Now that you are planning your wedding, it's important to understand the vital role YOUR Authorised Marriage Celebrant plays, to ensure your marriage and ceremony is everything you need and want it to be.
Some people think the Celebrant just shows at your wedding, says a few words, and charge way too much.
But your Celebrant is so much more than just arriving and standing with you at the wedding. A Celebrant is also responsible for all of your legal documentation, in addition to creating your amazing ceremony, and being a great supporter and director bringing it all together for a kick-ass ceremony on the big day!
So, let’s go behind the scenes of what is involved to create your marriage ceremony.
Legal Requirements to get you married:
Your Celebrant is authorised by the Attorney Generals Department and is responsible for all aspects of your ceremony and legal paperwork. This includes talking with you to discuss your marriage and checking your voluntary commitment to this significant step in your lives, sighting your original identification documentation and assisting with the completion of your Notice of Intended Marriage and witnessing your signatures.
In the lead up to your marriage, your Celebrant will provide you with information on pre-marriage counselling and must ensure your documentation and ceremony meets the legal requirements to be wed in Australia including sighting evidence of prior marriage divorce/death and importantly explaining the Declaration of No Legal Impediment to you prior to your ceremony.
Your Celebrant will generate the official documentation and certificates for your marriage that are signed on your wedding day and promptly submit your marriage documentation to Births Deaths’ & Marriages in your State after the marriage.
Creating your ceremony
This is where you need your Celebrant to be a great writer, reflecting the tone of the ceremony that you want including your values and unique relationship. Working with your Celebrant, you should be discussing what you would like to include, such as any rituals, readings, religious aspects in addition to capturing your love story just how you would like to be told on the day, plus so much more. They should send you a draft of the ceremony, outlining the legal requirements that must be included, and work with you to fine tune the ceremony so its perfect and just how you want it to be.
A great Supporter providing that little bit extra
Not every couple is confident to create their own personal vows, and some people are just plain scared about public speaking, so they are fearful of that moment when they have to say their vows. Your Celebrant should provide you with lots of vows examples, and even write them on your behalf for your approval. There are ways to assist with the public speaking nerves, and a great Celebrant will provide you with the options to help you decide how best to work through that issue.
On the big day, you need a great Director to bring it all together: Your Celebrant has the responsibility to ensure your entire ceremony from start to finish is well managed including all of the legal documentation.
If you have a wedding planner or stylist working with you, then your Celebrant should actively coordinate the ceremony with all these suppliers on the day. This also includes speaking with your photographer and videographer, telling them what is included in the ceremony, so they are ready to capture the special moments, rituals, and importantly ensuring they know the Celebrant will be 100% out of the shot for the big moments such as the ring exchange and the Kiss!
In the lead up to the ceremony, you should see your Celebrant coordinating the positions for the bridal party, ensuring the music for the processional and recessional is ready to go, welcome your guests and create a great atmosphere for them ahead of the ceremony start.
Your Celebrant should also check in with the groom/partner and their team, and if the bride/partner is getting ready on site, then a friendly chat with her/him and the bridal party to calm nerves, remind them about how best to hold their bouquets, walk slowly down the aisle, remember to smile and enjoy the moment, and reminding them that after all the planning, there is no need to stress, we have their backs and will work to ensure their dream ceremony is stress free.
Your Celebrant will ensure that everything is set for the ceremony, including use of the PA, microphones, legal documentation, vow cards, signing table, and your guests are seated or organised for an amazing processional and ceremony.
That big moment
Your Celebrant will ensure everyone in the bridal party is well placed (including that the couple are centred within the arbour for great photos) wedding gown is fluffed and looking amazing in the photos, bouquets are organised and then, deliver your ceremony script with professional caring, warmth, sincerity, humour and create that all important vibe of a special occasion. They will be right there to calm your nerves, quickly improvise if necessary to ensure your ceremony flows smoothly and is pleasing for you and your guests.
Your Celebrant will hand you the vow cards at the right moment, ensure the ring exchange is carefully managed, and when its time for the kiss, there is a great celebration and importantly your Celebrant has moved out of these photos (as much as possible) so your photographer and videographer get the best angles and capture these wonderful moments.
Signing the paperwork, and the grand exit as a married couple will be professionally managed and co-ordinated with everyone who is pivotal in those moments, and any petal toss and kiss mid-way down the aisle is mentioned to your guests, so they are a big part of that magical moment and awesome photos to follow.
Hopefully you can now realise that a great marriage Celebrant does so much more than just stand there on the day and say a few words. The time to ensure all of the administrative tasks, legal responsibilities, and arriving ahead of your ceremony start time, travel to and from your venue, and being upbeat and happy on the day requires a wide range of skills and professional expertise to create your dream ceremony.
Finally, read their testimonials!!!!
Your chosen Celebrant should proudly include great testimonials, and wedding industry awards they have achieved, and give you the warmth and support you need for a great experience.
As you prepare for your big day, I’d love to chat with you, and be your Celebrant!
Contact me today.
