| My Experience and Credentials
I conducted my first marriage ceremony in 1988 while listed with a church organisation. I was appointed to the Civil List in 1994 after taking a change in work direction. As a Civil Celebrant I have conducted over 500 non-religious marriage ceremonies in the last 10 years, along with a few of Christian orientation. I also conduct in the region of 200 funeral services a year.
How Much Does a Celebrant Cost?
Although there are celebrant organizations, each celebrant sets their own fee. A recent wedding magazine suggested you allow $350 - $500 for celebrant or church and that's probably a fair guide. Cost of Marriage Licence is additional, and that is paid to the office of Births Deaths and Marriages.
Cost of Marriage Licence is additional, and that is paid to the office of Births Deaths and Marriages.
My Normal Fee Structure for March 2008-March 2009
You can probably expect my fee for a ceremony within the Auckland boundaries of Westgate/Massey, Albany, Long Bay, Papakura, Whitford etc, to be around $495 incl Gst.
The number of guests or brevity and simplicity of a ceremony will not normally have any bearing on the fee, as my commitment of time and travel is the same irrespective.
A ceremony where I do not have any preparatory meetings with the couple at all, but simply turn up on the day may at my discretion, be discounted.
Beyond these Auckland perimeters, for instance to Gulf Harbour, Kaukapakapa or beyond the Bombay Hills, a fair and reasonable add-on might be made for rehearsal time and travel - perhaps $70-80 additional. My fee includes all consultations, use of my marriage ceremony material (see sampler download), and on occasions, a walkthrough or rehearsal. You can expect a pretty stress-free process in which your wishes are fully heard. I am a very experienced, fair and generous-minded celebrant, who, in the words of one photographer to a client couple, gives 'added value". I can also throw in a small but hugely helpful extra - a portable signing table and stool. A booking is generally confirmed with a $100 deposit.
Under some circumstances a fee might be higher - for instance a ceremony on a boat where I am away for two or three hours, or a ceremony way out of town, therefore making unlikely, a second booking for the day.
Ceremonies on Waiheke Island may be affected like that, but my normal position is to charge the basic fee plus disbursements - ferry costs, parking costs Downtown, and taxis on the island.
Further Afield: A ceremony a long way out of Auckland that more or less requires the full day of me, will start with a 'day lock-out' rate of something like $600 plus Gst plus an estimate of kilometres at .40cpk, plus a reasonable allowance for overnight accommodation.
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