celebrant

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Real Weddings - Abi and Dan

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Real Weddings - Abi and Dan

Abi & Dan were married at The Woodhouse in Wollombi. This is what advise they have to share to those planning their wedding.

How did you meet? We met on Tinder back in 2019. It was love at first swipe!

What was the first thing you decided on as a couple when arranging your big day? Our venue and wedding date. 

What wedding vibe were you after? We were after something timeless, minimalistic and classic but still with elements that represented us such as an ice cream cart with our favourite flavours and our first dance being Latin styled as it was a shared activity that we loved. 

How did you choose your outfits? For the groom, we wanted a classic tuxedo in keeping with our wedding vibe. As the bride, I wanted a minimalistic wedding dress but changed into a first dance and reception outfit that let me have fun on the dance floor. 

How did you decide on your venue?

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Real Weddings - Eden & Kyle

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Real Weddings - Eden & Kyle

How did you meet? We actually met on Facebook! We had some mutual friends online and Kyle added me after I popped up in his 'people you may know' suggestions haha!

What wedding vibe were you after? We were after a comfortable, intimate and fun-filled day. We wanted everyone (and ourselves) to feel relaxed throughout especially.

How did you choose your outfits? A LOT of Pinterest and Instagram scrolling for style inspiration! I was very fortunate to find my dress second-hand on StillWhite which I immediately fell in love with, and Kyle found an amazing suit at our local Tarocash store.

How did you decide on your venue? After downsizing our original plans of a 90-person wedding to a 22-person wedding, we were after a venue that was comfortable and intimate for our guests, but still had plenty of space for our ceremony and photo opportunities. It was also important to us that the venue was local on the Central Coast - so The Olive Grove in The Quarters, Forrester's Beach ticked all of our boxes!

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Real Weddings - Laura & Ben

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Real Weddings - Laura & Ben

Laura & Ben were married at Bidja Estate in Ourimbah, Central Coast. Here’s what they had to say about their big day.

How did you meet? We met at mutual friend's Birthday BBQ (that turned into a late night out!) We chatted the whole time and the rest is history.

What was the first thing you decided on as a couple when arranging your big day? That we wanted to be as intimate and authentic as possible.

What wedding vibe were you after? Relaxed but sophisticated and FUN.

How did you choose your outfits? A bit of good old online inspo and a 'gut' feeling when it came to trying them on.

How did you decide on your venue? As soon as we drove down the driveway to Bidja Estate we knew it was the place for us. A friend of ours got married there years ago and it matched the vibe we were after.

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What Does a Legals Only Wedding Involve in Australia?

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What Does a Legals Only Wedding Involve in Australia?

In Australia, a "legal-only" wedding refers to a ceremony that focuses solely on fulfilling the legal requirements to register a marriage. This type of wedding is often chosen for its simplicity, cost-effectiveness, or before a larger, more elaborate ceremony.

Here’s what is involved in a legal-only wedding in Australia:

1. Choosing a Celebrant

  • Registered Celebrant: You’ll need to engage a registered celebrant who is authorised to conduct marriages in Australia. They will ensure that the ceremony complies with all legal requirements.

  • Simple Ceremony: For a legal-only wedding, the celebrant will perform a very straightforward ceremony focusing solely on the legal aspects.

2. Legal Requirements

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Real Weddings - Amy & Simon

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Real Weddings - Amy & Simon

Amy & Simon were married at Villa Alba in Kew. Here’s what they had to say about their big day.

How did you meet? We met at a Pub Trivia night. All the tables were full so me and my friend asked to join Simon and his friends on their team. We ended up going to Trivia every Tuesday and were a couple a few months later.

What was the first thing you decided on as a couple when arranging your big day? We chose the ceremony venue. Villa Alba in Kew.

What wedding vibe were you after? We wanted a relaxed, casual mood where our friends and family felt comfortable  to mingle.

How did you choose your outfits? We didn’t want to feel too formal so Simon chose a blue Hugo Boss suit with a colourful pocket square and white shirt, no tie. He changed into a floral shirt for the reception.

I didn’t want a traditional dress or veil and wanted to feel comfortable all day. I was recommended a

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What Role Does A Celebrant Play In A Funeral Or Memorial Service

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What Role Does A Celebrant Play In A Funeral Or Memorial Service

What role does a celebrant play in a funeral or memorial service?

 A celebrant plays a crucial role in both funeral & memorial services. We are a guide, a facilitator, & a support for the family. Our responsibilities can vary depending on the type of service & the wishes of the person who has passed & their family. Generally, our role includes the following:

1. Planning and Coordination

**Service Design** We help plan the structure & content of the service, working with the family to understand their preferences & ensure that the ceremony reflects the personality & values of the deceased. This can involve choosing readings, music, & rituals that are meaningful to the family.

