Behind the Marriage Ceremony

The marriage ceremony truly is

the living heart of your wedding day!

Without it you can have a great party ... but it's not a wedding!

IF THE MARRIAGE CEREMONY IS IMPORTANT TO YOU ... READ ON!

Being married means different things to different people:

'I'm marrying my best friend'

'We are soul mates'

'We share the same dreams, we understand each other'

'We're getting married so that we can be together forever'

'We want to grow old together'

'We want to help each other to be the best we can be, to support each other's dreams and help to make them come true, and have fun along the way'

We've already made our commitment to each other but we want to make a public declaration about this and be husband and wife'

'We think marriage is the icing on the cake .... it helps you to know that you are really loved no matter what'

'We are each other's best friend. We have some interests that are the same, and some that are different... so we have common ground but also we each bring exciting and interesting experiences to our relationship. Marriage will help us to grow even closer together.'

Whatever your reasons for being married

celebrate the love you share

in your own unique way

Merrilyn ... thank you for helping to celebrate our wedding and for making it so special. We appreciate all the work you put in to make it such a special day for us. Bec and John

How does all this magic happen?

Working with you to create your unique marriage ceremony takes time, creativity and commitment. Here's how it works:

• When you phone to check my availability to conduct your marriage ceremony, it is helpful to know the day, date and time you are planning to start your ceremony and the location.

• The first appointment is really a brainstorming session where we talk about your ideas for your ceremony, and I share mine. Together we explore the content of your ceremony based on a framework which ensures that all the basic elements of the marriage ceremony and the legal requirements are incorporated with your personal preferences. Among these might be marriage traditions from other cultures. You will be inspired by reading examples of prose and poetry as you think about words that are right for you. If all this sounds daunting .... don't worry .... it's fun!

• To secure my services as your celebrant a deposit is paid, and the first of the legalities, that is, The Notice of Intended Marriage, is completed and lodged with me. Within 2 weeks you will receive the first exciting draft of your marriage ceremony which I create from that brainstorming session! Of course, you can make any changes to ensure that your ceremony is perfect for you. We meet as many times as it takes to 'get it right' but usually couples are busy and prefer to do this by email.

• The marriage vows are the part of the ceremony that actually marry you. So it's important that you have the opportunity to write your own. If that sounds difficult ...... I'm here to help you!

• During the week before your wedding day, we meet at the ceremony location for the 'rehearsal'. This is really exciting and lots of fun! We don't say the words, otherwise you'd be married at the rehearsal! We just go through the logistics. Ideally, all your key players should be there if possible so that they are comfortable with their roles. Friends and family members who have been asked to read a special verse can practise too so they aren't so nervous on the day.

• At the rehearsal you will sign the next part of the legalities which called The Declaration in which you are stating that there is no legal reason why you should not be married, and this is accompanied by the payment of the balance of my fee.

• I prepare your final marriage documents and .... all is ready for your marriage ceremony!

On Your Wedding Day

As a professional celebrant, I co-ordinate all the elements of the marriage ceremony. I speak with the musicians and cue them for the moment to begin playing your specially chosen music as the bride makes her entrance. I make sure that the photographer knows in advance about unexpected special touches in your ceremony so that the magic moment can be captured forever. When the bridal party has reached the ceremony space, the ceremony begins in a relaxed yet dignified manner. I support all your key players as they make their contribution to your ceremony. And it goes without saying, that as you experience all the emotions - the nervousness, the fears, the tears, the excitement and the sheer joy of your ceremony, I am there to support you - the bride and groom.

As you can see there is a huge commitment to making sure that your ceremony is perfect for you.

• initial meeting outlining the legal process, the framework for the marriage ceremony and brainstorming ideas
• creating the first draft of your ceremony
• follow-up emails, phone calls and unlimited face to face meetings
• conducting the rehearsal at the ceremony venue
• preparation and completion of legal requirements
• travel time to and from your ceremony location
• conduct of the marriage ceremony on your wedding day
• completion of the legal requirements

Marriage Celebrants are as individual as you are. Choosing the celebrant who is right for you can be difficult. Fees and services vary widely. You would expect to pay a higher fee for a ceremony that reflects your personal, spiritual and cultural beliefs, a ceremony that has been created especially for you, a ceremony that is dignified, elegant yet relaxed.

From the moment you make initial contact to the completion of your marriage ceremony and the statutory requirements, I estimate that I spend approximately twenty hours creating your unique marriage ceremony.

Marriage is one of the most significant decisions you will ever make in your life. Which brings us back to where we started ...

The marriage ceremony truly is

the living heart of your wedding day!