My passion is to provide the most enriching Ceremony possible. 

One that you and your loved ones, want to share in, and be a part of. 

 +61 (0) 457 00 1922
lou@alifecelebrant.com.au

A celebrant for all special occasions in your journey of life.

Your Life Events: Weddings, Commitments; Naming Ceremonies; Memorials & Funerals, & More

All prices are quoted in Australian dollars and are subject to change.

  •  I currently hold a GST exemption and so no GST is payable or claimable.

How to Pay details are at the bottom of this page.

This table sets out most fees that might be associated with a wedding but for more detail, scroll down.
Fee May 2024

 

Wedding Ceremony with the extra personal touch

The base fee for a unique ceremony written especially for you (but with legalities included) and held at a place of your choice#

  • An obligation-free zoom meeting, then other meetings as required
  • Includes travel up to 60klms
  • Explanation of the legalities involved
  • All preparatory legal documents including NOIM, Declarations, Marriage Ceremony Certificates for Ceremony (excluding Immigration Letters etc)
  • Individually crafted ceremony to your personal design/desire
  • Colour Copy of Ceremonial Booklet
  • Files shared via a Dropbox
  • Use of PA System/s if needed (usually is)
  • photo tips & event checklists
  • Use of Feathered Pens, Signing Table,  Tablecloth, and some accessories or props, if needed
  • Suggestions or help re vows, rituals, poems, readings, song options, etc.
  • Some little added extras are included e.g. photos & static video.
  • The Ceremony of course!
  • Registration of marriage but does not include the Registration Certificate (Standards Marriage Certificate from Registry) which is extra -see below*
  • for excess travel & tolls etc. please see below

You can even write your own Ceremony if you wish,  or for an extra fee, have a favourite person or family member conduct much of the Ceremony under my close supervision to ensure legal compliance. 

$700

(or $785 with BDM Certificate)

 

Rehearsal of Ceremony

  • As a rehearsal can take longer than an actual Ceremony, there is a fee for time involved.
  • for excess travel & tolls etc. please see the chart or below

$350

(+trvl)

Commitment or Renewal of Vows Ceremony    

  • almost the same as a Marriage ceremony but without the legals.
  • Ceremony at a place of your choice within 60klms.
  • Obligation-free meeting
  • Individually crafted ceremony to your personal design/desire
  • Suggestions re vows, rituals, poems, readings, song options, etc.
  • Copy of Ceremonial Booklet
  • Unique commitment ceremony certificate
  • PA system/s if needed
  • Files shared via a Dropbox
  • Use of Feather Pens, signing table,  tablecloth if needed
  • Some photos & a bonus static video
  • Maybe some little added extras are included at my discretion.
  • for excess travel & tolls etc. please see below

$700

Baby Naming Ceremony

  • Ceremony at a place of your choice within 60klms.
  • Obligation-free meeting
  • Individually crafted ceremony to your personal design/desire
  • Suggestions re vows, rituals, poems, readings, song options, etc.
  • Copy of Ceremonial Booklet
  • Unique Ceremonial certificates for family & sponsors
  • PA system/s if needed
  • Files shared via a Dropbox
  • Use of Feather Pens, signing table,  tablecloth if needed
  • Some Digital photos & static video
  • Maybe some little added extras are included at my discretion.
  • for excess travel & tolls etc. please see below

$500

Funerals & Memorial services 

I’ll meet with you and liaise with the Funeral Directors, writing and conducting a Ceremony that honours your loved one

  • Obligation-free meeting
  • Individually crafted ceremony incorporating your choices
  • Ceremony at a place of your choice
  • suggestions re: rituals, poems, readings, song options, etc.
  • Copy of Ceremonial Booklet
  • PA system/s if needed
  • Files shared via a Dropbox
  • Use of props as needed e.g. display table,  easel/s, tablecloth, candle holders, lantern
  • Some Digital photos & static video
  • Maybe some little added extras are included at my discretion.
  • travel to within 60klms of Manyana
  • additional fees may apply for optional extra services – see below for excess travel & tolls etc. please see below
  • provision of a template for a photo colage 
  • There is a chart on this page that outlines an estimate of any additional travel charges that may apply if the ceremony is more than 60klms from the Celebrant’s home

