Let me introduce myself. I am Jan Fenton your local celebrant.
I became a full time celebrant in 2007 and I just love it. It is an amazing privilege to be able to legally pronounce a couple to be husband and wife. I have had a number of jobs over the years but, by far, being a celebrant is the most rewarding. I love the opportunity it presents to meet new people and to work with them to make their special day memorable for all the right reasons.
All couples are different, all have a special uniqueness and I really enjoy working to bring out the special and defining factors that help make their wedding day extra personal and special.
One reason many people choose to use a celebrant is to be able to personalise their wedding rather than adopt the standard approach. I have an extensive library of material available to help couples design their own special and unique ceremony. Together we can design a ceremony that is stately or simple, large or intimate, the choice is yours.
Whether you are being married for the first time or it is a subsequent marriage and you want to include your extended families I can help you. The final ceremony will reflect your wishes, personality and special love.I am comfortable with both a traditional ceremony or something a bit different. Some examples of different ceremonies I have conducted include:
-
Combined marriage and naming ceremony
On a few occasions now I have conducted a joint celebration where the marriage of the parents has been combined with the naming ceremony for their young child. This is especially lovely when, at the end of the ceremony I introduce, not Mr & Mrs Surname, but rather the newest Surname family.
-
Handfasting ceremony
The handfasting ceremony. Where the bride and groom symbolically bind hands as they ‘tie the knot’ or are joined in the ‘bonds of holy matrimony’. This is an ancient custom which signifies that the couple wish for enduring love, fertility and prosperity.
In a handfasting ceremony I may say something like ‘ Jan and Chris have each prepared themselves in their hearts to begin a new life. One built together on a strong foundation of love and respect. This marriage is a right of passage as the past is left behind as they walk together bound by the ties of love. To symbolise these bonds I hereby bind their left hands together with this sash, which, like their love, holds them together. I tie a true lovers knot – the hands are tied together yet they maintain their individuality.’
At the end of the ceremony the knot is not untied but rather the sash is removed and placed in a special bag or even framed for safekeeping.
-
Sand Ceremony
I especially like this symbolism when a couple is remarrying and they have children from their previous relationships. The combining of sands by the couple, and their children, into a special vase brings together the particles of their previous lives into a new life that they begin together. The vase of sand then becomes a visual reminder of the vows they exchange and the promises they make to each other as a new family.
To make your wedding day memorable requires energy and commitment and I have plenty of both.
Being a celebrant is my full time occupation. I am available for ceremonies any time any day. I am happy to travel too. Whilst most ceremonies I conduct are in Crookwell, Gunning, Canberra, Sydney or at the coast I am happy to travel further afield for your special day. That way you can plan and consult locally and be comfortable that, on the day, someone is marrying you with whom you have developed a relationship and in whom you have confidence. Your wedding can be in a restaurant, hall or private garden. It can be at the beach, on a boat, in a hot air balloon or any place that is special to you.
I have a professional and portable public address system. This has provision to play CDs or MP3 and has wireless headset and a separate microphone for readings.
Talk to me. We will have an obligation free meeting and, if you decide you would like me to officiate at your ceremony, together we can make it special and unique just to you. I am happy to meet with you either at your home, at my home or another place that is convenient to you. I also offer baby namings, commitment ceremonies and re-affirmation of vows ceremonies.
Jan Fenton
(02) 4837 3334 0417 293 119 weddings@wirefree.net.au
Jan Fenton is a friendly professional civil marriage celebrant, naming and family celebrant offering weddings and namings for the Goulburn, Yass and Southern Tablelands areas including Crookwell, Goulburn, Gunning, Canberra, Yass, Bateman's Bay, Binalong, Bungonia, Gundaroo, Aranda, Belconnen, Banks, Caldwell, Chifley, Dunlop, Duntroon, Fisher, Gilmore, Gordon, Hackett Hall, Hughes, Kingston, Namadgi National Park, Ngunnawai, Nicolls, Pierces Creek, Queanbeyan, Rivett, Uriarra Forest, Tharwa, Theodore, Top Naas, Weston, Williamsdale, Woods Reserve, Yarralumla, Lyons, Manuka, Mitchell, Crookwell, Taralga, Nowra Batemans Bay Durras Malua Bay, Tomakin, Broulee, Mogo, Moruya, Tuross Head, Narooma, Tilba
