Toasts ~ A quick guide
The who, what & when … A special occasion often calls for one or more toasts to be made. This allows those who have played a key role in the event to be publicly acknowledged and thanked. At a wedding, there are several toasts which are traditionally made but, like many things, these have changed over time and there are no hard and fast rules about which ones to include. As a guide, work on each speech being somewhere between 3-5 minutes in length. ♥ The first toast is normally to the bride and is made by the best man He will usually...
read moreDo we need a wedding rehearsal?
According to the Code of Practice for Marriage Celebrants, a wedding ceremony rehearsal must be provided to all couples who request one. Usually, I would arrange this a week or two before the wedding. ♥ Practise “walking the walk” It’s a great opportunity for your wedding party to practise walking up to the groom (assuming he’s not arriving on the arm of the bride) and is particularly useful when there are younger people, such as flower girls, in the bridal party so that they feel at ease with how fast they should walk and where they...
read morePlanning a long distance wedding
The legislation in Australia applies equally to marriages involving persons who are not Australian citizens as it does to marriages involving one or two Australians. As an authorised marriage celebrant, I usually meet with couples three times before their wedding – at an initial meeting, then at a follow up meeting, then at the rehearsal; however, there is absolutely no reason why a rapport cannot be developed with a couple planning to marry with everything organised long distance. Foreign Nationals Marrying in Australia It is...
read moreRegistering your marriage
What is the process? Since 1 July 2014, a new system called LifeLink, introduced by the Registry of Births Deaths & Marriages in NSW, allows celebrants the option of lodging online the official paperwork for each marriage they have conducted in NSW so they can be officially registered. As per the Marriage Act 1961, this must occur within two weeks of the marriage. The paperwork includes a scanned copy of the Notice of Intended Marriage, the Declaration of No Impediment to Marriage and the official Certificate of Marriage after the...
read moreMarriage ~ some little known facts & figures
One of the key roles of the Attorney-General’s Department is to administer The Marriage Act 1961. Each year, it collects statistics regarding weddings performed by those authorised to do so. Who knew that in Australia … ♥ Lois D’Arcy was awarded the honour of being Australia’s first Civil Celebrant on 19th July 1973. She was then a 26 year old mother of two. The title of Civil Celebrant differentiates Lois and other Civil Celebrants (like me) from Religious Celebrants. ♥ In that first year, only 2% of couples...
read moreWedding photos ~ 20 memorable ideas
Apart from the traditional, what else is there? “Photography is a way of feeling, of touching, of loving. What you have caught on film is captured forever … it remembers little things long after you have forgotten everything.” – Aaron Siskind. Your photographer will no doubt supply you with a list of shots which s/he can take on the day of your wedding and ask you to select which photos are “must haves”. These include all the traditional ones like the bride with her parents, the groom with his parents, the bridal...
read moreEasy ideas to help you have a fabulous wedding day!
A little advance planning will save a lot of stress ♥ Bridal expos Try to attend one or more bridal expos in the lead up to your wedding day. You will collect lots of valuable inspiration and information from wedding suppliers and see first-hand how they dress, how they have decorated their stand and how they interact with you. It’s likely there will be quite a few to choose from and it’s easy to get overwhelmed. So, let your first impression be your guide, then check out a few websites, Facebook pages and look at the quality and...
read moreVows ~ should we stick with tradition or write our own?
Let’s have a look at what’s involved … Legal Wording Certain words must be stated during your ceremony for your marriage to be considered legal. As your celebrant: ♥ I can refer to you by a shortened name or nickname during your ceremony but your full name must be stated at least once. ♥ I must state what is known as “The Monitum” which reads as follows: “I am duly authorised by law to solemnise marriages according to law. Before you are joined in marriage in my presence and in the presence of these...
read moreGuest books ~ 12 simple ideas
Traditional or contemporary – there’s something for everyone. Apart from traditional guest books, there are lots of different ways you can record the names of your wedding guests. Here are 12 ideas to kick off the thinking process: 1. Puzzle Contact a laser cutting company and arrange for them to laser cut a puzzle, allowing one piece per guest. Leave a blank piece of the puzzle at each place setting and a supply of felt pens on each reception table. An A5 acrylic stand or photo frame on each table can serve as a table number and...
read moreRituals ~ should I include one in my ceremony?
The decision to include a special ritual in your ceremony is a completely personal one. Your ceremony can be simple and beautiful without adding anything extra to it; however, if you’re thinking of including a ritual … Here are some things to consider: ♥ Is there a significance to one of the rituals which has special meaning to you? ♥ Would you like to include a ritual to symbolise your love for someone who perhaps is no longer with you? ♥ Do you want to have something as a keepsake after the ceremony is over? ♥ Would you like to...
read moreHow do I find the right celebrant for me?
Here’s some food for thought when considering this question … ♥ Qualifications ~ Has my celebrant successfully completed Certificate IV in Celebrancy? Would you ask someone whose formal qualifications weren’t up-to-date to do an important job for you? I am committed to being a celebrant so, for me, achieving this qualification was absolutely essential. While all registered marriage celebrants are authorised to marry couples, many do not have this qualification. Since 2013, the Registrar of Marriage Celebrants no longer accepts...
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