Terms

What to expect and how we will work together to make your kind of day come to life

My services

I agree to provide the agreed celebrant services for you at the date, time and location agreed in writing. This includes:

Meeting with you, typically twice, by phone, video call or in person to discuss your ceremony, and any related legal requirements (for Marriage and Civil Union ceremonies).
Providing you with resource materials if required (e.g. samples of vows, verses and readings etc.).
Being available by phone or email to answer questions, provide support and guidance in relation to your ceremony.
Creating an appropriate and personalised ceremony to meet the requirements we have identified together.
Making amends to your ceremony after your review(s).
Running a rehearsal at an agreed venue prior to the ceremony day, if agreed.
On the day of the ceremony, arriving at the venue at least 20 minutes prior to the start time (unless otherwise arranged), and delivering the agreed ceremony.
Providing a copy of the ceremony to you.
For Marriage and Civil Union ceremonies, lodging the forms with the Department of Internal Affairs in order for the marriage or civil union to be legally registered.

Fees

Travel costs:

If applicable, any travel outside of a 20km radius of my home (New Lynn, Auckland) is subject to travel costs. This includes the on-charging of any travel or accommodation cost incurred, and a mileage charge. The fee for related travel costs will be discussed with you and agreed up-front before booking.

Celebrant services fee:

The fee relating to the celebrant services you require will be discussed with you, and confirmed in writing.

Deposit:

I require a 50% non-refundable deposit to secure your booking. I will supply an invoice for the deposit. Once the deposit has been received, the booking will be confirmed.
Balance: The balance of the fee must be paid one week prior to your ceremony. Two weeks before your ceremony I’ll email you an invoice for the balance of fees. If you fail to make the payment as specified, I will attempt to contact you and remind you – however if payment is still not received, I reserve the right to terminate our agreement for services without obligation to refund the deposit, or to perform the ceremony.

The Ceremony

The format, contents and any special requirements of your ceremony will be discussed and confirmed with you prior to your ceremony. These discussions will include the legal requirements of the ceremony (for Marriage and Civil Unions), the sharing of information about yourselves in order for me to create a personalised ceremony, the vows to be made by you, readings by other parties, and if/how any other additional elements need to be incorporated into the ceremony (e.g. sand ceremony, unity candle etc.). Please note that all information you share with me will be treated as strictly confidential and will not be publicised or used as part of your ceremony without your prior approval.

Ceremony timing:

Please confirm the actual ceremony start time in your Ceremony Booking Form and not guest arrival time, or invitation time. You agree that the ceremony will begin within thirty minutes of the ceremony start time provided by you. I reserve the right to leave the venue one hour after the start time if both parties have not arrived at the ceremony venue, or the ceremony cannot proceed for any reason outside my control.

Marriage or Civil Union Paperwork

What you need to do:

Obtain the marriage licence from the Department of Internal Affairs, office of 'Births, Deaths and Marriages'. How to obtain it is detailed on their website: https://www.govt.nz/browse/family-and-whanau/getting-married/get-a-marriage-licence/#how- you-apply
Ensure the documentation issued to you is provided to me in advance of the day of the ceremony (typically at the rehearsal), or made available at the ceremony venue. If you fail to ensure this licence is available at the time of the ceremony, I cannot legally perform the ceremony.
Ensure two appropriate witnesses are available at the ceremony.

What I’ll take care of, as your celebrant:

Complete the legal documentation on the day of the ceremony.
Provide you with one copy of the completed documentation for your records.
Use the other copy of the documentation to register the marriage or civil union with the
Department of Internal Affairs within ten days of the ceremony.

Please note that after a marriage or civil union is registered with the Department of Internal Affairs, you will not automatically receive a certified copy of your formal Marriage Certificate or Civil Union Certificate. If you require this certificate, this needs to be requested and paid for via 'Births, Deaths and Marriages'. How to obtain this is detailed on their website: https://www.govt.nz/browse/family-and-whanau/getting-married/get-a-marriage-certificate/

Unless otherwise specified on the Ceremony Booking Form:

You are responsible for ensuring any furniture or equipment required for the ceremony is provided at the venue – for example, a table and chair for the signing of the legal documents.
If the ceremony includes additional elements which require props (for example; a sand ceremony, unity candle, wine box ceremony etc.), you are responsible for providing all items required and for ensuring they are in appropriate working order for the rehearsal (if applicable) and the ceremony.
If the ceremony location requires sound equipment in order for myself, you and any other participants to be heard by all of the guests in attendance, you are responsible for ensuring this is provided for the rehearsal (if applicable) and the ceremony.

Venue change:

If on the day of the ceremony a venue change is required due to weather or other issues, this will need to be communicated to me two hours prior to the ceremony start time to ensure there is sufficient travel time to the alternative venue. Should two hours notice not be provided, I cannot be held responsible for being late.

Changes / Postponement
Should you need to change or postpone the date, time or location of their ceremony, this must be communicated as soon as possible, and ideally at least 30 days prior to the ceremony, in writing to me at gabrielle.pritchard@gmail.com. I will immediately confirm receipt of the change/postponement advice and if I am:

Available – I will confirm this in writing and move the booking.
Not available – I will confirm this in writing, and the non-refundable deposit will be forfeited.

All fees other than the deposit will be refunded. Where possible, referrals to other suitable Celebrants will be provided.

Cancellation
Should you need to cancel your ceremony for any reason, the cancellation must be communicated as soon as possible in writing. I will immediately confirm receipt of your cancellation advice. If written notice of the cancellation is received seven days prior to the ceremony, all fees other than the deposit will be refunded. If a written notice of cancellation of services is received less than seven days prior to the ceremony, you are responsible for full payment of the agreed services.

In the unlikely event that I am unable to perform the ceremony on the day (due to unforeseen circumstances such as illness, vehicle accident etc.) I will endeavor to provide a replacement celebrant (from the Celebrants Association of New Zealand network) to deliver the agreed ceremony and services, at no additional cost to you. In the event that I must cancel this agreement for services, you shall be refunded the full fees paid for my services, including the deposit

All correspondence and documentation in respect to my services, including any suggestions or ceremony examples provided by me, must be kept confidential both before and after your event. Such information can only be shared with my express written consent.

I may ask for your permission to use photos taken at your event, and/or for you to provide me with a testimonial, to be used for promotional purposes. You are under no obligation to grant me such permission.