Price differences between a Celebrant & Registrar Wedding
OK – strap yourself in, we are going to talk about money. It’s hard to ignore when planning a wedding because they can be expensive and even if it’s awkward to talk about, it’s a consideration we all have when wedding planning.
At some wedding fairs recently, couples and families coyly tried to enquiry about cost, so I thought I would explain the costs and what you get in comparison.
| Local Authority | Registrar at Licensed Venue | Legal Ceremony | Celebrant |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Helens Council | £475 – Monday – Thursday £550 – Friday £575 – Saturday £645 – Sunday | £56 | £600 |
| Warrington Council | £580 – Monday – Thursday £655 – Friday and Saturday £735 – Sunday | £56 | £600 |
| Wigan Council | £500 – Monday – Thursday £560 – Friday £560 – Saturday £600 – Sunday | £56 | £600 |
| Cheshire East Council | £680 – Monday – Friday £835 – Saturday & Sunday | £56 | £600 |
What does this mean?
If you lived in St Helens and wanted to get married at an approved venue, on a Saturday with a registrar in attendance, your officiant fees would breakdown like this:
£575 – Registrar – Standard ceremony for you as a couple, repeating the same “off the shelf” words for your wedding as every other couple the registrar has married that day/week/year. Often you won’t even know who is marrying you till the day!
OR
£56 – Legal Registration at Register Office (yourself plus witnesses and usually done at your convenience beforehand)
£600 – Celebrant led ceremony by someone who you has taken the time to get to know you and your loved ones. Who has built a ceremony built around your story, the things you love and the people you love. Nothing off the shelf and everything tailored just for you.
Total cost £656
So for an additional £81 you get a completely personalised ceremony. It can be full of all your favourite things and is led by someone you know that has crafted the perfect ceremony that reflects who you truly are.
