anniversary - The Celebrants Network Inc

Apr

27

Anniversary Symbols

Are you one of those people who can never remember what you're meant to buy your partner or your wife or your husband or your spouse for your anniversary each year? Is it paper? Is it wood? Which year do I give roses? Here's a handy guide for you..... you're welcome!

Shell Brown

Ceremonies and Celebrations Anniversaries

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Apr

19

How to add Ceremony to any Celebration

If you think about it, there is always an element of formality to most events. When you think of formal events you think weddings, funerals and naming days, but there are many events in our lives where we can add ceremony. Celebrant Shell Brown from Geraldton, WA shares some ideas as how to add a bit of ceremony to your celebration.

Shell Brown

Ceremonies and Celebrations Anniversaries Birthdays

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Aug

23

Has Covid-19 changed your wedding plans?

Are you one of the many couples finding that you need to change your wedding plans because of the coronavirus? The reality of travel restrictions as well as those on ceremonies and wedding receptions means making some decisions. Luckily we have Celebrant and Chairperson of The Celebrants Network - Sonia Collins at the ready to give some suggestions...

Sonia Collins

Ceremonies and Celebrations Anniversaries Marriage Weddings

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Apr

24

Why is Ceremony Important?

Why are ceremonies important?

The dictionary defines "ceremony" as:

ceremony

/ˈsɛrɪmənɪ/

noun (pl) -nies

1. a formal act or ritual, often set by custom or tradition, performed in observation of an event or anniversary

I recently came across a great webpage belonging to a Canadian Celebrant, and thought that her explanation of why we have ceremonies was spot on and I couldn’t have worded it any better myself....

Here's what Celebrant Michele Davidson of Modern Celebrant says on her webpage: http://moderncelebrant.ca

"Longing to Connect

Have you ever wondered why we put so much effort into celebrating the start of a marriage with a wedding ceremony? Or why celebrations of life, memorials and funerals feel so incredibly important to do – and to do right? What about the feeling we have when we bring a new life into this world…. doesn’t it feel like there should be some sort of community event?

One of the most beautiful aspects of being human is how strongly we yearn to connect with the people we love. We quite naturally long for emotional richness and a sense of significance when it comes to the big experiences of life. For some people it’s a very conscious desire; for others it is something they can’t quite name or put their finger on.

It’s such a shame that in our fast-paced society, many people no longer truly ‘get’ the profound opportunities ceremony offers! They either do nothing, or go through the motions with perfunctory (just get through it) ceremony.

We’ve evolved and grown in so many ways – as a culture and as individuals – but for some reason we play small when it comes to honouring life changes.

Ceremony should be a Catalyst

A well thought out and lovingly conducted ceremony takes you through a gateway. Metaphorically through the words and gestures of your ceremony, you move with greater intention from one phase of your life to the next; from one way of ‘being’ into another. For instance, a wedding ceremony is not merely saying, “I do.” A wedding ceremony should be a catalyst that allows two individuals to really ‘get’ that they now step forward into a life that is shared.

Your ceremony should actually mean something. Not be just a pretty sparkly thing that is soon forgotten.

Something that you will remember forever."
[thank you to Michele Davidson - Modern Celebrant for allowing us to use her webpage]

Ceremonies happen at many events:

* At birthdays we blow out candles and sing "Happy Birthday" - would the party mean as much if we didn't do those things?

* We celebrate people's greatness by giving out awards and making speeches - would the recipient feel as special and appreciated if we made no fuss?

* At funerals and memorials we lay flowers and recite poetry to show respect to lost loved ones - how would we feel if we didn't mark their death in some significant way?

* We exchange rings and vows at a wedding because it actually means something to the couple. They're saying 'I choose you to take this next step in life, will you join me?' It's binding, not just legally, but emotionally.

The more that we pay attention to the ceremony, and accept that it is there to help make our transitions through life smoother, the easier it will become to understand why it is so important.

Talk to a TCN Celebrant today about adding ceremony to your next life event

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Ask A Celebrant

Ceremonies and Celebrations

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Jan

22

How old must I be before I can get a message from the Queen?

ASK A CELEBRANT BLOG: Problem is by the time I've reached this age, I'll probably need someone else to organise this for me!

So how can a congratulatory message be organised? Australians who are celebrating a special birthday or wedding anniversary can receive personal congratulations from the Prime Minister, Governor-General or The Queen.

Who is eligible for a congratulatory message?

The Prime Minister will send a message of congratulations to people turning 90 years of age or more.
The Queen and Governor-General will send a message on a 100th birthday.

20th Wedding Anniversary - What advice would you give?

ASK A CELEBRANT BLOG: When Rona Goold TCN Coordinator celebrated her 20th Anniversary, she sent her 'sweetie husband" Steve a personal e-card on the theme of 'Life is a bowl of cherries' - when you have a good partner, where one's joined at the heart and that they made "a good pair" with this image :-)

Steve and Rona say that knowing each other's Love Languages is one way they strengthen their relationship.

"Fortunately 'gift giving' is not high on either of our lists, but words of affirmation and acts of service are.On receiving his e-card, Steve declared that it is really great to feel so close that neither "gives each other the pip"!" says Rona

What are your words of advice to newly weds about strengthening their marriage over time?

Ask A Celebrant

Anniversaries

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Want a great gift for a loved one with every thing?

ASK A CELEBRANT BLOG: How often do we think "things" when considering a present for our parents, children or other family members and friends? Why not think about experiences that can never be repeated, that can bring pleasure to everyone, and to which everyone can donare the money to make it happen?

For the 55 and over age group "things" become less important, more things to dust and more things to say goodbye to when the time comes to downsize into a smaller place.

So why not make the celebration itself the gift?

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Ask A Celebrant

Ceremonies and Celebrations

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Jan

11

Benefits of adding a ceremony

The changes to society in the last 200 years in western culture have brought many benefits, but also many negatives

people are separated from family support and roots by employment needs and thus young and old alike are more isolated. Thus at higher risk of depression.
the wedding is too late for relationship education. Becoming an adult, leaving home, getting engaged are better times to promote those services

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Ask A Celebrant

Ceremonies and Celebrations

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Nov

24

Batemans Bay Celebrant - Sonia Collins

This week featured celebrant is Sonia Collins from Batemans Bay NSW.

My name is Sonia Collins and I am a Civil Celebrant in Batemans Bay, New South Wales. This is a very popular area for weddings, with couples coming from Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne, and country towns across NSW and Vic, as well as our local area. The area has great venues for weddings and for receptions and with the natural beauty of the coast and the bush it is not surprising that Batemans Bay is a first choice for many couples especially those with happy memories of time spent here on holidays.I have enjoyed a satisfying career in Human Resource Management and my interest in people led me to undertake the training to become a Marriage Celebrant.

Ask A Celebrant

Civil Celebrants

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Jul

14

How have civil celebrants changed the face of marriage in Australia?

jenny-gary2-250 TCNA is celebrating our Ruby Anniversary of the first Civil Marriage Celebrant in Australia - so I've written a little review via my personal life but this is reflected in over 70,000 marriages each year in Australia.