Full Wedding Ceremony incl Legal Solemnising

Full Wedding Ceremony incl Legal Solemnising

So you’re planning your wedding?Congratulations!!!

Once you’ve decided to marry, you can begin to discuss your joint vision for your ceremony- what time of year, your location, indoors or outdoors, estimate numbers, what vibe would you like and who are your key guests.

For a legal marriage, you will need to Register your Intent to Marry with the HSE at least 3 months prior to your wedding date, and you will need to ensure that your venue is acceptable to the HSE. I will give you more guidance on this as we work together but the main thing for now is that for legal solemnising, it will need to have an identifiable address and be open to the public.

Wherever you choose, I am happy to work with you to create a ceremony that is unique, reflects you both as individuals and as a couple (and a family, if you have children to include!)

My fee for this service is €800, plus 0.40c/km mileage for ceremonies outside the greater Dublin area. This is usually paid in two instalments, a €400 booking fee to secure your date, with the balance of €400 (plus milage/accommodation if applicable) in advance of your date.

THIS INCLUDES

Everything you need for a fully bespoke, legal ceremony, crafted entirely just for you. I provide unlimited support and guidance in the lead-up to your ceremony, and will fully guide you towards the ceremony style that best reflects you both; as a couple, as individuals, and as a family.

Unlimited access to me via phone/text/Zoom and email in the lead up to your ceremony.

Full guidance on ceremony options (vows, readings, etc).

Guidance and advice on Ceremony Enhancements (Unity candles/ handfasting/ sand ceremony) etc.

A completely bespoke and unique wedding ceremony script two weeks in advance of your wedding.

The most beautiful and memorable wedding ceremony on your chosen day!

My ceremonies are non-denominational, and can contain as much or as little spirituality as you’d like.

We can discuss this in more depth when we meet, but for now please know that it is my great joy to create a ceremony which is deeply meaningful and personal to you, and so that your family and friends feel deeply connected and included during it.

This might mean that you’d like it to be very lighthearted with touches of humour, or maybe you’re planning an intimate ceremony in the presence of your nearest and dearest– you tell me what you’re aiming for and I will take it from there.

Every aspect of your ceremony is chosen by you, and I will question, guide and prompt you throughout the process, until I have gathered the information I need for your ceremony.

  • Once we have established the framework, I can then begin the process of weaving it all together- you don’t need to worry at this stage about how it all fits together, I’ll take care of that! We’ll then talk it through step by step when we finalise your ceremony.
  • It is of the utmost importance to me that you feel your ceremony reflects who you both are, and what your marriage means to you, so I offer unlimited revisions, and unlimited support and guidance in the lead-up to your ceremony.
  • We will have at least two meet-ups prior to the ceremony, either in person or via Zoom, and I will have your ceremony completed 2 weeks prior to your wedding date. (If you’d like it completed earlier, please just let me know- I’m happy to work with whatever framework is best for you!).
  • On the day of your wedding ceremony you don’t need to remember anything- I will talk you through it as we go, and I will quietly prompt you for your vows so you can repeat the words after me. No need to memorise anything, or stress about getting anything “wrong”! There is no such thing as wrong in a ceremony- once we are all gathered together it will flow!
  • Fees for other ceremonies range from €290 – €800, please contact me for details

