Independent wedding celebrant business

Engaged couples who want a personal ceremony rather than a religious or standard register office one.

A fixed fee per ceremony, usually covering meetings, script writing, rehearsal and the ceremony itself. Travel or extras can be added.

• Confident public speaking
• Warm, calm with couples and families
• Good writing and storytelling
• Organised and reliable on the day

• Legal status: marriage law differs across the UK and reform has been discussed, so check the current rules with the General Register Office (England and Wales), National Records of Scotland or the General Register Office for Northern Ireland before you promise anything to couples
• In England and Wales an independent celebrant ceremony is not normally a legal marriage on its own, so be clear with couples about the separate legal step they need to arrange
• In Scotland and Northern Ireland, legally binding celebrant weddings generally require authorisation through a recognised body or the relevant registration authority, so check the official requirements before offering legal ceremonies
• Public liability insurance, and whether venues ask to see it
• Weddings are seasonal and booked far ahead, so income can be uneven
• Data protection: you will hold couples' personal details, so check your obligations with the Information Commissioner's Office

Startup costs are typically around £800 to £3,000, depending on the training, insurance and materials you choose. These are estimates, so compare what you need before spending.

Monthly revenue is typically around £500 to £3,000, depending on how many ceremonies you book and what you charge. The estimate starts from around 8 hours a week. Weddings are seasonal, so income can be uneven.

Marriage law differs across the UK, so check current rules with the relevant registration authority before promising anything. In England and Wales an independent ceremony is not normally a legal marriage alone, so be clear about the separate legal step. In Scotland and Northern Ireland, check authorisation requirements.