I am Debbie Skyrme, an international award winning independent Celebrant in southern Spain. I would like to take you on journey by reconnecting you with the quirky little things you first fell in love with and weaving them into your perfect wedding, elopement or vow renewal ceremony.
The first step is to let me know the date of your wedding, to check my availability to officiate at your ceremony. The next step is to see how well we gel!
It is so important to find the right person to officiate your wedding, elopement or vow renewal ceremony – and every Celebrant is different. So from the first time you contact me, I will suggest that we meet either face-to-face, or in the case of a destination wedding, that we jump on a Skype call or Whatsapp video chat. At this stage, this is purely a chance for the three of us to say hello without obligation or commitment – a kind of try-before-you-buy! We can chat in general terms about your venue and why you chose Spain. You can let me know if you have a wedding planner or if you need any help or advice and I can answer any questions you’ve been dying to ask.
Step three:
So now we know each other a little better, I will send you a service agreement and request for my retainer fee of €200. Time to decide if I am the Celebrant for you!
Step four:
You want me! Yay! So now you need to pay the retainer fee and sign my service agreement to SAVE THE DATE!!! Remember to include your passport number or ID number so that I can send you an official receipt. I am fully “autonomo” (self-employed) so everything goes through my books, not always the case in Spain!
You are welcome to pay by bank transfer, PayPal or secure online card payment which I will send you a link to by separate email.
Step five:
I will send you your receipt and my famous questionnaire!
These are some fun questions, not only for me to get to know you, but also for you both to reconnect and remember why your partner is so special to you. You can complete your questionnaires together or separately – what emerges can be really interesting. Warning, there have been known to be happy tears when sharing with me what you have written!
Step six:
I will will send you whatever advice it emerges you might need. For example guidance on writing your own vows, based on (you guessed it) the famous questionnaire!
Step seven:
OK, we are in this together, so feel free to contact me as much or as little as you like but about three months before your ceremony I will defo contact you to arrange another face to face/Skype/Whatsapp video chat.
I know you have had so much to plan, but it is time to focus on the central part of your special day – the wedding ceremony itself!
Step eight:
Time for me to craft your wedding, elopement or vow renewal ceremony. In getting to know you better and inspired by everything I have learned from you I can now truly personalise your ceremony with words and readings that will resonate with you both.
If you have opted for my bespoke ceremony I may be writing in a ritual or rituals that relate to your values and beliefs or achieve a special purpose such as joining two families together.
Step nine:
With excited trepidation, I will send you a draft copy of your script. I am not precious about what I write, this is 100% your ceremony, so do please give me your feedback, but I wouldn’t be honest if I didn’t admit that I will be really hoping that you like most of it, eek! Needless to say, I will keep working on your script until it is word perfect for you, at which stage you sign it off.
Step ten:
Two weeks before your ceremony, your balance payment will be due. Again you are welcome to pay by bank transfer, PayPal or online transfer. Note: If you have booked me through a wedding planner or event organiser your balance payment might be paid by prior agreement, on the actual day of your wedding. Check your agreement.
Two weeks before your ceremony I will send your completed script to your wedding planner or event organiser, your photographer and your musician if you have one. This is so that they are familiar with the “theatrics” of your ceremony and can be prepared with timings, best positions to get a great shot etc
Step eleven:
I am here for you, if you have any concerns, doubts or worries I am only a call or a mouse-click away. We are on count-down now…..
Step twelve:
Ta da! Your ceremony day!!! I will arrive an hour before your ceremony is due to start to check the practicalities of the altar space, to sound check if using a mic and most importantly of all to meet you! Be warned, I am a hugger! As your Celebrant I am your front of house person and I am there to support whomsoever in your bridal party might need me.
I will be quietly chatting with you (off mic) all the way through the ceremony so you don’t have to worry about a thing – just try and take your time, drink in every detail, freeze-frame the moment and enjoy this, your wedding day!!!
Step twelve and a half:
The post-wedding ceremony glow, captured by a couple/Celebrant selfie – which I will email to you the next day so you have at least one photo to look back on and realise that you really did this!
So right from the first, “Will you?” all the way through to, “I do!” I will be there for you every step of the way.
Debbie Skyrme is an award winning bilingual wedding celebrant (former UK Deputy Superintendent Registrar) officiating symbolic wedding, elopement and vow renewal ceremonies across Spain.
Email: info:celebrantspain.es
Whatsapp: +34 698691582
Web: https://www.celebrantspain.es
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/celebrantspain
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