Blog Posts in order of
posting (newest first)
Including Your Sisters and Besties in Your
Wedding Ceremony
Categories: |
Inclusive
Weddings | Wedding Ceremony
(22/05/2022)
There are many ways to include your sisters and all
of your besties in your ceremony, even if you
want to keep your wedding party small. ...
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
Beware the It's Traditional Wedding
Guilt Trip!
Categories: |
Wedding
Ceremony
(27/03/2022)
What lies behind the fairly widespread belief
that all weddings must be traditional? ...
More
Handfasting - The Sexy Must-Have Wedding Ritual
Categories: |
Wedding
Ceremony |
Wedding
Rituals |
(25/02/2022)
Handfasting is a highly symbolic ritual where the
couple's hands are tied together. It is infinitely
adaptable, can be themed to match the overall
wedding theme, and delivers multiple opportunities
for great photos. It is also great fun and quite
sexy ...
More
The Rose Ceremony
Categories: |
Wedding
Ceremony |
Wedding
Rituals |
(21/02/2022)
The Rose Ceremony is a sweet wedding ritual where
roses are exchanged or given as tokens of love and
appreciation ...
More
Handfasting vs Handtying vs Tying the Knot
Categories: |
Wedding
Ceremony |
Wedding
Rituals |
(17/01/2022)
Is there a difference between Handfasting and
Handtying? I believe there is. But it is not what
you think it is!. ...
More
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
26 Good Reasons to Schedule a Wedding Rehearsal
Categories: |
Wedding
Ceremony |
Wedding
Planning |
(30/11/2021)
While the practical reasons for having a rehearsal
are well known,other equally important reasons
are rarely discussed, so in this blog post I discuss
the practical reasons together with the emotional
and relationship-strengthening reasons and outline
what a rehearsal should achieve and what happens at
one ...
More
Read Your Vows Like a Pro
Categories: |
Vows |
Wedding
Ceremony |
(29/11/2021)
On your wedding day you can repeat your vows after
your celebrant, or you can read them. Or you can do
both! In Australia, each of you must speak a
specific contractual statement. It is this statement
that creates your marriage. If you choose to read
this statement (perfectly legal to do so) and/or
your personal promises, there are several things you
can do to make sure that you read with confidence
...
More
How to Rock Rose Petals in Your Wedding Ceremony
Categories: |
Wedding
Ceremony |
Wedding
Traditions |
(27/11/2021)
There are many ways to include rose petals in your
wedding ceremony that will both surprise and delight
your guests because they won't have experienced them
before ...
More
Traditions and Your Wedding: Tweak Old Ones and
Make New Ones!
Categories: |
Wedding
Ceremony |
Wedding
Traditions |
(25/11/2021)
All traditions were invented by someone for some
reason that was good, socially acceptable, or in
line with a social norm at the time. So it follows
that traditions can be comforting. but they can also
be a burden if they've outlived their usefulness or
express values that are at odds with your own. In
the 21st century, there are good reasons to
reexamine traditions that are nearly 200 years old,
and tweak them or make new ones ...
More
21 Good Reasons to Have a Celebrant Wedding
Categories: |
Celebrant
|
Wedding
Ceremony |
(20/11/2021)
A celebrant-led wedding gives you so much more
flexibility and choice than marrying in either a
religious ceremony or a registry office ceremony
while not restricting the content of your ceremony
.....
More
8 Legit Ways to Use Smart Phones in your Wedding
Categories: |
Wedding
Ceremony |
(06/11/2021)
Smart phones are a largely ignored and definitely
under-exploited resource in wedding ceremonies ....
More
Weddings and Weaponry in Queensland
Categories: |
Wedding
Ceremony |
Wedding
Legals |
(03/11/2021)
Carrying a knife (sgian dubh) is part of the
traditional male Scottish Highland Dress. But in
many
places, including Queensland, carrying a knife in a
public place can land you in trouble with the law.
Read on to find out about the rules and what you can
do to get round them ....
More
The Six Stages of Ceremony Development
Categories: |
Wedding
Ceremony |
(02/11/2021)
A personal and authentic bespoke ceremony doesn't
just happen. By following my unique six steps of
ceremony development we will make your vision for
your ceremony a reality ...
