Terms and Conditions

These Terms and Conditions specify how I, Stefania Duncan, will operate and will provide clear expectation of my services and payment schedules

As a registered civil marriage celebrant, I, Stefania Duncan endeavour to provide the best possible customer service. Please read the following terms and conditions thoroughly prior to paying your booking fee with me.

Terms and Conditions

The Parties and the Celebrant agree to the terms and conditions set out below in this document.

The Celebrant Agrees:

1. To provide Registered Marriage Celebrant services to the Parties in accordance

with the Code of Practice of the Marriage Act 1961:

a) To conduct and practice a high standard of service at all times;

b) To recognise the social, cultural and legal significance of marriage and the marriage ceremony in the Australian community, and the importance of strong & respectful family relationships;

c) To observe and practice all Commonwealth and State laws, and to ensure that the marriage will be solemnized according to the legal requirements of the Marriage Act 1961;

d) To respect the importance of the marriage ceremony to the parties and the other persons organising the ceremony.

e) To give the Parties information and guidance to enable them to choose or compose a marriage ceremony that will meet their needs and expectations.

f) To retain up-to-date knowledge and understanding of family relationships services in Australia and inform parties about the range of information and services available to them to enhance and sustain them throughout their relationship (including Happily Ever...Before and After brochure);

g) To respect the privacy and confidentiality of the Parties, and ensure secure storage of records (as per the Celebrant’s Privacy Policy);

h) To confirm all details with the Parties prior to the wedding day, and ensure that all necessary declarations and original documents have been signed and sighted;

i) To conduct a rehearsal if requested, and ensure the Celebrant’s personal presentation is of an appropriate standard which respects and meets the expectations of the parties in relation to the ceremony;

j) To make efforts to ensure that the ceremony is audible to all those present, and to ensure accuracy in the preparation of documents and in the conduct of the marriage ceremony;

k) To arrive for the ceremony no less than 20 minutes prior to the commencement time, or at a time agreed with the Parties;

l) To ensure that documentation is completed after solemnisation and sent to the appropriate State Registry Office of Births, Deaths and Marriages within 14 days of the wedding of the wedding; and

m) To seek evaluative comment from the Parties as to the provision of Celebrant services, and to give the Parties information about how to notify the Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Department of any concerns or complaints they may have about the celebrant services provided.

2. To attend and conduct the marriage ceremony at the agreed time, date and place.

3. If the Celebrant is unable to conduct the ceremony for any reason (death, illness, accident, or any other reason which enables the Celebrant from attending, the parties will be advised as soon as practicable and all reasonable efforts will be made by the Celebrant to arrange for the ceremony to be completed by another registered marriage celebrant. If the Celebrant is unable to perform the marriage ceremony due to illness or other unforeseen circumstances:

a) A negotiated amount of the Celebrant’s fee will be refunded to the Parties, or compensate the replacement Celebrant, whichever is appropriate; and

b) Pass the Notice of Intended Marriage to the replacement marriage celebrant, in a timely and appropriate manner.

4. If the Celebrant experiences unforeseen obstacles on their way to the wedding or event e.g. traffic jam, flat tyre, car accident, the celebrant will incur the costs for alternative travel arrangements e.g. a taxi in order to get to the venue as soon as possible. The Celebrant will contact the Parties and to their best endeavours, organise alternative travel arrangements if required.

The Parties Agree:

5. To pay the Celebrant’s fee in accordance with the invoice provided:

a) A non-refundable booking fee ($250AUD) will secure your event, date and time with the Celebrant. By paying your booking fee, you (the Parties) are both agreeing to the terms and conditions, clearly set out in this document. Also, by paying your booking fee, you are allowing me the right to use your images and testimonials to be used in advertising and media release. E.g. on social media and my website. I request that you notify me in writing if you do not want to be included in this way by the time of your rehearsal date.

b) The remaining balance (including any agreed travel expenses) as requested by Celebrant is due no less than 28 days before ceremony date;

c) If full payment has not been made to the Celebrant in accordance with these terms then the Celebrant will not attend the event.

d) A three-day cooling off period applies, from the date your deposit is received. If you choose to cancel your booking (must be given in

writing), a refund of your deposit will be given, less a $20 administration fee.

6. To provide the Celebrant with all original documentation requested no less than 24 hours prior to the wedding day, including any accredited translation documentations requested by the Celebrant (see http://www.naati.com.au/home_page.html for further information).

7. That if the Parties fail to provide all documentation requested to the Celebrant no less than 24 hours prior to the wedding day, the Celebrant will not attend the ceremony.

8. That if the Celebrant is unable to perform the marriage ceremony for any reason and a replacement celebrant is provided, all original documents (birth certificate, passport, divorce/death certificates and drivers’ licence etc) must also be sighted by the replacement celebrant prior to the ceremony (arranged by the new celebrant and the Parties).

9. To advise the Celebrant immediately in writing of any change to the time, date or place of the marriage ceremony. The Celebrant reserves the right to terminate the agreement and retain the booking fee should the Celebrant be unable to conduct the ceremony due to the change. If the ceremony draft has been reviewed and or emailed to the Parties, the Celebrant reserves the right to retain an additional $250. If the change is post rehearsal, the on-site rehearsal/travel charge, plus a $50 paperwork expense fee will also be charged. If the change is on the wedding day and the celebrant cannot accommodate these changes, no monies will be refunded.

10. In the event of cancellation of the ceremony by the Parties after full payment or part payment is made, a partial refund may be considered and will be at the celebrant’s discretion. Excluding $250AUD if ceremony draft has been reviewed by or emailed to the Parties. If cancellation is post-rehearsal, the on-site rehearsal/travel charge & a $20 administration fee will also be deducted. If cancellation is on the day of the ceremony or event, no monies will be refunded. If the ceremony is required to be rescheduled, or relocated for any reason, the celebrant will endeavour to assist the Parties in any way that is practicably possible. Additional fee may also be applicable.

