Wedding Celebrant Hire in Stroud, Gloucestershire

Ceremony by Design provides an independent, heart-led celebrant based in Gloucestershire, covering the Cotswolds, South West and beyond.

What do you need to know from an organiser in order to provide a comprehensive quote?

So that I can provide a comprehensive quote, there are only really two essentials - when you want your ceremony (date and time ideally) and where! The date is the first thing - I need to check if I'm available. It's also important because I have two levels of ceremony, one of which is only available on weekdays. It's also good to know that you already have your venue - whether that's a dedicated wedding venue, or your back garden. I can then let you know if mileage will need to be charged on top of my fee. I am transparent with my fees, which are published on my website - there are no hidden costs. Other than that, it's nice to know what kind of vibe you're thinking of, whether there are any specific things you want to include in the ceremony and how many guests - but we'll chat about all of that anyway in an introductory call or meeting.

What advice would you give to a customer looking to hire a provider in your area of work?

When you are working with a celebrant, there's a fair amount of trust involved. I'm going to get to know your story, and I'm going to ask you lots of questions. I'm the one standing up at the front with you on your wedding day - so you should both be comfortable with me, and be willing to spend some time working with me to make your day feel completely 'you'!
It's always good to check if there are any hidden costs - I charge a single fee, which covers everything, apart from mileage over 30 miles from home. If any specific supplies are needed on top, they are charged at cost. Some celebrants may charge extra for specific elements within your ceremony - such as including a unity candle or a hand tying ritual. Not all celebrants are comfortable - or able to - include religious or spiritual elements within your ceremony. I believe that your ceremony is about you, your love and your beliefs.
Check that your celebrant has insurance, and how they would plan to handle any last-minute problems - like if they came down with Covid before your ceremony for example. But most importantly, pick a celebrant you like and want to spend time with!

Please tell us a little bit about how and why you started the business.

I had thought about celebrancy off and on for years. And once my children were all old enough, I had the time and headspace to focus on it. I trained as a Heart-led celebrant at the start of 2020 and initially thought my focus would be mostly on funerals. But then I started doing weddings and I LOVE THEM! The comments that I get after a ceremony are generally that it sounded just like the couple, that the guests has never been to a wedding like it, that it just fit them, and how long have I known the couple. People are fully invested in your ceremony, and they feel that they've been included in a really special moment. I'm so lucky to have worked with couples that want their ceremony to be the heart of the day. My couples are the best <3

Please tell us about a booking you've had through Add to Event, how did it go? Would you recommend us to others?

The most recent wedding that I did that came through Add to Event was for Laura and Liam. Their festival themed wedding was so much fun, and I loved working on their ceremony. We had a quiz and hidden quotes from some favourite films - Hellraiser, Interstellar, Alien and Rocky Horror! They wrote fantastic vows, made their own handfasting cord and we finished with shots. There was laughter throughout, the guests were in tears at the sweet bits. It celebrated them, just the way they are. I'm so glad I answered their query!