Planning
My wedding
Track your progress and access all of your wedding planning tools in one place.
To Do List
A step - by - step checklist of things to be done before your big day.
Guest List
See which guests are coming and which aren't at a glance.
Budget Calculator
Keep track of all spending associated with your big day.
Seating Planner
Organise your guest seating arrangements for all your events.
Gift Registry
Share your registry so guests can start contributing funds to your wishing well!
Competition
Enquire with and book your suppliers to go into the draw.
Unveiled Event
Connect with real couples, trusted vendors, and planning experts at your ultimate wedding planning day out!
Wedding Venues
Popular
Regions
All Wedding VenuesSydneyMelbourneBrisbanePerthGold CoastCanberraHobartAdelaideDarwinWedding Venue ReviewsDestination WeddingsBook a Hotel
Popular Styles
Beach
Garden
Luxury
Rustic / Country
Warehouse / Industrial
Waterview
Winery
Destination Wedding
Find Trusted Suppliers
Choose from 5,000+ wedding venues, services and providers across Australia.
in
Find Suppliers
Suppliers
Popular Categories
Wedding VenuesDressesPhotographyCelebrantsCarsHair and Makeup
Find SUPPLIERS By Location
SydneyMelbourneBrisbanePerthGold CoastHunter Valley
Explore All Categories
Ceremony
CelebrantsDecorationsFlowers
Reception
BomboniereCakesCaterersDecorationsWedding Hire
Fashion
AccessoriesBeauty ServicesBridesmaidDress DesignersFlower GirlsFormal WearHair and MakeupJewelleryWedding DressesLingerieShoes
Services
Hens Nights and Bucks PartiesInvitationsMusic, Bands & DJsPhoto Booth HirePhotographyPlannersSpecialty ServicesStylistsTransport and CarsVideography
Accommodation
Book a HotelAccommodationDestination WeddingsHoneymoons
Engagement
Engagement Venues
Reviews
Wedding ReviewsSubmit your reviews
Experience Unveiled by Easy Weddings; your ultimate wedding planning day out where elegance meets expert guidance. Meet top-tier vendors, get endless inspiration, and gain confidence planning your dream day.
Secure your spot ⟶
Packages
Destination Weddings
Articles
Wedding Guide
All articlesWedding InspirationWedding Venue Ideas
Real Weddings
Real WeddingsSubmit your Wedding
Expert Advice
Wedding Venue AdvicePhotography AdviceCelebrant AdviceAsk a Question
Wedding Resources
Wedding SongsExpos & EventsCeremony LocationsWedding Polls
Wedding Pages
Wishing Well
Join the Community
FacebookTikTokInstagramPinterestYoutube
Wedding Cash Giveaway

Enter here for a chance to win a $2,500 boost to your wedding budget

Advertise
  1. Easy Weddings
  2. Articles
  3. General
  4. How much does a marriage celebrant cost?

How much does a marriage celebrant cost?

By:
Content Team

Content Team

This article has been written by team of content creators at Easy Weddings.
/
Updated on: March 19, 2024

*This data is from 2018. To see the most recent data on the cost of a marriage celebrant in Australia for 2020 click here.

Your wedding day is arguably one of the most important days of your life, and there are two major people that you’ll be sharing the altar with. One is the person you’re about to marry. And the other is the person who marries you.

In Australia, 75% of all marriages are performed by a civil celebrant. And while just 30% of couples say that the ceremony is the most important part of the wedding to them, picking the right celebrant can make or break your wedding. Your celebrant is the person who will perform your service, be in most of your ceremony photos and more importantly, lodge the paperwork that says you’re actually married. So you want to make sure they’re a good fit.

That said, there’s always the wedding budget to fit into. Celebrants are usually the fourth wedding supplier that a couple books (following the venue, dress and photographer), showing that they are an important factor in your wedding. However, being higher in the buying cycle means that you still have time to rearrange your budget if you connect with someone you love who costs more than what you were initially expecting to pay. After all, isn’t feeling comfortable when you’re getting married more important than your budget?

marriage celebrant cost
Ceremonies with Style – Jan Littlejohn JP

The average cost of a marriage celebrant in Australia

The average marriage celebrant cost has risen over the last year, going up nearly 7%. Whereas last year a celebrant would cost you around $665, the national average cost of a marriage celebrant is now $711. We contribute this to the rise in how much it costs to become a celebrant, as well as more celebrants offering tailored and personalised services.

Victoria

If you’re in Victoria, you’re likely feeling the rise when it comes to the cost of a marriage celebrant. The cost of Victorian celebrants has increased the most since 2016, with a celebrant now costing an average of $800 compared with $695. According to our Easy Weddings Annual Australian Wedding Industry Report, that’s a 15% increase between 2016 and 2017.

marriage celebrant cost
Zena Lythgo

New South Wales

New South Wales marriage celebrants are next on the list, costing around $716, and coming in just above the national average. They have also gone up in price over the past year, though not as steeply as those down in Vic.

