Finding a Celebrant.

Getting engaged can be one of the most exciting events of your life. Once that question has been popped it opens a flood gate of questions. When are we getting married? Where are we getting married? Who is going to be on the guest list? Where are we having the reception? What are we going to wear?..... The list can go on and on. Often we get caught up in all the questions and stress that we can often forget to enjoy this moment. Thankfully there is a website that is set up to help take some stress out of the planning. So grab yourself a coffee, sit back, trawl through the pages of advice and enjoy this time.

My name is Amy Edwards, I am qualified performing arts, classics and social studies secondary teacher and an independent Celebrant. I have been married for coming up 8 years (and I am under 30 – GASP!). Sometimes in life you are lucky enough to find that special someone early on. Why does someone young choose to become a celebrant – aren't they always retired people, or JP's I hear you ask? I chose to become a celebrant because I couldn't find the right one for my own wedding and realised if I feel this way other people must feel it too. If I am perfectly honest when I looked at becoming a celebrant I honestly did not realise just how cool this job is. Getting to help couples plan their fairy-tale day, without getting involved in the family politics is fantastic.

So you are reading this if you are having trouble deciding on how or where to begin to look for a celebrant. First off this website is a great start. More and more people are using the internet to search for their celebrant. Ask around. People are very good at recommending people if they like them and even better at telling you who not to go to. But more importantly meet with the celebrant to decide for yourself.

You need to decide on a celebrant that is right for you:

Find someone that clicks with you. Getting married is a personal time and you don't want to add any stress by having someone disengaged with you on the day.

Trust: I am really big on this one. You need to trust your celebrant that they are going to be reliable, do what they say they will do and SAY what they are going to say. You should know your ceremony before the day – so there are no nasty surprises. Many couples choose a celebrant because they don't want a religious wedding. You need to trust your celebrant is not going to go off on a tangent or say things you don't want them to.

Your choice: You are paying for a service so it should be your choice. Whether you want to get married with your feet in the water, you don't want religious elements, you want a short ceremony – the list can go on. It should be your choice. If you want a simple ceremony, that is run of the mill or you want a ceremony that is unique to you, you should find a celebrant that does that for you.

Help: Your celebrant should be able to go through the legal requirements of getting your licence. They should be able to clearly articulate the legal requirements of the ceremony and express that the rest is your choice. If you want help in writing your vows your celebrant should point you in the right direction, give your ideas or suggest some that you can pick and choose from. When it comes to vows think of it as your personal promise to your partner, simple and to the point works best. A great place to start is to write down what your partner means to you, the things that you love doing for them, the things you love about them and your hopes and dreams together for the future.

Any bells and whistles?: Lastly, ask what your celebrant does. Do they provide anything that can take the stress out of the wedding day planning? How often will they meet with you? Do they charge a travel fee? Do you get a certificate? Do you get a copy of your ceremony? Weigh up the cost of the service, what is provided and how you feel about the celebrant.

Questions you can ask your celebrant:

• How early will they arrive before the ceremony?
• What do they do in that time?
• What do they provide?
• What do they wear? (A very good question – would you find it offensive if your celebrant wore white? )
• What happens after the ceremony?
• Can we give you our license to look after before the big day?
• What will you do with it after the ceremony?
• What are your costs and what do they include?
• Do we need to have a rehearsal?
• Do we need to remember our vows?
• Are we able to have our children included in the ceremony?
• Can we have a surprise wedding?
• Do you ask for a deposit?
• Can we get a refund if we don't go ahead?
• What if you are unwell on the day? Just to list a few

Amy Edwards ~ Hawkes Bay Celebrant