Terms and Conditions of Booking
hank you for choosing me to be part of your wedding day. I know terms and conditions aren't the most exciting part of planning a wedding, but they are important. They simply make sure we both know what to expect, how your booking works and what happens if circumstances or plans change.
By paying your booking fee, you confirm that you have read and accepted these Terms & Conditions. Your booking is with Sarah Stewart (“the Celebrant”) for the provision of your agreed Humanist wedding ceremony.
1. Booking Fee
A non-refundable booking fee is required to secure your ceremony date. Your date is not confirmed until the booking fee has been received.
The booking fee reflects the reservation of your date and the initial administration and preparation associated with your ceremony. Once your booking is confirmed, I will decline other enquiries for the agreed ceremony time/date.
2. Balance Payment
The remaining balance is due 8 weeks before your wedding date, unless we have agreed otherwise in writing.
For weddings booked within 8 weeks of the ceremony date, payment arrangements will be agreed at the time of booking.
Any separate statutory, registration or administration fees payable to another organisation are not included in my celebrant fee unless specifically stated when you book.
3. Legal Marriage Arrangements
For a legally recognised Humanist marriage in Northern Ireland, the couple is responsible for completing the required legal marriage notice process, providing the necessary documentation and meeting all statutory deadlines.
I will provide guidance regarding the process and complete the documentation and celebrant requirements that are my responsibility.
However, responsibility for submitting your marriage notice and required documentation within the appropriate timeframe ultimately rests with you as the couple.
Failure to complete the legal requirements may mean that the legal marriage cannot take place on the planned date. This does not constitute cancellation by the Celebrant and ceremony fees will remain payable.
4. Cancellation by the couple
I completely understand that circumstances can change.
The booking fee is non-refundable in the event of cancellation, as your date has been reserved and preparation and administration may already have begun.
If you cancel after the final balance has been paid, fees already paid will normally be retained to reflect the date having been reserved and the work undertaken in preparing your ceremony.
Where exceptional circumstances arise, please contact me as soon as possible and I will always try to deal with the situation reasonably and fairly.
5. Postponement or Change of Date
If your wedding is postponed, your booking fee may normally be transferred to a new date, subject to my availability.
If the new date falls within a different pricing period, is at a different location, or involves substantially different travel or arrangements, the ceremony fee may be adjusted accordingly. Any change in fee will be discussed and agreed before the new date is confirmed.
If I am unavailable on your proposed new date, the change will be treated as a cancellation and the original booking fee will remain non-refundable.
Any fees already paid beyond the booking fee will be considered in light of the amount of ceremony preparation already completed.
6. Changes to Your Ceremony, Venue or Time
Your fee is based on the date, time, location and ceremony arrangements agreed when you book. Please let me know as soon as possible if any of these change.
Changes to the ceremony time, venue or location are subject to my availability and may incur an additional fee where they result in additional travel, accommodation or other significant costs. A substantial change of time cannot be guaranteed if I have another ceremony or commitment on the same day.
7. Ceremony Preparation
Your ceremony is individually written and created for you, so your input is an important part of the process.
I will provide questionnaires and/or request information to help me create your ceremony. I ask that these, along with details of readings, rituals, music and other ceremony elements, are returned within the timeframe we agree.
You will have the opportunity to review the relevant ceremony content before your wedding and request reasonable amendments.
Personal vows may, of course, remain private until the ceremony if you prefer.
Significant changes requested very close to the wedding date may not always be possible, particularly once the ceremony has been finalised.
8. If You Are Delayed on the Wedding Day
Please make every reasonable effort to begin the ceremony at the agreed time.
I will normally wait for up to 30 minutes beyond the agreed ceremony start time.
I appreciate that wedding days do not always run perfectly to schedule and I will always be as flexible as reasonably possible.
However, where a significant delay affects another ceremony or commitment, it may be necessary to shorten the ceremony, arrange for it to take place later that day where possible, or make alternative arrangements.
Where a ceremony cannot proceed because of significant delay on the part of the couple or wedding party, fees already paid will normally be retained.
9. If I Am Unable to Conduct Your Ceremony
In the very rare event that illness, emergency or another serious circumstance prevents me from conducting your ceremony, I will make every reasonable effort to arrange a suitably accredited replacement celebrant through my professional celebrant network.
Where possible, your agreed ceremony script and plans will be transferred to the replacement celebrant so that disruption to your ceremony is kept to a minimum.
If a replacement celebrant takes over the booking, any arrangements regarding outstanding work or fees will be explained to you.
If I am unable to conduct the ceremony and a suitable replacement cannot be arranged, all ceremony fees paid directly to me will be refunded.
10. Circumstances Beyond Our Control
Neither the couple nor the Celebrant will be considered responsible for failure or delay caused by circumstances genuinely beyond their reasonable control.
These may include serious illness or accident, extreme weather, significant travel disruption or road closures, venue closure, government restrictions or other exceptional events.
If something like this happens, we will communicate as soon as reasonably possible and work together to find the most practical solution, which may include delaying, relocating or rescheduling the ceremony.
11. Outdoor Ceremonies
If you are planning an outdoor ceremony, responsibility for providing a suitable alternative or contingency in the event of poor weather rests with the couple and/or venue.
I will always try to accommodate reasonable changes on the day, but the safety and comfort of everyone involved in the ceremony must be considered.
12. Personal Property & Ceremony Items
You are responsible for personal belongings and any items supplied for use during the ceremony, including rings, handfasting cords, candles, quaichs, sand ceremony items or other symbolic objects.
I will take reasonable care of anything entrusted to me, but cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage except where caused by my negligence.
13. Liability
I will provide my celebrant services with reasonable care and skill and in accordance with the arrangements agreed with you.
Nothing within these Terms & Conditions is intended to exclude or restrict any rights or protections that you have under applicable consumer law, or any liability which cannot legally be excluded or limited.
14. Photographs, Testimonials & Social Media
I love being able to share moments from the ceremonies I conduct, but I will not assume that you are comfortable with your photographs or personal story being used publicly.
Any use of your wedding photographs, ceremony content or testimonial for my website, portfolio or social media will be subject to your permission and, where appropriate, the rights of the photographer.
Choosing not to give permission will have absolutely no effect on your booking or ceremony.
15. Changes to These Terms
Any variation to the terms of your individual booking must be agreed in writing between you and the Celebrant.
The Terms & Conditions applicable to your booking are those provided or linked to you when your booking is confirmed.
Acceptance of Booking Terms
Payment of your booking fee confirms your booking and your acceptance of these Terms & Conditions.
If you have any questions about the terms, your ceremony or the booking process, please get in touch before paying your booking fee. I am always happy to clarify anything that is unclear.