When should I book a Celebrant?
You should book your celebrant when you have picked a date, time and venue. Celebrants can be as popular as venues (Mitch’s family don’t believe him) and in some cases book out months in advance.
Additionally, all Celebrants legally require a month's notice (in the legal format found here) to conduct the ceremony, so best not to leave it too late.
Do I need to provide any information up front?
Aside from the requirement to provide original Birth Certificates and valid photo identification (as per the form here) your Celebrant may like to know the location, date and preferences for your wedding to determine with you if they are the ideal person for the job. Our contact page will enable you to enter this information but your Celebrant will discuss this with you in the initial consult regardless.
If you have been previously married you will need to bring your Divorce Certificate or previous spouse's Death Certificate.
Where can we get married?
A registered Celebrant can perform your wedding ceremony anywhere in Australia. Obviously for most locations you will require permission - so we aren't going to waltz into your neighbours place uninvited - but otherwise the sky is the limit (literally - you can do it in a hot air balloon if you like but Mitch may cry).
We have no idea where to start, can you help?
Certainly can! Our Celebrants will happily provide pointers to you in the free initial consult and give you some things to consider in planning regardless of if you choose to progress with us! If you do decide to work with us we have plenty of knowledge, experience and reference materials to impart and will do so at the earliest possible time.
To be honest with you, it is relatively simple. If we can be sure of your identify, that you aren't direct blood relatives (siblings for example) and that you are both entering into the union of your own free will, then (in summary) the requirements are as per the below;
Your celebrant has a month's notice of your marriage, as provided in the official notice document that can be downloaded here
You have witnesses to the marriage: you need at least two adults (18+ years in age) to be present and to sign legal documents on the day
The Celebrant identifies themselves at the commencement of the ceremony as an authorised Civil Celebrant, informs you of the solemn nature of the relationship you are about to enter, and defines Marriage as per the Marriage Act.
Both you and your partner say the following (some small adjustments are allowed): I call upon the persons here present to witness that I, A.B. (or C.D.), take thee, C.D. (or A.B.), to be my lawful wedded wife/husband/partner”
You sign all the required documents at the end of the ceremony
More information can be found on pages 74-78 of the Marriage guidelines document found here.
So if you are thinking of eloping for example, we can definitely cater to this - just make sure you get two witnesses along on the day (you can ask a couple of randoms on the bus if you like!)
What are the actual legal requirements, the bare minimum if you will, for us to be married?
How long is a piece of string? Accommodating the above minimum legal requirements will get you to about 10 minutes. Depending on what you else you may want to include, your ceremony can be anywhere from 15 minutes to far too long (don't be those people).
In our experience most ceremonies sit in the 20-45 minute range, and include any of the following components:
A short introduction to or story about the couple (by the Celebrant, a family member or a friend)
Readings or poems by family members or friends
In addition to the legal vows, personalised vows written by marrying parties
Traditional cultural practices or appropriations based on the marrying parties' backgrounds
Exchanging of rings and associated personalised wording
Presentation of the couple and a kiss
How long does the ceremony last?
Definitely - in fact we encourage it! While you must do the legal minimum wording vows, we think that adding your own touch and exchanging a few memories and in jokes can really add to the moment.
Love is Love can assist you with writing these vows - and check ins between you both so timing, structure, tone and warmth matches between you, all without actually giving away to each of you what your partner has planned.
Can we write our own vows?
So we will let you in on a little secret at this point: there is every chance some small element of your big day does not go exactly to plan - we have seen it many many times. We are all for planning and prep but once you get there on the day try not to stress the little things - you will have a great team of professionals, family and friends around you who have experience in everything and anything and have your back. Enjoy every moment as the day will go quicker than you can imagine!
What if something goes wrong on the day?
Glad you asked. At Love is Love Celebrancy and Wedding Services we truly do love weddings, and we bring our youthful exuberance and passion that your celebration of love deserves.
We are a young team, but we are not precocious or brash.
We are enthusiastic, yet we are not over the top and we have the background and skills to read you as a couple, and take your instruction to set the tone and style you as a couple have envisioned.
But most importantly, we are committed to ensuring your day is one that you remember for all the right reasons, regardless of your ethnicity, sexuality or gender.. We will do everything in your interests - including recommending alternatives if we believe you may find a better fit elsewhere. If you do choose us, we will do all the pre-work required to ensure you enter the ceremony supremely confident in our abilities and our professionalism will ensure you exit your wedding day with nothing but fantastic memories of our part in it.
We look forward to working with you!