Lisa Newman Melbourne Wedding Celebrant

Lisa Newman Melbourne Wedding Celebrant

Hi there,
Celebrants vary greatly in the service they offer and subsequently what they charge.  The hardest part for couples is that they just don't know what questions to ask about that service.  Professional Celebrants will offer a range of different ceremony options (short ceremonies, fully personalised ceremonies, elopements) to help suit people's budgets so when someone is quoting a price, check what that includes i.e. travel / a rehearsal / a P.A. system / reference material / cordless microphones / a copy of your ceremony ... and how many years experience do they have.  These factors will all have a bearing on their fees.  Just like any field of work, there are people who charge too much and people who charge too little so go with your instincts, see if their personality suits you both and go for fees in the middle. :-) 
 

Lisa Newman Melbourne Wedding Celebrant

Please don't EVER let a celebrant write your vows for you.  These are the most important words you will say to each other in your lifetime together so why would you let someone choose the wording?  Vows can be as simple and as brief as you'd like or you can write as much as you want - after you say the legally required words that are stated from the Marriage Act.  And it really isn't scary at all.  A great celebrant will have plenty of resources to help you choose what is right for the two of you to do - whether that be encourage you to write them from a help sheet, choose some sentences from examples or pick some previously written vows that sum up your feelings perfectly.  It's best to read them yourself (especially if they're anything longer than two sentences) but if you should become emotional or nervous, have it pre-arranged with your celebrant that you will repeat after them if that happens.  Enjoy!  Lisa Newman Wedding Celebrant Melbourne

Lisa Newman Melbourne Wedding Celebrant

If you follow tradition, bride is on the left and groom is on the right.  But years ago I realised that if the bride is on the right, her ring finger is closest to the photographer and it makes it much easier for them to get 'that' photo.  (Not that the groom's photo isn't important but again we're dealing with tradition).
The things I ask my brides:  Is your hair up on a particular side?  Does your dress have a special feature on one side?  Do you photograph better on one side (I most definitely do! :-)   And then that can all go out the window if the bride is wearing a veil and it's very windy - causing her veil to flap around in the wrong direction.  This is why rehearsals are important and good communication from your celebrant.  I hope this helps.  Lisa  :-)