Traditional-frame

Neil and Joanne

I was a guest at a wedding on Saturday that Liz was the Marriage Celebrant for…. 

This is the first time I have seen Liz “perform” and must congratulate her on a wonderful job done.   She acted in the most beautiful way, just really facilitating what was important to the couple.   It wasn’t at all about her, it was all about them, which she says is the way she likes to do it!   I also realised what a lot of  hard work had gone into it beforehand to make it a perfect day!   

Anne

Traditional Ceremonies

These are still the most popular, with the bride usually wearing a gorgeous white or coloured dress, the groom in a suit and the couple supported by a formal bridal party.  The ceremonies are often conducted in beautiful surroundings; often outside in a park, by a beach or in a picturesque garden.  There are many opportunities to individualise each ceremony, with tradition being a theme, not a rule!

Australia is ahead of the rest of the world in the way in which we can conduct civil marriage ceremonies.  Civil marriages in Australia are conducted by a Licensed Celebrant and not necessarily in a Licenced Venue.  This is one of the reasons why we can have so much versatility in how we approach the marriage ceremony: of course our wonderful climate is a great asset!

A traditional wedding ceremony gives couples the opportunity to keep faith with their culture and history, at the same time as giving their family and friends the opportunity to share in their Special Day.  This joyous occasion is one which marks a particular moment in time; one that will always be remembered as special and meaningful, both to the couple and to the guests who share in the occasion.

Traditional maybe, but individualised seems to be the order of the day.  Many couples already have children before they get married; many couples already have a home, complete with pets.  Yes, Labradors have been successfully used as ring bearers!  And of course, children make beautiful page boys and flower girls.

There are all sorts of rituals and cultural themes that can be incorporated into a marriage ceremony: as we live in a land of migrants, there are some wonderful and fascinating rituals that have been brought here from all over the world.   It is a delight to include these in a classic wedding ceremony with an Australian backdrop.