FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Absolutely. I’ve been a Commonwealth-registered marriage celebrant since 2009, and am authorised to conduct civil ceremonies in Australia. I offer over a decade of experience for your ceremony, while staying current with legal requirements through regularly undertaking professional development. This ensures I deliver the best possible service for your important day.

To get started, reach out via my online contact form, email or phone. I’ll check my availability for your preferred date. We’ll arrange a quick meet-up, in person or via phone/video call, for a friendly chat and introduction. Once you’re ready to go ahead, simply arrange the booking fee deposit, and I’ll lock in your ceremony date!

To be able to marry legally, you must be 18 or older (or have court approval if aged 16–18) and not already in another marriage. Both you and your partner also must not be immediate family members. You don’t have to be an Australian citizen or permanent resident to get married in Australia. Firstly, we complete your Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM) form together, which is a legal requirement. At least 1 month before your wedding date, you’ll need to give me this form, along with your ID. Passports (valid or expired) are best, or otherwise a birth certificate and current photo ID (e.g. driver’s licence). If you’ve been married before, I’ll need to see your divorce certificate, or a death certificate if widowed. There are a few other legal documents that I produce along the way. You must be married by an authorised marriage celebrant (that’s me!), and have 2 witnesses aged 18 or older at your wedding. During the ceremony, you and I will say specific words to make your marriage legal. After your ceremony, I register your marriage with the State Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages. I also apply and pay for your official marriage certificate, which gets sent to you via registered post and usually arrives within 1 week. Don’t worry if it sounds complex – I’ll guide you through every step to make your marriage official!

Initial and subsequent consultations in person or by phone/email Completion and lodgement of all necessary legal paperwork A comprehensive kit containing a wedding/ceremony checklist, a selection of poetry, readings and vows, and sample ceremonies to give you an idea of the possibilities A bespoke ceremony written personally for you Rehearsal at your venue, if required Professional PA system with phone/iPod connectivity Signing table and chair, if required Printed Certificate of Marriage Keepsake copy of your ceremony script Travel within the Hunter region to conduct the ceremony (additional fees may apply outside the Hunter region)

Travel within a 1.5-hour drive from me (Nelson Bay) to your ceremony is included in the fee. Additional fees may apply for locations outside this area, depending on factors such as distance and whether an overnight stay is required.

I’m happy to conduct your ceremony anywhere in NSW or Australia. (Note that travel and accommodation fees may apply, depending on distance.)

Yes! The beauty of a celebrant-led wedding is that you can have your ceremony wherever you like (as long as you have permission to use the space/venue)!

Having 2 witnesses aged 18 or older who can understand the ceremony (language etc.) is a legal requirement. They must be present at your ceremony and sign legal paperwork after the ceremony. However, if you’re eloping or don’t have 2 witnesses (e.g. they might be in another state), we can be a little creative. You could ask your photographer or another supplier, for example. I’ve even asked my daughter and her husband to attend a few ceremonies as witnesses.

My job is to handle the ceremony work, so that it eases the pressure of wedding planning for you and allows you to enjoy the process! I start by learning about your story (e.g. how you met, how you fell in love, what you love about your partner…) through a thoughtful questionnaire and friendly chats. From there, I draft a narrative of your unique story, which forms the heart of your ceremony. This sets the tone and creates an intimate atmosphere among your guests – something that can’t be achieved in a standardised, generic ceremony. We work together on other components of the ceremony, from refining your vows to adding personal touches. This can include choosing readings, incorporating any meaningful rituals, considering the participation of loved ones, and so on. My aim is to make the process creative and joyful, reminding you of all the reasons you love your partner and getting you excited for your big day! After our first meeting, we’ll keep in touch through phone and email, and generally have 2–3 meetings during the lead-up to your ceremony date. It’s also fine if we need to meet more or less often.

Most ceremonies tend to run for about 15–30 minutes, depending on your preferences for elements such as music, readings, poetry, rituals, etc. Ultimately, it can be as long or short as you want, but it’s best to find a balance so that your ceremony isn’t too long and tiresome for guests, but also long enough that you don’t blink and miss it!

We can do either or both! I can offer tips and creative ideas, or help you write some or all of your vows, if you wish. I also provide many sample vows that you can choose from or use as inspiration to write your own.

Of course, we can include religious or cultural traditions that are significant to you. We can discuss these elements during our meetings to make sure they’re respectfully and meaningfully integrated.

Yes! If your chosen ceremony location is outdoors, it’s essential to have a Plan B location in case of bad weather. It won’t be fun for you and your guests to be soaked in rain, or for any vendors’ equipment that could get damaged.

Yes, and it’s included in the fee. While it might not seem essential, I’m a huge fan of it and strongly recommend it. It’s the perfect opportunity to finalise and practise the key elements of your ceremony with your complete wedding party. This ensures everyone knows what part they’ll play and where everybody stands and moves in the ceremony. You’ll feel so much more prepared and relaxed leading up to and on the big day, and it’ll help ensure your ceremony flows smoothly!

Yes, I can supply my own PA system, complete with a wireless microphone. This ensures your guests can hear your ceremony clearly, and allows for the playing of ceremony music.

I typically wear professional and stylish attire that complements the tone and formality of your ceremony. If you have a specific colour scheme or theme, I’m happy to coordinate my outfit to match. Just let me know your preferences, and I’ll make sure I blend seamlessly with your wedding aesthetic. Feel free to browse my gallery and socials for examples of what I typically wear.

On the day, I arrive at your ceremony venue early, well before the start time. This gives me the opportunity to welcome your guests, help ease any pre-ceremony nerves, and make sure the groom/partner, bridal party, props, music etc. are all ready to go and prepared for the bride’s/partner’s arrival.

It’s understandable to worry about this, especially after planning your special day for so long. If I can’t attend due to illness or an emergency, I’ll give you as much notice as possible and do everything I can to find a replacement. Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to befriend other celebrants. We support each other and have arrangements in place to step in for each other if needed. I trust these celebrants to look after my couples just as I would. This ensures your ceremony still goes ahead smoothly, with another qualified celebrant who will take great care of you. However, I’m happy to say that I’ve NEVER missed a wedding in my 15+ years as a marriage celebrant! (In fact, in 2020, I stepped in for another celebrant who had to self-isolate on the morning of a wedding due to Covid. I was able to pick up the legal paperwork and ceremony details with just a few hours’ notice. The couple was extremely grateful and relieved, and the wedding went beautifully.)

I understand that circumstances can change. Please let me know as soon as you can, and we’ll work together to accommodate your new date/time, subject to availability.

Generally, the deposit is non-refundable, but we can discuss specifics based on your circumstances and the timing of the cancellation.