on
my (Advice-Rich) Blog...
Blog (noun) a
regularly updated website or web page, typically
one run by an individual or small group, that is
written in an informal or conversational style.
1990s abbreviation of weblog.
This blog is a mixed bag of information and advice about
anything and everything from choosing your venue and
your celebrant, to what might seem like miniscule
decisions where your decision can have a big impact on
the overall outcome.Go to my Blog Home Page to explore by tag/category or find posts about specific subjects.
Also check out
Tuesday Tutorials (bite-sized guides to the legal side of marrying) and
Days of the Week (detailed information about marrying on Monday, Tuesday, etc etc)
Blog Posts in order of
posting (newest first)
out
May Love Be Your Umbrella: Using Umbrellas and Parasols in Your Wedding Ceremony
Categories: | Wedding Ceremony | Wedding Rituals |(21/02/2020)
Umbrellas present fabulously Instagrammable opportunities for your wedding, including many richly symbolic ways to feature them in the ceremony ... Read on...
Stand by Me - Or Please Be Seated: There are No Rules for Your Bridal Party, or for Guests at Your Wedding
Categories: | Wedding Ceremony |(18/02/2020)
There are no rules that require your wedding party to stand up in the front for the whole ceremony. It is your choice. However, deciding whether your wedding party will stand with you, or be seated, comes down to a number of things ... Read on...
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... Read on...
Rain On Your Wedding Day - Good Luck or Bad Luck?
Categories: | Wedding Traditions |(13/02/2020)
Is rain on your wedding day good luck or bad luck? In multiple cultures rain represents fertility, cleansing, and renewal, and, extrapolated from those beliefs, in relation to weddings, unity and tears.... Read on...
Proposal Do's and Don'ts
Categories: | Wedding Traditions |(11/02/2020)
Dos and Don't of proposing learned over many years of hearing proposal stories from couples I have married... Read on...
Your Grand Entrance: How to walk down the aisle with style
Categories: | Wedding Ceremony | Wedding Traditions |(08/02/2020)
Guests at weddings are very accepting of couples doing their own thing and making their own decisions about how to walk down the aisle. No-one bats an eye if you choose to do something other than walk down the aisle on the arm of your father. And most people no longer assume that, if you do walk down the aisle on your father's arm, the ceremony that follows will be ultra-traditional and totally predictable. ... Read on...
Your Marriage Certificate(s)
Categories: | Wedding Ceremony | Wedding Legals |(06/02/2020)
Every couple marrying in Australia will be presented with a certificate on the day. That certificate is proof that you are married, but it isn't proof that your marriage has been registered. So you need a second (and different) certificate as well ... Read on...
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. Read on...
Love and Laughter make for an Unboring Wedding
Categories: | Wedding
Ceremony | (30/01/2020)
Other than getting the legal bits right, spontaneous and shared laughter is the most important ingredient for a wedding ceremony. It lifts the mood. It relaxes everyone. When everyone is laughing they are engaged in an experience. They are not merely an audience ... Read on...
What's a Legals Only Wedding?
Categories: | Wedding
Ceremony | Wedding
Legals | (28/01/2020)
You might be wondering what those Legals Only weddings you've seen advertised are. Simply put, Legals Only is marriage celebrant speak/shorthand for the bare minimum ceremony as required by the Marriage Act. But that's not the whole story ... Read on...
What is a month?
Categories: | Wedding
Legals | (25/01/2020)
What is a month? is an all-important question because you can't legally be married less than a full calendar month from the day you give Notice (on the Notice of Intended Marriage) ... Read on...
When (soppily) romantic isn't your thing
Categories: | Wedding
Ceremony | (23/01/2020)
Your wedding ceremony doesn't have to be dripping with sentimentality to be meaningful, and special, and a real reflection of the commitment the two of you have to one another and to your marriage. If you don't do soppy, and don't feel comfortable with lovey-dovey poetry or extravagant vows, you can still have a personal ceremony that is everything you wish for." ... Read on...
It's True - Your Marriage Ceremony can be
Unstructured!
Categories: | Wedding
Ceremony | Wedding
Legals | (19/01/2020)
It might surprise you to learn that there is nothing in the Marriage Act that requires that your marriage ceremony has to follow a tightly structured script. As long as you meet the very minimal legal requirements, everything else is optional! ... Read on...
