Frequently Asked Questions

A registrar conducts legal marriage ceremonies on behalf of the government, following a standard format with limited personalization. As an independent celebrant, I can create a completely bespoke ceremony that reflects your personalities and includes any elements meaningful to you, without legal restrictions on content, location, or timing.

While a celebrant-led ceremony isn't legally binding in the UK, many couples choose to complete the legal paperwork at a registry office (which can be done quickly and inexpensively) and then have their "real" ceremony with me.

For wedding ceremonies during peak season (May-September), I recommend booking 9-12 months in advance to secure your date. For off-peak dates or other types of ceremonies, 6 months is usually sufficient.

That said, I occasionally have last-minute availability, especially for weekday ceremonies or elopements, so it's always worth asking even if your date is coming up soon.

Absolutely! As an independent celebrant, I can incorporate any religious, spiritual, or cultural elements that are meaningful to you. Whether it's a prayer, blessing, reading, or ritual from your faith or heritage, I'm happy to include it respectfully in your ceremony.

This is one of the advantages of choosing an independent celebrant over a humanist celebrant (who typically won't include religious elements) or a registrar (who is restricted in what they can include).

I offer a range of ceremonies including:

• Wedding ceremonies
• Elopements
• Vow renewals
• Engagement celebrations

Each ceremony is completely customized to reflect your preferences, personalities, and the story of your relationship.

I'm based in Dorset and Hampshire and primarily work throughout these areas and beyond. However, I'm happy to travel further afield for your ceremony, including to destination weddings abroad. Additional travel costs may apply for locations beyond 30 miles from my base.

Yes, I'm fully trained and qualified as an independent celebrant. I hold a certificate in celebrancy and have comprehensive public liability and professional indemnity insurance for all my celebrant work.

While this is extremely rare, I have a network of professional celebrant colleagues who could step in if necessary. Your ceremony script would already be written, so another celebrant could deliver it. I take every precaution to ensure I'm available for your special day, but it's important to have a backup plan for everyone's peace of mind.

A celebrant-led ceremony can include whatever elements are meaningful to you. Typically, it might include:

• A warm welcome to your guests
• The story of your relationship
• Your reasons for choosing each other
• Readings or poems
• Music that's significant to you
• Personal vows (which you can write yourselves or I can help with)
• Symbolic rituals like handfasting, sand ceremonies, etc.
• Ring exchange
• Declarations of commitment
• Involvement of family members or friends if desired

The ceremony is completely customized to reflect your personalities and preferences.

Most wedding ceremonies last between 20-40 minutes, depending on the elements you choose to include. Elopements tend to be slightly shorter, around 15-30 minutes, while vow renewals can vary widely based on your preferences. The beauty of a celebrant-led ceremony is that it can be as long or short as you'd like.

Yes, absolutely! Many couples choose to write their own vows, and I'm happy to provide guidance and suggestions if you'd like some help. If you'd prefer not to write your own vows, I can also provide beautiful, meaningful options that you can choose from or customize.

There are numerous symbolic rituals you can include, such as:

• Handfasting: A beautiful ritual where your hands are bound together with ribbons or cords, symbolizing your union.
• Sand Ceremony: Pouring different colored sands together to create a unique pattern, representing your lives becoming one.
• Unity Candle: Lighting a central candle together from individual candles, symbolizing two becoming one.
• Ring Warming: Passing your rings among guests for them to hold and imbue with good wishes.
• Tree Planting: Planting a tree together as a symbol of your growing relationship.
• Wine or Beer Blending: Combining different wines or beers to create a unique blend.

These are just a few examples, and I'm always open to discussing other rituals that might be meaningful to you.

Currently, celebrant-led ceremonies are not legally binding in England and Wales. This means you'll need to complete the legal formalities separately at a registry office. Most couples choose to do this either shortly before or after their celebrant ceremony.

The legal ceremony at a registry office can be a simple, quick affair (around 10-15 minutes) with just two witnesses present. It typically costs between £50-£150 depending on your local authority.

Many couples view the registry office appointment as simply "doing the paperwork," with their celebrant-led ceremony being their "real" wedding day where they exchange meaningful vows in front of their loved ones.

To arrange the legal part of your marriage, you'll need to:

1. Contact your local registry office to give notice of your intention to marry. You both need to do this in person at least 28 days before your legal ceremony.
2. Book an appointment for your legal ceremony at a registry office. This can be on a different day to your celebrant-led ceremony.
3. Attend the registry office with two witnesses on your chosen date to complete the legal formalities.

I'm happy to provide more detailed guidance on this process based on your specific circumstances and location.

This is entirely up to you. Some couples choose to do the legal ceremony a few days before their celebrant ceremony, which means they can relax and enjoy their celebration day without thinking about legalities. Others prefer to do it shortly after, perhaps the following week. Both approaches work perfectly well.

If you're having a destination wedding or elopement, you might find it more convenient to complete the legal formalities in your home country either before or after your trip.

One of the biggest advantages of a celebrant-led ceremony is that there are no restrictions on location! Unlike legal ceremonies, which must take place in a licensed venue, a celebrant ceremony can happen anywhere - a beach, a forest, your favorite hillside, your garden, or even your living room.

The only requirements are that the venue owner gives permission (if applicable) and that it's safe and accessible for everyone involved. This freedom allows you to choose a location that has special meaning to you or simply provides the perfect backdrop for your day.

My fees vary depending on the type of ceremony and your specific requirements. As a guideline:

• Wedding ceremonies start from £650
• Elopements start from £450
• Vow renewals start from £550
• Engagement ceremonies start from £400

These fees include an initial consultation, unlimited planning support, a completely bespoke ceremony script, delivery of your ceremony, and travel within 30 miles of my base in Dorset and Hampshire. Additional travel costs may apply for locations further afield.

I'm happy to provide a tailored quote based on your specific requirements - please get in touch to discuss your needs.

My booking process is simple:

1. Initial consultation (in person or via video call) to discuss your ideas and check availability
2. If you decide to go ahead, I'll send you a booking form and contract
3. A 25% deposit secures your date in my calendar
4. I'll send you a questionnaire to gather more details about your relationship and ceremony preferences
5. We'll work together to create your perfect ceremony, with drafts for you to review
6. Final balance is due 4 weeks before your ceremony date
7. Optional rehearsal at your venue (additional fee may apply)
8. Your special day!

Yes, I offer optional rehearsals at your venue, usually a day or two before the ceremony. This is a great opportunity to walk through the logistics, check positioning, and make sure everyone involved knows what they're doing. It helps calm nerves and ensures everything runs smoothly on the day.

There may be an additional fee for rehearsals, depending on location and timing. Not all ceremonies require a rehearsal - we can discuss whether it would be beneficial for your particular situation.

If you need to postpone your ceremony, I'll do my best to accommodate the new date, subject to availability. There may be a small admin fee for rescheduling, but I try to be as flexible as possible, especially in unforeseen circumstances.

If you need to cancel entirely, the initial deposit is non-refundable as it secures your date in my calendar (which means turning away other bookings). Any additional payments made may be partially refundable depending on the amount of work already completed and how close to the ceremony date the cancellation occurs.

Full details of the postponement and cancellation policy are included in the contract.