Your Wedding Ceremony Guide
By
Robyn Windeatt
All Occasions Celebrants
(Click here for Contact Details)

It is important that your ceremony reflects your character and your love for each other.  With over 60% of ceremonies being performed outside the church by Authorized Civil Marriage Celebrants you are not bound by ceremonies steeped in tradition. Do not be frightened to "step outside the square" and be a little different.    Relax with protocol, ask your celebrant for different ideas. It’s your wedding day so you make the choices. A good celebrant will guide you and ensure that all the legal requirements are met.

Location, Location, Location - The first thing you need to do is decide on the location for your wedding ceremony.  A well thought out beautiful location can really set the mood for this very romantic and important moment in your life. When doing this it is important that you look at a number of things which could affect the enjoyment of the moment and to avoid problems on the day.

Wet Weather Alternative -   It is always advisable to have a bad weather alternative.  Bad weather not just limited to rain, but strong winds, extreme heat and electrical storms.  If you are having your reception at a Reception Venue, a Restaurant, a Club or similar they will usually accommodate you should the weather turn against you.  So speak to your Reception Venue and ask what they can offer.

Other Weather Conditions - If possible, go and visit your chosen venue at approximately the same time of year and day as you plan on marrying. 

• Check the lighting to ensure you will have enough time after the ceremony for photographs, (if this is not possible, check on the internet for sunset times and whether daylight savings will be in place)
• Check that there is shade available.  During spring and summer the temperatures can be quite warm which elderly guests may not tolerate well.
• Check the level of outside noise from traffic, surf and other people.  Ensure that your celebrant has a Public Address system available to use if necessary.
• Check the prevailing winds.  Along the east coast of NSW we tend to get the afternoon sea breezes which can sometimes be quite strong, in winter we tend to get the winter westerlies.  As long as you are aware of the possible conditions, and you are prepared for them, they need not affect your perfect ceremony.
• Check the tides (this can be done on the internet as well) a beach that looks beautiful at high tide may be unsightly mud flats at low tide.

Public Places - If you are choosing to marry in a public place such as a park, a rotunda, or even a popular part of a beach. 

• It is advisable that you book that particular place for the date and time of your ceremony. Ensure that your best man has that booking confirmation with him on the day (he is not there just to hold the rings and look good).  Bookings can usually be made through the local council online.  Some of the popular public places to marry are very busy, in fact at some venues, as one wedding is ending another can be lining up to begin.  You don’t want to turn up to find another ceremony has booked the time and place that you have invited your guests to attend your wedding ceremony. 
• When marrying in public places expect the onlookers.  Inside everyone there is a true romantic and people just love to watch the spectacle of the arrival of the beautiful bride, the emotion exhibited by the groom when his bride arrives, and the demonstration of true love of a young couple marrying.  Many spectators will even applaud the bride and groom when they are pronounced husband and wife.  Enjoy the moment!  You have gone to a lot of trouble to look your best so enjoy being the centre of attention.

Accessibility - Remember to take into account the distance you and your guests have to walk to access the location of the wedding ceremony. 

• Keep in mind your elderly guests, grandma and grandpa may find it a little difficult to walk down onto a beach.  They may need assistance to negotiate their way to the ceremony, they may require seating, and they may require an umbrella or parasol. 
• If it is a hot day you may also need to provide some refreshments.  Your guests are usually waiting at least 20 minutes prior to your arrival.

Keeping all of these things in mind,   there are many absolutely magnificent places to hold your wedding ceremony.  A celebrant with good local knowledge can offer you ideas.  Call on your celebrant’s knowledge, as they know all the good spots, as well as the pitfalls.

Choosing The Right Officiant.

What is right for you?  Do you wish to include any religious or cultural content to your ceremony?  Even if you are not a regular churchgoer, many Ministers of Religion will perform your ceremony for you, either in the church or even at a venue of your choice.

Minister of Religion

If you choose a Minister of Religion here are some things you need to ask:

• Is the Minister flexible with the content of the ceremony?
• Ask for a copy of the ceremony
• Ask if he/she is willing to add non religious ceremonial content to your ceremony.
• If you choose to marry in the church are you permitted to have music or a musician of your choice?
• Can you write your own vows?
• What will the Minister wear?  Many Ministers will actually ask if you would like them to wear a suit or their robes.
• Is your photographer permitted to photograph in the church?

Civil Celebrant.

Do you know that over 60% of marriages performed in Australia are solemnised by Civil Marriage Celebrants.  Civil Marriage Celebrants are appointed by the Attorney General’s Department to solemnize marriages under the Marriage Act 1961.

Things you need to take into account when choosing your celebrant.

• Is the Celebrant an Authorized Marriage Celebrant?  You can ask to see the Celebrant’s Certificate which is issued by the Attorney General’s Department or you can go to The Attorney General’s Website at  http://www.ag.gov.au/celebrants
• Do they provide an obligation free meeting prior to booking their services?
• Do you feel comfortable with the Celebrant? Do you feel confident that you could work happily with the Celebrant to prepare your perfect Ceremony?
• Is the Celebrant flexible to change any aspects of the ceremony to your choice?
• Does the celebrant inspire you with a good variety of ceremonies, resources to choose from?
• Is the Celebrant well presented and do they speak professionally?
• Does the Celebrant prepare a ceremony that it unique to you and your partner or do they have set ceremony scripts?
• Can you write your own vows?
• Does the celebrant perform ceremonies that are culturally significant to your culture and/or are they prepared to include some of your traditions? Celebrants have completed training in relation to a variety of cultural traditions and ceremonies, so ask what they can offer.
• Many couples now have children prior to marriage or will be forming a blended family.  Will the celebrant include the children in your ceremony, and what suggestions does the celebrant make to include the children in the ceremony?
• Check with the celebrant that the amount quoted is the final charge and there are no “hidden extras”.
• Is the final draft of the ceremony presented to you prior to the wedding, so that you know exactly what the Celebrant will say on the day or do they ad-lib?
• Can the celebrant provide testimonials and photos of previous weddings
• Has the celebrant performed ceremonies at the location of your choice and can they offer advice to you regarding that particular location.
• Do they have a pa system
• Can the celebrant’s pa system be also used to  amplify your music
• Do they offer a rehearsal prior to the wedding day
• Will the Celebrant be there at least 20 minutes prior to the wedding?  Who will do the ceremony if my Celebrant is sick? Celebrants have rules stating they must be in attendance 20 minutes prior to the ceremony, and they are only obliged to stay for a delay of no more than 20 minutes. Most celebrants will go through these points with you during the interview, and will ask you to sign a Schedule of fees outlining their total costs, their obligations as well as yours.

Complaints

If you have a complaint about a celebrant which relates to his/her solemnization of a marriage or the intended solemnization of a marriage.  The complaint must relate to the marriage celebrant in their role as a marriage celebrant and not to other aspects of their life or activities.

Complaint must be in writing to Registrar of Marriage Celebrants and must be made within 3 months of the matter complained of.

The Registrar may seek an extension of this time if it is justified.