How much does a marriage celebrant charge on the Central Coast or in the Hunter Valley?

There’s a Jack for every Jill when on the hunt for the perfect marriage celebrant.

I always say: you get what you pay for, and you pay for what you value!

Chances are this is your first time wedding planning, which means it’s the first time you’ve had to sit down and figure out how much your wedding is going to cost. And, chances are, you’re either starting to feel a little overwhelmed or a little shocked by the cost of a wedding!

I’ll leave the cost of the other vendors to them, but what I can help you with is understanding why there are so many variations in costs for marriage celebrants on the Central Coast and Hunter Valley. Don’t they all do the same thing?

Short answer: no. Did you know, there’s only 125 words that legally need to be spoken in a wedding ceremony to be legit under Australian law? There’s also five legal documents that need to be signed, the first one a minimum of one calendar month before the wedding. 

A marriage celebrant in Australia has to complete a Certificate IV in celebrancy, and keep up to date with industry changes (the Government tests us, and charges us, every year to stay registered).

Technically, us celebrants can rock up five minutes before the ceremony, say the same words we say every time except swap out your names, and head for the hills once we’re done. If you’re after that kinda ceremony, then there’s certainly a celebrant out there for you: and you’ll know because they’ll be dirt cheap. Some are even cheaper than the $600 it costs for a registry wedding. But, dear buyer, beware! You will get what you pay for.
I love that there is a celebrant out there for every couple, and if I’m not for you, I’ll honestly recommend another industry colleague who I think is a better fit. There are celebrants who love dressing up in period costume, celebrants who will speak multiple languages, and celebrants who will skydive into your ceremony, do a cartwheel and light a firecracker as they perform an incredible show.

Celebrants all come with their own bags of tricks from their previous careers and lives outside of weddings, and that’s where you get value. If you book me, you know that you’re getting a professional writer. I’ve spent the good part of two decades working as a journalist, connecting to people from all walks of life and sharing their stories in newspapers and on TV in a way that keeps people interested, engaged and entertained. I’ve worked in some high pressure corporate roles, managing crises and preparing executives for moments in the spotlight. And I’ve worked in hospitality, making sure I’m maintaining a cool, calm, happy and helpful vibe while making sure people are quite simply having a great time. 

You’ll get access to my Couples Portal, where you can read about ceremony ideas you never knew you needed; you can dig into my playlists to find inspo for the perfect wedding ceremony songs; and you can read my ultimate guide to writing the best wedding vows ever (and I will, and do, suggest edits so those vows of yours are seriously A-mazing).

I’ll bring my professional PA system (speaker and wireless microphone) to your wedding; I’ll make sure I look professional and on-theme; I’ll work with you on your vows and have them printed onto lovely cards so that you don’t need to worry about them on the day.

I’ll lodge your marriage and order your official marriage certificate for you. I’ll work with your family, your other vendors, your in-laws, so that you don’t need to experience overwhelm or stress.

A lot of my amazing industry peers have or still work as nurses or teachers, and their nurturing, helpful and calm instincts just shine when they’re channeling those skills as a celebrant. Other marriage celebrants I know have come from the events and entertainment industries, where they’ve mastered the art of a solid runsheet and a dazzling performance.

Whatever their skills and background, each celebrant will bring something unique to your ceremony to hopefully make it a lot more memorable and personalised than the old copy paste ‘insert name’ style of a couple of decades ago.

Which means they’re putting in anywhere from 5 - 30 hours planning, writing, scripting, interviewing, taking phonecalls and responding to emails, liaising with other vendors (and your Aunt Petunia who insists on a surprise reading), and traveling to your wedding. We’re maintaining our fancy equipment, researching trends and lovingly pouring energy into being the best we can be. We’re working with the Department of Births Deaths and Marriages and the Attorney General’s Department to ensure your wedding is legal and lodged, all while you’re hopefully relaxing, knowing we’ve got you.

So, to the numbers. The costs of a marriage celebrant on the Central Coast, Newcastle, Sydney and Hunter Valley can range from about $500 up to more than $3,000. It’s relatively unregulated in that regards, but at the time of writing (mid 2024), the average for the most common style of ceremony sits between $1,400 and $2,300.

When you’re looking for a celebrant, think about what else they’re bringing to your day other than the 125 legal words. Think about the hours they’re putting in, and if they value their work enough to be charging accordingly. Sometimes, you can’t put a price on how their professional skills will shape the memories of your magical day.