Your initial contact with Michael is normally followed by a face-to-face or Skype (-type)  call. This usually lasts between 30 and 60 minutes and is complimentary. It’s worth having pen and paper at hand. Feel free to ask any questions you may have.

Michael will send you his terms and conditions, confirm his fee, and reserve your date for one week. If you want to go ahead, just sign and return the forms and make a deposit. Your date will then be guaranteed, and Michael can start work.

Late bookings (ie a month or less before the event) require full payment in advance.

Once booked, Michael will e-mail you a draft ceremony. You will be free to comment on this, and then Michael will send you an updated, adjusted version. Again, you will be invited to comment. The fee includes three redrafts (plus minor tweaking).

You can normally make minor changes up to 24 hours before the ceremony.

Once the final version has been agreed, you will have a chance to check it, and you will be sure that there will be no nasty surprises on the day!

The actual cost depends on the work and time involved. Hence the importance of the initial chat. The fee quoted will be all-inclusive (unless extras are involved – such as additional equipment for a ritual – and you will always be informed in advance of these).

As a general guide, a wedding will cost between £575 and £775; a handfasting from £575; other commitment ceremonies (such as Vow Renewals) from £575; a baby blessing from £300.

Normally, a deposit of £100 is required, with the balance payable up to 30 days before the ceremony. BACS is the preferred method.

The fee quoted covers the initial conversation, all Michael’s research and work involved in compiling a bespoke ceremony, a reasonable amount of e-mails and/or telephone or skype calls, Michael’s time and travel on the day, and the conducting of the ceremony.

Michael is a member of AOIC (Association of Independent Celebrants) and is thus bound by its code of ethics. He has a diploma in both Wedding Celebrancy and Funeral Celebrancy.

Michael has been compiling and conducting ceremonies full-time since early 2013. He was previously a teacher and is also a lay preacher, which has given him considerable experience both in writing and also in conducting ceremonies. A reader of Hebrew, he can offer an extra element to any Jewish-based rituals.

As a linguist, there has been demand for Michael to work abroad, and he has so far conducted parts of ceremonies in French, Russian, Swedish (which he doesn’t actually speak!) and Hebrew, and is looking forward to the chance to use his German, Czech and Italian!

Michael is approachable, passionate, humorous (as appropriate!) and professional. He is dedicated to making your big day special and superb, and delights in turning dreams into reality.