; and just generally have a think about what will make this important half-hour slot contribute to a day which is special to you.
