- Ann Lord CMC
One of the main things I look for when choosing suppliers is that they must be reflective of my style. I look for people who are down to Earth, professional and have no agenda other than giving my clients a wonderful wedding day.
When I met Ann Lord at a wedding back in 2009, I knew immediately that she would be a celebrant that my clients would warm to and with the choice of celebrant being imperative to the wedding day (after all, without them there is no wedding) I knew she would be an excellent addition to my team of suppliers.
In Ann’s opinion, “Selecting the person who is going to be the one declaring you to be ‘husband and wife’ should be one of the ‘biggies’ in planning your wedding. While the dress, the flowers, the photographs and the reception afterwards are all important elements of the big day, your ceremony is the one chance to have someone tell your story and convey your love for each other in front of your family and friends. Oh, and you want to make sure you actually get married! The legalities and paperwork beforehand, on the day and afterwards are an important part of the celebrant’s work – and as a wedding guest, you really only see the celebrant’s public performance.”
Ann has been happily married for almost 17 years and has two young children, six and four years old. “When the children were babies I felt the need to extend my brain in another direction but couldn’t face the thought of doing any more study at university! I saw an advertisement in the paper for the marriage celebrancy course and immediately signed up. Three years down the track, I love the diversity of being a mum, continuing part-time work in the education sector and sharing in such a special occasion nearly every weekend. From small and intimate backyard or beach ceremonies to weddings with over 200 guests, I get a buzz out of each and every one.”
Here are Ann’s top 10 tips for choosing your celebrant…
- Start with the celebrant’s website and/or Facebook page. Do you get a good first impression? Save yourself some time and organise a chat on the phone first before you decide to meet them, or exchange a few emails to ‘get a feel’ for their personality.
- Do they offer an ‘obligation free’ meeting to see if they are the right person for you?
- Can the celebrant confidently explain the legal requirements for your situation?
- Do they have photos or examples of other ceremonies they have conducted? Check out what they are wearing, where they are standing, etc.
- What’s the background of your celebrant? An older celebrant with 2000 ceremonies under their belt isn’t necessarily an inspiring person you ‘connect’ with – lots of newer celebrants come with experience in public speaking and are great communicators!
- Can they help you write your own vows and do they have lots of samples and ideas for your ceremony? Writing your ceremony should be a shared undertaking, with you being guided to have the ceremony YOU want.
- Will the celebrant be available to talk, email or meet several times? Will they come to, and facilitate, a rehearsal?
- What sorts of things are included in the fee? Are there any additional charges?
- Do they have a PA system with two microphones that can play music from an iPod or CD?
- Is your celebrant a member of a professional association? Membership of a group such as the Australian Federation of Civil Celebrants shows a commitment to the profession and access to a network of experienced colleagues.
For more information on Ann’s services head to www.annlord.com.au
Lara x