More
How to Hold Your Wedding Bouquet
Categories: |
Wedding
Ceremony |
Wedding
Dresses |
(29/10/2021)
How you carry your bouquet can make a world of
difference to your photos, and to how much your
guests see of your beautiful dress and, potentially,
your face ...
More
Legal Name Change or Change of Name by Marriage
- the Facts and the Pitfalls
Categories: |
Wedding
Legals |
(24/10/2021)
Changing your name after you are married. You don't
have to do it. But if you decide to change your name
you have the choice of doing it *by marriage* or
through a *legal change of name* so how do you
choose? ...
More
Dot Point your Vows for Ease and Effect
Categories: |
Vows |
Wedding
Ceremony |
(21/10/2021)
Succinct vows can be very effective. And you can't
get more succinct than dot points. If you are
planning to read your vows, dot pointing them will
make them easy to read and so much easier to write!
...
More
12 Essential Post-Wedding Tasks
Categories: |
Wedding
Budget |
Wedding
Planning |
(17/10/2021)
Here are a dozen things that you really must do
after your wedding ...
More
Wedding Dilemmas: Save the Date, Change the
Date, Trim the Guest List
Categories: |
Wedding
Planning |
(14/10/2021)
The new normal about
Save the Dates is to be
confused and concerned. What if your plans are sent
awry (or completely scuppered) by another
last-minute lockdown, border closure, or government
imposed limitation on where you can have the
ceremony and/or reception, and on how many people
can be there? ...
More
14 Ways to Include Lucky White Heather in your
Wedding
Categories: |
Wedding
Ceremony |
Wedding
Planning |
(12/10/2021)
White heather, a Scottish tradition that has spread
far and wide, is considered lucky in weddings. While
it is traditional to include a sprig in a bride's
bouquet, there are many other ways to incorporate it
in your wedding ...
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...
What Does The Marriage Act Do?
Categories: |
Wedding
Ceremony |
Wedding
Legals |
(26/09/2021)
The Marriage Act applies to all marriages solemnised
in Australia. It lays down the framework, creates
offences, and deals with the recognition of foreign
marriages ...
More...
Why Border-Straddling Weddings Are a No-No
Categories: |
Wedding
Ceremony |
Wedding
Legals
|
(25/09/2021)
Marriages in Australia must be registered in the
state or territory in which they take place...
More...
Getting Married When You Have a Disability
Categories: |
Inclusive
Weddings |
Wedding
Legals
|
(19/08/2021)
There is no disability or disease that will prevent
you getting married in Australia...
More
...
7 Things your Celebrant does NOT need to know
... and 3 things they have to be sure about
Categories: |
Wedding
Legals
|
(29/07/2021)
There are certain things that the Marriage Act
requires that your celebrant must know in order to
make sure your marriage will be lawful. There are
also things that they don't need to know.
..
More,,,
Everyone Present at Your Wedding is a Guest
Categories: |
Wedding
Ceremony
|
Wedding
Planning |
(27/07/2021)
Everyone present at your wedding is a guest,
including the two of you! This is something to take
to heart. It's not just about being kind and
considerate, it is also about social media use. .
...
More
...
Vows, Personal Promises, and what goes first
Categories: |
Vows
| Wedding
Ceremony |
(07/07/2021)
Out in celebrant land there are differing opinions
about whether your personal promises must follow the
legal vows, or whether they can be said before you
make your legal vows. Here's why I believe that
personal promises can be made anywhere in the
ceremony - or not at all, if you so choose. ...
More ...
Can you all hear me?
Categories: |
Wedding
Ceremony |
Wedding
Planning |
(21/06/2021)
How successful your wedding ceremony is depends very
largely on your guests being able to hear every
word. That can mean your celebrant needs to use a PA
system. However, the choices you make early in your
planning, and the unexpected challenges your chosen
venue throws up, can have an immense impact on how
well your guests will be able to hear the ceremony.
...
More
...
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
...
Should you Invite your Celebrant to your
Reception?
Categories: |
Wedding
Planning |
(28/05/2021)
Whether or not you should/must invite the person who
officiates your wedding ceremony to your reception
is a question that no longer has a clear,
one-size-fits-all, answer. There are a number of
things that come into play, not the least being what
type of wedding ceremony you are having ...
More ...