**Logistics** We coordinate with various parties involved in the service, such as the venue, funeral home, & any additional speakers or performers. They ensure that all details are in place for a smooth service.

2. Personalisation

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Real Weddings - Rose & Nick

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Real Weddings - Rose & Nick

Rose and Nick were married at The Willow Estate at the Hunter Valley

How did you meet? Online

What was the first thing you decided on as a couple when arranging your big day?  whether we were going to have a big or small intimate wedding

What wedding vibe were you after? something simple, and a vibe where everyone could just enjoy each other's company. We went for a more relaxed, intimate kind of vibe.

How did you choose your outfits? Researched online different types of styles, and figured which ones we loved the most. Tried on at a few places till we both found the one.

How did you decide on your venue? Looking at our options, visiting different places till we found the right fit. We also read reviews as well as looked at location. Overall we did a lot of research before settling. 

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What To Look For When Choosing A Marriage Celebrant

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What To Look For When Choosing A Marriage Celebrant

Choosing a marriage celebrant is a pivotal decision in the wedding planning process. They play a central role in creating the ceremony that marks your union. The right celebrant can bring your vision to life, create the vibe you’re looking for, make the ceremony memorable (for all the right reasons), engage your guests, liaise with your vendors, make the whole process of getting married effortless and enjoyable. The wrong choice can lead to a ceremony that feels less personal, and meaningful, a ceremony that feels a bit copy and paste.

Here’s a guide to help you find the perfect marriage celebrant for your special day:

1. Qualifications and Credentials

 **Certification** Ensure the celebrant is legally authorised to perform weddings which means they should be registered with the Attorney General. Check their credentials at https://marriage.ag.gov.au/commonwealthcelebrants/all

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Real Weddings - Em and Mat

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Real Weddings - Em and Mat

How did you meet?  We met in High School, a classic teenager romance. Neither of us has ever had to worry about dating, or tinder. But at the same time, we had alot of growing up to do. We couldn't stay away from each other, and it ended up working out perfectly.

What was the first thing you decided on as a couple when arranging your big day? The first thing we decided on was the music. We both have similar tastes so that part was super easy!

What wedding vibe were you after? The vibe we were after was bright and cheerful, of course! Its the best way to describe our approach to life and to our relationship.

How did you decide on your venue? We chose the venue that could offer us the full package of service to avoid any unnecessary stress on the day. There was plenty of stress even without all those extra tasks!

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Changing Your Name

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Changing Your Name

Sometimes couples want to change their names, once they’re married.

If you do want to, there’s just a couple of things to be aware of:

- 1. There is no automatic name change in Australia, and

- 2. There is no central point on contact to change your name.

If you want to change your surname, you will need to take your official marriage certificate (the one that Birth

Deaths and Marriages can send to you, if you request it once married) to all the places you wish to

change your name.

This means you have to change your name at each Government Agency and Private Institution you wish to change your name at. Yes it’s a bit of a long winded process!

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Real Weddings - Taryn & Joel

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Real Weddings - Taryn & Joel

How did you meet? Tinder!!! Haha

What was the first thing you decided on as a couple when arranging your big day? We both agreed that we wanted something on the smaller side - no interest in having a big "circus" wedding!

What wedding vibe were you after? Intimate, chill, fun!

How did you decide on your venue? We had looked at one or two other venues before we found Gracelands. One of them was absolutely stunning, but very expensive and more suitable for a large wedding. The other was less than impressive. I loved Gracelands instantly, it was perfect for what we wanted. Joel was skeptical at first, he thought it was strange that a wedding venue was tucked away in between a bunch of shops. He came around though, and we both loved everything about it. The food was amazing, the decor was simple and gorgeous and the staff were extremely helpful!

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Writing Your Own Vows

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Writing Your Own Vows

This is one of the most special parts of a ceremony.

You get to say to the person that you’re about to marry - what they mean to you, why you’re looking forward to marrying them, anything really. But the important thing is that you have written them, to say to that all important person, on the big day, in front of your loved ones.

It often gets pretty emotional here, so it’s worth putting in a bit of effort to choose or script vows that really pack a punch. They can be funny, serious, teasing – anything you want! Below are some tips to help you write those vows. 

Share or Surprise?

Decide whether you’d like to write your vows together or keep them secret from each other until the ceremony. Either way works really well – just think about what works for you as a couple. If you do decide to keep them as a surprise, make sure you send them to me before the ceremony so I can make sure you’re both on the same wave length.

Get in touch

I’d love to chat more with you about your big day. Get in touch today!

Email: hello@saritathecelebrant.com
Phone: +61 403 784 785