FAQs

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions. If anything is not covered here, please reach out and contact me.

1. First things first – what are your fees?

My fee is a flat $595 CAD for ceremonies of any size or type in Nanaimo and area. This includes travel. I am also willing to undertake travel to the Lower Mainland and the Sea to sky corridor as far north as Whistler. Travel fees apply including ferry costs where required. For ceremonies that do NOT have a Nanaimo address, travel fees will apply based on distance. I am willing to travel to the south island (Victoria and area) and all points from Nanaimo to Victoria, to the West coast and intervening locations (including Port Alberni, Ucluelet, Tofino) and as far north as Campbell River. I cannot undertake travel further north than Campbell River. NOTE that as a qualified level 3 ski instructor/expert skier, I am happy to perform skiing ceremonies at locations such as Mt Washington, but WILL require a day-pass.

I am able and willing to perform ‘adventure’ ceremonies such as heli-weddings.

I use this link to calculate distances. Distance is calculated at 61c per km which is in line with government mandates.

NOTE Overnight accommodation costs may be required for some distance weddings, depending on the time of the ceremony.

My fee is payable in full within ONE WEEK of my sending the contract. I send the contract as soon as the couple inform me that they would like to retain my services.

Should I not be in receipt of fee and contract a minimum of one month from when the contract is sent to the client, any verbal/email agreement will be null and void and clients must seek another officiant. If clients are in difficulty over meeting this deadline, they are welcome to discuss with me and I will endeavour to seek a solution.

My fee includes:

A free, no-obligation consultation either in person or by telephone call, Skype or Zoom. During the consultation we get acquainted, decide if we are a good ‘fit’, and discuss the practicalities of your ceremony ideas (if any). I cannot do FaceTime.
A complete information package including all a couple needs to know about obtaining a licence, plus complete info on suggested ceremony content and flow. My info package walks a couple through the entire ceremony process. The package is sent to couples on receipt of contract and fee or can be sent at a date closer to the wedding, depending on timing and on the couple’s preference. The info pack includes a Questionnaire which is time sensitive and a deadline will be indicated.
Crafting and writing a bespoke ceremony script, created from scratch, in collaboration with the clients. I expect this to take, including email exchanges,anything up to 15 hours or more. During the writing process clients have unlimited access to discuss/suggest changes and additions. PLEASE NOTE: a ceremony script is considered FINAL one week before the wedding date; no changes will be considered after this time, except for reasonable and sensible changes that may become obvious at the rehearsal (if any). ONLY changes suggested or desired by the couple, will be considered. Family members or friends who contact me to request changes or additions, will be referred to the couple.
My attendance at a pre-ceremony rehearsal, day-previous only (not morning-of) depending on my availability, for up to two hours maximum, IN NANAIMO ONLY if my presence is needed beyond the two hours due to absence or tardiness of participants, additional fees of $50 per every additional hour, will apply. I can lead the rehearsal in the absence of a wedding planner, if needed. It is a good idea to appoint someone to act as a ‘wrangler’ for rehearsals, to be sure all participants are there in a timely fashion!
PLEASE NOTE: I cannot attend rehearsals for weddings outside of Nanaimo, or the additional travel costs become too onerous. If a couple are insistent on my attendance at a non-Nanaimo rehearsal, (for example if they have no planner to conduct a rehearsal) I can attend with an additional rehearsal travel fee of $50.
A yummy goody bag with locally sourced treats during high wedding season. During low wedding season/quiet times, couples are presented with a keepsake copy of their ceremony.
Goody bags are also gifted to PARTICIPATING children, (flower girls, junior bridesmaids, ring bearers etc.) which are age and gender appropriate and contain items such as stickers and other small treats, plus candy with prior approval of parents. Goody bags of suitable edible treats are also gifted to PARTICIPATING dogs, (usually ring-bearers) with prior approval of owners.
Unlimited guidance, counselling and leadership on selecting readings, blessings/benedictions, and rituals.
NOTE: I do not engage in the ‘smudging’ ritual, which I consider to be cultural appropriation, and I do not engage in the release/use of live creatures such as butterflies, doves, owls etc.
Registration of Marriage Licence with the Provincial Government Agency of Vital Statistics. The Agency will mail couples a Certificate usually within 2-3 weeks.
If needed, a letter of Proof of Legal marriage while awaiting your Certificate. Please request such a letter in advance.

In addition to the above practicalities, I will undertake to arrive at your ceremony no less than 20mns before the commencement time, probably more, and will undertake to work seamlessly, cordially and graciously with your other wedding vendors where I am required to do so.

My fee for VOW RENEWALS includes:

Assistance and advice on choice of Vow Renewal location, if required.
Help with plotting for a 'surprise' ceremony, if required.
Some simple decor for the ceremony space, if needed.
Creating and writing a personalized Vow Renewal ceremony script, in full consultation with the client.
My attendance to deliver the ceremony.
A keepsake copy of the ceremony mailed to your address.

Ask me about special rates for Vow Renewals, for Vancouver Island locals, and for active First Responders and military.

2. We have no idea how to create our wedding ceremony - will you help us?

Your wedding ceremony is without doubt the most meaningful, and probably the most moving, element of your entire wedding day. Thinking of what to include and what to say, can be daunting. That’s why I’m here. As a certified Lifecycle Celebrant™ I am trained to craft meaningful and memorable ceremonies unique to every couple. It is important to understand that I am a guide and facilitator, YOU have ultimate control over your ceremony, I collaborate with you to create a ceremony script that reflects your values and beliefs.

