Brenda, what makes you a great wedding celebrant?

“I love weddings and I love working with couples guiding them through the process of creating beautiful bespoke ceremonies, ensuring that their ceremony reflects their beliefs and wishes, personal stories,

philosophy of life, and personality.

When a couple books me for to hold their ceremony they don’t just get 30 minutes. They get meetings, telephone calls, face to face meetings. They get to sit with me and plan their ceremony from complete scratch. Not a template, not a hastily put together generic ceremony that could apply to anyone but a bespoke ceremony that is shaped around them. They get the benefit of my 16 years of experience creating ceremonies and access to resources that I have built up over the years. They get a ceremony that looks effortless but has taken years of honing my skills, and hours of my time to get it just right.” So, if you are planning on booking a solemniser/celebrant, please engage with me, talk to me about your ceremony, find out more about me and then I know you will say ‘Wow, this is the solemniser that I want to legally marry me as she has really invested in her craft.’

Is your service legally binding?

“Yes, I am HSE registered wedding solemniser and the wedding ceremonies I create are legally binding.”

Describe the process of booking you from start to finish

“You can make initial contact by phone 087 2318324, email revbogrady@gmail.com or through my website

weddingandfamilycelebrant.ie. We then arrange to meet in person or virtually so that I can get a sense of the type of ceremony you want. When I have confirmed availability I send you a booking form to complete, you pay the deposit by bank transfer or PayPal, I then confirm your booking and send you a selection of readings/reflections, vows and blessings, (or if you have a poem or reflection that resonates with you this can be included). When you have made your choices we commence the process of creating your bespoke ceremony and we meet as many times as necessary to go through enhancement suggestions with you.”

Advice for couples choosing a wedding celebrant

“I would advise a couple to research celebrants, look at their reviews, websites profiles and social media sites to get a sense of the type of ceremony the celebrants creates, read their reviews (mine can be found on my website), talk to the celebrant and make sure they are a ‘fit’ for your ceremony.

Describe what a ceremony is like with you at the helm?

“As your solemniser, I will create a bespoke ceremony for you which will be modern, upbeat and yet can include traditional and ancient rituals. The wedding ceremonies I create are legal, bespoke, personal and bridge the gap between church, civil, spiritual or humanist. Whatever type of ceremony you wish for. I have no agenda, your ceremony can be as humanist, spiritual, secular or atheist as you choose and may use language, music and readings of your choice and can include bespoke elements including hand wrapping/ hand fasting, secret box, sand, stone, unity candle and many more ceremony enhancements. You may want your ceremony to be full to the brim with pzazz or something more low key, the choice is yours. I will create your ceremony in full consultation with you in order that the service includes everything you wish. As a wedding celebrant, I have taken a vow of inclusivity, welcome diversity of belief, gender, orientation, colour, nationality, ability and culture.”

What is your starting cost?

“Currently my all-inclusive professional fee for creating and celebrating your bespoke ceremony is €595.00 plus a travel cost and possible contribution towards accommodation if needs be. I can guide you on this when we chat. This also includes materials for two ceremony enhancements (i.e. candle, sand or handfasting ceremonies).”