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