Charitable Giving and your Wedding
Categories: | Wedding
Ceremony | Wedding
Planning | (15/01/2020)
There are many ways to make charitable giving part of your wedding, including making it part of your ceremony, and it is always a good idea to give your guests a heads-up if you are asking them to give to a cause dear to you ... Read on...
Your Wedding Party - Busting the Myths
Categories: |
Inclusive Weddings | Wedding
Ceremony |(13/01/2020)
Four myths about wedding parties persist, despite it being the 21st century, despite society more inclusive, and despite three quarters of wedding ceremonies in Australia being civil ceremonies where ceremony content is all about personal choice and ensuring that your wedding reflects who you are as a couple. ... Read on...
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 ... Read on...
How to Get Them to the Ceremony on Time
Categories: | Wedding
Ceremony | Wedding
Planning |(21/12/2019)
Guests arriving late to the ceremony is a common problem which puts you, your celebrant, your
photographer, together with other guests in the unenviable position of having to decide whether you will exchange your vows in front of a lot of empty seats, have special people miss the ceremony, suffer
disruptions caused by people wandering in half way through the ceremony, or become unwell because of a long wait in the heat. ... Read on...
The Gift of a Good Name
Categories: | Naming
Ceremonies | (09/12/2019)
Celebrating the gift of a good name with a naming ceremony is a wonderful way to acknowledge the person your child is, and will become. ... Read on...
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 ... Read on...
Choosing the Right Time for your Naming
Ceremony
Categories: | Naming
Ceremonies | (03/12/2019)
Achieving a happy and successful naming ceremony for your child has a lot to do with how and when you schedule the ceremony ... Read on...
The When, Why, How, and Who of the First Look
Categories: | Wedding
Traditions| (01/12/2019)
The incredibly romantic moment when a couple first locks eyes on their wedding day is a must-have photo opportunity. First look wedding photos have been topping the wedding wish lists for some time now ... Read on...
The When, Why, and How of Renewing Your Vows
Categories: Celebrant |
Vow Renewals
| (26/11/2019)
There is a growing trend for couples to renew (reaffirm) their wedding vows. More and more couples are doing it, and they aren't waiting for the traditional milestone Silver or Golden wedding anniversaries because there are many more good reasons to renew your vows ... Read on...
Can Guests Sign Your Marriage Certificate?
Categories: Celebrant |
Wedding
Legals | (25/11/2019)
Your Presentation Certificate is a legal document, therefore only your two legal witnesses may signit, along with you and your celebrant. But there are other lovely options for guests to sign ... Read on...
Easy ways to Conquer Your Fears about Your
Vows
Categories: | Vows |
Wedding
Ceremony |(21/11/2019)
One of the biggest fears couples share with me is about speaking in public and stuffing up their vows, but making your vows to one another is not like standing on a platform, facing an audience, and making a speech. So there are ways to avoid ugly crying ... Read on...
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 ... Read on...
Tree Planting Ritual
Categories: | Naming
Ceremonies | Wedding
Ceremony | Wedding
Rituals |(19/11/2019)
The planting of a tree during a wedding, naming ceremony, or memorial ceremony is a powerful ritual. ... Read on...
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. ... Read on...
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 ... Read on...
Religion in your Civil Marriage Ceremony
Categories: | Wedding
Ceremony | (13/11/2019)
In Australia there is no prohibition on including personal expressions of religious or spiritual belief in a civil marriage ceremony, and there are many ways to do this ... Read on...
I Won't Judge You or Your Choices (unless the
Law makes me do so)
Categories: Celebrant
| Wedding
Legals | (12/11/2019)
There are some things which the law, and my obligations under the law as a Marriage Celebrant, requires me to make judgements about. But there are many things that people fear being judged about that I definitely don't and won't judge you for ... Read on...
1st Birthday Naming Ceremonies are Extra
Special
Categories: | Naming
Ceremonies | (09/11/2019)
A naming ceremony has much in common with a birthday celebration, so celebrating the two at the same event makes a great deal of sense, symbolically, emotionally, and financially ... Read on...
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... Read on...
