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Oh no... I'm too sick to get to my ceremony, now what?
Have you ever found yourself on the day of a ceremony and you've come down with the flu, been struck down by the Spicey Cough or had a car accident? You know you can't make the ceremony... but what do you do? Never fear, Celebrant Shell Brown is going to walk you through it step by step.
Ok, so for what ever reason you're not able to physically get to the ceremony, so here is a list of things that you can do.
If you are are able to make a call:
1.
Call the couple (or the day-of co-ordinator) as soon as possible and let them know the situation and your plan.
2.
Go through your emergency list of celebrants to see who is available immediately to fill in for you - it pays to have this list readily prepared and available on your phone - not at home on your computer.
Find celebrants here to create your emergency group - https://www.celebrants.org.au/find/celebrant-directory
3.
Fill in the section on page 5 of the NOIM where you transfer the paperwork to a new Celebrant... then scan the documents and send them to the new Celebrant - they will need to create the Marriage Certificate (Form 15) unless you're close enough for them to pick it up.
4.
Let the couple know that you have found a replacement celebrant and that, they will need to have their ID and divorce/death certificates available for the new celebrant to sight - either the originals or a photo on their phones.
5.
It's a good idea to have an agreement with your group of emergency celebrants as to how you will split the fee.
If you are unable to call the couple or arrange a replacement celebrant:
This might happen if you are in an accident (fingers crossed this doesn't happen!)
1.
You could have an emergency card in your car with your documents letting 'somebody' know who you are, where you were going and the contact details of the couple and an emergency celebrant... they can then either take over the role of celebrant or assist you to find a replacement.
2.
If you find a replacement but are unable to transfer the NOIM you may be able to transfer the NOIM through the online system in the state you registered it in - (only some states have online registration).
If you can't transfer online or your in a state without online registration, the new celebrant may have to offer the couple a commitment ceremony and negotiate a legal ceremony for a later date.
3.
If a new celebrant can't be found to replace you and the ceremony has to be rescheduled, you will no doubt have a contingency plan in your Terms and Conditions that your couple have already signed and agreed to.
Good luck out there!
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Comments 5
Thanks for this great presentation on a very simple process if prepared.
A set of plans everyone can achieve.
A wish also ...This plan never needs be implemented. =)
As I have just finished my Certificate IV and am awaiting registration with the Attorney General's Office, I found this article very helpful. I am definitely going to start organising my Plan B. I also think the idea of having an "In Case of Emergency" letter is excellent.
Thanks Shell.
Thanks Robyn. I appreciate your feedback.
Always better to be over prepared, that's what I always say
Two days before a wedding in March my husband came down with Covid. Luckily plan B involved a cousin of one of the couple. The cousin also a celebrant was a guest at the wedding. I rang the couple to tell them the news and get the cousins phone number.
Transferred the noim online and packaged the rest in a bag for him to collect. All went well thankfully.
I now have plan B in place for every wedding.
A great plan to have Andrew. How lucky you were that their cousin was a celebrant!