FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

WHAT IS YOUR FEE STRUCTURE?

The fees I charge for creating and leading a ceremony reflect the very high quality of the most bespoke celebrations that I create and deliver, and my years of experience, confidence, authenticity and passion for what I do.

I will create and lead a memorable and unique ceremony, full of energy and passion for you. I am 100% committed to working with you to ensure that I deliver - to quote one mother of the bride recently - “an amazing job with everyone commenting on what an absolutely beautiful, completely different and fun ceremony it was, which captured the essence of them both”.

My fees for 2024 are:

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Ceremonies held on a Saturday and Sunday

• Weddings: £900

• Namings: £500

• Vow Renewals: £650

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Ceremonies held Monday - Friday

• Weddings: £800

• Namings: £450

• Vow Renewals: £600

WHAT'S INCLUDED IN YOUR FEE?

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Fees include the first 50 miles of travel from my home in West Norfolk to your chosen venue, and thereafter travel expenses are charged at .50ppm.

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This will include:

• All of our meetings

• Providing ideas for beautiful symbolic gestures that can be included in your ceremony

• Recommending readings and poems

• Coaching you to write and deliver your vows – and providing plenty of tips and suggestions

• Planning and agreeing with you, when we will review each stage of the writing process

• Drafting an initial personalised ceremony script for your review

• Editing and redrafting this, as you have full editorial rights

• Providing you with a final ‘working’ copy of your ceremony before the day

• Presenting your final keepsake copy of the transcript on the day

• Delivering your memorable ceremony, travelling to a location of your choice

• My 100% attention and committed service on the day – no other bookings will be taken on the date we have agreed

The fee can be paid in instalments for ease if that helps with budgeting. 

Your ceremony is not secured until a 25% retainer has been paid and our agreement has been signed. At that point, the pencilled names and question mark noted in my diary get erased (yes, I am an old-fashioned paper and pen sort for such important matters!) and it then gets added in INK! I am then your Humanist celebrant for the day.

DO YOU OFFER A DISCOUNT?

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Sometimes I am asked if there is any “movement” in my fees. It would be easy to offer a discount if I were to simply duplicate the format of my last ceremony, but each of my celebrations is unique and needs many hours of preparation to create a truly bespoke ceremony, just for you.

Take your time to consider the type of celebrant you wish to choose; one that reflects you and what you value. Whether you are happy for someone to create a standard ceremony or whether you would like to choose a celebrant whose work positively exudes who you are and what matters to you.

Whatever your ceremony, it is absolutely about you and how you want your celebration to be, expressing your love and commitment, in the presence of those you love.

And my fees indicate this.

However, because of my personal values, for some clients there is some “wiggle room”.

This is the deal.

I am a huge supporter of those working in helping roles, and specifically to those working in the emergency services, NHS, social care sector and armed forces.

As gesture of goodwill for the endless service and support that you provide others, Blue Light Card holders can receive 10% off the booking fee of a Humanist wedding ceremony,  Humanist naming ceremony or Humanist vow renewal booked with Rachael Jean Humanist Ceremonies, for celebrations taking place in 2023. Please mention you are a Blue Light Card holder when getting in touch.

IS IT JUST WEDDINGS, NAMINGS, AND VOW RENEWALS THAT YOU CREATE AND CONDUCT?

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Not at all. Rachael Jean Humanist Ceremonies is about celebrating life’s events, so please do get in touch to talk about how what you’d like to celebrate and how we can work together. I can create and lead a ceremony that suits you celebrating whatever or whoever you want to celebrate. So many aspects of life need celebrating, especially during these challenging times.

DO YOU TRAVEL?

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Yes, while I am based in Norfolk, I will happily travel to deliver your ceremony, anywhere in or outside the country, or indeed country!

WHERE CAN WE HAVE OUR CEREMONY?

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Anywhere you like! Why not make it as unique as you?

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On the beach (or even in the sea – I am a sea-swimmer), up a hill, in a back garden, in a scout hut, in a grand hotel.

Your choice.

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You decide where you wish to hold your ceremony and I will work with you to help you to make it happen!

WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU ARE ILL ON THE DAY?

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I am part of a strong network of Humanist Celebrants and we support each other locally and nationally; if something were to happen to me on the morning of a ceremony, I know that another Humanist celebrant is on standby as my back-up, which is a huge reassurance to my clients.

IS A HUMANIST CEREMONY A LEGAL CEREMONY?

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Sadly not, yet. Humanist Ceremonies are unfortunately not legally recognised in England or Wales. It is something Humanists UK are actively campaigning to change.

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You can marry legally at a local registry office from as little as £57 in the days beforehand or afterwards. Couples I have worked with often experience “the legal bit” the day before, or even on the day. Most count their Humanist wedding ceremony as their actual ceremony as this is their celebration and commitment to each other, in front of their family and friends.

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Often the exchange of rings or indeed any other symbolic gesture, takes place at your Humanist wedding ceremony, and there are plenty of ideas we can discuss which can reflect you.

WHAT IS HUMANISM ALL ABOUT?

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You can read more about Humanism here and read more at Humanists UK.

WHAT READINGS CAN WE INCLUDE?

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You can have whatever poems or readings you want. You may have an idea or I can provide you with suggested readings. These will just be some options, there are hundreds available. We will find just the right ones!

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You may also have your own thoughts. Or my Mum has been known to write a poem for a couple as I have got to know them, and this has been included in their ceremony!

CAN WE HAVE MUSIC INCLUDED IN OUR CEREMONY, OR SINGING? CAN IT BE LIVE?

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Oh yes, please…maybe a sister can sing for you, or your ‘family band’ can provide a musical interlude. Of course, in these Covid times, you must check with your venue, but I say yes!!

CAN YOU RECOMMEND A LOCAL VENUE? A PHOTOGRAPHER? A CALLIGRAPHER? 

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Absolutely, I am huge supporter of local Norfolk suppliers and can heartily recommend some reliable and brilliant venues and professionals; have a look at my Rachael Jean Recommends page.

I AM SIMPLY TERRIFIED ABOUT MAKING A SPEECH AT THE WEDDING, I WANT TO KEEP IT PERSONAL AND SOUND FUN, BUT FEAR MY NERVES WILL TAKE OVER AND THAT PEOPLE WON'T BE ABLE TO HEAR ME. IS THERE ANYONE YOU KNOW WHO CAN HELP WITH THAT? 

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Yours truly! My ‘other job’ is training people in all areas of communication including public speaking. I offer a Successful Celebration Speeches workshop and will help to support you and any other key people who want to give a speech, in how you can structure it and coach you to deliver it naturally, and sounding like a more confident version of you! Please ask and we can happily arrange a personalised workshop.

Contact me 💚