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... Read on...
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... Read on...
Nail your Vows by doing these 3 simple things
Categories: | Vows |
Wedding
Ceremony | (21/10/2019)
I've never met a couple who didn't want their exchange of vows to go without a hitch on the day. The good news is, like everything else about your wedding, preparation is key. Doing 3 simple things before you start writing your vows will guarantee a flawless vow exchange ... Read on...
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..... Read on...
Avoid pre-wedding dramas with a Witness Lottery
Categories: | Wedding Ceremony | Wedding Legals | Wedding Planning |(02/10/2019)
Because being witness is an honour, not choosing someone who expected to be chosen can cause hurt feelings and a ongoing drama, including broken friendships and family rifts. Sidestep problems by having a witness lottery .... Read on...
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?... Read on...
Being a Godparent at a Naming Ceremony - What
you need to know
Categories: Naming
Ceremonies | (28/09/2019)
Being asked to be a godparent for a child is a huge honour. While there are many similarities between being a godparent at a religious Christening and being a godparent at a Naming Ceremony, there are also some significant
differences Read on...
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 ... Read on...
7 Things to Read at your Wedding instead of a
Poem
Categories: | Wedding
Ceremony | (21/09/2019)
While meaningful readings can add to the whole emotional impact of a personal ceremony, just inserting a standard reading or two adds little or nothing, and can detract. marrying with a civil celebrant opens up many more possibilities, as long as we think outside the box and don't feel constrained by (or obligated to follow) the tradition of including 3 readings Read on...
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 ... Read on...
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. ... Read on...
Balloons and Bushfires
Categories: | Naming
Ceremonies | Wedding
Ceremony | Wedding
Rituals | Wedding
Planning | (12/09/2019)
Balloon releases can cause or spread bushfires Read on...
The Heart Moves On - Using Ceremony to Mark the
End of a Relationship
Categories: | Vows
| Divorce
Ceremonies | (02/09/2019)
How to plan a positive divorce or end of relationship ceremony ... Read on...
"You May Now Diss the Bride": How NOT to Plan a
Divorce Ceremony
Categories: | Vows
| Divorce
Ceremonies | (02/09/2019)
A divorce ceremony can be a positive way of formally acknowledging the past and moving forward into single life, so it is best to avoid negativity in the ceremony ... Read on...
Adult Naming and Gender Affirmation
Ceremonies
Categories: | Vows | Naming
Ceremonies | (01/09/2019)
An important part of transitioning is choosing a new name and transitioning socially, letting other know your true gender. A formal naming ceremony can be a significant part of the process and a way to gather those who support you round you in celebration of your preferred name. Read on...
Will your overseas destination wedding be
recognised in Australia?
Categories: | Wedding
Legals |(28/08/2019)
While Australia generally recognises overseas marriages, as long as those marriages would be legal if solemnised in Australia, there are a number of things you need to do to make sure your destination marriage overseas is recognised in Australia ... Read on...
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... Read on...
Jumping the Broom
Categories: | Wedding
Ceremony | Wedding
Rituals | (17/08/2019)
Jumping the broom is a joyful transition ritual that ends a marriage ceremony on a high note. Hand-in-hand the marrying couple move into married life by jumping over a decorated broom at the beginning of their walk back up the aisle... Read on...
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 Read on...
Will your Australian marriage be recognised
overseas?
Categories: | Wedding
Legals |(06/08/2019)
Will a marriage registered inAustralia will be recognised overseas? Generally speaking, legal marriages solemnised in Australia are recognised world wide, but that's not the whole story Read on...
The curious reasons why Marriage Documents are signed with black ink
Categories: | Wedding Ceremony | Wedding Legals |(04/08/2019)
Have you ever wondered why your marriage certificate must be signed in black ink? Or, indeed, why the Notice of Intended Marriage should be filled in using black ink (if you're filling it in by hand)? It has a lot to do with archival requirements - but also with status! Read on...
Acknowledgement of Country
Categories: |Inclusive
Weddings | Wedding
Ceremony | (26/07/2019)
Starting your wedding or other ceremony with an Acknowledgement of Country sends a powerful message of respect and inclusion... Read on...
