Posts
about Wedding Planning
Planning a wedding can be an exciting time.
Let's make sure it is!
Before you
start planning
hter
You Just Got Engaged. Now What?
Categories: |
Wedding Planning |
(15/02/2020)
So, the question was popped. You said yes. Everyone got
excited. Now What? Well, everyone will start asking the
When? and Where? and How? questions. Here are my top
three picks for 1, 2, and 3, on your We're Engaged, What
Next To Do List...
More ...
Google your Wedding - Hints, Tips, and a bit of fun
Categories: |
Wedding Planning
(06/04/2022)
Knowing a few tricks will make Google a handy tool for
planning your wedding ...
More
Genius Wedding Planning in a Nutshell
Categories: |
Wedding Planning
|
(30/10/2019)
It's easy and simple to build your own wedding planner
and checklist based on the reality of your wedding. What
this means is that you create your own list of deadlines
in conjunction with your own To Do list to create an
infinitely scalable planner, suitable for big weddings,
small weddings, and microweddings regardless of how much
lead time you have...
More ...
What Makes a Good Wedding?
Categories: |
Wedding Ceremony |
Wedding
Planning |
(28/06/2020)
After 14 years and well over 1000 weddings (legal and
non-legal), together with 11 books and 190+
blog posts about things wedding, I know a bit about
weddings, and what makes a good wedding, and what
doesn't. ...
More ...
Before you Meet Your Celebrant
Categories: Celebrant |
Wedding Ceremony |
Wedding Planning |
(19/11/2018)
There are two distinct aspects to getting married -
planning the ceremony and meeting the legal
requirements. Without the ceremony, your wedding
will just be an expensive party. And without meeting the
legal requirements you will not be legally married! Here
is a list of things to decide and things to do before
you meet with me. If you can tick off all of these the
process will go smoothly and efficiently.
...
More ...
And an oldie, but a still relevant goodie ...
8 Things I've Learned Over 11 Years of Being a
Marriage Celebrant
Categories: Wedding Planning |
(04/01/2018)
Some
of the things I've learned include it is never too early
to book important vendors, the most common questions
asked, the most common fear, and more ...
More ....
Mythbusting
hter
Getting Married via Skype - Possible in Australia or
Not?
Categories: |
Wedding Ceremony |
Wedding
Legals |
Wedding Planning |
(24/03/2020)
Sorry, it is NOT legal in Australia to get married over
Skype, FaceTime, Google Hangouts, or
other videoconferencing technology, or by proxy. And
this is why...
More ...
10 Things we "Know" about Getting Married that Ain't
So
Categories:
Wedding Legals |
Wedding Planning |
(26/07/2016)
As Artemus Ward said 'It ain't so much the things we
don't know that get us in trouble. It's the things we
know that ain't so.' In wedding land there are a lot of
common beliefs that just aren't true ...
More ...
Not "Just a Celebrant" (and Not "Just Half an Hour")
Categories: |
Celebrant |
Wedding
Ceremony |
Wedding Legals |
Wedding
Planning |
(28/02/2020)
What does a celebrant do? And why do they charge for
more than the half hour the ceremony takes? The easy
answer is that a celebrant changes your legal status
from not-married to married. which is a pretty big
thing. Life-changing, in fact. And they do that by
creating and performing a ceremony. But it certainly
doesn't stop there. When you hire me as a celebrant,
you're getting a lot more than someone who will make
sure you tick a few legal boxes, stand up in front of
your guests, rabbit on for a bit, and then declare that
you are married. ...
More ...
Your celebrant is NOT ripping you off (it is more
than just half an hour)
Categories: Celebrant |
Wedding Budget |
Wedding Ceremony |
Wedding
Planning |
(10/07/2017)
There is an awful lot that goes into the half-hour the
ceremony lasts - and that's what you are paying for
...
More
...
Setting
the date
hter
The "Worst Days for Weddings" might be the Best Day
for Yours
Categories: |
Wedding Planning
|
(13/06/2021)
In this blog post I revisit the usual suspects on worst
days lists, unpack why they are on those lists, and
discuss whether ignoring the warnings and going for one
of those days might actually be the smart choice for
your wedding. ...