TESTIMONIALS

Karen was the best choice of celebrant for our wedding. She's kind, patient and understanding. She made our ceremony beautiful and exactly as we wanted it.
celebrant reviews
Anna Lynch
Karen performed a wedding celebration I photographed last year and was it was just amazing - beautiful and so well crafted. Karen is interesting and interested in everyone else, creative, sincere and great craic - you can tell she loves her job and was made for it.
Éadaoin Curtin
I had the privilege of working with Reverend Karen on January 4th. She is an amazing lady that brings in such a calmness when she enters the room. The delivery of the ceremony was absolutely beautiful from start to finish. It was very emotional,beautiful and personal to the couple. I have to say there wasn't a dry eye in the house. I really hope to meet you along the way again Karen. I will be highly recommending you to couples.💖💖
celebrant reviews
Annie Powderly
Rev. Karen dempsey was the perfect choice for celebrant for our wedding. She was so sensitive and aware of our needs and helped to create the day of a life time filled with so much love, joy and connection. So many people commented to us about how wonderful she was and we felt absolutely blessed to find her and have her guide us on our big day. She provided us with inspiration for all aspects of the ceremony and yet recognised when we needed freedom to do things our way, and she loved it. A beautiful human, full of wisdom and spiritual grace. I recommend her without hesitation!
Rachael Nitya Lindsay
My husband and I were so lucky to be married by Karen this August and we absolutely could not be more grateful for the incredibly beautiful ceremony she created. Every step of the way through the (relatively short!) planning stages, Karen calmed us and centered us and kept us grounded. We never felt rushed or like anything was too much or too little to ask or consider. The ceremony was all at once fun, comfortable, emotional and personal. She is a complete natural and it’s as though she was born to celebrate people! Everyone at our wedding asked for her name after as they all can’t wait to have her for their own ceremonies! She put everyone at ease and created the most beautiful and comfortable environment for all of us. We truly could not have imagined better, or more tailored to us. Thank you again, Karen. ✨
Stephanie Crowe Taft
We had the privilege of being married by Karen two weeks ago and the whole experience was perfect from beginning to end. We had a relatively short run in time to the ceremony but we never felt rushed with Karen. Her system works very well in that she has lots of suggestions and guidance for every stage of the ceremony that she can send by email in advance. She was very prompt to reply with suggestions and thoughts, so that, by the time we met her, we were able to personalise the ceremony exactly as we wished. We were able to combine Karen's suggestions with some of our readings and it all went like a dream. Karen has a lovely warm, caring, inclusive manner, that shines through at every stage. For a number of our guests, this was their first non-church wedding and they were all blown away by how personal and thoughtful Karen's service was. We cannot recommend Karen highly enough, she is incredible.
Fiona Ní Shíocháin
Karen performed our wedding ceremony last Saturday and she blew everyone away!! She made our day so special and personalised our ceremony to be a perfect representation of us! She made both of our families and friends feel involved by engaging with them throughout the ceremony and every single person raved about it afterwards!!! Thank you so much Karen!! We are so happy you were apart of our special day! 🙂 xxx
wedding solemniser reviews
Stephen King
Had my first experience of meeting Karen yesterday when she officiated a ceremony for mary and Trish In Drogheda. I have been singing at ceremonies for a long time and have met many officiates of civil ceremonies. I can honestly say Karen’s approach took my breath away. It was beyond perfect, so personal and calm and she was just completely in tune with everything about the occasion. I would highly recommend Karen for any ceremony you would design. ❤️
Fiona Ní Shíocháin
Matt and I could not be one ounce happier with the amazing, magical and at times hilarious ceremony Rev. Karen delivered for us and our guests. It was a really heartfelt and personal celebration for us both, with nerves running high, both of us clinging to each other with somewhat sweaty palms, Karen kept us centered, in the moment, and focussed on what this marriage was all about... our commitment to each other. Every single one of our guests commented on just how personal the ceremony was, with many pointing out the differences with more traditional civil or religious ceremonies. More importantly they commented on Karen and her amazing personality and what it brought to making this day special for everyone in the room. We were on this journey with Karen, planning the ceremony for over a year; and even though we had planned it in detail, it still blew us both away. The day and party that followed just could not have been more perfect with everyone in fantastic spirits ready to celebrate a big moment for us; we firmly believe that was in part caused by the tone Rev. Karen set for the day. You are amazing Karen! Once again a big thank you and massive hug from the both of us! Sean and Matt x
Seán Bryceland
I just want to thank you for the most amazing wedding ceremony you gave to me and my husband. It was so beautiful and perfect! I had the best time of my life, very touching and so personal. You did an amazing job! I was impressed with how many people told us the ceremony was the best they've seen at a wedding! Many guests said that was the best part of the wedding, they were so excited about it which was a great surprise. One of my husbands guests said she was really touched and it was a great way to get to know myself better, that the ceremony was really like us. That was so nice to hear because it was exactly what we wanted: the ceremony to represent who we are as individuals and as a couple. I am glad we have chosen you, it was perfect! 💕
Patrícia Diotto
Rev. Karen Dempsey celebrated a beautiful tree planting ceremony for my late husband Rod's first anniversary. It was a moving, atmospheric, peaceful and healing occasion and a deeply moving experience for my family and I and our extended family, friend's and neighbours who stood with us in this and throughout our journey. Our beautiful daughter Ciara and our two two beautiful special needs son's watch "Daddy's Tree" grow and know that he will always be connected to the earth, close to them and forever holding a watchful eye. Thank you Karen, huge love and respect to you, proud to call you our friend. Xx
Jane Johnstone