$500

Viewing & Prayer Services

Following the funeral preparation meeting, if required, I’ll prepare an additional short service that will include your choice of readings, prayers, poetry, or words, to complement the funeral service

  • Individually crafted ceremony
  • Ceremony at a place of your choice within 60klms.
  • Suggestions re rituals, poems, readings, song options, etc.
  • Copy of Ceremonial Booklet
  • for excess travel & tolls etc. please see below

$400

Pet Funerals & Memorial services

I’ll meet with you and liaise with other parties before writing and conducting a Ceremony that honours the love shared with furry, feathered, scaled or hooved, loved one

  • Individually crafted ceremony
  • Ceremony at a place of your choice within 60klms.
  • Suggestions re rituals, poems, readings, song options, etc.
  • Copy of ceremonial Booklet
  • for excess travel & tolls etc. please see below

$400

Additional Fees – #see more detail below

*Registration of Marriage Certificate

You can apply yourself at your local Marriage Registry, Service NSW, or online, however, if you would like me to order it for you when I register your Marriage, I just add a small processing fee. Usually, certificates are delivered directly to you by Certified mail.

$85.00

Public Holiday surcharge: add

$500.00

Travel Kilometres to any area over 60klms, plus tolls, plus excess travel time:

  • add $20 per 10 kilometres or part thereof for kilometres travelled.
  • add tolls as applicable 
  • add travel time if over 1-hour journey
  • allow additional time for breaks every 2 hours

 

 

Accommodation – where more than 8 hours in one day is required

Depending on the location, event/s, time involved, and travel time, accommodation may be required for safety and more than one night might be required. Travel Meals are a part of the accommodation 

*The fee is an estimate only and may vary depending on accommodation costs

$20 per 10Klms

$50 per hour travel

 

 

*est. $300 per night  

IMMIGRATION VISA SUPPORT & OTHER LETTERS

Letters in support of a Partner/Fiancé/Marriage Visa applications can only be issued after the lodgement of a completed NOIM with proof of ID and payment of the full fee. The letter contains only factual information in regard to a scheduled wedding ceremony.
A copy of the NOIM is NOT provided to immigration agents as the Attorney General has advised that a copy of the NOIM is not required for such matters and Immigration Agents should be well aware of that.
Any additional actions including responding to requests for additional information from  immigration agents or  authorities, attending hearings or similar, will incur additional fees.

$200

SHORTENING OF TIME

  • Letter to Support the S.O.T. Application
  • preparation of the application
  • email/phone a Prescribed Authority if required
  • This fee does not include kilometres travelled which incurs an additional fee or $20 per 10klms or part thereof
  • Attendance at a Prescribed Authority is charged at an additional $50 per hour including travel time

 $200+

PHOTO COLLAGES (WITH SCANNING)

A Collection of photos collated into a PowerPoint presentation or video for display at a Ceremony or event.

Photos & slides can be scanned on location using my portable scanner & laptop

$220-$350

PHOTO COLLAGES (NO SCANNING OR EDITING)

A Collection of photos collated into a PowerPoint presentation of video for display at a Ceremony or event.

 $220

VIDEO EDITING

Your 15-minute video edited into a format of your choosing, for display at a Ceremony or event, or just for a keepsake.

$300*

+ $30ph after 5 hours

VIDEO RECORDING & EDITING

Attend your ceremony for one hour to Record your ceremony using digital Video cameras, and later merging & editing any video provided by the Chapel or other third parties, into a single video recording that includes some photos and titling, for personal use.

$500

MC FOR YOUR EVENT

  • Obligation-free preparation meeting 
  • Individually crafted script or schedule to your personal design/desire or traditions
  • suggestions re: activities, rituals, poems, readings, song options, etc.
  • Copy of script
  • Unique Certificates where appropriate
  • PA system/s if needed
  • Files shared via a Dropbox
  • Use of props as needed e.g. display table,  easel/s, tablecloth, candle holders, lantern
  • Some Digital photos & video recordings
  • Maybe some little added extras are included at my discretion.
  • for excess travel & tolls etc. please see below

$800*

+ $50ph after 5 hours
 

CO-CELEBRANT

Having a family member or friend conduct your ceremony under my close supervision is an excellent way of making your ceremony unique and I have, on many occasions worked with Ministers, Priests, Elders, and family members or friends of the couple, enabling that person to conduct the ceremony (except the legal bits of course) however it does require extra time and effort in training the c0-celebrant to ensure the ceremony is conducted properly to meet legal requirements. It can more than double my work. I have to rewrite scripts others have prepared without training, but have only twice had to interrupt a ceremony when a person went off script. 

