Planning Your Wedding Ceremony with Meg Stanier Celebrant: Expectations for Couples in the North East of England and Yorkshire

Hello! I'm Meg, an independent celebrant based in the Northeast, UK.

I'm a relaxed, storytelling wedding and family celebrant who loves nothing more than getting to know her couples/ families and collaborating on their personalised ceremony. If you've stumbled on this blog post or been sent it by me directly... welcome! I really hope this guide helps you understand the celebrant ceremony planning process if you book me to be your wedding, vow renewal or naming day celebrant!

It all starts with a discovery call

It's absolutely a no obligation! I never want any of my couple's to book me without jumping on a call first, my reason being I don't want you to feel pressured to book. I want you to book if YOU feel I'm the right person for you, hiring a celebrant is such a personal thing and I want to make sure we gel as we'll be communicating throughout your planning!

This is your chance to jump on a zoom call and chat all about your wedding plans (including your ceremony), ask me any questions you would like, and I'll also go over the process in more detail. Everything is completely transparent from the off.

I'll send you a detailed email afterwards so you can just relax knowing everything will be given in writing for you to make your decision!

You've booked me as your Celebrant! Fantastic!

You've said "yes" and I'm absolutely over the moon!

Once your deposit (£200) has been paid and T&C signed, you're ready to go! I'll have also sent you the couple's quiz so make sure to get a date night booked in.

Date night quiz: Meg Stanier Celebrant's Couples Quiz

My 'couples quiz' goes over everything!

I won't give too much away but asks you questions about how you met, special and/or hilarious memories, views on family and marriage, your favourite things about each other and more!

It also delves into your plans for your day e.g. ceremony space, music, readers, vows but, don't worry, I'm on hand to answer any questions you may have!

Please complete this no later than 4 months before your ceremony!

Some couple's love to complete this together but I have had others do it separately and compare answers - there's no right or wrong way!

Time to plan! Your personal, storytelling ceremony script

Once you've completed the quiz over a cuppa or a bottle of wine, send it over to me and I'll start planning.

At this point, I may send some ideas over e.g. symbolic elements and readings, but there's never any pressure - it's just my creative brain coming up with ideas as I read your answers.

I'll then begin writing a rough draft of your personalised ceremony script... typing away!

You've got Meg Mail: Your first glimpse of your ceremony script!

And I want to hear EVERYTHING! What you love, what you want to change, how you felt when you read it... Whatever it is, remember: It's your script, I'm just the writer!

At this point we'll also book in a face-to-face meeting (if able... if not, zoom!) to catch up, go over your ceremony in more detail and discuss any changes/answer any questions you may have! Hopefully over a good coffee!

Details matter when wedding ceremony planning

And I'm not talking about making everything look pretty (but this is also important of course), I'm also talking about font sizes for readers, print outs for anyone who needs them and where you want me stood during the ceremony... making sure everyone is comfortable and relaxed for the big day!

We will also chat about vow/reading/certificate design (if you choose to have these) and look at your script in more depth too (plus, just have a good natter and catch up!)

Preparing for your celebrant ceremony

At this point, we'll most likely be emailing pretty frequently with final designs, script amendments and I'll also help with vow writing too (if you choose to write your own vows). We'll keep going until everything is exactly how you like it and then we can all relax and look forward to your big day! Once everything is done, you can chill and I'll be busy working behind the scenes!

The last couple of weeks: my celebrant 'to do' list:

• Printing your wedding/vow renewal or naming day ceremony script.

• Reading through your script to double check it flows and add little annotations for when I'm conducting your ceremony.

• Print any vow cards, reading cards or decorative certificates we've designed to suit your theme.

• Get any symbolic elements e.g. handfasting, sand ceremonies, ready for your big moment.

• Pack my ceremony bag, ready to go.

• If your ceremony is outside, I may also bring my mics, so I'll be checking they're all charged and ready to go.

• Of course, I'll be available to answer any last minute questions too!

• I'll send you co-ordinator or planner a ceremony plan and let them know my ETA on the day (usually 1.5 hours before).

On your day

I'll be there 1.5 hours before at the latest. Why so early? You may ask...

That's because I want time to check out your ceremony space, to chat to your suppliers, go over cues and to simply just make sure I'm there! I hate rushing!

Then... your big moment has arrived... the ceremony we've spent months collorating on to make truly personal to you is finally here and we're about to start your day in the most beautiful way... telling your story. We'll have such a fab time and after your ceremony I'll stay for a short while before coming to say goodbye. Leaving you to enjoy the best day of your life with your friends and family!

After your day

I'll send you keepsakes in the post, your final 'Meg Mail!'.

Enclosed will be a copy of your bespoke script and any vow, reading cards or other bits we've created together.

My goal is to make planning your ceremony a relaxed, fun experience. A time where you can reminisce about time gone by whilst looking forward to your future together.

It would be my pleasure to be trusted with your story, if you'd like to see if your date is free or to book in a discovery call, please just fill out my contact form. I am based in the North East but I do travel and have covered Cumbria, Nottinghamshire, Yorkshire, Derbyshire and more so far!

Photos: Silver Bird Photography and Joss Denham Photo

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