Declutter your Vows: 3 Vows are Better than One!
Categories: |
Vows
|
Wedding
Ceremony |
(21/05/2021)
There is a simple solution to the struggle to write
your personal vows. Instead of trying to fit it
all into one vow, write three vows. And there is a
rational reason why this is a great idea ...
More ...
Wedding Ceremony Anxiety and How to Deal with it
Categories: |
Wedding
Ceremony |
Wedding
Planning |
(17/05/2021)
It is the very rare bride or groom who doesn't
develop some level of wedding ceremony anxiety in
the lead up to their wedding. It's common, but, by
understanding what it is and why you might be
feeling that way can go a long way to damping it
down. ...
More
...
What if you change your mind? Annulment or
Divorce in Australia
Categories: |
Wedding
Legals |
(11/05/2021)
In Australia there are very limited circumstances in
which you can get a marriage annulled. Buyer's
Remorse (change of mind) isn't one of them. ...
More
...
Pimp up your wedding ceremony program to the max
Categories: |
Wedding
Ceremony |
Wedding
Planning |
(04/05/2021)
Wedding programs have fallen out of favour. They are
no longer a must-have. However, done well, your
wedding program can serve as a guide to your
ceremony, an introduction that adds to the
anticipation and excitement ...
More
...
Yes! You CAN have a gender-neutral,
stereotype-free, wedding ceremony
Categories: |
Inclusive
Wedding |
Wedding
Ceremony |
(20/04/2021)
The Marriage Act permits couples to have a totally
gender-neutral marriage ceremony. Regardless of how
much pressure others may apply to try to make you
confirm to gender stereotypes, you are legally
entitled to ignore them. ...
More ...
Including Your Brothers and Best Mates in Your
Wedding Ceremony
Categories: |
Inclusive
Wedding |
Wedding
Ceremony |
(04/04/2021)
There are so many ways to include all of your best
mates and brothers in your ceremony, even if you
want to keep your wedding party small ...
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
...
How to Deal with Unsolicited Wedding Advice
Categories: |
Wedding
Ceremony |
Wedding
Planning |
(16/03/2021)
Unsolicited wedding advice from well-meaning friends
and loved ones can feel like criticism and be
stressful. In this blog post I discuss how to deal
with it. ...
More
...
Warming of the Rings - a Powerfully Inclusive
Ritual
Categories: |
Wedding
Ceremony |
Wedding
Rituals |
(28/02/2021)
In the
Warming of the Rings ritual your
wedding rings are infused with love, energy,
strength,
and commitment by friends and loved ones as an
expression of their support and good wishes for your
marriage. In this blog post I discuss the charm and
the challenges of this ritual, one of my favourites,
particularly since COVID ...
More ...
False Origin Claims about Three Wedding Rituals
Categories: |
Wedding
Ceremony |
Wedding
Rituals |
(24/01/2021)
There is no need to attribute invented traditions to
long ago and far away to give them authority.
Misattribution is both disrespectful and
unnecessary. These ceremony enhancements are enough,
as they are. They can stand alone. ...
More
...
Pairing up your Wedding Party: Who Walks with
Who?
Categories: |
Wedding
Ceremony |
Wedding
Traditions |
(21/01/2021)
How do you pair up your wedding party when you've
tossed the idea of a a strict division along
gender lines and your
I Do Crew is
made up of your besties with no regard for equal
numbers or matchy matchy on gender. ...
More ...
How to Avoid Ugly Crying During Your Wedding
Categories: |
Vows |
Wedding
Ceremony |
(15/01/2021)
Are you nervous about ugly crying during the most
emotional parts of the day (the ceremony and the
speeches)? There are tried and true ways to make
sure you feel the emotions but avoid the ugly part
of the crying ...
More
...
8 Ways to Choose Your Wedding Date
Categories: |
Wedding
Planning |
(12/01/2021)
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 ...
Jennifer Cram, The Inclusive Celebrant: My
Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
Categories: |
Celebrant
|
Inclusive
Weddings |
(09/01/2021)
As a secular humanist whose calling, commitment, and
passion is creating and performing fun, relaxed,
inclusive ceremonies, I believe with my whole heart
that all people are worthy and should be equally
valued and treated with equal respect. Neither
diversity nor inclusion is optional ...