$200*

#For the list of NSW BDM fees for direct application to that gvt dept., click HERE

  • Gratuities (Tips) & Reviews

Reviews are very helpful to me and highly encouraged.

Gratuities are not expected but do occur from time to time and so a portion of any gratuity will go to the Society of St Vincent de Paul to assist those in need.

Terms and Conditions –

Click on this line to download the Service Contract

  • The NOIM lodgement fee is due upon NOIM Lodgement and is NOT refundable.
  • The Full balance is due no less than one month and one day prior to the wedding ceremony.
  • Invoices for funerals & memorials and other events are payable prior to the ceremony
  • Parking & tolls incurred are payable whether or not invoiced
  • If payment is not made, the Celebrant reserves the right not to attend and/or not to conduct the ceremony
  • The Celebrant reserves the right to cancel at a moment’s notice and without refund if he concludes:
    • it is unsafe in any way
    • a party to the Ceremony is intoxicated
    • the celebrant or any other party is abused, threatened, bullied or unsafe 
    • the parties cannot be lawfully married due to age, intimidation or a lack of real consent
    • The celebrant concludes that the ceremony may be invalidated
    • full payment has not been made
    • there is inclement weather or excessive temperature that can cause harm or damage
    • there is no lawful authority, licence or approval to hold the Ceremony at the venue 
    • the ceremony start is delayed by more than 20 minutes

Late Fee

  1. If a party is more than 20 minutes late for a Ceremony an additional fee of $250 will be payable to the Celebrant
  2. If a party to the Ceremony is more than 40 minutes late, the Celebrant may have to leave without conducting the Ceremony in which circumstances there will be no refund and an additional fee will apply for rescheduling
  3. If the Celebrant is late a discretionary partial refund may be applied

Refund Policy.

  1. There is no refund for a change of mind
  2. All refunds are at my discretion and in accordance with NSW Consumer law
  3. The NOIM lodgement fee is NOT refundable under any circumstances as it is payment for services already rendered.
  4. In the event that I instigate a cancellation prior to the event, you may receive a discretionary refund, less the lodgement fee depending upon the reason for cancellation.
  5. In the event that you cancel beyond 60 days before the ceremony, a discretionary Partial Refund, less the Lodgement Fee and any expenses incurred, may be available at the complete discretion of the Celebrant.

Circumstances where No Refund may be applicable, include:

  1. The lodgement fee is NOT refundable
  2. Cancellation within 31 days of the ceremony date,
  3. Cancellation of services because of a change of mind
  4. The Celebrant reserves the right not to attend and to provide no refund of any kind if the Celebrant feels threatened, bullied, is abused or feels unsafe.
  5. There is no refund if the venue site is not legally and reasonably accessible. (The definition of reasonable is at the Celebants discretion e.g must not involve climbing and any dangerous activity)
  6. There is no refund even if I instigate a cancellation because of safety concerns, an inability to safely access the venue, a party to the marriage is intoxicated, or there is an inability to contact you.
  7. A party to the Ceremony arrives more than 20 minutes late and the Celebrant has to leave for another appointment

Circumstances where a Partial Refund or Full Refund may be applicable, at the Celebrant’s discretion, include:

  1. My cancelling due to my illness, accident, or other unfortunate, unforeseen, circumstances preventing my ability to conduct the ceremony
  2. Cancellation of my services because of conclusive evidence of my breaching:
    • The Anti-Discrimination Act 1977
    • The Privacy Act 1988
    • The Trades Practices Act 1974
    • The Celebrants Code of Practice – Marriage Act 1961 (39G)
      • Note: Under paragraph 39I(1)(b) of the Marriage Act 1961, if the Registrar of Marriage Celebrants is satisfied that a marriage celebrant has not complied with an obligation under section 39G of that Act, including this Code of Practice, the Registrar may take disciplinary measures against the marriage celebrant. If you have any issue with my professionalism as a Celebrant at any stage, please feel free to contact the Attorney General’s Office or visit their website for more details www.ag.gov.au.

