Civil Marriage Celebrants

Your wedding ceremony will most likely be the most cherished moment of your wedding day.  And to ensure that everything goes to plan, it’s important that you find the right person to conduct the ceremony.

Civil Marriage Celebrants

Civil Marriage Celebrants are becoming increasingly popular, with many couples choosing a civil ceremony over a religious one.  If you are wanting to have a religious ceremony, then it’s usually your parish priest who will be the one to conduct your ceremony, however for those who’d prefer to head down the non-religious path, your best bet is to utilise the services offered by a Civil Marriage Celebrant.
Civil Marriage Celebrants are people who have undertaken training and assessment in an approved Marriage Celebrant course.  Upon completion of their course they are required, by law, to demonstrate to the Register of Marriage Celebrants that they meet all of the requirements set out in The Marriage Act 1961.  They may then be eligible to register as a Civil Celebrant.

What Does a Civil Marriage Celebrant Offer? 

Civil Marriage Celebrants are able to offer a professional alternative to the traditional religious wedding ceremony.  In saying that, a marriage conducted by a Celebrant can be equally as sentimental, and moving as those conducted within a church setting.
Civil Marriage Celebrants are employed by wedding couples to solemnise their marriage in a personal, professional and legal ceremony.  Celebrants work with the wedding couple to create a unique and personal ceremony and ensure that everything runs smoothly on the day.  They are responsible for arranging and conducting all of the necessary wedding rehearsals, providing information on family relationship services and pre-marital education and advising the couple on all of the necessary paperwork required to ensure that the marriage is conducted legally.
In addition to this, a Civil Marriage Celebrant should be able to provide the following:

• They should be unbiased and willing to work in any religious environment if necessary. 
• They should respect interfaith and interracial marriages and be willing to accommodate the needs of both traditions and cultures.
• They should be willing to work alongside the clergy, should a couple choose to have their marriage blessed by a minister of religion.
• They should be willing and able to accommodate the couple’s choice of location for their ceremony.  This may include settings such as a beach, park, church, reception venue or home.
• They should be willing and able to assist the couple in the preparation of marriage vows and readings and help to coordinate all aspects of the ceremony, including, before, during and after.
• They must comply with the strict Code of Conduct set out in The Marriage Act.
• They must provide a high standard of service.
• They must recognise and respect the significance of marriage, and it’s social, cultural and legal importance.
• They must comply with The Marriage Act and other associated laws.
• They must accommodate all general requirements for marriage ceremonies stated by law.
• They must have up to date knowledge and an understanding of family relationships services. 

Given that your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life, choosing the right Celebrant is paramount in order to ensure that your day runs smoothly and is a memorable one.  First and foremost, when it comes to selecting your Celebrant, ensure that they are registered and authorised as a Marriage Celebrant.  You may do so by reading through the ‘Register of Marriage Celebrants’ on the Australian Government Attorney-General’s Department website.  This list provides contact details of all registered Celebrants and specifies whether they are denominational or non-denominational.

When selecting a Marriage Celebrant, try to speak to couples that have utilised their services in the past.  Seek recommendations from both family and friends, or people who have recently been married.  Alternatively, a well-regarded Celebrant will be able to provide you with a list of previous clients whom you may be able to contact to speak to.

Once you have found a Celebrant, call and make an appointment to meet them with both yourself and your fiancé.  It is important that both of you attend the appointment to ensure that you both feel comfortable with the Celebrant’s personality and style.  Discuss your needs and preferences for the style of ceremony that you wish to have and the location.  It is also advisable to discuss the Celebrant’s fees and any other important information that you should be made aware of.

Ensure that they are flexible and accommodating in regards to your requests and have the ability to assist you in fully planning your ceremony including the writing of your vows (if necessary), coordinating rehearsals and advising you of your legal requirements.

Many Celebrants will have copies of readings and previous ceremonies that you may use to plan your own wedding.  They may also have photo albums, videos or DVDs that you may view, or even invite you to attend a service in which they are conducting in order for you to gain an understanding of their style and service.
At the end of the day, both you and your fiancé should feel confident in the Celebrant’s ability to meet your personal needs and to contribute in a positive way towards your wedding ceremony.