11. That if the ceremony is to be changed to the alternative venue due to inclement weather on the day of the wedding, then one of the Parties is to inform the Celebrant personally by telephone (not via email or text message), no less than 3 hours prior to the ceremony to ensure the Celebrant has sufficient time to travel to the alternative venue. If this is not pursued by the Parties, the celebrant cannot be held responsible for being late if that is the case.

12. In the event that the ceremony is delayed more than 30 minutes beyond the agreed starting time of the Parties ceremony - if either Parties have not arrived or the ceremony cannot proceed for any reason outside the Celebrant’s control, the Celebrant reserves the right to proceed to their next commitment.

13. The Celebrant may also use their personal judgement choose to delay the ceremony due to the involved parties being too inebriated from being under the influence of alcohol or any other substance. If this occurs, the ceremony may be moved to a different date (with additional expenses) or the Celebrant remains at the venue until the Parties are of sound mind. In this instance, the Parties must agree to pay $60 for every 30 minutes of waiting time if the ceremony is delayed.

14. It is the celebrant’s right and responsibility to refuse to Solemnise the marriage of the Parties in a location or under conditions that the Celebrant deems an actual or potential health and safety risk to the Celebrant, others and/or the Celebrant’s equipment arranged for use during the ceremony (e.g. natural disasters or other dangerous extreme circumstances).

15. The Celebrant takes no responsibility for the disruptive behaviour of children, guests or the public prior to, during or after the ceremony.

16. The Parties must endeavour to provide the Celebrant with accurate information, and acknowledge that the penalty for making a false declaration is four years imprisonment. The Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM) papers and Marriage will be invalid if inaccurate information is obtained.

17. The Parties must advise the Celebrant as soon as practicable if either of them is taking prescribed medication which may change their demeanour on their wedding day.

18. The Parties agree that:

a) They are not to arrive at the ceremony inebriated or under the influence of any other substance, otherwise the Celebrant is lawfully

not authorised to solemnise the marriage.

b) Judgement as to inebriation of the Parties being under the influence of alcohol or any other substance is at the Celebrant’s sole judgement;

and

c) Two official witnesses must be aged 18 or over and appear sober or not under the influence of any other substance is the sole judgement

of the Celebrant, otherwise alternative official witnesses must be used.

19. The Parties agree that the use of the Celebrant’s PA system is subject to favourable weather conditions & will not be used in any circumstances where the unit may be exposed to harm; by persons or the elements e.g. Rain, extreme heat, heavy winds etc. Judgement to be made at the Celebrant’s sole discretion.

20. Where the Celebrant’s PA system is used, and damaged by no fault of the Celebrant e.g. microphone dropped by bridal party or guest performing a reading, or through use of a Party’s/guest’s iPod for music, the couple will incur all associated costs involved in fixing or replacing the damaged item.

21. Where the Celebrant’s PA system is used, the Celebrant will endeavour to establish that the PA system is fully charged, functional and tested prior to the ceremony, however the Parties acknowledge that electronic equipment may malfunction from time to time and should the PA system or any of the other equipment supplied by the Celebrant fail at any time prior to, during or after the ceremony, the Celebrant

will not be held responsible.

22. Where the Celebrant experiences problems on their way to the wedding e.g. traffic jam, flat tyre, car accident, the Celebrant will incur the costs for alternative arrangements e.g. taxi in order to get to the venue as soon as possible. The Parties acknowledge that such things can happen from time to time and that the Celebrant will contact the Parties where practicable and the Celebrant will venture to organise appropriate alternative travel arrangements, so as to arrive at the wedding 20 minutes prior to the ceremony. The Celebrant will not be held responsible or liable for such events, if by chance, they occur.

23. The Parties acknowledge that it is their responsibility to purchase and provide all items required for the ceremony e.g. Music and symbolic ceremonies/rituals, and the Parties are required to bring all relevant items to the rehearsal and on the

wedding day.

24. The Parties acknowledge that if they fail to communicate any information requested by the Celebrant regarding their ceremony (after the ceremony draft has been reviewed) by no less than 72 hours prior to the ceremony, decisions regarding this content of the ceremony will be left to the discretion of the Celebrant.

25. Where possible, a parking space must be reserved for the Celebrant as close as practicable to the ceremony location. All costs incurred by the celebrant which relate to parking near the ceremony location during the Parties rehearsal and/or ceremony, are to be reimbursed to the Celebrant prior to the Parties wedding day.

26. The Parties agree that if the ceremony is delayed through no fault of the Celebrant, which results in the Celebrant incurring extra charges such as parking fines, the Parties will pay the Celebrant’s further costs.

27. Contact details of the Parties are to be kept current throughout the ceremony process and on their Wedding Day. It is the Parties responsibility to notify the Celebrant in writing if they have moved address, changed their phone number, or email address etc.

28. Whilst every precaution is taken, the celebrant is indemnified against any claim made due to accident or injury resulting from the use of any equipment supplied by the celebrant.

29. The Parties acknowledge that the Celebrant has explained, and they understand, the legal requirements for entering into a valid marriage, and that they agree to comply with their obligations as requested by the Celebrant.

Intellectual Property

All event scripts are the intellectual property of Stefania Duncan. At no time are you permitted to duplicate, share, sell, or reproduce any of the content provided by Stefania Duncan.

If there is any concerns around my terms and conditions, please email me using the contact details found on my Facebook business page or www.stefaniathecelebrant.com/contact.