Cheryl Hodgson Celebrant

The Big Day

Congratulations on embarking on this fantastic step in your future together. You’ve found each other, made a plan, maybe booked a venue, and now seeking the right person to help you with your marriage ceremony.

Whether your wedding is large, intimate, or somewhere in-between, traditional or non-conventional, themed or simple – it’s a wonderful celebration of love and friendship, a day to always remember with happiness.

Your love story is told in a unique way within a personalised ceremony woven in a tone that’s true to you and respectful of your style - taking you through the transition to married life, in an atmosphere fuelled with joy and excitement. While the memory of the actual words may fade, it’s the emotions they evoke, and the memories that endure.

How do we begin?

First Contact

We identify what ceremony is wanted, the date, the venue, and the time. Arrange a no-obligation meeting or a referral to another celebrant. Discussion of fees and payments occurs once the brief is clear.

Face to face meeting

We begin by meeting in person, or Video Chat. You tell me about yourselves, your relationship, and your vision for your wedding day including what you don’t want. While we get to know each other, I’ll explain the general outline of a ceremony, offer suggestions of how we can incorporate people and your ideas into your ceremony, and go over the legal requirements. I require confirmation that I’m your celebrant within 7 days of meeting together with a non-refundable deposit.

Second meeting

This meeting is the major preparation stage of the ceremony providing a collaboration of ideas, reflections, and preliminary plans from the two of you and me following our first meeting. Provision of resource materials eg. readings, vows, etc.

Ceremony Design

Using the information from our second meeting and some questions I ask you to do together, I will weave your story, beliefs & values into a Draft ceremony. This will be emailed to you to read, check, approve or edit so that you get exactly the ceremony that you both want, and feel totally comfortable with. I’m available in person, by phone, email, or Video Chat throughout this process.

Final meeting

This meeting is close to your wedding day providing an opportunity to personally reconnect, we go over all the relevant details of the day, including checking timings, fine-tuning your ceremony if needed, finalising which family and friends are doing what, deciding if you want me to print out any words for you onto cards (eg your vows) and we talk about social media.

Having this relaxed, private meeting means your rehearsal will flow much more smoothly.

Rehearsal

This is a fun important part of your ceremony planning. You get a feeling of how it will be on the day and can get over some of your nervousness and any worries.

Whilst none of the ceremony words are spoken, I run through the choreography of the entire ceremony – how you will enter, where everyone will stand throughout the different parts of the ceremony, what happens during the signing, and how you will walk out in celebration mode.

Hopefully, your bridal party or some of them, are able to attend. Your MC, any readers and/or people with special tasks, your parents are all very welcome. Great for calming nerves, a fun time with everyone bonding before the actual day.

If you’re unable to hold your rehearsal at your venue, I can easily organise an alternative.

The Big Day

All that planning and TODAY it all comes together - making for one of the best days in your life together!

I'll arrive at least 30 minutes early to check in with all the relevant people (venue manager, close family, MC readers, musicians, photographer) and the ceremony set up. I deliver your ceremony in a warm, engaging manner to you both and your guests. I’m mindful of the Photographer and ensure we catch the magic moments!

Following the ceremony, I’ll seek you both out for a photo with me before I leave. Your Copy of the Particulars (BM45A) will be given to whomever you have designated for this important job and I will take a photo of the Copy of Particulars (BM45) and email it to the Registrar.

Following are two Testimonials recently received. Others can be viewed on my website.

"We loved having Cheryl as part of our ceremony. From the moment we first spoke to her over a video call, we really liked her energy and quickly felt comfortable with the idea of her as our celebrant. Cheryl was enthusiastic about our relationship as a gay couple and was excited to let our dog play a role in the ceremony, which was a huge bonus for us. She made all paperwork and formalities as easy as they could possibly be, so we could focus on enjoying the celebration. We will definitely be recommending Cheryl to friends and family who may be getting married in the future!" - Anthony and Justin

"Thanks so much for making our Elopement special, Cheryl. You made the entire process easy and enjoyable. From our first meeting on Zoom during lockdown until the Big Day. It was amazing having you as our celebrant and our simple ceremony was perfect. Couldn’t be happier! We'll be recommending you to others :) " - Narisa and John

Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you would like to know more.