Oathing Stone Wedding Ritual
Categories: | Wedding Ceremony | Wedding Rituals |(26/07/2019)
The oathing stone is an ancient Celtic tradition that can add meaningful symbolism to your wedding ceremony - and can be used as a planned or emergency substitute for wedding rings... Read on...
Wedding Budget Blow-outs - how to avoid them
Categories: | Wedding Budget |(21/07/2019)
By far the most significant cause of wedding stress is money. Aligning your wedding day dreams with what you can afford is not an easy task. Creating a budget and sticking to it takes time, concentration, and commitment when there is so much choice of ways to spend on your wedding, and so many unintended and unexpected ways in which your budget can blow out. Read on...
Sweet Wedding Rituals
Categories: | Wedding Ceremony | Wedding Rituals |(14/07/2019)
Honey and sugar are traditionally used in many cultures to wish a couple a sweet married life. These customs can add a beautifully romantic moment to a contemporary wedding ceremony... Read on...
Coffee Unity Ceremony
Categories: | Wedding
Ceremony | Wedding
Rituals | (11/07/2019)
A coffee unity ceremony can be a variation on the wine ceremony, or a variation on the sand ceremony, depending on whether you use liquid coffee or coffee beans. Read on...
Booze, Pills, and your Wedding
Categories: | Wedding
Ceremony | Wedding
Legals | (08/07/2019)
Being drunk or under the influence of other substances, legal or otherwise, can prevent you from getting married Read on...
Showcasing Wedding Music Makers
Categories: | Wedding
Ceremony | Wedding
Planning | (03/07/2019)
One of the joys of being a celebrant is seeing other wedding professionals "on the job", and working with them as a team. Recently, I took the opportunity to delve into what lies behind the skills of a couple of favourite wedding music makers, and what enables them to make the magic they do Read on...
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.. ... Read on...
Wine ceremonies for vineyard weddings
Categories: | Wedding
Ceremony | Wedding Rituals
|(19/06/2019)
A wedding in a winery or vineyard offers not only a wide range of settings for your ceremony - both indoors and out, depending on the facilities made available by the particular winery - but also creative inspiration for the ceremony. ... Read on...
Realistic Wedding Readings
Categories: | Wedding
Ceremony |(09/06/2019)
If you're a down to earth couple, with a realistic view of what marriage really entails, the vast majority of the poems and poetic prose read at weddings are just not for you. I've gathered together a selection of more down-to-earth readings... Read on...
Showcasing Wedding Photographers
Categories: | Wedding
Ceremony | Wedding
Planning | (05/06/2019)
One of the joys of being a celebrant is seeing other wedding professionals "on the job", and working with them as a team. Recently, I took the opportunity to sit down with two photographers I always love working with to delve into what lies behind the skills, what enables them to make the magic they do. Read on...
Ageist Judgemental Celebrants Make Me VERY Cross
Categories: | Celebrant |
Inclusive
Weddings | Wedding
Ceremony | (05/06/2019)
A rant about celebrant advertising that is judgemental of clients and ageist about other celebrants ... Read on...
Getting married when you don’t identify with a
gender
Categories: Inclusive
Weddings | Wedding
Ceremony | Wedding Legals
| (23/05/2019)
Gender is now immaterial when getting married in Australia. When marrying you do not have to use gendered terminology or adhere to gendered role ... Read on...
Children in your bridal party
Categories: | Wedding
Ceremony |(19/05/2019)
Including children in your bridal party can make for unexpectedly magic moments ... Read on...
Getting the Author right for a Wedding Reading
Categories: | Wedding
Ceremony |(10/05/2019)
A popular poem claimed to be a translation of an original Persian poem by Sufi poet, Hafiz, is found not to be so. This is a problem because ... Read on...
Wedding Reading - Epithalamium
Categories: | Wedding
Ceremony |(09/05/2019)
A beautiful poem read at the wedding of the first gay couple to legally marry in Scotland ... Read on...
Surprise Weddings - How to have 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 ... Read on...
Unity Candle Ceremony
Categories: | Wedding
Ceremony | Wedding
Rituals | (27/04/2019)
The Unity Candle Ceremony - what it is and how to prepare for it ... Read on...
