Frequently Asked Questions ...???
What happens
when I first contact the Celebrant?
When contacting a celebrant you should first establish their availability for your day. You may
need to have a few time options available. Many couples wish to marry on
Saturday afternoon at about 3:00pm so it may be that your preferred time is not
available. Celebrants vary in their delivery of service. Some may offer you a
ceremony which is generally acceptable while others will offer a choice of
ceremonies from their collections. You should feel comfortable with your
celebrant and know that together you have planned what you want for your Wedding
Ceremony.
WHAT DOCUMENTATION
THAT IS REQUIRED ?
When you meet with your celebrant of your
choice you will be required to take with you your original Birth Certificate or
an Extract if you have been born in Australia. If you have been born overseas
and have a current passport that will suffice in lieu of a Birth Certificate but
a Birth Certificate can also be shown to the celebrant. If you are a divorced
person you must show the document relevant to the termination of the previous
marriage or if you are a widow or widower you must show the Death Certificate.
If you have not already obtained a Notice of Intended Marriage your celebrant
will have that document available for you together with all the necessary legal
documentation.
WHEN DO I
NEED TO BOOK A CELEBRANT?
A Notice of Intended Marriage
must be lodged with your celebrant not earlier than 18 months before the date of
the marriage and not later than one month before the date of the marriage. Under
certain circumstances a Shortening of Time may be obtained and your celebrant
can explain this to you. A Notice of Intended Marriage should be lodged only
once with the celebrant of your choice. The NOIM is lodged not with a
governmental body but actually with the celebrant.
HOW WILL I CHOOSE
THE CEREMONY THAT IS RIGHT FOR ME?
Your ceremony should reflect
your views about marriage. If you wish, your ceremony should give you the
opportunity to involve family and/or friends in sharing readings, verses or
songs. These choices should be yours to make. Your celebrant should be able to
help you through these choices.
WHAT ARE THE COSTS
INVOLVED?
Celebrants will usually ask for a deposit, booking or
lodgement fee to ensure that their services are secured for your date, place and
time. Fees, like ceremonies, will vary between celebrants and it is wise to
check with your celebrant about his or her fee for service. In the Code of
Practice the celebrant is required to give the fee structure to the couple
before they actually meet the celebrant. To this end celebrants are required to
give a Statement of Fees to the couple presumably before the meeting. If you
request a celebrant to travel distances to officiate at your wedding, you will
be charged for the distance to be travelled. Ensure that you reach agreement on
the fee prior to booking a celebrant.
I would welcome the opportunity to
earn your trust and deliver you the best service in the industry.
Dawn Gillson - Civil Marriage
Celebrant
Buckajo
NSW Australia