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FAQ

  • What is an independent ethical celebrant and what is their role?
    As an independent ethical celebrant, I am here to help YOU make the most of life’s celebrations without restriction. I write and perform bespoke ceremonies to celebrate life’s special moments. I have performed wedding ceremonies, baby naming’s and even a funeral, but I am open to any other type of ceremony that you might be interested in. I do not follow any particular religious ethos so am open to designing ceremonies that respect any beliefs or traditions you may wish to include. With regards to weddings, this does mean that I am not in a position to marry you legally.
  • How do I complete the legal side of my wedding separately?
    It is more straightforward than you think! All couples getting married in Ireland must give notice to the HSE with an appointment at the Civil Registration Service. This should be done at least 3 months in advance of the ceremony date (earlier if possible!) and can be done online in some areas. You will then attend a second appointment to sign your legal papers at a civil ceremony with 2 witnesses. More information on the process can be found here
  • Why would I do all of these separate steps to get married when I can get a one stop shop somewhere else?
    There actually is no ‘one stop shop’ as you will have to attend the notification appointment regardless. Independent celebrants offer you a bespoke ceremony with far more input as to what YOU want rather than the standard ceremony that so many of us have seen 100s of times before. Getting married is a truly special occasion so why not spread the celebration? Many of my couples have turned the Civil Ceremony where they legally signed their papers into a mini family celebration with their absolute nearest and dearest. The celebrant-led ceremony then encompasses your wider circle of family and friends, and some of the pressure can actually be lifted with the solemn act of signing the papers removed from the ceremony.
  • How much does it cost?
    Fees vary depending on the ceremony and there may be some additional costs relating to ceremony enhancements or travel expenses but as a general rule, I charge €450.00 for a wedding and €250.00 for a baby naming. Prices for other ceremony types are available on request. Please ‘GET IN TOUCH’ for details (link to contact form).
  • How long does the process take?
    When it comes to weddings or vow renewals, I like to take some time to get to know my couple so a lead in time of 6 months or more is ideal but it is possible to do it in less. It is better to have plenty of time for us to exchange drafts of the ceremony to make sure that it is exactly right for you. The final draft should be approved one month in advance of the ceremony date to allow for some rehearsal on my part and any last-minute clarifications.
  • What does an independent ethical ceremony involve?
    Literally anything that you like! We can include very traditional elements like readings and music, as well as ceremony enhancements. I find that people with more religious families will stick with using candle ceremonies in weddings and baby naming’s as they are more familiar there are many different options available – get in touch for more information! (This can have a link to the contact form until I get the blog fully up and running)
  • How long does the ceremony last?
    It is very dependent on what elements you wish to include but generally the ceremonies will run from 20 to 40 minutes maximum.
  • Where can I have my ceremony?
    That is completely and utterly up to you! Mostly, I have performed wedding ceremonies in hotels but there are lots of other quirkier options available now, particularly if you decide to hold a micro-wedding. Baby naming’s can also be in a hotel or venue, or in your home. If you have a large garden that you spent most of lockdown doing up, why not consider that for a ceremony?!
  • What are the next steps?
    Get in touch! If you already have your date and venue booked, let me know so that I can check availability. If I am free on your date, we can arrange a call over Zoom or Skype to meet and get to know each other a little better. Once confirmed, I will send you a contract to sign along with booking fee and payment details. followed by a consultation form to get an idea of what you would like to include in your ceremony, along with some samples of my work, readings, etc. Circumstances allowing, we would then meet in person to go through all of the above so that I can start writing the first draft (this may be virtual for the foreseeable). You will have the perfect bespoke ceremony created before you know it.
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