Booking terms,
kept clear.

Last updated: July 2026

A ceremony is a big moment, and I want the arrangements around it to feel every bit as calm and clear as the day itself. These terms set out how we'll work together. They become part of our agreement once you've secured your date, so please do have a read.

Who these terms are between

These terms are between you, the person or couple making the booking, and Jade Jaenicke, working as Ceremonies by Jade, an independent celebrant based in Deal, Kent.

Your ceremony and the legal side

It's important you know this from the very start. A celebrant-led ceremony is a beautiful, deeply personal celebration written entirely around you. But in England and Wales it is not a legal marriage or civil partnership.

If you'd like to be legally married, you'll need to complete the legal formalities separately, usually a short registration at your local register office, either before or after your ceremony with me. I'm always happy to explain how this works and help you plan around it, but arranging the legal side, and any associated costs, remains your responsibility.

Securing your date

Your date is held once you've paid your booking fee and confirmed you're happy with these terms. Until then, I'm afraid I can't reserve it, as others may be enquiring for the same day. Because I begin work and set the date aside for you from the moment you book, the booking fee is non-refundable.

Fees and payment

The full fee for your ceremony is set out in your quote. To book, you pay a booking fee to secure your date, with the balance due ahead of the day. The amounts, and the date your balance is due, are confirmed in writing in your booking confirmation. Payment details are included with your quote and invoice.

Planning your ceremony

Once you've booked, the lovely part begins. We'll spend time together, in person or online, talking through your story, and I'll write a first draft for you to read. You're very welcome to suggest changes so it feels exactly right; a reasonable number of revisions is included as part of your ceremony. We'll agree a final version together in good time before the day.

Changes to your booking

Life happens, and I'll always try to help. If you need to change your date, I'll do my very best to move your booking, subject to my availability. If I'm already booked for your new date, the cancellation terms below would apply. Small changes to the details of your ceremony are welcome throughout.

Postponing

If you need to postpone, I'll happily transfer your booking and the payments you've made to a new date where I'm available, at no extra charge for the transfer itself. If your new date isn't one I'm able to offer, the cancellation terms below apply.

If you need to cancel

If you ever need to cancel, please tell me as soon as you can. Because I commit time to your ceremony from the moment you book, and turn away other bookings for your date, cancellations are handled as follows:

• The booking fee is non-refundable in all cases.
• Cancelling more than 12 weeks before your ceremony: nothing further to pay.
• Cancelling between 4 and 12 weeks before: 50% of the total fee is due.
• Cancelling less than 4 weeks before: the full fee is due.

Any payments you've already made are offset against these amounts.

In the rare event I can't be there

I take my commitment to your day extremely seriously. But if something serious and unavoidable, such as illness or a family emergency, ever prevented me from attending, I would do everything possible to help. Wherever I can, I'll arrange for a trusted fellow celebrant to step in and deliver the ceremony I've written for you, so your day goes ahead as planned. If a suitable replacement genuinely can't be found, I'll refund the fees you've paid, less the value of any work already completed. My responsibility in these circumstances is limited to this.

What I'll need from you

To help everything run beautifully, I'll ask you to:

• give me accurate information for your ceremony, and let me know promptly if anything changes;
• share your venue, timings and any access or setup details in good time;
• make sure your venue is happy to host a celebrant-led ceremony and any rituals you've chosen; and
• arrange sound or PA equipment where your guest numbers or venue call for it. I'll always advise you on this.

Your ceremony script

The words I write are created just for you, and you're warmly welcome to keep your personal copy as a keepsake. The script remains my own creative work, and copyright stays with me, so it's for your personal use, rather than to be resold or reproduced commercially.

Photographs and kind words

With your permission, I may occasionally share a photograph from your day, or a few kind words you've written, to help other couples get a feel for what I do. I'll always ask you first, and you're completely free to say no, or to change your mind later.

Responsibility

I'll always deliver your ceremony with professionalism, warmth and care. I can't be held responsible for things genuinely outside my control, such as the weather, the venue, or other suppliers, and my liability to you is limited to the fee you have paid. Nothing in these terms limits any liability that the law does not allow to be limited.

If something isn't right

If anything ever falls short of what you hoped for, please come to me first. I would always far rather understand what's happened and put it right.

Updates and the law that applies

I may update these terms from time to time; the version that applies to you is the one in place when you booked. These terms are governed by the law of England and Wales.

Get in touch

If anything here raises a question, I'm always happy to talk it through. You can reach me at info@ceremoniesbyjade.co.uk or on 07359 940619.