More ...
Plan X - The 2021 Wedding Must Have
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 ...
5 Good Reasons to Propose Before you Shop for an
Engagement Ring
Categories: |
Wedding
Traditions |
(17/12/2020)
Proposing with a ring is a very new tradition, and
like all traditions, not law. Waiting to choose the
ring as a couple has lot going for it. ...
More ...
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 ...
Ramp Up the Fun with Wildlife at your Wedding
Categories: | Animals
and Weddings | 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 ...
Strategic Wedding Planning for 2021
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 ...
Celebrate Your Grandmas in Your Wedding Ceremony
Categories: | Inclusive
Weddings | Wedding
Ceremony |
(15/11/2020)
There are so many ways to include your grandmothers
in your ceremony.
More
...
No Wedding Ceremony Is Boring ... However ...
Categories: | Wedding
Ceremony |
(12/11/2020)
Weddings and wedding ceremonies have acquired the
reputation of being boring even though no wedding is
boring if you've never been to a wedding before. The
problem isn't that weddings are boring, but that
they are predictable, which is both comforting and
boring. And that's the challenge.
More ...
White Weddings are uh, White
Categories: | Wedding
Ceremony |
Wedding
Planning |
(26/10/2020)
The traditional white wedding, still seen as the
norm in Australia, is culturally white, through and
through
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 ...
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
...
Like First Impressions, the First Line of Your
Wedding Ceremony Matters
Categories: |
Wedding
Ceremony |
Wedding
Legals |
(26/09/2020)
The first line of your wedding ceremony can be
captivating and intriguing. It can make your
guests lean forward, eager to participate. It does
not have to be boring. Unfortunately, it often is...
More
...
Your Easy-As Guide to Organising a Naming
Ceremony
Categories: |
Naming
Ceremonies |
(18/09/2020)
Like any celebration, working your way through a
series of questions will help focus your minds on
what you want for and from your child's naming
ceremony, and will also point you to what you need
to do to make sure that you pull off an experience
that your friends and loved ones will talk about for
years. ...
More
...
Your Wedding Vows: Legal, Personal, Private?
What's the Difference?
(12/09/2020) Categories: |
Vows |
Wedding
Ceremony |
Wedding
Legals |
What's the difference between legal vows and
personal vows (personal promises) and can you keep
them private?...
More
...
12 Wedding "Rules" to Kick to the Curb for a
Modern Marriage
(04/09/2020) Categories: |
Wedding
Ceremony |
Wedding
Traditions |
Your wedding is a personal occasion, but a personal
occasion that lays a critical foundation
for your future together. There are no rules, other
than minimal legal requirements. But there are
plenty of tyrannical traditions that you can skip
with a clear conscience ...
More
...
Give your Dog a Starring Role in Your Wedding
(27/08/2020) Categories: |
Wedding
Ceremony |
Wedding
Planning |
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 ...
Celebrate Your Fathers in Your Wedding Ceremony
(19/08/2020) Categories: |
Inclusive
Weddings |
Wedding
Ceremony |
There are so many ways to include both fathers in
your ceremony.. ...
More
...
You Absolutely Should Plan Your Wedding with
Anniversaries in Mind
(18/08/2020) Categories: |
Vow Renewals
|
Wedding
Ceremony |
Weddings are about making memories, and one of the
ways to keep the memory of your wedding alive is to
celebrate your wedding anniversaries. Planning your
wedding with future wedding anniversaries in mind is
particularly important at the moment, when COVID-19
has imposed so many restrictions on weddings. ...
More ...
Love Locks: a Ritual with Ancient Relevance and
Contemporary Problems
(14/08/2020) Categories: | Wedding
Ceremony |
Wedding
Rituals |
The love lock unity ritual is a relatively new
ritual inspired by the custom of lovers attaching a
padlock to a public structure and throwing away the
key. It offers numerous possibilities for meaningful
personalisation, but needs to be mindfully prepared
and performed on the day ...
More ...
Breakfast Weddings - A Beautiful Budget-Friendly
Option
(11/08/2020) Categories: |
Wedding
Budget | Wedding
Ceremony |
Wedding
Planning |
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
...
