Everything you need to know when looking for a celebrant in Melbourne. 

So you’re getting married! Wooooo CONGRATULATIONS, and you’re ticking off those big things on your list. Now you’ve decided you would like a celebrant to perform your ceremony, where do you look, what do you look for, how do you pick. You want to know who are the top celebrants in Melbourne!

So besides your partner a celebrant is going to be one of the most important people at your ceremony. How do you choose?! It can be so overwhelming sometimes picking vendors for your wedding.

I am going to chat about what your should look for, cost etc…. And also I’ll be recommending my fav celebrants I’ve personally worked with.

1. Personal Connection

Personal Connection: It’s so important to find a celebrant with whom you feel a personal connection. This person will be an integral part of your special day, so you want to make sure you feel comfortable and confident in their ability to deliver the ceremony you envision. You need to be able to get on with them, if you guys are relaxed and down to earth and hilarious then someone who’s a bit strait laced isn’t for you! Look for Celebrants with Personality as well. When searching for a celebrant in Melbourne, look for someone who has a vibrant personality and a sense of humour. You want a celebrant who can engage with you and your guests and make the ceremony fun and enjoyable for everyone.

You need to go out, or zoom chat with a few to get a feel for which celebrant you have the right connection with. This is also true for most of your vendors, connection is key, work with people you love, you can have a drink with, chat for hours about everything and anything. Finding wedding vendors is almost like dating all over again haha!

2. Experience

You want to make sure your celebrant has plenty of experience and a solid reputation. Look for reviews, testimonials, and examples of their work to get a sense of their style and approach. You may have seen your celebrant at someone else’s wedding, that’s ok to pick your friends celebrant. Check Out their Social Media: Social media is a great way to get a sense of a celebrant’s personality and style. Check out their Instagram orFacebook accounts to see what kind of content they post, whether they have a unique approach to ceremonies, and how they engage with their followers.

Review their Portfolio, when considering a celebrant, ask to see examples of ceremonies they have conducted in the past. This can give you a good sense of their style and whether they have experience delivering fun and unique ceremonies.

3. Flexability

Flexibility: Your celebrant should be able to accommodate your needs and preferences when it comes to the ceremony. Whether you want a traditional or non-traditional ceremony, or have specific cultural or religious requirements, your celebrant should be able to work with you to create a personalised ceremony that reflects your values and beliefs.

Professionalism: A professional celebrant will have clear communication skills, be organised, and be punctual. You want someone who will be reliable and respectful throughout the planning process and on your big day.

4. Cost of celebrants in Melbourne

Celebrant fees can vary widely, so it’s important to have a clear understanding of the costs involved. Make sure to ask about fees and any additional charges, such as travel expenses or ceremony rehearsals, so you can budget accordingly.

The average cost of celebrants in Melbourne can vary depending on a number of factors such as their level of experience, the length and complexity of the ceremony, and the location of the wedding. However, as a rough estimate, you can expect to pay anywhere between $500 to $1000 for a celebrant in Melbourne. Some celebrants may charge more for additional services such as rehearsals or travel expenses, so it’s important to clarify what is included in the fee. It’s always a good idea to shop around and compare quotes from a few different celebrants to find one that fits your budget and meets your needs. Now if you are on a really strict budget that’s ok, you can hire celebrants who are newly qualified, everyone has to start someone (this is true for all vendors). But make sure you meet with them, don’t just communicate via text or email!

Should I have a friend preform my ceremony?

So you have a friend who can do it for you, I’ve also made a quick pro and con list of having a friend work at your wedding. As a wedding photographer I have photographed some friends weddings, 90% of the time all was good, but there was a few that put our friendship to the test, and that can hard long term.

Pros of having a friend as your wedding celebrant:

1. Personal connection: Your friend knows you well and can bring a personal touch to your wedding ceremony.
2. Cost-effective: Hiring a professional wedding celebrant can be expensive, so having a friend officiate can save you money.
3. Flexibility: Your friend may be more flexible with their schedule and availability than a professional celebrant.
4. Special memories: Having a friend officiate your wedding can create special memories and strengthen your friendship.

Cons of having a friend as your wedding celebrant:

1. Lack of experience: Your friend may not have experience officiating weddings and may not know how to handle unexpected situations.
2. Lack of professionalism: Your friend may not be as professional or polished as a professional wedding celebrant.
3. Personal bias: Your friend may have personal biases that could impact the ceremony, such as religious beliefs or personal preferences.
4. Added stress: Having a friend officiate your wedding can add stress to your relationship and the wedding planning process.

Now onto my top fav Celebrants in Melbourne!!

So yes they are all female, this is purely because I’ve only worked with women thus far, as I said before I will only recommend people I know. These are my top favourite celebrants. 

Megan Jordan – https://meganjordan.com.au/

Lover of bold bright prints, good food and indoor plants, Megan never met a statement earring she didn’t like. But her greatest passion is creating connected, inclusive and joyful celebrations, for ALL the lovers. An engaging story teller and awesome wordsmith, Megan works with you to create a ceremony that will be the highlight of your wedding day. Based in Melbourne and happy to travel.

Megan and I go way back I’ve known this fruity gal for 13 years!! WOW time flies, I photographed her wedding as well ( and we’re still friends woo haha)

But Megan is so fantastic one of the best celebrants in Melbourne, and I dare you not to fall in love with her!

You’ve got the love events – https://www.youvegotthelove.com.au/

I recently met Shelly, she is so colourful and bubbly that I just adored her! Shelly loves parties – especially weddings! She’s been in the industry since 2005 and has taken part in  hundreds of happy – successful wedding days! She takes great pride in making your day unforgettable. With most couples looking for an authentic experience when it comes to their ceremony. Shelly lends her natural style to this beautifully while sprinkling it with her signature spark of fun, laughter and many happy tears.

Celebrant Ruby – https://www.celebrantruby.com/

I worked with Ruby at a recent wedding. She is so warm and a fantastic story teller. She is also very detailed oriented and highly organised, the ceremony we worked together, was rather an emotional one ( Even I was crying! Several times in fact, I know I know I can’t help it) But  Ruby she was fantastic making sure everything ran so smoothly. What matters to Ruby is to craft and deliver a ceremony where you and your guests are entertained. Ruby’s ceremony design method and delivery will have your guests thinking “that was an amazing ceremony”. She’s adaptable and I will go with the flow. Ruby includes different elements into her ceremonies where you will have a bit of fun but also have the important sections where they belong.

So there you have it, my favourite celebrants in Melbourne, it’s a short list but a good list! I hope you’ve enjoyed reading this and found it helpful. Please leave any comments on more content you would like to see.

Check out my favourite blog about planning your wedding timeline – https://liminalwonderland.com/how-to-organise-your-wedding-timeline/

About the Author

Jennifer MacDonald at Liminal Wonderland loves anything sci-fi and re runs of Gilmore girls. Loves baking and Champagne. Jennifer spends her free time hanging out with her husband and toddler that keeps her active. Jennifer is a wedding photographer based in Melbourne, Vic. She specialises in capturing artistic portraits paired with unique storytelling moments to produce natural, emotional wedding photography for fearless lovers.