More ...
8 Ways to Choose Your Wedding Date
Categories: |
Wedding Planning |
(12/01/2020)
While some people have no problem picking a date -
usually an anniversary that just happily falls on the
weekend - for most couples choosing a date that everyone
will be happy with turns into a nightmarish juggling
act. On top of that, 2020 sure gave us all a heads-up
about all the pitfalls of getting your hearts set on a
particular date for your wedding ...
More ...
What's the Best Time of the Day to Get Married?
Categories: |
Wedding Ceremony |
Wedding
Planning |
(30/04/2020)
The time of day you choose for your wedding will have a
significant impact on your whole day, including on your
budget, your photographs, your choice of venue, and
possibly on the availability of your preferred vendors
and whether or not guests can attend ...
More
...
Valentine's Day - Pros and Cons of Getting Married
on the Official Day of Love
Categories: |
Wedding Planning |
(14/10/2020)
Would Valentine's Day, the Official Day of Love, be a
great day to marry, or should you avoid it? There are
pros and cons to weddings on that day.
More ...
Essentials
hter
No Licence Needed
Categories: |
Wedding Ceremony |
Wedding
Legals |
Wedding Planning |
(21/02/2020)
Getting married in Australia is super simple. You don't
need a marriage licence, and your venue doesn't have to
have a licence to host wedding ceremonies ...
More
...
Can You Have Two (or More) Weddings?
Categories: |
Wedding Ceremony |
Wedding
Legals |
Wedding Planning |
(17/03/2020)
Can you, as a marrying couple, have more than one
wedding? The answer is
Yes, but also,
That
Depends...
More ...
Making Sure Your Wedding Service Providers are
Legit
Categories: |
Wedding Planning
|
(04/11/2019)
Checking out your other service providers to make sure
they are legit is a bit more complicated than ensuring
your celebrant is duly authorised, but definitely worth
the effort if you want to not only avoid disappointment
on your wedding day, but ensure that they are going to
meet your expectations...
More ...
Surprise Weddings - How to have a successful one
without breaking the law
Categories: Wedding Ceremony |
Wedding
Legals |
Wedding Planning |
(03/05/2019)
The Marriage Act is very clear. Surprise weddings are
illegal - but only if one of the marrying
couple is being surprised. Which means there are plenty
of legal ways to have a surprise wedding ...
More ...
A Spontaneous Wedding? Yes you can
Categories: |
Wedding Ceremony |
Wedding Legals | Wedding Planning |
(29/09/2019)
Does that whole let's get married now vibe appeal to
you? No big wedding, just running away and doing it
without any fuss and bother?...
More
...
Saying I Do in Secret (it's legal!)
Categories: | Wedding Legals |Wedding Planning |
(18/09/2019)
If you choose to be married with a civil celebrant in
Australia you can be married in secret ...
More
...
7 Surprising Facts about Getting Married in
Australia
Categories: | Wedding Legals |Wedding Planning |
(16/09/2019)
Getting married in Australia is easier than many people
imagine - here are some little known facts that confirm
that. ...
More ...
Funding
your wedding
hter
Fund your Wedding and Include your Loved Ones with a
Wedding Registry
Categories: | Wedding Budget
| Wedding Ceremony |
Wedding Planning |
(05/12/2020)
Rethinking what you might put on your wedding registry
list and/or substituting a Wedding Wish List for a
Wishing Well can be great solutions to two of the big
dilemmas 2020 has created for couples planning to
marry
More ...
Don't let FOMO wreck your budget ... or your
wedding
Categories: |
Wedding Budget|
Wedding
Planning |
(27/10/2019)
Fear of Missing Out can prompt you to spend money
without due consideration or sign up to wedding services
in a hurry, leaving you with Buyers Remorse, or
worse...
More ...
8 Simple Ways to Keep Within your Wedding Budget
Categories: Wedding Budget |
Wedding Planning |
(23/10/2018)
One of the
most difficult aspects of wedding planning is
keeping within your wedding budget. Here are 8
simple things that will make that a breeze ...
More ...
How much does a wedding cost?