Barefoot at Your Wedding - An Ancient Tradition
(07/08/2020) Categories: |
Wedding
Ceremony |
Wedding
Traditions |
Marrying in bare feet is an ancient Celtic
tradition, easily translatable to the Australian
environment. ...
More ...
6 Good Reasons to Hold a Naming Ceremony
(06/08/2020) Categories: |
Naming
Ceremonies |
Why hold a naming ceremony? Apart from celebrating
your child's arrival, a naming ceremony accomplishes
some important things, all of which are good reasons
for holding one ...
More
...
Something Old Something New Something Borrowed
Something Blue
(03/08/2020) Categories: |
Wedding
Traditions |
Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed,
Something Blue is a rhyme and a tradition that
has been part of the wedding scene in English
speaking countries since Victorian times. These are
the things that a bride is advised to wear or carry
on her wedding day to ensure the success of the
marriage and her own happiness ...
More
...
Masked-Up and Married - How to Rock a Mask on
your Wedding Day
(31/07/2020) Categories: |
Wedding
Ceremony |
Wedding
Attire |
With COVID-19 compulsory mask-wearing anytime you
leave your own home very definitely on
the agenda, it is time to do some forward planning
and prepare to rock a mask on your wedding day if
you are required to wear one ...
More ...
34 Ways to Incorporate Tartan in Your Wedding
Ceremony Without Wearing a Kilt
(26/07/2020) Categories: |
Wedding
Ceremony |
Wedding
Traditions |
There are many ways to incorporate family tartans
into your wedding ceremony apart from the men
wearing kilts ...
More ...
Redesigning Wedding Ceremonies for 2020
(19/07/2020) Categories: |
Wedding
Ceremony |
Wedding
Rituals |
While developing my own COVIDSafe plan for the
ceremonies I officiate it became clear that many
parts of the ceremony now need a different approach
in order to keep everyone safe. The challenge is how
to adapt the ceremony to make it safer without
compromising the emotion of the occasion ...
More
...
Wedding Cake Unity Ritual
(15/07/2020) Categories: |
Wedding
Ceremony |
Wedding
Rituals |
Wedding
Traditions |
A wedding cake unity ritual, where you cut and share
your wedding cake during your ceremony, works well,
both symbolically and practically, and is a great
way to deal with the new COVID-19 restrictions on
sharing the cake with guests ...
More
...
In 2020 Children Need to be Invited to Your
Wedding
(12/07/2020) Categories: |
Inclusive
Weddings | Wedding
Ceremony |
Wedding
Planning |
There are good reasons why it is particularly
important in 2020, a year where their lives have
been
disrupted, for children to experience
wedding ceremonies ...
More
...
How to Have a Plastic Free Wedding
(03/07/2020) Categories: |
Wedding
Ceremony |
Wedding
Planning |
Your wedding day is a great opportunity to share and
showcase your values. It is also a day that presents
multiple opportunities to either pile on the
plastics or do your best to avoid that. So I've put
together some suggestions, some simple, some
straightforward, some the obvious,
and some a little bit cheeky! ...
More ...
What Makes a Good Wedding?
(28/06/2020) Categories: |
Wedding
Ceremony |
Wedding
Planning |
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
...
Can I sing my vows?
Categories: |
Wedding
Ceremony |
(26/06/2020)
Smaller, more intimate weddings mean that couples
feel more relaxed about thinking outside the box.
But are you allowed to sing your vows? ...
More ...
Down the Aisle, Social Distancing Style
(26/06/2020) Categories: |
Wedding
Ceremony |
With restrictions on numbers at weddings being
relaxed, the aisle is coming back. But how do you
set up your ceremony space and walk down the aisle
with style when social distancing is still
required? ...
More
...
Blowing Bubbles, Covid-19 Safe or Covid-19
Risky?
(23/06/2020) Categories: |
Naming
Ceremonies |
Wedding
Ceremony |
Is it safe to blow bubbles in your ceremony, or is
there a risk of spreading COVID-19? ...
More ...
How to be Gorgeous in Glasses on Your Wedding
Day
(19/06/2020) Categories: |
Wedding
Ceremony |
Wedding
Attire |
Marrying the person who fell in love with
glasses-wearing you has got to be the best reason on
the
planet to splurge on a new pair of luxury designer
frames ...
More
...
