Booking the person who'll stand beside you at your proposal, your elopement or your anniversary is a big decision. You're trusting them with your words, your nerves and some of the most important moments of your life, and often you've only seen their work on a screen.
So before you book anyone, me included, it's worth asking a few honest questions. Here are the ones I'd ask if I were in your shoes, along with how I answer them at Leon Bagnall Experiences.
Will Our Ceremony Be Written From Scratch?
This is the first question I'd ask any celebrant. Some ceremonies are built from templates, with names swapped in and a reading or two added. There's nothing wrong with simple, but your story deserves better than a fill in the blanks.
My answer is always the same. Not one ceremony script is the same, and every one is started from scratch. There's no copy and paste and no ChatGPT. Whether it's a love letter read at your proposal, an elopement ceremony or a sunset renewal of vows, the words are crafted around you.
Is the Ceremony Legally Binding?
It's an important one to ask, because the answer surprises people. In England and Wales, a celebrant-led ceremony on its own isn't legally binding yet. The legal part needs to happen separately, usually as a short register office ceremony. A good celebrant will explain this clearly rather than skating over it. I go through the whole process on Elope with Leon in is eloping legal in Wales?, and I help couples line up the legal paperwork with their elopement day.
How Long Will You Be With Us?
Some suppliers arrive, do their part and leave. Ask how long they'll actually be there, and what happens if things run late. For me, I don't just show up, officiate your ceremony, photograph the moments and then say bye. I show up for you for as long as the experience lasts. Half a day, full day, I'm there. It's also worth asking what happens if the weather means a change of plan on the day.
On elopements, I'm also your driver. Private chauffeuring is provided personally by me, which means one less person to coordinate and one more reason the day flows without anyone checking the clock.
Who Takes the Photographs?
If your celebrant and photographer are different people, ask how they work together. Who stands where during the vows? Who's in charge of timings? You risk the chance of miscommunication, being out of sync, and the photographer not really knowing you as a couple.
With me, the celebrant and photographer are the same person, and I've written more about the perks of staying with one celebrant and photographer. During your vows, I slide out of frame and take pictures, while a DJI mic clipped to my ceremony folder picks up our voices for the recording. I know when the moments are going to happen, and I know when to press the button to capture them.
When Will We Receive Our Photos?
Always ask for a clear timescale. Waiting months for your photos after a big day is no fun at all. With Leon Bagnall Experiences, photos are delivered in 4 weeks and videos in 8 weeks, with every image individually edited. Polaroids are handed to you on the day itself, so you leave with something in your hands straight away.
What Happens After the Day?
This is the question most couples forget, and it's the one I care about most. With many suppliers, the relationship ends when the gallery is delivered. Ask whether there's anything beyond that.
Every experience with me includes the Love Story Album, online and printed, and the Love Story Registry. Both carry over from one experience to the next, so your proposal, elopement and anniversary photos live in one album rather than three. I created Leon Bagnall Experiences for couples seeking more than just one and done moments.
Do You Know the Area?
Local knowledge makes more difference than people expect. Someone who knows the area will know which beaches are quiet in the evening, which mountain paths are manageable in wedding shoes and where to go if the weather turns.
I'm based in Llandudno and work across North Wales, from Anglesey's coast to the lakes and mountains of Eryri. Ask any supplier where they've worked before, and whether they know your chosen spot. It's a simple question that tells you a lot.
Can We Meet You First?
You should feel comfortable with the person you book. A call or a coffee before you commit tells you more than any website ever will. Listen to whether they ask about your story, or just about your date.
If you'd like to know more about me first, my about page explains how it all started, and why choose me covers the way I work. On Elope with Leon you'll find my own story too, from a self taught love of photography to becoming an accredited celebrant. You can also read real love stories from couples I've worked with, in their own words.
Trust the Answers That Feel Right
There's no perfect list of questions, only the answers that make you feel at ease. Take your time, ask everything you want to, and choose the person who listens. When you're ready to talk it through, the Plan Your Experience page is a gentle place to begin, and whatever you decide, I hope these questions help you find someone who'll treat your story as carefully as you do.