Unity Sand Ceremony
Categories: | Naming
Ceremonies| Wedding
Ceremony | Wedding
Rituals | (25/04/2019)
The Unity Sand Ceremony - what it is, how it is done, and what you need Read on...
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 ... Read on...
Writing your vows doesn't have to be hard
Categories: | Vows |
Wedding
Ceremony | (07/04/2019)
Writing your own vows is a wonderful way to personalise your ceremony - and it is not difficult if you remember one simple thing ... Read on...
Trash the Dress and other things to do with your
wedding gown after the big day
Categories:
| Wedding
Dresses |(05/04/2019)
Your wedding day has been and gone. And now you have that lovely dress hanging in your closet. What to do with it? ....Read on...
Your Wedding Scentscape: 7 top tips to
a planning a memory-making wedding
Categories: | Wedding
Planning | (08/03/2019)
Science tells us that smells trigger more vivid emotional memories and are better at inducing that feeling of “being brought back in time” than images. Science also tells us that fragrances can have a powerful calming effect. When planning your wedding, plan for the memories. One of the simplest ways to do that is to plan not only how your ceremony, and the celebration afterwards will look and feel, but also how it smells.... Read on...
Civil Ceremony, Secular Ceremony,
Humanist Ceremony. What's the difference?
Categories: | Wedding
Ceremony |(02/03/2019)
All legal marriages in Australia are, in a sense, civil marriage, because they are registered and recognised by the state. Secular and Humanist marriage ceremonies differ in some profound ways... Read on...
Waiting for a proposal? This post is for the ladies
...
Categories: | Wedding
Traditions |(28/02/2019)
Prime proposal season (Christmas-New Year) and second-most-popular-proposal-day (Valentine's Day) have been and gone. Are you still waiting for that expected proposal? The notion that the gold standard for proposals is the male proposing is not as long-standing a tradition as you might think. A growing number of women are successfully popping the question... Read on...
Weddings are rife with bullying – and its got to
stop
Categories: | Wedding
Planning | Wedding
Traditions |(22/02/2019)
There are many forms of common wedding bullying and it is not all about the bride bullying the bridesmaids... Read on...
Is it OK for a guest to wear white to a wedding?
Categories: | Wedding
Traditions |(16/02/2019)
The "never wear white to a wedding" rule is one of those hard and fast rules of etiquette that pretty well everyone has accepted for a very, very long time. In the 21st is this a rule that can be broken? ... Read on...
When are you actually legally married?
Categories: | Wedding
Ceremony | Wedding Legals
|(08/02/2019)
There are many incorrect assumptions about when in the sequence of the ceremony, the signing, and the registration of their marriage a couple is actually legally married. ... Read on...
On the Hidden Costs of Being "Fashionably" Late to
Your Wedding
Categories: | Wedding
Traditions | Wedding Budget
|(31/01/2019)
Being fashionably late to your wedding, is not only not a must do tradition, it can cost you, big time, in more ways that just money ... Read on...
Has Marriage Equality Changed Weddings? – My Predictions Revisited
Categories: | Inclusive Weddings | Wedding Ceremony | Wedding Planning |(25/01/2019)
A year ago, I predicted that Marriage Equality would change all weddings in Australia, as more and more heterosexual couples, previously constrained by a wedding playbook that includes outmoded traditions and embedded roles defined by gender, experience the individual, meaningful, expressions of an equal relationship in the weddings of same-sex couples - and that every wedding, gay or straight, would be the better for it. So how accurate was I? Read on...
Tossing the Garter – Yes or No??
Categories: | Wedding Rituals
| Wedding
Traditions |(08/01/2019)
Tossing the Garter is a wedding tradition that a growing number of couples are choosing to skip altogether for various reasons. But skipping the embarrassing bit (the retrieval from the bride's leg) and changing up how it is tossed can add a lot of fun to the occasion while avoiding the things that can be an issue Read on...
What if Someone Objects?
Categories: | Wedding
Ceremony | Wedding Legals
|(05/01/2019)
We've all seen it in movie after movie - If anyone knows any reason why these two should not be joined in marriage, speak now .... So what happens if someone objects at your wedding? Read on...