Categories:
Wedding Budget |
Wedding Planning |
(18/09/2016)
While other parts of the retail sector are seeing a
downturn, even though the number of weddings in
Australia per year is dropping, the wedding industry is
flourishing - and that is costing couples big time. But
it doesn't have to ...
More ...
Plan B:
how to plan for when things don't go to plan
hter
Note: I've left posts about planning for COVID in
here because they may continue to apply for some time,
will always be generally relevant - and will always be
historically interesting
More than one Plan B for your wedding is a must!
Categories: | Wedding Planning |
(26/09/2019)
You need Plans B1, B2, and B3 to cover all eventualities
and to make sure your wedding can go ahead on the day
...
More ...
Plan X - The 2021 Wedding Must Have [and
a good idea in 2022/2023]
Categories: |
Wedding Ceremony |
Wedding Planning |
(05/01/2021)
Plan X is the plan you have ready to guide you when your
wedding, as planned, can't go ahead on the day because
of restrictions imposed in response to COVID-19
outbreaks ...
More ...
Strategic Wedding Planning for 2021 (and beyond)
Categories: | Wedding Planning
|
(19/11/2020)
With so many weddings rescheduled from 2020 to 2021
because of COVID-19, if you've just got engaged and
hoping to be married in 2021, whether you can pull off
the wedding you want, within the time frame you want,
will depend on how flexible you are prepared to be.
You're going to need to be very strategic about your
wedding planning, or very lucky!
More ...
Let's hear it for Negatives First Wedding
Planning
Categories: |
Wedding Planning |
(13/10/2020)
Kickstart your wedding planning, and ensure you don't
blow your budget down the track, by starting with some
negative thinking.
More ...
Wedding Insurance
Categories: |
Wedding Planning |
(12/10/2019)
However good your Plan B is, it may well not be adequate
where a catastrophic natural disaster, severe illness,
or vendor non-performance is concerned. Having to cancel
or postpone your wedding can be financially very costly,
unless you are insured.....
More
...
When Disaster Strikes - Plan D - How to Get Married
Legally When your Venue and your Celebrant are
Unreachable
Categories: |
Wedding Legals
|
Wedding Planning |
(03/01/2020)
The one thing that is required to make any Plan B work
is the capacity to communicate. When disaster strikes,
and communications are cut, even the most detailed and
multi-faceted Plan B is useless. So what can you do if
you've planned your wedding (and a viable Plan B), and
now your venue and your celebrant are within one of the
disaster zones ...
More ...
How to have a Hygge Wedding in a Heatwave
Categories: |
Wedding Ceremony
|
Wedding Planning |
(08/12/2019)
A hygge wedding is a perfect way to beat the heat and
have a cosy and comfortable wedding ...
More
...
10 Ways to Beat the Heat on Your Wedding Day
Categories: |
Wedding Ceremony |
Wedding Planning |
(14/11/2019)
Australia is a hot place where outdoor weddings are
popular. Heat can compromise your wedding in many ways,
Doing these 10 things can help you beat the heat and
have a fantastic day ...
More
...
Balloons and Bushfires
Categories: Naming Ceremonies |
Wedding
Ceremony |
Wedding Rituals |
Wedding
Planning |
(12/09/2019)
Balloon releases can cause or spread bushfires
More
...
OMG! We forgot the rings ...
Categories: Wedding Ceremony |
Wedding
Planning |
Wedding Rituals |
(24/08/2019)
Forgetting the wedding rings happens. But it doesn't
have to if you have strategies in place to avoid this.
Worst case scenario? There are multiple creative ways to
deal with being ringless on the day...
More
...
Quick-fix hacks for unexpected wedding problems
Categories: Wedding Ceremony |
Wedding
Planning |
(30/06/2019)
There will always be something that doesn’t go to plan
on the day. Some have the potential to derail the whole
wedding.. ...
More ...
6 Good Reasons to Celebrate when Something Goes
Wrong at your Wedding
(updated 26/07/2017)
Categories: Wedding Planning |
There is no such thing
as a perfect wedding, But that's reason to celebrate,
and here's why...
More ...
So Coronavirus Cancelled Your Wedding ... What Now?
