 choosing
a celebrant
The ceremony is the most important feature of your wedding. Apart from
being the centrepiece of the day, it sets the mood for the celebrations to
follow. Put simply, it's the reason for having a wedding in the first place.
The most important person taking part in the event is the person conducting the ceremony, apart from the happy couple of course. And in the case of 60 per cent of marriages in Australia, that person is a civil marriage celebrant.
Civil celebrants do not come from any particular standpoint of belief or non-belief so they are a good option for couples who don't have particularly strong religious views themselves. However, a civil celebrant should still be accommodating and willing to incorporate religious practices and traditions from all cultures.
Couples often agree to compromise by having a civil ceremony but still including some religious content. It's a great way to appease both families and mesh the two together.
With Australia being such a multicultural society, cross-cultural and inter-faith marriages are very common. Unlike religious services, a civil ceremony is all about the couple; the focus of the whole moment is shining on you alone.
There are many choices to make before you can compose a ceremony that perfectly expresses your lifestyle, love and personalities. The preparations should be a lot of fun and the creative sequencing and style is endlessly diverse.
A great celebrant will allow you to include poems, readings, music or cultural symbols or rituals. Family and friends may participate in the ceremony and it's always a joy to include children.
So how do you find a celebrant who is right for you when there are so many to choose from? Here are some basic suggestions:
- Decide what style of ceremony you want.
- What feeling do you want to create to carry on through the rest of your wedding day?
- Does the celebrant's personality gel with yours and compliment your style?
- Is he or she flexible with the content of your ceremony?
- Does the celebrant have an extensive resource kit and a PA system?
- Is he or she established and experienced?
The average fee charged by a civil celebrant for a standard ceremony within the Shire is $550. Choosing a celebrant on price alone, however, is not a good idea. The chances are that their bargain-basement prices are compensating for their inexperience or lack of skill.
You cannot change the memory of your ceremony after the event so it's wise not to take unnecessary risks with a novice. As in all services for your wedding day, it pays to choose a well-known professional, especially considering the effort you have put into planning other aspects the whole event!
Amanda Jayne Cucca – romantic lifetime memories
0410 602 406
www.amandajaynecelebrancy.com.au
Bernice Keane – ceremonies for all occasions
0400 845 645
www.bernicekeane.com.au
Carol Provan – Commonwealth registered marriage celebrant
0418 246 524
www.carolprovan.com.au
Coral Kortlepel – ABIA Best Celebrant
0417 717 359
www.getmarried.com.au
Deborah Jenkins –ABIA Best Celebrant
0417 021 292
www.deborahjenkins.com.au
Elizabeth Davis – professional and friendly
9525 2562 / 0411 654 900
www.elizabethdaviscelebrant.com.au
Frances Kneil – beautiful memories of a perfect day
9542 8184 / 0418 224 340
www.celebrantceremonies.com.au
Hollie-Berri c.m.c. – multi award winning
marriage celebrant
0425 270 524
www.hollie-berri.com.au
Malcolm Collits – The Celebrant Guy
0402 240 620
www.thecelebrantguy.com.au
Nan Bennett – friendly and relaxed ceremonies
9546 5401
www.nanbennett.com
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