Cats and Weddings - A Melt Your Heart
Combination
(17/06/2020) Categories: |
Wedding
Ceremony |
Wedding
Planning |
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 ...
7 Things to Do With Your Vows After Your Wedding
(15/06/2020) Categories: |
Vows|
Wedding
Ceremony |
The promises you make to one another are the heart,
soul, and centrepiece of your ceremony.
They come from your best and higher selves. They are
also the blueprint for your marriage and a timeless
reminder of what is important to you both. So don't
pack them away...
More ...
Left or Right? Which Side is Correct for Your
Wedding?
(14/06/2020) Categories: |
Wedding
Ceremony |
Wedding
Traditions |
Which side is correct in a wedding depends on what
we are talking about - flowers, rings, or seating
...
More
...
5 Good Reasons to have a Theme Wedding
(12/06/2020) Categories: |
Wedding
Ceremony |
Theme weddings are fun. They also tick all the boxes
for a great experience for you and for your
guests...
More
...
Till Death Do Us Part - Traditional Yes,
Required Definitely Not
(09/06/2020) Categories: |
Vows |
Wedding
Ceremony |
Why do we associate
Till Death Do Us Part
with weddings and do you have to say it in your
vows? ...
More
...
Let's Talk About Bubbles in Your Wedding
Ceremony
(03/06/2020) Categories: |
Wedding
Ceremony |
Wedding
Rituals |
Bubbles of both kinds (champagne and bubbles you
blow) can add so much to a ceremony...
More
...
How to add Surprises to your Wedding Ceremony
(02/06/2020) Categories: |
Wedding
Ceremony |
A great way to make sure your guests are engaged and
entertained by your wedding ceremony is to do the
unexpected, to surprise them....
More
...
More than "I do": 6 Things Your Wedding Ceremony
Should Achieve
(30/05/2020) Categories: |
Wedding
Ceremony |
A successful wedding ceremony will achieve six
things ...
More
...
The Most Important Step in Your Wedding is Free!
(27/05/2020) Categories: |
Wedding
Legals |
Did you know that the most important part of your
wedding happens after it is all over - and that it
doesn't cost you a cent? ...
More
...
The Groom is Getting Married Too!
(23/05/2020) Categories: |
Wedding
Ceremony |
On your wedding day, two people are getting married.
It is time to give the groom equal billing, and
here's how you can do that easily, without added
expense, and without mystifying your guests
...
More
...
Let's Talk About Averages and Wedding Budgets
(23/05/2020) Categories: |
Wedding
Budget |
What is the average wedding budget? What does
average mean? Averages normalise, and that
matters ... ...
More ...
When Coronavirus Forces You to Un-Invite People
to Your Wedding
(18/05/2020) Categories: |
Wedding
Planning |
Social Distancing restrictions, together with the
flow-own effect of rescheduled weddings competing
with previously booked weddings for limited venue
and vendor availability, is forcing couples to
change plans, and this may require cutting guest
numbers ...
More
...
Dressed for the Occasion: Personal Thoughts
About What the Celebrant Wears for Your Wedding
(16/05/2020) Categories: |
Celebrant
|
What do I have in my celebrant wardrobe? And how do
I decide what to wear on the day? These are
important questions, What your celebrant wears
matters ...
More ...
How to have a Non-Legal Wedding Ceremony
(14/05/2020) Categories: |
Wedding
Ceremony |
Wedding
Legals |
Getting married and having a wedding can be a
two-step process.. ...
More ...
Celebrate Your Mothers in Your Wedding Ceremony
(10/05/2020) Categories: |
Wedding
Ceremony |
Inclusive
Weddings |
There are so many ways to include both mothers in
your ceremony. ...
More
...
Contact Tracing and Your Wedding
(09/05/2020 - Updated 17/05/2020) Categories: |
Wedding
Ceremony |
Wedding
Legals |
As we progressively relax restrictions on weddings
and gatherings there is a new rule - contact
records must be kept for all attendees ...
More ...
Double Weddings are Fun, Budget Friendly, and
Poised for a Comeback
(06/05/2020) Categories: |
Wedding
Ceremony |
Wedding
Planning |
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 ...
What's the Best Time of the Day to Get Married?
(30/04/2020) Categories: |
Wedding
Ceremony |
Wedding
Planning |
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 ...
