Choosing the perfect celebrant for your special day can be, at times, an overwhelming experience.  There are so many celebrants to choose from.  Indeed in Australia there are over 11,000 registered marriage celebrants. Not that long ago the number of civil celebrants was almost a tenth of what it is today.   Each civil celebrant offers their unique style, presentation and importantly how they connect with you and your wedding guests.  A professional and experienced celebrant will set the tone for the rest of your wedding celebration.  Having been involved in the wedding industry for over 20 years I have attended countless wedding ceremonies.  Like you, I have sat there as a guest.  Some celebrants have stood out for all the right reasons and others not.

 

So what makes a good celebrant an awesome celebrant?

 

An awesome celebrant will take the time to really know the couple they are marrying.  They will ask questions about your relationship, what your family and friends mean to you, your proposal, your hopes and dreams for the future as husband and wife.  I always ask my couples what they truly love, adore and even tolerate about each other (always guaranteed a laugh!).   An awesome celebrant will always arrive at your ceremony early. They won’t forget names, they will conduct your ceremony like you have been friends for years.  They will look and speak to all of your family and friends and not forget to acknowledge your beautiful bridal party.  Your guests will not be spectators at the ceremony  – they will be part of your celebration.  They will always put you at ease and have everything in place before you walk down the aisle.    An awesome celebrant will work closely with your photographer, making sure they are getting perfect shot every time during your ceremony.  They won’t jam a microphone in the front of your face when you are exchanging your once in a lifetime vow to your partner – a special moment that your photographer will want to capture.  They won’t be looking at their watch wondering if they are going to make their next appointment or ceremony.  They will be professional and experienced enough to acknowledge that sometimes a ceremony can start a little late – that’s life after all.  They will schedule ceremonies to allow for unplanned situations that may pop up from time to time.  Changes in weather, transport or traffic to your ceremony all play a part that no one has control over.  And most importantly an awesome celebrant will conduct your marriage ceremony in accordance with the Marriage Act to ensure it is valid – a small detail I know!

 

When choosing the right celebrant you may wish to ask how many ceremonies they book in one day.  Confirm whether they are affiliated with any recognised celebrant association here or internationally.  As part of their service do they include a rehearsal, signing table and a quality PA system?  Ask the celebrant whether they have any referrals or testimonials from past clients or other wedding suppliers.  Finally a consideration which is often overlooked is what should happen if the celebrant is unable to officiate your ceremony due to an unforeseen circumstance such as illness – I hope I haven’t just jinxed myself!

 

For your once in a lifetime ceremony make sure you choose a celebrant who is experienced, contemporary, personal and trusted.

You can contact me anytime through my 24/7 chat room by visiting my website marriedbysimon.com.au.

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  • Thank you Simon, for your overwhelming enthusiasm for our wedding with a difference. We couldn’t believe how dedicated and supportive you were in making it something we will never forget. To see you walking down the aisle as Lord Darth Vader was an image that will remain with us forever. Your kind words, your sense of humour and your willingness to do whatever it took to make our day just the way we imagined. Your personal service and professional commitment was unwavering and it was our honour to have you preside over our marriage… We would most highly recommend you to anyone. May the force be with you! And that’s no word of a lie!!!

    Mick and Kirrily

  • Brett and I would just like to thank you once again for being the celebrant for our wedding at Boat Harbour Beach. You were above and beyond all of our expectations. It was obvious that you made a real effort to get to know us individually and as a couple, but what really stood out to me is that you REALLY listened to what we wanted to portray about us and our love. You set the mood beautifully and everyone has commented on what a beautiful, fun and romantic ceremony it was. Thank you for giving us exactly what we wanted and we feel any other couple will be lucky to have you as their celebrant. We can’t recommend you anymore highly.

    Kara and Brett

  • My husband and I are very grateful for the beautiful ceremony Simon put together. It was so important to us – and Simon respected and fulfilled our every need. He was so patient and understanding throughout the whole process.We cannot thank Simon enough for being apart of such an important part of our special day.

    Kane & Rohie

  • Hi Simon,

    Tim and I are still on cloud nine after reminiscing about the perfect ceremony you created. It was everything we always dreamt of and is something that we will remember for the rest of our lives.

    We can’t thank you enough for all your support and guidance throughout the whole experience, especially your commitment to travel all the way to the Hunter Valley for our wedding. Thank you also for keeping Tim calm whilst he was waiting for me at the alter! I instantly felt more relaxed when I saw you waiting outside the chapel for us.

    The day wouldn’t have been so perfect without you. I’ll send you through some photos of the ceremony when we get them back. If you are ever in Newcastle please don’t be a stranger!

    Tim & Aimee

  • We would just like to THANK YOU for such a perfect and personal ceremony. Our guests thought you were a friend we had known for years (we didn’t tell them any different). There were so many positive comments about the work you did. We loved that you kept the ceremony about us, that you talked about our story and you were so professional. Great suggestion about the music playing throughout. We would highly recommend you to all of our friends and family (even strangers). I also believe that you made such an impact, our guests would be recommending you to their people.

    Your work was very much appreciated!! We can not thank you enough, Simon!!

    Pav & Jacob

  • Jordan and I truely didn’t realise how lucky we had scored until the beginning of our ceremony. Simon had ourselves and our guests in tears from laughter and love. He was personal, deep and truely understood how we wanted our ceremony to feel. Our day started at 28 degrees and finished at 45 degrees, however, no matter how hot it became Simon was professional and knew how to make ourselves and our guests feel at ease. Our guests raved about Simon throughout the night and still to this day, we receive compliments on his behalf. He helped to create an atmosphere that will stay with us forever and we cannot thank Simon enough for this. We highly recommend Simon to be a part of your special day.

    Erin & Jordan