Terms and Conditions

1.  Bookings - Bookings are accepted in good faith, based on the information provided by the client, and are deemed to be accepted only when a 25% deposit/booking fee is paid and acknowledged by issuance of a receipt/pro forma invoice by Chester Ceremonies Ltd. 

2.  Costs - No additional costs, or changes in costs, can be made after the contractual booking form is signed by both parties, unless the client wishes to add the provision of extra services to the contract. Chester Ceremonies Ltd reserves the right to increase the fee payable due to altered instructions of engagement, e.g. time at the event being extended or the venue changed. In this case a revised or additional contract will be created as per item 1 'Bookings'. 

3.  Contractual Booking Form - The Contractual Booking Form is deemed to be the 'Contract' between Chester Ceremonies Ltd and the client.  After the Contractual Booking Form is signed by all parties, the client must return either a PDF (scanned copy) of JPEG (photo) of the Form to ian@chesterceremonies.co.uk and retain a copy for their records.  Chester Ceremonies Ltd will confirm receipt of the Contractual Booking Form by subsequently raising a pro forma invoice, detailing any deposit paid/outstanding balance.  

4.  Cancellation - Any client entering into a contract with Chester Ceremonies Ltd will have 14 days (from midnight on the date of signature on the Contractual Booking Form) in which to cancel, and will not have to give a reason for doing so. An email from the client to ian@chesterceremonies.co.uk or a formal letter (sent using the 'signature required' service of Royal Mail) to Chester Ceremonies at Number 28, The Yonne, Chester CH1 2NH is required in this instance.  Receipt of notice of this cancellation will be issued by Chester Ceremonies Ltd.  Because the burden of proof for showing cancellation within the cancellation period rests with the client, it will be in the client’s interest to keep some record of the cancellation.  

5.  Commencement of Work - If the client has asked Chester Ceremonies Ltd to commence work on the ceremony or services to be provided, and it has done so, the client may still change their mind within the 14 days, but the client will be required to pay for any work done in that period. Chester Ceremonies Ltd reserves the right to determine such a charge, at its sole discretion, for any work done up to the point of cancellation. 

6.  Payment of Balance - The 25% deposit/booking fee is deducted from the final account. In the event of cancellation, such deposit/booking fee may be non-returnable - subject to the conditions specified in paragraph 10. 'Cancellation Charges' below. In consideration of the preparation work involved for Celebrant services, the balance of the account is payable 30 days prior to the event, unless otherwise agreed in writing.  For Toastmaster services the balance of the account is payable as per the conditions agreed and specified in the 'Contractual Booking Form'.

7.  Travel - The fee quoted is inclusive of travel based on one hour's travel by car (as determined by Google Maps) from Chester city centre (or as agreed/waived in the Contractual Booking Form and any deposit being paid).

8.  Fulfilment of Engagement - Every effort will be made in good faith to fulfil the engagement, but responsibility cannot be accepted for non-arrival due to circumstances beyond Chester Ceremonies Ltd's control, e.g. extreme weather conditions, industrial action, failure of public services etc. In the event of non-arrival, a refund will be made to the client, according to the circumstances prevailing.

9.  Illness - In the event of illness, every effort will be made to provide a substitute celebrant or toastmaster, and to pass on full details of the booking and planning documentation for the event. In these circumstances no additional fee will be charged by Chester Ceremonies Ltd on behalf of it, or any third party used to fulfil contractual obligations, nor any refund given to the client. 

10.  Cancellation Charges - In the event of cancellation by the client for any reason, the following charges will apply from acceptance of a booking (deemed to be from the date that the Contractual Booking Form is signed and dated by the client): 

180 days or more prior to the event = forfeiture of deposit; 

90 - 180 days prior to the event = 50% of fee; 

30 - 60 days prior to the event = 75% of fee; 

Within 30 days of the event = full fee payable 

Cancellations will only be accepted in writing (see item 4 above). Regrettably, telephone cancellations will not be accepted.

11. Copyright -  Digital copies of any proposed scripts and final scripts will be sent to clients in PDF form only and may not be reproduced or altered without the written consent of Chester Ceremonies Ltd.  Presentation scripts, where issued, become the sole property of the client on completion of all payment to Chester Ceremonies Ltd.

12.  Bullying, Harassment and Abuse - Chester Ceremonies Ltd upholds a 'zero tolerance' policy in relation to any bullying, harassment or abuse (physical or verbal) and/or hate speech/inflammatory comments, and always informs the police of any such incidents.

13.  Other Circumstances - Chester Ceremonies Ltd operates under a moral code of decency and respect towards all people.  If, in the sole opinion of Chester Ceremonies Ltd, any behaviour is exhibited which detracts from the social, physical or mental well-being of any individual it, or third parties employed on its behalf, reserves the right to withdraw its services from any client. 

14. Jurisdiction - The Contractual Booking Form (forming the 'Contract' between Chester Ceremonies Ltd and its client), and any disputes or claims arising out of or in connection with it or its subject matter or formation (including non-contractual disputes or claims), shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, English law, and the parties irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.