The best way to choose your celebrant is to find someone that you feel comfortable with and who is able to deliver to your needs and style. Take time to talk or meet with a few to get a sense of the person and their approach. Whilst cost is always a consideration, it is advisable not to choose on price alone. It is worth paying a bit extra for the peace of mind and broader service that a good celebrant can provide. If the standard of celebrant and service is poor, it will affect your day and your experience and memories of the event. For more information see "Choosing a celebrant ".
What should I look for?
A civil celebrant gives you complete choice of ceremony and location. A good celebrant works with you to create a personal ceremony that reflects your values, personality and style. You may also have to contend with many different belief systems for your celebration/ceremony - a civil celebrant can combine many faiths, values and cultural/ethnic traditions in the one ceremony.
My belief is that whatever the event - wedding, funeral or naming, for example, it is the ceremony that people look to for the substance and heart of an occassion. A 'standard format' wedding ceremony that doesn't resonate with the personality and values of a couple can leave you and your guests unsatisfied, and in a way, it disrespects the profound emotions involved. A poorly-researched and prepared funeral, (ideally they should involve significant interviews, research and collaboration with a range of family members and friends), that misses significant details and gets things wrong - is hardly a fitting end to celebrate a loved-ones' life. It can be offensive, and at worst, highly distressing and damaging to the healing/greiving process.
Ceremony is powerful and transformative, and in my view, the words, the symbols and design of a ceremony are a critical element to the success of your celebration. The role of your celebrant is a skilled craft that brings together many elements - communication, writing, performance, people skills, empathy and compassion, creativity and passion.
I am part of a new breed of passionate and professional celebrants that want to bring back both the magic and reverence to the marriage ceremony and redefine it within our contemporary 21st century world so it does not lose its significance and relevance. In my celebrancy I want to make the ritual meaningful and authentic and the ensure the words and symbolism are genuine. My craft as a celebrant is to give a personal and involved approach, spending time getting to know my couples and taking them on a journey as we plan and develop a ceremony that helps them to articulate their love in the context of their own beliefs, values and experiences. My style is to create individually crafted ceremonies that are creative and unique - and which the couple truly own.
What is the first step?
The first step is to call and see if your celebrant is available on the time and day of your ceremony. You need to have all your legal paperwork completed (which is your Notice of Intention to Marry NOIM) at least one month and one day prior to your ceremony. There are few and strict exceptions to this and a shortening of time can only be granted by the Court Registrar or appropriate authority. It is advisable to book your celebrant well before however, as bookings get taken, especially in the Spring and Summer seasons. Saturday afternoon ceremonies book out early. I take confirmed bookings 12-15months at the most in advance. To contact me, click here .
If I am available, I will make an appointment to meet with you – either at your home, my home or a convenient location. This first meeting is obligation free, there is no pressure to confirm your booking at that time, rather it gives you the opportunity to discuss your needs and determine if I am suitable.
From that point if you choose me as your celebrant, we would formalise the arrangements with a service agreement and relevant paperwork and begin the creative process of planning your ceremony/celebration. For weddings, you will need to ensure you have the appropriate documentation at hand, Birth Certificates and/or Divorce Certificates (or Death Certificate if widowed). Australian Passports are not accepted as proof of age, however, international passports are permitted.
