Weddings - Service Agreement

Hey there! My service agreement is all about what I'll be doing for you and what's included in my fee. I want to make sure you know exactly what to expect. It's important to understand that we both have responsibilities. After all, we want everything to go smoothly! But hey, life happens, right? If any unexpected changes come up, we'll have a backup plan ready so you can feel confident about what comes next. I'll be emailing you the service agreement along with the booking form and NOIM (Notice of Intended Marriage) so that everything is in one place. It's like a little package of information for you.

The Celebrant agrees to:

• Provide Registered Marriage Celebrant services in accordance with the code of Practice for Marriage Celebrants and the Marriage Act (1961).
• Complete and lodge the required documents, including the NOIM (Notice of Intended Marriage), Declaration of No Legal Impediment, and Official Wedding Certificate, with the Registry of Births, Deaths, and Marriages within 14 days of the Ceremony.
• Offer information and guidance to enable the Clients to choose or compose a ceremony that meets their needs and expectations, following the payment of the booking fee. This includes providing the Ceremony Information Kit.
• Regularly meet and/or discuss new ideas with the Clients for their ceremony.
• Write the ceremony script or co-write it with the couple, showing the couple the script weeks prior to the ceremony.
• Visit the chosen wedding venue to assess the ambiance and address any concerns, except for the Legal Only Package.
• Conduct a wedding rehearsal before the ceremony, involving key participants such as witnesses and children, excluding the Legal Only wedding ceremony.

2. On the Day of the Ceremony

• Attend and conduct the marriage ceremony at the agreed time, date, and place, dressed professionally. The Clients can specify a particular clothing style or palette to reflect the ceremony's theme.
• Arrive at least 40 minutes ( for the premium package) before the ceremony start time and remain on-site for 15 minutes after the conclusion of the service.
• Inform the Clients as soon as possible if unable to perform the marriage ceremony due to illness or unforeseen circumstances. Make reasonable efforts to arrange for another registered marriage Celebrant to complete the ceremony.
• Refund 80% of the fees to the Clients and transfer the Notice of Intended Marriage to the replacement Celebrant, while providing a list of suitable replacements from which the Clients can choose.

The Clients agree to:

• Pay the Celebrant's fee according to the Celebrant's Fee Schedule, which includes a non-refundable 50% booking fee to secure the date upon lodging the Notice of Intended Marriage.
• Pay the remaining balance in clear funds via direct deposit to the Celebrant's nominated bank account no less than 4 weeks before the wedding date. An invoice will be emailed to the Client.
• Note that the fee includes the $65 charged by Births, Deaths, and Marriages NSW for the Official Certificate of Marriage.
• Understand that failure to make full payment as per these terms will result in the Celebrant not attending the rehearsal, and a Legal Only wedding ceremony will be conducted. For bookings made within 5 weeks of the ceremony, the full fee amount must be paid in advance to secure the service.

4. Documentation

• Provide the Celebrant with all original documentation, including photo ID, proof of birth date and country, on or close to the booking date.
• Understand that if the necessary official documentation is not provided to the Celebrant before the wedding day, the Celebrant cannot conduct an official wedding ceremony. The Clients can opt for a commitment ceremony or set an alternative date, subject to a reschedule fee.
• Submit any remaining documentation, including any accredited translation documentation if requested, no later than 48 hours before the wedding. Promptly inform the Celebrant of any important information and make accurate declarations, as there are penalties for making false declarations.

• Collaborate with both parties to review and finalise the ceremony script at least 7 days before the ceremony, excluding the Legal Only Package.
• Understand that significant rewrites of the ceremony script within 7 days of the ceremony will incur an additional fee of $200, payable before the re-write commences. Failure to pay this fee will result in the use of the original ceremony script.
• Immediately notify the Celebrant in writing of any changes to the time, date, or place of the marriage ceremony. The Celebrant reserves the right to terminate the Agreement and retain the booking fee if unable to conduct the ceremony due to these changes.
• In the case of inclement weather necessitating a change of venue, inform the Celebrant personally by telephone and confirm the new venue via email in a timely manner.
• An outdoor wedding will require a suitable Plan B indoor space to conduct the ceremony in case of rain and/or string winds. The Celebrant will not perform the ceremony in unsuitable weather conditions (safety of self, others and equipment).
• Understand that cancellation of the ceremony must be communicated in writing, and the Celebrant reserves the right to retain the booking fee.
• Note that if a party arrives at the ceremony under the influence of drugs or alcohol, hindering their comprehension of the ceremony, the Celebrant is not authorised to solemnise the marriage on that day. If the Clients wish to reschedule the ceremony with the same Celebrant, an additional fee of $250 is payable three days before the rescheduled ceremony date.
• Understand that no refund will be provided for circumstances such as being under the influence of drugs or alcohol, cancellation of the wedding by either party, or equipment failure beyond the Celebrant's control.
• Acknowledge that if either or both parties have not arrived or the ceremony cannot proceed due to reasons beyond the Celebrant's control, the Celebrant reserves the right to leave the ceremony location 30 minutes after the agreed start time. No refund will be provided in this case.
• Accept that a charge of $150 per hour, with a minimum of one hour, will apply if the ceremony starts late beyond 30 minutes of the scheduled time. This additional charge must be paid before the ceremony begins via bank transfer, credit card, PayPal, or cash. At this stage, the transfer of the Notice of Intention to Marry will not be agreed upon.
• Agree to pay the Celebrant's additional costs, such as parking fees or missed pre-booked travel, if the ceremony is delayed through no fault of the Celebrant.

• Understand that the use of the Celebrant's PA system is subject to favourable conditions and protection from harm, at the Celebrant's discretion.
• Acknowledge that while the Celebrant will make reasonable efforts to ensure the PA system is fully charged, functional, and treated appropriately before the ceremony, malfunctions may occur. The Celebrant will not be held responsible in such cases.
• Accept responsibility for any damage caused to the Celebrant's personal items, such as the PA system, table, and chairs, by the events and attendees of the ceremony.

• Clients have the right to terminate this Agreement by providing the Provider with five (5) days written notice of the intent to terminate.
• Understand that there will be no refund of the booking fee if the Agreement is terminated after the booking fee has been paid.

• Fee schedule as per listed in Services.
• Pay a non-refundable 50% booking fee through bank transfer to secure the Celebrant's services on the date.
• Pay the balance of the fees in clear funds through bank transfer no less than 4 weeks before the Ceremony.
• Full payment when booking within 4 weeks of the Ceremony.
• Additional Travel fees: $100 Southern Highlands, South Coast; $200 Shoalhaven, Blue Mountains.

The Celebrant has full public insurance through her Professional membership with the Australian Federation of Civil Celebrants and NSW Marriage Celebrant Association.

10. Confidentiality

Under the Privacy Act, all Celebrants are required to protect the personal information of all Clients.

11. Marketing consent

The Celebrant may use photos from the ceremony and testimonials in promotional material, on her website, Facebook and Instagram pages.

This is me making sure I'm everything you expect and we have an easy process.