HOT TOPIC: wedding worries Our experts solve your problems READY, SET, PLAN! Q – We’re getting ready to book a celebrant. What should we ask before booking? Congratulations on deciding to have a celebrant-led ceremony! You already know that you want something different for your wedding day and are happy to go off-script to achieve the ceremony you really want. A celebrant-led wedding is intimate and special, but the right supplier can elevate the merely fabulous to create something completely magical. Your supplier is going to spend a lot of time with you, getting to know you and learning about your journey so far. They will listen to your story and weave it into your wedding script with the right amount of gravitas, warmth, humour and sentiment for you as a couple. For this reason, you need to make sure that they’re right for you. My number one piece of advice is to speak to as many celebrants as you need to in person, by phone or by video call and find out what their style is. Ask them questions about themselves, the way they work and what type of wedding they most like to officiate. Do they have a similar vibe to you and your fiancé? Do they have a similar sense of humour? Will they be able to set the right tone for your day and get the party started in style? With the right pairing, both parties should arrive on the day feeling comfortable and calm, like they’ve been best friends for years! Deborah Bootle Celebrant www.ribblevalleycelebrant.com PLANNED TO PERFECTION Q – How can we find the perfect wedding planner? One of the best questions to ask is whether or not the supplier is specialised. Can they do any type of wedding? This is important because booking someone who is a jack of all trades means you may not get as much value for your money as you would with someone specialised. This is because specialised suppliers will have spent time learning and perfecting their niche. For example, if you’re having an indoor wedding close to home, then you don’t want to hire someone who focuses on destination weddings as they wouldn’t be able to provide you with the services you need. Moreover, ask to see their contract and their terms and conditions. Many planners don’t have much wriggle room when it comes to this, so you need to make sure it suits your needs. Each contract will be similar, but little things may be different depending on the supplier, such as what would happen if a late payment was to occur. Deanna Melia Wedding planner www.yourforeverafter.co.uk 46
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