Wedding and civil celebrants

Celebrate With A Wedding Celebrant

"You have got the man, you have got the ring, now all you need is the marriage celebrant."

What is a Celebrant?

A professional wedding celebrant conducts ceremonies and attends to all the legal paperwork pertaining to the marriage. There was a time when marriages could only be conducted by religious officials but nowadays, thanks to the cultural and religious diversity in Australia, over 55% of marriages are officiated by wedding celebrants.

Why do I need one?

You will need a civil celebrant present when you recite your wedding vows for the simple reason that he or she will legalise your marriage.

When should I begin searching for one?

Good celebrants are generally booked up months in advance, so start looking as soon as you have decided on the time, date and location of your ceremony. You need to have found your celebrant at least one full month before your wedding date as couples are required to lodge a Notice of Intended Marriage by then.

Who is the best for my ceremony?

That depends on you. You should feel comfortable with who you've chosen and have a great rapport with him or her. They should be articulate, eloquent and confident, yet gentle and sensitive enough to calm any pre-wedding jitters. The ideal individual should be flexible enough to conduct both traditional and contemporary weddings and to accommodate any cultural, religious or personal practices you may wish to include. These practices could include a candle-lighting ceremony, the Celtic handfasting ritual or the writing and reciting of the bride and groom's own vows (although the legal wordings from the Marriage Act must also be included in these vows to be lawful).

If you are worried about the celebrant's credibility or professionalism, start with the ones who have been recognised by the Australian Bridal Industry.

Where should I begin to look?

Bride Online has a comprehensive directory of wedding and civil celebrants in whose presence you can deliver your wedding vows - many of them bridal industry award recipients. Visit Bride Online's local directory for information regarding their services and contact details below.