Witnesses and Weddings
Categories: | Wedding
Ceremony | Wedding Legals
|(05/12/2018)
In Australia, no matter whether you marry in church, the registry office, or by a civil celebrant, and no matter whether you have the big white wedding with a large wedding party, or choose just to elope, the one thing that every wedding must have is two witnesses... Read on...
Friend or Professional Celebrant?
Categories: | Celebrant |
Wedding
Ceremony | Wedding Legals
|(02/12/2018)
Would choosing a friend instead of a professional celebrant to conduct your wedding ceremony be a good option for you? Everything you need to consider - and how you can have the best of both worlds ... Read on...
How to have a Gracious Wedding
Categories: | Inclusive
Weddings | Wedding
Planning |(22/11/2018)
Most couples today host their own weddings. Here are 35 ways to make sure that everyone feels welcome, appreciated, and both physically and emotionally comfortable. ... Read on...
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. ... Read on...
8 Ways to Reduce Your Wedding Stress
Categories: | Wedding Planning |(16/11/2018)
8 easy ways to take control of your wedding and reduce your wedding stress ... Read on...
Privacy and You, Your Wedding, Your Marriage
Categories: | Wedding Legals
|(04/11/2018)
If you’ve ever wondered what my reasons are for rarely posting photos of the couple, or mentioning their names, even though I’ve officiated well over 800 legal marriages ... Read on...
Wedding Budget Hidden Costs that Everyone Forgets
Categories: | Wedding Budget |(28/10/2018)
Here are the four major sources of hidden costs that you need to be aware of, and budget for, when planning your wedding. Read on...
You, Your Wedding, and Trans-Gender and Non-Binary Inclusivity
Categories: | Inclusive Weddings | Wedding Planning |(27/10/2018)
If you’re a Cis-gender couple planning your own wedding, issues of gender identity may not be front and centre in the process. However there are good reasons why they should be. Here are some tips on how to make sure your wedding is a comfortable and inclusive experience for everyone who attends, regardless of their gender identity. Read on...
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 ... Read on...
Wine Box or First Fight Box?
(20/09/2018)
Categories: | Wedding
Ceremony | Wedding Rituals
|Why an Anniversary Wine Box is a more appropriate ritual for a wedding than a First Fight Box Read on...
Bride promising to obey until death? Not any more (09/09/2018)
Categories: | Vows | Wedding Ceremony |A very common question from brides is "Do I have to promise to obey" Read on...
Is your celebrant duly authorised? (06/08/2018)
Categories: | Celebrant | Wedding Legals |
While scams involving persons who are not authorised celebrants are extremely rare in Australia, now that a celebrant can be deregistered forthwith if he or she fails to pay the annual fee celebrants are now required to pay, it is particularly important to check whether your celebrant is still registered Read on...
How to choose your celebrant like you’d choose a car… (updated 14/06/2018)
Categories: | Celebrant |Just as the car you choose not only has to fit your budget but also be fit for purpose, so does your celebrant. .... Read on...
'You may kiss your bride' - oh yeah? How to have the Perfect (and Perfectly Modern) Kiss (updated 04/08/2018)
Categories: | Wedding Ceremony | Wedding Traditions |
As a celebrant I not only see many many wedding kisses, I also have the responsibility of prompting them. Your first kiss as a married couple will be photographed and remembered by your guests (and everyone who sees the photographs) for years and years, so it is important to plan for the perfect kiss!
Read on....
The Importance of Wedding Invitations ... and other Wedding Stationery (16/02/2018)
Categories: | Wedding Planning |Of all the "must haves" attached to a wedding, the two that seem to be pushed to the bottom of the budget are the celebrant (without whom you'd just be having a very expensive party) and the invitations (without which none of the people you want to be there would know the important where and when facts).... Read on...
Rice, Birdseed, and Weddings (04/02/2018)
Categories: | Wedding Traditions |Rice, traditionally thrown at weddings, is rarely seen nowadays because churches, reception venues, and local authorities usually ban the throwing of rice, along with confetti, but replacing it with birdseed is not a good idea... Read on...
How Marriage Equality Will Change Wedding Ceremonies (17/01/2018)
Categories: | Inclusive Weddings | Wedding Ceremony | Wedding Planning |This is my prediction – wedding ceremonies will change, but it won’t be a case of the wedding industry merely accommodating same-sex couples. Rather same sex couples will influence, by example, all civil wedding ceremonies in Australia, and all weddings will be the better for it. Read on...
