How Much Does a Celebrant Cost?

An increasing number of people in Australia have chosen a civil ceremony for their wedding, utilising the services of a celebrant instead of hiring a priest or having a wedding in a religious establishment. A marriage celebrant is authorised by the government to officiate weddings. They ensure your marriage is legal and offer advice on the ceremony if needed. In Australia, you can expect to pay between $350 and $800 to hire a marriage celebrant.

The main difference is that a celebrant is hired to conduct a civil ceremony, whereas a minister conducts religious weddings. Minister prices for wedding ceremonies are between $350 to $600, depending on the type and level of service performed.

The cost of hiring a wedding celebrant can vary from state to state. If they are attached to a registry office or a marriage venue, you’ll often pay less, while independent celebrants usually charge more.

Celebrants have different obligations, so their fees are not always the same. The costs of the service provided to guests by celebrants might vary within a city based on their service quality, reputation, and experience.

Here’s the average reported cost of celebrants in different cities:

Weddings are special occasions, so it’s wise to choose an experienced marriage celebrant who provides good services and has a warm approach to the ceremony, even if they have high rates. A more affordable professional might save you $50 to $100, but they might provide subpar services. You want your wedding ceremony to be memorable for all the right reasons, not because the celebrant messed up the ceremony.

Religious Marriage Celebrant

This is a formally trained individual who officiates and performs at a wedding. They can perform at non-religious and religious weddings, funerals, and commitment and naming ceremonies. The cost of a marriage celebrant can range between $350 and increase to $1,500. 

Civil Celebrant

This person can also conduct non-religious marriage, funeral, naming, and commitment ceremonies. Civil celebrant fees vary between $350 and $1,500. The difference between a civil and a marriage celebrant is that religious marriage celebrants may decline same-sex marriages, while civil celebrants can officiate same-sex couples.

Funeral Celebrant

Funeral celebrants generally produce and plan a personalised ceremony for non-religious and spiritual funerals. Funeral celebrant fees range from $200 to $500.

Renewal of Vows Celebrant

The revival of vows is not a legal ceremony, so anyone can conduct it. Depending on who oversees the renewal of vows, prices can start at $250.

Celebrant officiating an outdoor wedding. | Source: Francine O’Brien Marriage Celebrant

As mentioned, celebrant costs can vary between $350 and $1,500. However, additional expenses might have an impact on your wedding budget.

Wedding type

A civil wedding is simple and quick. It usually involves the celebrant, a few close relatives as witnesses, and the bride and groom. Many couples today prefer these simple and stress-free weddings to larger ones, which can be expensive, time-consuming, and stressful. If you want a civil marriage, you only need to pay the celebrant’s fee, the registration cost, and any additional celebration you might like.

Wedding Day

Seasonality also has an impact on the celebrant’s fees. For example, a celebrant might charge you $300 for a weekday wedding during the off-season. On the other hand, the same celebrant might charge between $500 to $600 on the weekend or during peak wedding season. This is simply due to supply and demand, as many celebrants can get booked during weekends and peak wedding seasons.

Wedding Venue

Some wedding venues will offer their own celebrants and encourage you to hire them for the ceremony. These celebrants are well-trained and certified, but they might not be the right fit for you. If you bring in a third-party celebrant, you must pay extra for the personalised service you want. Some wedding venues might even have conditions on whether a third-party celebrant is permitted. Consult the wedding venue and organisers to determine if there are any additional costs or conditions.

Wedding Ceremony

A ceremony with a simple script and theme might be more affordable. The cost depends largely on how much time the celebrant needs to work on the ceremony for it to meet your requirements. Usually, the celebrant will spend 15 to 20 hours preparing, but they might increase their fees if it takes longer.

Wedding Speeches

Preparing the wedding script takes time and effort, which is true for wedding speeches. If you want your celebrant to write a meaningful speech for your ceremony, you must pay more. They’ll include meaningful phrases and ensure the speech sounds authentic.

Marriage Certificate

The celebrant will sign and authorise the marriage certificate, but you will still need to pay for the certification and registration. You can get the certificate for $33 if you’re willing to wait and $78 if you require it urgently. You don’t need the marriage certificate if you’re registered with the local government. However, many couples prefer it for the symbolism it holds.

Travel costs

Most celebrants will be willing to accompany you if you plan a destination wedding. For example, if you intend to get married on a cruise ship, you can ask the celebrant to travel with you and officiate the ceremony. As this requires more time, the celebrant might charge a higher fee for the job. You will also need to pay for their accommodations and meals.

Contacting a celebrant and discussing your wedding readings with them is a good idea before you commit to anything. They will provide you with an estimated cost of the complete wedding ceremony and offer suggestions for planning. This can help you decide and choose the right celebrant for the ceremony. Be sure to check their qualifications before you hire them.

Many people hesitate to hire a celebrant because they don’t understand the full extent of their services. Celebrants are trained to organise and carry out the wedding ceremony. They perform a similar role to a priest but without any specific religious affiliation. Here are some reasons for hiring a wedding day celebrant:

Custom Ceremonies

From wedding speeches to wedding readings, celebrants can create unique ceremonies. They will help you create a ceremony with a theme that has a special meaning.

Understanding Symbolisms

Celebrants understand symbols well and can create a powerful and meaningful ceremony. Celebrants can explain which symbols apply to your relationship and wishes.

Scripts

Once the theme and symbolism are decided, celebrants will write a script that works with both. This takes time and effort. The script is part of the officiating process and is just as important as the vows exchanged between the bride and groom. The celebrant can speak words of motivation and wisdom to help you make the proper steps into married life.

Consultations

Celebrants can sometimes act as counsellors and help the couple navigate the problems caused by the preparation for the wedding. Consultations can help keep people calm during the wedding ceremony. In a way, the celebrant offers moral support before and during the ceremony, which couples can benefit from.

Celebrant Training and Qualifications

Certified celebrants have the legal authority to officiate and legitimise marriages. Certified celebrants need to have the right training and licenses. Here is how celebrants become qualified professionals:

Certificate IV in Celebrancy

This certificate is essential to working in this industry and providing legal services to couples. Professionals receive this certificate after they’ve completed a course from a recognised educational establishment. Most celebrant courses include comprehensive training from six months to a year.

Professional Development

Celebrants should choose reliable and reputed organisations to get the best training in their field. Established universities and education institutions like TAFE provide comprehensive training courses spanning six to twelve months, ensuring celebrants develop their skills well. Training from a good establishment can increase the celebrant’s value and impact their business reputation.

* The cost data is based on Oneflare and third-party sources