Categories: |
Wedding Ceremony
|
Wedding Planning |
(23/03/2020)
You've been thrown a curve ball that means your wedding
can't go ahead on the day you've planned for, or, can't
go ahead the way you've planned it. Closure of venues,
restrictions on the number of people who can be in both
indoor and outdoor spaces, travel restrictions, social
distancing, and a lot of uncertainty because we have no
idea how long this will last ...
More ...
What Should We Tell Our Guests About Our Wedding in
the Time of the Coronavirus?
Categories: |
Wedding Ceremony
|
Wedding Planning |
(19/03/2020)
With Government restrictions ramping up on a daily
basis, concerns about flattening the curve, and worrying
media reports about the effects of the Coronavirus
(COVID-19) on weddings, you wouldn't be human if you
weren't stressing about your wedding, or worrying about
what you should tell your guests...
More ...
Coronavirus and Your Wedding - Some Suggestions
Categories: |
Wedding Ceremony |
Wedding
Legals |
Wedding Planning |
(11/03/2020)
How novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) might impact your
planned wedding is a hot topic at the moment. So, should
you be concerned? Or, in the words of that wonderful
World War II advice, Alert but not Alarmed? ...
More ...
Choices,
choices, choices
hter
Old School Things That Make Wedding Ceremonies
Wonderful - and a Few that Don't
Categories: |
Wedding Ceremony
|
Wedding Planning
|
(19/12/2021)
In all the rush to be modern and contemporary, I think
we often downplay the old school things that make
wedding ceremonies wonderful. In fact, many wedding
professionals act as if nothing old school happens
during the wedding ceremonies they are involved with.
But just because they
are not acknowledged, doesn't mean they aren't there!
Here is my list of all the (largely unacknowledged)
things that have made weddings special forever, and
continue to do so. ...
More ...
Could a Tandem Wedding be Your Thing?
Categories: |
Wedding Ceremony
|
Wedding Legals |
Wedding
Planning |
(10/10/2021)
A tandem wedding ceremony is one that is officiated by
two people, working in concert, but only one of whom is
authorised to solemnise legal marriages ...
More
,,,
Unplugged Wedding: Pros, Cons, and Alternatives
Categories: |
Wedding Ceremony |
Wedding
Planning |
(30/03/2021)
Having an unplugged wedding has benefits, but it also
has drawbacks. A compromise position might be the best
strategy.. ...
More ...
Double Weddings are Fun, Budget Friendly, and Poised
for a Comeback
Categories: |
Wedding Ceremony |
Wedding
Planning |
(06/05/2020)
Double weddings are great fun, budget friendly and
likely to make a comeback because of extra competition
for dates, venues and vendors that will flow on from
weddings postponed in 2020 ...
More
...
Breakfast Weddings - A Beautiful Budget-Friendly
Option
Categories: |
Wedding Budget | Wedding
Ceremony |
Wedding Planning |
(11/08/2020)
Even on a weekend, having a breakfast wedding gives you
more options and more chance of booking your chosen
suppliers. And it is a very budget-friendly option ....
More
...
Micro Weddings - Pluses and Opportunities
Galore
Categories: |
Wedding Ceremony |
Wedding Planning |
(19/11/2019)
While a Micro Wedding is usually interpreted to be
abbreviated on all fronts - a shorter, simpler ceremony
and celebration with only a handful of guests - it
allows greater flexibility and offers many wonderful
possibilities not possible in a larger wedding.
...
More ...
How Many Bridesmaids is Just the Right Number?
Categories: Wedding Ceremony |
Wedding
Planning |
Wedding Traditions |
(13/04/2019)
There is a
very fine line between an appropriate number of
bridesmaids (and groomsmen) and just too many,
and a wide range of factors that come into play
when deciding how many is the right number for
your wedding ...
More ...
Multicultural Fusion Weddings
Categories: Inclusive Weddings |
Wedding
Ceremony |
Wedding Planning
|
Wedding Rituals |
Wedding Traditions
|
(08/01/2018)
If you are an
intercultural couple, how do you navigate your
ceremony? It is not uncommon to have two
ceremonies. But there is a third option - a fusion
wedding ceremony that incorporates the traditions of
what are important to you both
...
