There is so much to think about when planning a wedding. Flowers, guest list, dress, suits, venue, bridesmaids and the best man. These are all things that any bride and groom will spend hours deliberating over. But one important aspect of the big day that many people on the Sunshine Coast don’t consider is who will perform their wedding ceremony.
Why choose a wedding celebrant?
When registering your intent to get married in the Sunshine Coast area, you need to include the details of your chosen marriage ceremony celebrant. If you are opting for a religious ceremony, your celebrant is likely to be the resident priest, rabbi, or other relevant religious leader. However, if you want a civil service, then you have a free choice of any legally recognised marriage celebrant.
When planning your wedding, you will spend hours working out how to put your own stamp on your big day. Most couples want the invitations, music, venue, and even the cake, to reflect their personalities, interests, and relationship. But, after all that effort making sure that the day will be individual to them, the couple may spend little time considering the content and format of their ceremony.
The marriage ceremony is the most important part of the wedding day. It formalises your relationship legally but, other than four sentences that must be included, the bride and groom can choose to express themselves in any way they please, allowing them to set the tone of their day from the very beginning.
Creating your ideal personalised wedding ceremony can seem daunting, and this is where the right Sunshine Coast wedding celebrant will ensure that you have a ceremony that you remember for the rest of your life.
How to choose a wedding celebrant –
There are many celebrants to choose from, so finding the right one for you can take time. You want to be confident that they will create the wedding of your dreams, so most people will contact a few, and make appointments to meet with them.
Remember this though, a good celebrant will be happy to spend time getting to know you before you commit to using them.
When you do meet with your potential celebrants, what should you think about before choosing one?
Firstly, there are the practicalities. Sunshine Coast Celebrants must be appointed by the Attorney General as a Civil Marriage Celebrant, and must hold a current license. It is also very important to ensure that all guests are able to hear the ceremony, and so a celebrant who can provide a sound system is also important.
Bear in mind that good celebrants are booked months – or even years – in advance, so check that they are available for your preferred date and time before making an appointment. There is no point finding your perfect celebrant, only to discover that they are already booked on your chosen date.
Beyond the legalities, the biggest considerations are communication and fit. Communication will be key to creating your ideal wedding ceremony, so you need to be sure that your marriage celebrant is able to listen and understand you as individuals with your own quirks, stories, and backgrounds.
Fit is important, as you are likely to spend a considerable amount of time working with your celebrant. Many couples book their weddings over a year in advance, so you will have an ongoing relationship with the celebrant during that time. You will also be sharing personal and intimate details of your lives. You need to be comfortable sharing this information with them, and have confidence that they will both respect and appreciate the trust that you are placing in them. Once you have chosen your perfect Sunshine Coast wedding celebrant, they will work with you to craft a ceremony that is as individual as you are.
If you are considering getting married in the Sunshine Coast region, Mary Bruce is an award winning, registered marriage celebrant. Whether you are planning to get married on a beach, at home, or in a hotel, she will work with you to ensure that your marriage ceremony is everything you dreamed it would be.
