Planning a wedding can seem like a job all unto itself. This photographer or that one? Destination or local? The logistics can be intimidating! Choosing the right wedding celebrant to guide you through the most important part of the day- ensuring your wedding meets all legal benchmarks to be recognised- is a critical, but often under-appreciated, part of planning the perfect wedding. Today we’re here to walk you through everything you need to know about picking a marriage celebrant in Australia, what they do, and how to find the perfect match to help you say, “I do”.
What is a Marriage Celebrant?
The marriage celebrant is the person who will perform the ceremony, in accordance with local laws, to ensure your marriage is legally recognised both locally and globally. You will need a wedding celebrant whether you’re just hopping over to the registry office, having a full religious ceremony, or heading off the beaten track to the perfect destination to celebrate your love. But rocking up on the Big Day and helping you say “I Do” is far from the only thing a celebrant does! They will work with you from before the wedding bells ring right through to the moment you head off on honeymoon- and here’s why finding the perfect celebrant is as big a deal as finding the perfect dress. You can find out more about the responsibilities of a marriage celebrant here.
The Pre-Wedding Phase
Given their important role in your vows, most celebrants are more than happy to meet up with the couple for a no-obligation first meeting. This allows you to see if they’re the right fit for you. Typically, you’ll take up to an hour together to discuss your plans, get a sense of their personality, and basically suss each other out.
For many couples, that could be as much pre-wedding planning with the celebrant as you need! However, the vows you exchange with each other are a critical (and super romantic) part of the Big Day. So for many couples, there will be another meetup (or two) to discuss the different types of ceremonies they’ve offered before, the order of your ceremony, and any tweaks you want to make to the classic wedding ceremony. Good celebrants shouldn’t be forcing you to work to a template they just show up and read! They will instead help you craft the perfect ceremony, meeting all the romantic and legal benchmarks needed. If you’re writing your own vows, they may even assist with this, helping to keep the style and tone of the ceremony cohesive. This can be a great way to have a helpful third-party run interference between you, so you both have a special (and good) surprise on the day.
If you’re not using a wedding planner, the celebrant you choose is likely to be the only vendor who is ‘there’ for the whole planning procedure. While they won’t step into this role exactly, they will be a source of support and knowledge for you both.
The Legal Niceties
Of course, the core and most important part of your marriage celebrant’s role is ensuring you also meet the legal standards needed to be deemed married. Luckily, they will handle all your paperwork regarding this, so you can relax and plan the honeymoon. Expect to have to provide them with your identification and complete forms to get your marriage licence. Filling this in ahead of time saves a lot of worry on the day, and lets you bask in the moment without concerns and more stress on your plate.
The Big Day
The next part of your journey with your wedding celebrant will be the actual wedding day. They act as something of an ‘MC’ for the ceremonial part of your wedding, filling your guests in on what’s needed of them and any basic rules (like turning phone off, or the rough schedule for the day). They will arrive with your paperwork ready to go, and copies of everything you need to get hitched in style. Of course, they will then perform the ceremony and witness your signing, guiding you through the process. If you’ve established a good rapport with them, they will likely feel like your ‘rock’ as the nerves of the moment overwhelm you.
Post-Wedding Bliss
For the celebrant, it doesn’t end at ‘I Do’. They will convey your legal forms to the Department of Births, Deaths and Marriages, ensuring you’re recognised as a legal couple going forward. In some states, they can actually apply for the real wedding certificate for you! Did you know that the one at the ceremony is meant as a decorative one? In other states, you’ll have to do this part yourself- but they will be well versed in the local law and what’s needed from you, so don’t stress.
Can My Friend Marry Us?
If you’re looking for a religious ceremony, chances are you can’t have a friend or family member step into the role- unless they happen to be an ordained Minister that’s officially recognised by the Marriage Act! However, for people from religions not recognised under the Marriage Act, and for those seeking a civil ceremony, it is possible for someone you trust to become a marriage celebrant legally and to perform this role for you. Bear in mind that while this offers a beautiful personal touch, they will not have the experience to draw on that a marriage celebrant typically does, and you may have to do a lot more of the legal legwork yourself. Plus, they have to be willing to become registered as a wedding celebrant in order for the ceremony to be legally recognized.
And there you have it! Couples are often surprised to learn that there’s a lot more to being a great wedding celebrant than we expect, so it’s worth taking the time to find the perfect match to your ceremony and expectations.