Same Sex Ceremonies - Negotiating the Gendered Nature of Ceremony Traditions (09/01/2018)
Categories: | Inclusive Weddings | Wedding Traditions |Rather than assign roles, assign various customs .... Read on...
Multicultural Fusion Weddings (08/01/2018)
Categories: | Inclusive Weddings | Wedding Ceremony | Wedding Rituals | Wedding Traditions | Wedding Planning |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 ... .... Read on...
8 Things I've Learned Over 11 Years of Being a Marriage Celebrant (04/01/2018)
Categories: | Wedding Planning |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 .... Read on...
Behind
the Scenes: What Goes on in Preparing your Ceremony
(02/01/2018)
Categories: | Celebrant | Wedding Budget
|It is not unusual for a celebrant to receive a request for a lowball fee on the grounds that "it is only an hour". However, what you and your guests see on the day is only a fraction of what I do to make your ceremony special and your marriage legal. An incredible amount of work and preparation happens behind the scenes to make that hour possible. It is also not unusual for full realisation of how much behind the scenes preparation is involved to sink in only when a couple attends other weddings down the track and sees the result of some of that behind the scenes work being omitted ... Read on
Civil Celebrants and Clergy - what's the difference and does it matter? (01/12/2017)
Categories: | Celebrant |The Marriage Act, along with Dean Smith's Bill currently making it's way through the Parliamentary process, differentiates between Clergy and Civil Celebrants in what they can and can't do. So, what is the difference between civil celebrants and clergy, and, if you are planning to marry, does it matter .... Read on...
Signing the Register and the Certificates (updated 16/12/2017)
Categories: | Wedding Ceremony | Wedding Legals |Everything you need to know about signing the Marriage Register and Marriage Certificates .... Read on...
Your celebrant is NOT ripping you off (it is more than just half an hour) (10/07/2017)
Categories: | Celebrant | Wedding Budget | Wedding Ceremony | Wedding Planning |There is an awful lot that goes into the half-hour the ceremony lasts - and that's what you are paying for .... Read on...
All About Silk (03/02/2017)
Categories: | Wedding Dresses |Silk is the luxury fabric. Used both in wedding gowns on for grooms' ties. To learn about the many types of silk ....Read on...
All About Lace (30/01/2017)
Categories: | Wedding Dresses |Lace and weddings go together like, well, wedding gowns and weddings. Regarded to be the traditional bridal fabric, it has been popular for luxury wedding gowns for centuries. To learn about the most popular types of lace used in wedding gowns ....Read on...
The Drones are Coming (24/01/2017)
Categories: | Wedding Ceremony | Wedding Planning |This year I predict that drones will be the must-have at a wedding. But there are some things you need to take into account to ensure disaster doesn't strike.... Read on...
How to have an Environmentally Friendly and Socially Conscious Wedding (25/10/2016)
Categories: | Wedding Budget | Wedding Planning |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: ...Read on ...
Great Wedding Photos Start in the Mind (22/09/2016)
Categories: | Wedding Ceremony | Wedding Planning |Mindset and mind-power can make or break your wedding photos ...Read on ...
How much does a wedding cost? (18/09/2016)
Categories: | Wedding Budget | Wedding Planning |
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 ... Read on ...
How to Train your Flower Girl for a Brilliant Petal Toss (14/09/2016)
Categories: | Wedding Ceremony | Wedding Planning |There is nothing sweeter than a flower girl tossing petals with exuberant abandon. But achieving that takes a little training ... Read on ...
And the Flower Girl wore a Backpack ... (14/09/2016)
Categories: | Wedding Ceremony | Wedding Planning |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 ... Read on...
Everything you Learned about Wedding Ceremonies from Married at First Sight is WRONG ... (13/09/2016)
Categories: | Wedding Ceremony |Married at First Sight is about the worst wedding manual on the planet ... and here's why ... Read on...
How to Remember and Honour Deceased Loved Ones in your Wedding Ceremony (09/09/2016)
Categories: | Wedding Ceremony | Wedding Rituals |Memorialising deceased loved ones is something many couples wish to include in their wedding. There are many ways to do this, and many things that need to be considered ... Read on...
