How much are celebrants?
We would love to know roughly how much celebrants charge for their services and the questions we should ask.
Lee, Hamilton
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Pinky answers...
Pinky Agnew is a noted celebrant, MC, speaker, actor and published author. She works with each of her couples to structure, write and deliver a wedding ceremony befitting their personalities, needs and style.
Dear Lee,
Thanks for your question. Celebrants set their own fees, and they vary widely - anywhere between something to cover costs and over a thousand dollars. Some view celebrancy more as a community service and charge a minimal fee. Others make it their career and charge accordingly.
The fee usually, but not always, reflects what the celebrant actually does. Some celebrants will have one or two pre-written ceremonies that they always use, and which they adapt by adding your names. Others, myself included, begin with a blank page and write a ceremony for each couple. Most celebrants are somewhere in between.
See my article, Choosing a Celebrant, for tips on questions to ask. However, as a celebrant, I feel the least helpful first question is, "What do you charge?" The best first question is "Are you available?" Then, "What services do you offer?" You can then ask them what they charge. Imagine you're ordering a wedding cake - what you pay for your cake usually depends on the size, the ingredients and the quality. There isn't one price for a cake any more than there is for a celebrant!
- Pinky Agnew
www.pinkyagnew.com