Your Wedding, Your Story
(28/04/2020) Categories: |
Wedding
Ceremony |
Sharing your love story with your guests is a common
feature in a marriage ceremony, but how do you do
that in the best possible way, particularly when
many of your friends and loved ones are not going to
be able to be at your wedding? ...
More
...
ISO (Coronavirus) Weddings Can Be Oh So Romantic
(23/04/2020) Categories: |
Wedding
Ceremony |
Rule of Five weddings under the current Coronavirus
restrictions, are limited to the minimum number of
people needed to be present for a legal marriage,
but this should not mean that your wedding is a
second-best alternative ...
More ...
Romantic Wedding Ring Ideas
(21/04/2020) Categories: |
Wedding
Ceremony |
Wedding
Rituals |
One of the most emotional (and romantic) high points
of your marriage ceremony is the exchange of your
wedding rings. Why not make that moment even more
romantic by adding something unique to the two of
you, something that emphasises that your rings
symbolise your love and unity ...
More
...
Isolation (Coronavirus) Weddings FAQ
(18/04/2020) Categories: |
Wedding
Ceremony |
Wedding
Legals |
Current social isolation/social distancing
restrictions on weddings are complicated because,
while the Federal Government set the broad
restrictions, the fine detail is controlled on a
state by state basis.....
More ...
How to Write a Love Letter
(15/04/2020) Categories: |
Wedding
Ceremony |
Wedding
Planning |
Wedding
Rituals|
What could possibly be more romantic than receiving
a love letter? Writing one! Putting your love in
writing is a way to have it endure for
ever....
More
...
18 Romantic Things to do while in Lockdown
(08/04/2020)
Coronavirus self-isolating rules need not put a
dampener on romance. Here are 18 ways to up the
romance while in lockdown with your partner...
More ...
12 Things Coronavirus Won't Stop You Having in
Your "Rule of Five" Wedding
(04/04/2020) Categories: |
Wedding
Ceremony |
Under current coronavirus restrictions you are only
permitted to have a total of five people present at
your wedding - the same five people that is the
minimum number for the marriage to be legal. But the
ceremony is not limited to the legal requirements
only. You are free to make it as fun and fabulous as
you wish ...
More
...
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Your Rings
(30/03/2020) Categories: |
Wedding Ceremony |
The most common question about weddings under the
new restrictions is about whether rings are
allowed. ...
More
...
Getting Married via Skype - Possible in
Australia or Not?
(24/03/2020) Categories: |
Wedding
Ceremony |
Wedding
Legals |
Wedding
Planning |
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 ...
So Coronavirus Cancelled Your Wedding ... What
Now?
(23/03/2020) Categories: |
Wedding
Ceremony |
Wedding
Planning |
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?
(19/03/2020) Categories: |
Wedding
Ceremony |
Wedding
Planning |
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
...
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 ...
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
...
You Are Never Too Old To Get Married the Way you
Want
Categories: |
Wedding
Ceremony |
Wedding
Planning |
(03/03/2020)
How do you, as a mature age couple, negotiate the
whole process of wedding planning when most of the
marketing, information, and focus out in wedding
land is on the younger couple wanting the fairy-tale
wedding experience? ...
More ...
The Importance of Consent: Why no-one can force
you to marry, to kiss in your wedding, or to have
sex afterwards
Categories: |
Wedding
Ceremony |
Wedding
Legals |
(02/03/2020)
Celebrants in Australia have to be on the lookout
for any indication that you might not be freely and
willingly agreeing to marry, and if we are at all
concerned, to pull the plug on the wedding. You
can't be forced to marry, to kiss during the
wedding, or to have sex after marriage ...
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
...
Giving Notice of Your Intended Marriage when You
Live at Opposite Ends of the Country (or the
Earth)
Categories: |
Wedding
Legals |
(24/02/2020)
Giving Notice of your Intended Marriage when you are
not together in the same state or country is not as
difficult as it might seem at first. ...
More
...
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
...
More
...
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
...
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 ...
More
...
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
...
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....
More
...
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...
More ...
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. ...
More ...
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 ...
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
...
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 ...
More
...
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
...
More
...
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) ...
More ...
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." ...
More
...
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! ...
More
...
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 ...
More
...
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. ...
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
...
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