How to avoid getting less than you paid for ... or more than you bargained for ... when booking your ceremony (04/09/2016)
Categories: | Wedding Budget | Wedding Ceremony | Wedding Legals | Wedding Planning |Insider tips about what to look at when considering a ceremony package... Read on...
How (Not) to Stagger Down the Aisle (in 3 easy steps) (31/08/2016)
Categories: | Wedding Ceremony |There is an art to walking down the aisle elegantly - and most of it relates to preparation ... Read on...
The One Simple Thing Most Couples Forget When Choosing a Ceremony Venue
(23/08/2016)
Categories: | Wedding Ceremony | Wedding Planning |There is a very simple thing that makes all the difference when choosing your ceremony venue. Forgetting to do it is a serious oversight ... Read on...
The Shocking Truth about Wedding Dresses (22/08/2016)
Categories: | Wedding Budget | Wedding Dresses |
The single biggest contributor to the carbon footprint of your wedding may surprise you ... Read on...
How to Avoid the #1 Wedding Embarrassment (15/08/2016)
Categories: | Wedding Ceremony | Wedding Planning |
The most feared wedding embarrassment is something that nobody wants to do in public, let alone at their wedding ... Read on.....
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...Read
on....
Wedding Psychology: How and Where to Stand (30/07/2016)
Categories: | Wedding Ceremony |How and where the bride and groom stand during the ceremony not only impacts on photographs of the ceremony, it can have a far-reaching impact on the marriage, Read on....
Bali Weddings (27/07/2016 updated 25/09/2019 to reflect changes in Indonesian law)
Categories: | Wedding Legals | Wedding Planning |Everything you need to know about getting married with an Australian celebrant in Bali ... Read on...
10 Things we "Know" about Getting Married that Ain't So (26/07/2016)
Categories: | Wedding Legals | Wedding Planning |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 ... Read on....
How to get the best "getting ready" photos (23/07/2016)
Categories: | Wedding Planning |Ensuring that your 'getting ready' photos are fantastic requires not just a photographer with skills and a good eye, but some preparation on the part of the bridal party. ... Read on....
How to create a talking logo for your wedding (23/07/2016)
Categories: | Wedding Planning |Borrow a tool from business networking for effective communication about your wedding ... Read on....
10 lessons learned from 700+ weddings (21/07/2016)
Categories: | Wedding Planning |Ten years of officiating weddings, both legal and non-legal, have dished up some pretty interesting lessons, some of which might surprise ... Read on....
Scottish Islamic Tartan (19/07/2016)
Categories: | Inclusive
Weddings | Wedding
Planning |
Anyone, regardless of faith or genetic background can have a Tartan Wedding, something demonstrated by an official registered tartan ... Read on....
Anyone, regardless of faith or genetic background can have a Tartan Wedding, something demonstrated by an official registered tartan ... Read on....
The Problem with Wedding Readings (17/07/2016)
Categories: | Celebrant | Wedding
Ceremony |
Most people assume that you have to have readings in a wedding ceremony. Unfortunately, on the day they often don't work ... Read on....
Most people assume that you have to have readings in a wedding ceremony. Unfortunately, on the day they often don't work ... Read on....
Microphone Wars (17/07/2016)
Categories: | Wedding Ceremony |Most celebrants use a hand-held microphone. But is that the best choice? ... Read on....
Food, Flowers, and Furniture (updated 30/07/2018)
Categories: | Celebrant | Wedding Ceremony |Every now and then, someone asks me what I supply in terms of styling and other add-ons for a wedding ... Read on....
Drone and GO (06/08/2016)
Categories: | Wedding Ceremony | Wedding Planning |Drone and GO, sounds like the typical wedding ceremony, doesn't it - the celebrant drones on, and eventually you get to kiss and go. But that's not what this post is about ... Read on....
Talking Heads (13/07/2016)
Categories: | Wedding Ceremony |Let's face it. Most wedding ceremonies are pretty ordinary. And that's partly because they are all about words. Bride, Groom, and Celebrant as Talking Heads, with the celebrant doing 98% of the talking ...Read on....
