Planning your wedding

Where do we start?

• An obligation free meeting where you can make sure I'm the right celebrant for you.
• If you decide to go ahead, you pay a deposit to reserve the date.
• We work together to create the wedding you are looking for.
• At least one calendar month before the wedding date you complete a Notice of Intention to Marry form.
• Prior to the wedding we have a rehearsal.
• The wedding day.

You need to know

• A Notice of Intended Marriage is completed and given to the celebrant at least one month before the ceremony.
• In accordance with Australian law there are three mandatory components of the wedding ceremony:
  • The Monitum from the Marriage Act
    I am duly authorised by law to solemnise your marriage according to law. Before you are joined in marriage in my presence and in the presence of these witnesses, I remind you of the solemn and binding nature of the relationship into which you are now about to enter. Marriage, according to law in Australia, is the union of a man and a woman, to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life.
  • The Consent and exchange of vows
    I call upon the persons here present to witness that I Matthew take you Jill to be my lawfully wedded wife etc.
  • Signing
    The bride and groom, two witnesses, and the celebrant sign two marriage certificates and the marriage register. One certificate is for the couple to keep and the other is sent to the registrar of births, deaths and marriages as the official record of the marriage.

Things to consider

• Giving Away
  The giving away of the bride is optional.
• Exchange of Rings
  Exchanging rings is traditional but is optional.
• Involving others in your ceremony
  Many couples choose to invite family members or friends to take part in their ceremony in various ways - readings, songs, performances, rituals.
  

I pride myself in giving personalised, professional, service and advice.