A wedding blog that you and I both love posed some questions to me about how much celebrants cost, how to budget for one, and what to expect from certain fees. I know from a recent celebrant group chat I’m in that this conversation sends most of us to the sand to put our heads in the ground, so I thought I’d share the questions and answers posed by the blog, for the benefit of members, so we can start talking about talking about money and fees and prices.
I’d also submit my words below to your comments. Disagree? Think it could have been written better? I’m ready for the conversation about it.
Q: What factors should couples consider when setting their initial wedding celebrant budget?
A: Couples planning to book a celebrant should know that there is no national agreement on what a celebrant should charge or provide. Every celebrant is a unique person, with a unique offering, style, and packages, as well as their own business goals and lifestyle. One celebrant might do this as a hobby and charge a hobbyist fee, another might do celebrancy as a side-gig, so your expectations should match their standard. Another might be the sole provider for their family, meaning their fee, offering, and level of professionalism will differ. With a full-time celebrant whose only work is celebrancy, you’ll pay more but you’ll likely get more than you ever expected.
Q: How much of their total wedding budget should couples typically allocate to a celebrant?
A: Much of the wedding budget scales according to guest numbers. The larger the guest list, the larger the venue and other services, but the celebrant isn’t overly affected by guest list size. So, a percentage of the budget doesn’t work well here. Instead, budget around $1,000 for an average celebrant—that’s the national average. For a full-time professional celebrant, you might pay up to $2,500, with some offering extras and services that could bring the total closer to $5,000.
Q: What’s the typical price range for wedding celebrant services, and what influences where a celebrant falls within this range?
A: Going to a public servant in a registry office can cost up to $800 in some states, so the personalised service a celebrant offers begins where the government leaves off. I’d say the price range for a celebrant is from $800 to $2,500 for the ceremony. Cheaper celebrants may not be as confident in their offering, the value they bring, or the level of service they provide. As the price moves higher, the celebrant is typically more confident in their ability to meet expectations and bring immense value to the ceremony.
Q: What are the typical components of a wedding celebrant package, and how do they affect the overall cost?
A: The bare minimum a celebrant must do is comply with the Marriage Act of 1961. This means delivering a legally compliant, respectful, and accurate marriage ceremony, maintaining professionalism, protecting the couple’s privacy, and providing information on relationship support services. This includes receiving the marriage paperwork at least one month before the wedding and ensuring legal compliance. Beyond this, celebrants are free to design their offerings. These can include personalised ceremonies, rehearsals, writing scripts, including readings and rituals, providing wedding furniture or ornaments, acting as MC, or even DJ services. Travel expenses may also apply, particularly if the celebrant travels globally, as I do.
Q: What extras and upgrades might a couple need to consider in their celebrant budget, and how much do they usually cost (e.g., rehearsals, travel fees)?
A: I’ve never attended a rehearsal that made the wedding less stressful or more enjoyable, so I don’t include rehearsals because I don’t love them. My packages are simple: ceremony only ($1,800) or ceremony and reception ($2,800). The only added cost would be if the wedding requires me to stay overnight or fly, and those expenses are made known before the couple books.
Q: How do factors like wedding date, location, and ceremony complexity affect celebrant pricing?
A: If you choose a wedding date before securing your team, every conversation with a vendor will start with “Are you available?” My best advice is to first choose a core team (celebrant, photographer, videographer, florist, stylist, planner, entertainment) and a venue, then collaborate on a date that works for everyone. If you approach each enquiry with a set date, you might end up booking vendors you didn’t plan for—whether they’re cheaper with less service or more expensive than you anticipated.
Q: Are there any often-overlooked expenses related to wedding celebrants that couples should budget for?
A: After your ceremony, your celebrant will hand you a certificate of marriage, but this can’t be used as proof of a name change or marriage. For that, you’ll need to contact the Births, Deaths, and Marriages office in the state where you were married to order an official certificate, which typically costs around $50. This isn’t a celebrant cost, but it’s something couples should budget for.
Q: What are the “hidden” costs that might be included in what we pay a celebrant?
A: I run an honest business with no hidden fees. However, some celebrants charge for rehearsals, meetings, sales calls, if weddings run late, or if there are date changes. These should all be detailed in writing before you book, so hopefully, there aren’t any surprises.
Q: How many hours do you typically spend on a wedding from the initial enquiry through to the lodgement of paperwork?
A: Each wedding booking takes about 12 hours of my time, plus travel. Sometimes, I’m away from home for three days due to travel.
Q: Is there a typical payment schedule celebrants follow?
A: I take a booking fee to secure the date, which is about one-third of the total fee. The rest is due four months after booking. This is typical, though some celebrants may break it into thirds over the pre-wedding period, and some take full payment in the weeks before the wedding. The key point is that collective bargaining is illegal, so celebrants do not operate as a group charging the same amount or using the same payment schedules. Every celebrant’s business structure is different.
Q: What options are available for couples on a tight budget who still want a quality wedding celebrant?
A: To get quality, you often need to compromise. Like choosing a luxury car, you trade value for quality. Celebrants are a small portion of the overall wedding budget, particularly in terms of cost-per-guest. You could cut back on the guest list to free up budget for a celebrant. Some celebrants offer better prices for weekday weddings or earlier in the day, as they can still book another prime-time wedding that week.
Q: Anything else you’d like to tell us about setting a budget and what to expect when it comes to celebrants?
A: Your celebrant sets the tone and vibe for your entire wedding. If you want a wedding that feels awesome, get an awesome celebrant!