 

What does the Ceremony fee include?

  • $350 non-refundable Wedding admin & lodgement fee payable at the time of booking and no less than one month and one day before the Ceremony
  • The initial interview (usually an hour – or longer)
  • When the booking is confirmed, the creation of the final ceremony script begins;
  • Additional interviews for approvals and finalisation of ceremony script
  • Unlimited research at my discretion in preparation for your ceremony;
  • Scripting of the ceremony with as many drafts as I feel necessary for the final script;
  • Provision of a portable PA;
  • Unlimited email and phone communication from the clients to the celebrant;
  • The conducting/solemnisation of the marriage ceremony at any venue of your choice;
  • The provision of the three marriage certificates required (including the Ceremonial certificate that is handed to, and then kept by the couple);
  • Form printing/completion, lodging of the official certificate of marriage and all required documents relating to the marriage;
  • Travel costs in connection with solemnisation ceremony- if the distance of a return journey between the celebrant’s home and the place of marriage does not exceed 60klms.
  • official Ceremonial ‘Certificate of Marriage’

What doesn’t the Ceremony fee include?

Additional costs that may be incurred and be payable:

  • Rehearsals (an additional fee applies)
  • Travel costs in connection with the solemnisation ceremony if the distance between the celebrant’s home and the place of marriage exceeds 60km – ($20 per additional 10 km or part thereof)
  • motorway tolls
  • parking
  • venue fees of any kind
  • fines that are incurred if entry to the venue is not lawfully authorised
  • airfares,
  • transport fees such as taxi fares, uber fees, bus fares etc.
  • accommodation and meals where the one-way journey to the ceremony is in excess of 2 hours
  • BDM Marriage Certificate upon Registration of Marriage (the Commemorative Certificate given to you at your ceremony is included)
  • car hire,
  • printing,
  • creation of overheads,
  • scanning
  • signs, 
  • interpreter/ translation service,
  • letters of support,
  • extra certificates
  • postage
  • extra props or equipment or other costs etc…
  • Court or Prescribed Authority fees
  • Other additional charges as agreed.
  • anything that is not included in the list of inclusions
  • GST – I currently hold a GST exemption and so no GST is payable or claimable

How to Pay

All Invoices payable by Direct Deposit or Cash transfer to:

Account name:  A Life Celebrant
BSB:                    112-879
Account No.:    441 638 229

ABN 68 182 565 852 

 

This webpage and all of its contents were written for the purposes of copyright,  Created by Lou Szymkow,  for A Life Celebrant–Lou Szymkow, www.alifecelebrant.com.au,
© Copyright 2017; © Copyright 2018; © Copyright 2019; © Copyright 2020; © Copyright 2021; © Copyright 2022; © Copyright 2023; © Copyright 2024

A Life Celebrant
Civil, Marriage, Naming & Funeral Celebrant

Lou Szymkow – A Life Celebrant

The Celebrant of choice

Friendly, professional, reliable, helpful, approachable.

  • Civil, Marriage, Commitment, Naming & Funeral Celebrant
  • Commonwealth- Registered Marriage Celebrant
  • Manyana NSW. Australia – covering the Shoalhaven, South Coast to Sydney and out to Canberra & Goulburn

 +61 (0) 457 00 1922    lou@alifecelebrant.com.au

A celebrant for all special occasions in your journey of life.

Your Life Events: Weddings, Commitments; Naming Ceremonies; Funerals, Memorials & More

This webpage and all of its contents were written for the purposes of copyright,  Created by Lou Szymkow,  for A Life Celebrant–Lou Szymkow, www.alifecelebrant.com.au,
© Copyright 2017; © Copyright 2018; © Copyright 2019; © Copyright 2020; © Copyright 2021; © Copyright 2022, © Copyright 2023; © Copyright 2024

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1 Comment

  1. Les Cotroneo says:
    Posted on

    With thanks! Valuable information!

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