3. So we think we’re a good fit. What’s next?

That's terrific! First please note that when couples make an inquiry, some deadlines apply in order to discourage 'ghosting' and to ensure that dates are not tied up on my calendar that could be available to others. Following my 'affirmative, available' answer to an inquiry, couples have TEN days in which to respond yes/no, or to request a meeting/call/zoom. If no communication at all is received within the ten days, the inquiry is deleted. Couples have SEVEN days following a meeting/call/zoom in which to make a decision. If the decision is 'yes, we'd like to book' I send my contract and instructions re paying my fee. Couples have SEVEN days in which to return my signed contract and fee (fee may or may not include travel fees, and clients may also be eligible for a discount, please see 'what are your fees' for clear directions on this.) When I am in receipt of contract and fee I open a file for you and we become a working team. These deadlines are firmly applied and couples are given a heads-up before inquiries are deleted.

On receipt of contract and fee we become a working team, your date is secured, and my information package is made available.

NOTE: Non-Canadian clients may not be able to pay by e-transfer. In that case my fee can be paid through PayPal with the addition of the $15 fee imposed on me by PayPal.

4. Can we include readings? What about vows? Rituals?

There are some elements of a ceremony that are legally required by the Province but other than that you can do whatever you want. YES absolutely. You can write your own ‘vows’ but PLEASE NOTE a couple’s personal words to each other are SEPARATE from the standard vows required by the government and are an optional ‘extra’ in your ceremony. Couples may write their own personal words/promises to speak to each other during the ceremony, but I do not get involved in writing those as they are very personal; however there is ample guidance online. I provide several choices of the standard, required vows. As an ordained minister of a provincially recognized religious body (Canadian International Metaphysical Ministry) I am free to include spiritual elements, a blessing, a prayer etc. (see next question).

Rituals can be a very moving element in a marriage ceremony; some are ancient, such as hand-fasting, some are more modern, such as the sand ceremony; there are multiple online resources to research rituals, and I am versed in many of them and can advise if you like.

Please note that I will not undertake to perform the 'smudging' ritual of cleansing with burning sage, as I consider this to be cultural appropriation. Thank you for your understanding.

Please note: ritual ‘props’ must be supplied by the couple and given to me in advance of the ceremony, preferably at the rehearsal, if any. I will undertake to supply a props list, as a reminder.

Most couples will at a minimum have vows, maybe some personal vows, ring exchange, and declaration of marriage (the kissing part) but it is easy to get carried away and go overboard… I suggest a maximum of 30mns for a ceremony is ideal.

5. What is the difference between a celebrant, an officiant, and a wedding commissioner?

In BC, marriage commissioners are government officials who perform non-religious wedding ceremonies in their area. Marriage commissioners must be retired or semi-retired, mature and known/active in their community. They can only apply to become commissioners if there is a vacancy in their area and there’s a maximum number of commissioners per city. Candidates are then short listed, interviewed and appointed. Commissioners can only hold their position for a maximum of 10 years.

Commissioners are required by the Province to conduct secular weddings only, no spirituality is allowed.

Celebrants/officiants can include any spiritual elements desired by the couple, though in practise each celebrant/officiant may vary in the nature and amount of such spiritual content depending on their own comfort level and experience. As an ordained minister in the Canadian International Metaphysical Ministry my own comfort level in this regard is very high, but it is something we could discuss during our initial consultation.

6. Other differences are in the areas of time, training and cost:

Marriage commissioners are not required to spend any time with their couple before the wedding other than to work out logistics, though many will spend time on the phone or skype/zoom. Officiants, on the other hand, usually invest a lot of time into their couples before the big day. Commissioners are not required to possess any specialized training, though they must make themselves familiar with procedures, while celebrants typically have followed a course of very specialized and thorough ceremony training (in my case, with the Celebrant Foundation and Institute).

Marriage commissioners in BC generally work from an approved ceremony script written by the government. Celebrants/officials, while including any legally required elements, create ceremony scripts unique to every couple. They/I do not do ‘cookie-cutter’ ceremonies from a template.

Cost is one of the significant differences between celebrants and commissioners:

On average, marriage commissioners are for sure the cheaper option. Their fees are listed on the BC government website. While officiants do usually cost more, they invest considerably more time, training and effort into ensuring every ceremony is unique to the couple.

At the end of the day what matters most is that you are comfortable with the person speaking the words that join you in marriage on your big day. This will depend on multiple factors including budget, personal values and needs, and comfort level. It is important to choose what YOU want, this is your wedding.

7. What happens about a marriage licence?

The couple is responsible for obtaining a marriage licence. I cannot do this for you. Be sure and bring it with you, or if possible give it to me at the rehearsal or the evening before the wedding (if no rehearsal planned) for safekeeping. The wedding cannot proceed without a licence! The Province of British Columbia requires TWO WITNESSES, not including the Celebrant. In the absence of any wedding party or other witnesses chosen by the couple, any vendors present at the ceremony (photographers, planners, venue coordinators etc) can act as witnesses. Some fields on the licence can be completed in advance but DO NOT sign the licence in advance! Once obtained, a marriage licence is valid for 3 months, and if unused after that time, it becomes invalid and a new one must be obtained.

8. Can you help us plan our wedding day?

No, sorry. This is the province of your planner. I am responsible for the ceremony only. I do not procure flowers, cake etc. A professional planner will undertake to cover all the elements of the day itself.

9. How is your response rate?

I pride myself on having an extremely fast response rate. I check email constantly and will respond at once where possible, or within a few hours at the very most.

Please note that while I am happy to ‘pencil in’ a date when couples inquire about my availability, that date will be kept available for 10 days maximum, beyond which time and in the absence of any response to my ‘affirmative’ reply, I will consider the inquiry cancelled.