South Australia

Surprisingly, the cost of a civil celebrant in South Australia has also increased dramatically over the past year. South Australian celebrants now cost 12% more than they did in 2016, though they still come in under the national average. A celebrant in South Australia will now cost you an average of $626.

Australian Capital Territory

Like the states before them on this list, the ACT has also seen a rise in the cost of marriage celebrants. ACT marriage celebrant costs come in just under the cost of a celebrant in South Australia at $623, compared with $560 in 2016.

marriage celebrant cost
Carol Moon – Celebrant

Western Australia

Costing around the same as celebrants based in SA and the ACT are WA celebrants, costing an average of $620 compared with $590 in 2016.

Queensland

The cost of a celebrant in Queensland has increased the least amount over the last few years, going up by less than 1%. A celebrant in Queensland will still cost you $601, compared with $600 the year before. Don’t worry, that dollar will be a good investment!

Tasmania

While most states have seen an increase in the cost of a marriage celebrant over the past year, the services of Tasmanian celebrants have decreased in price, making them the most cost-effective across the country. A marriage celebrant in Tasmania will cost you just $494, compared with $515 in 2016.

marriage celebrant cost
Annual Australian Weddings Industry Report – Easy Weddings 2018

Why other couples chose their celebrant

When couples choose their celebrant, they often seek reputation, individualisation, reliability, professionalism and most importantly a connection that they believe best suits their moment.

47% of couples chose their celebrant based on their approach to ceremonies. This is definitely one of the most important factors to consider when booking a celebrant, as liking how your service is going to be delivered and structured is important to the vision you have of your wedding day.

Another 22% of couples chose their celebrant because they were referred by a friend or relative, while 21% chose their celebrant based on how they fit into their budget. 10% of couples chose their celebrant based on great reviews from other couples.

Interestingly, we’re still seeing female celebrants being preferenced over male celebrants. 44% of couples would still prefer a female celebrant, with just 32% preferring a male. However, we have seen an increase in couples who have no preference, now at 24%.

marriage celebrant cost
Michael Janz Celebrant

What to look for in a marriage celebrant

When it comes to choosing your marriage celebrant picking someone who is right for you and your partner is important.

No wedding is the same, so when you’re looking for a marriage celebrant find someone who can personalise and tailor your service rather than just sticking with the traditional script. This will mean that your service is more about you as a couple than a copy and paste of someone else’s wedding. Though don’t forget the legal bits!

A celebrant who can also help you by giving advice, or even making you less nervous on the day, is also important. Finding someone who is happy to spend time with you as a couple to get to know you before your wedding will mean that you’re more comfortable with them on the day.

marriage celebrant cost
Jacqui Nelson

Predictions for 2018

Every couple still needs someone to legally marry them, so we don’t think that the number of marriage celebrants being used is going to change much in 2018. It’s also still quite expensive for a family member or friend to be certified as a celebrant themselves, so we doubt that this is going to change.

Particularly with the legalisation of same-sex marriage in December 2017, we expect the number of celebrants being used by couples to go up again this year. We expect this demand to be reflected in the cost of a marriage celebrant by the end of the year as well. Though we do anticipate that there will be more couples without a preference as to whether their celebrant is male or female.

Looking for the right celebrant for you? Search here for marriage celebrants in your area.

Suppliers you'll love


View Local Suppliers

Tags / Categories

Categories: General, Marriage Celebrant

Tags: marriage celebrant, marriage celebrant cost, wedding, weddings

Related articles

South Australian wedding budgetHow much does a wedding cost in South Australia?
By Content Team · July 17, 2025
best time of year to get marriedThe most popular wedding dates, months and seasons to get married in Australia
By Easy Weddings · July 17, 2025
favourite newcomers2025’s favourite newcomers to Easy Weddings
By Liv Croagh · July 16, 2025
Planning Tools
  • To Do List
  • Guest List
  • Seating Planner
  • Budget Calculator
Suppliers
  • Wedding Venues
  • Dresses
  • Photography
  • Celebrants
  • Cars
  • Hair and Makeup
  • Wedding Packages
Packages
  • Wedding Packages
  • Destination Weddings
Help
  • Advice & Ideas
  • Ask a Question
  • Contact Us
Download the Easy Weddings app
iOS app store link
Android play store link
Are you a wedding vendor?Join Australia's largest and most trusted wedding destination today and connect with more couples to book more weddings.
List your business
Easyweddings logo
© 2025 Easy Weddings Pty Ltd.·Sitemap·Privacy·Legal