More
...
How to have an Environmentally
Friendly and Socially Conscious Wedding
Categories: Wedding Budget |
Wedding Planning
|
(25/10/2016)
Environmentally friendly
celebrations do not have to lack style. As well as
ensuring that you do not start your married life by
unwittingly contributing to climate change or
environmental damage, making socially conscious choices
can save you money – and provide a defensible
justification for not breaking the bank! Here's
how
...
More ...
Including
Children and Animals
hter
Ramp Up the Fun with Wildlife at your Wedding
Categories: | Wedding
Ceremony | Wedding
Planning |
(22/11/2020)
An emerging trend is that couples are thinking beyond
their own fur kids and exploring the idea of adding a
wildlife element to their wedding. It is also a growing
area in wedding-related businesses, so you are spoiled
for choice. However, to successfully include wildlife in
your wedding requires some thought and
preparation
More ...
Give your Dog a Starring Role in Your Wedding
Categories: |
Wedding Ceremony |
Wedding
Planning |
(27/08/2020)
Dogs being themselves make for magic moments. All you
need to do is to give your dog the
opportunity by including them in your wedding every way
you can. ...
More ...
Cats and Weddings - A Melt Your Heart Combination
Categories: |
Wedding Ceremony |
Wedding
Planning |
(17/06/2020)
Whatever the temperament of your kitty fur baby
including them in your wedding photos is something
you'll never regret. All it takes is a bit of caution
and some forward planning to make sure your baby is safe
and comfortable ...
More ...
In 2020 and Beyond Children Need to be Invited to
Your Wedding
Categories: |
Inclusive Weddings |
Wedding Ceremony |
Wedding Planning |
(12/07/2020)
There are good reasons why it is particularly important
since 2020, a year where their lives were
disrupted, for children to experience wedding
ceremonies ...
More ...
How to Train your Flower Girl for a Brilliant Petal
Toss
Categories: Wedding Ceremony
| Wedding Planning |
(14/09/2016)
There is nothing sweeter than a flower girl tossing
petals with exuberant abandon. But achieving that takes
a little training ...
More ...
And the Flower Girl wore a Backpack
Categories:
Wedding Ceremony | Wedding Planning |
(14/09/2016)
Give the children you want involved in your wedding
ceremony the choice of what they will do and what they
will wear and magic happens ...
More
...
Destination
Weddings
hter
Pros
and Cons of
Destination
Weddings
Categories:
| Wedding Planning|
29/04/2023
While there are significant legal and logistical issues
to consider, and a destination wedding can be expensive
and inconvenient for guests, it can also be more
consolidated and fun for your wedding party. Destination
weddings are a great way to sidestep pressure to
adhere to traditional wedding customs and practices, and
to spread cultural awareness and appreciation.
More...
Venue
hter
Don't Forget This One Simple Thing When Choosing a
Ceremony Venue
Categories: Wedding Ceremony |
Wedding
Planning |
(23/08/2016)
There is a very simple thing that makes all the
difference when choosing your ceremony venue. Forgetting
to do it is a serious oversight
... More
...
How to have a Stress-Free Wedding in Your Own
Backyard
Categories: |
Wedding Ceremony |
Wedding
Planning |
(05/02/2020)
The benefits of holding your wedding in your own
backyard are many, and varied, but they all add up to
two things - a backyard wedding is easy on the budget,
and it gives you the ultimate opportunity create a more
relaxed, more personal feel to your wedding.
More ...
How Many Toilets Does Your Wedding Need?
Categories: |
Wedding Planning |
(20/11/2019)
The ratio of toilets to guests at your wedding is
incredibly important. Here's how to do the maths to make
sure that the venue you choose has sufficient ...
More ...
20 things you can do in a backyard wedding
that you most likely won’t be able to do
anywhere else
Categories: Wedding Planning |
(15/08/2019)
Hosting your own wedding in your own backyard opens up a
wide range of possibilities, not only to save money, but
also to make your wedding totally unique because you
have complete control over every aspect of the day in a
way you don’t if you marry in a wedding venue, or even
in a public park
More
...
Dealing
with stresses and dilemmas
hter