Planning 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; […]
Registering 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 […]
Marriage ~ 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 […]
Wedding 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 […]
Easy 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 […]
Vows ~ 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 […]
Guest 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 […]
Rituals ~ 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 […]
How 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 […]