There are so many very good reasons to tell or record your life story, and a great way to express this is in a photo book. A beautiful book that tells the story of your life in words and photos. Written by Celebrant, Leslie Ridgeway from Ocean Grove, Victoria
Have you ever found yourself on the day of a ceremony and you've come down with the flu, been struck down by the Spicey Cough or had a car accident? You know you can't make the ceremony... but what do you do? Never fear, Celebrant Shell Brown is going to walk you through it step by step.
Turning 21 and celebrating your 21st is seen as the big celebration and the year that you become an adult, but turning 18 is actually more of a big deal - especially here in Australia. It not only marks your transition into adulthood, but there are quite a few responsibilities that go along with it.
Something to consider
Ever wondered what it is like to be a Marriage Celebrant? Celebrant and trainer, Karen Faa from Queensland explains it so well...
Brilliant
Ceremony is so important
Have you been wondering how you might reaffirm your love for your partner? What about a Vow Renewal Ceremony? Today's blog takes us through some great ideas to create a beautiful and personal ceremony - written by freelance writer and guest blogger - Harper Reid.
Yes you can share
Protocol
Thanks
Feedback always welcome
Models of the grief process
Be prepared! That was the motto of the scouts and it is also the mantra that celebrants live by. Our blogger today is TCN Celebrant Sonia Collins and she is talking about the ins and outs of ceremony presentation...
Excellent advice
Australians recognise the 25th of April as a day of national remembrance, which takes two forms. Commemorative services are held across the nation at dawn and commemorative ceremonies held at war memorials around the country. Today's blog is written by TCN Member, Trish Keating.
Becoming a celebrant has generally been a second, third or even fourth career change for some people. Most celebrants you speak to describe their work as 'a vocation', 'a calling', or 'a real labour of love', but once you've arrived at your destination of becoming a celebrant, it's hard to turn away. In today's blog we're introducing you to two TCN Members - Karen Dearing from Cobbitty, NSW and Katherine Sessions from Bendigo, Vic, who are sharing the stories of how they transitioned into the the world of celebrancy...
Adopting a child is a wonderful and often long-awaited experience. Here are some ideas for welcoming the newest member of the family...
Thank you
When you hear somebody talking about how meaningful the ceremony was, what does that actually mean?
Where does the meaning come from?
Does everybody who participates take away the same meaningful message?
Your ceremony might be more community centered, bringing the people of your town or city together to celebrate or to mourn or to remember. The meaning comes from the shared emotion felt amongst your community.
Perhaps your ceremony is about welcoming a new child into your family. The meaning of which will be intensely personal to you and your family members.
You might be holding a ceremony to celebrate the end of an educational pursuit - the meaning in your graduation culminates from all the hard work that you've put in. There are feelings of pride and acommplishment for what you've achieved.
When I started thinking about how we, as celebrants create meaningful ceremonies I wondered where we get our inspiration from and the answer is - from the very people we are performing the ceremony for.
The meaning comes from you; your story, your love, your loss, your dreams, your past and your future.
The meaning in a ceremony is different for every person, every couple and every family. No two ceremonies are alike, which is why your celebrant takes the time to get to know you and to learn your story. Creating a ceremony that is both unique and meaningful to the couple or family is not a simple task and takes empathy, knowledge, experience, care and time.
Here are some suggestions to how you could add meaning to your ceremony:
Add music
a favourite piece of the family member who has passed away; or a song that you and your partner love and feel tells your love story.
Add poetry
writing your own piece of poetry adds extra meaning becuase you have dedicated time and thought into how you feel. Although, sometimes you find just the right words, that explain exactly how you feel have already been written by somebody else - which is fine as long as you credit their work.
Add a ritual
for some people, participating in a ritual makes what you are celebrating or mourning much deeper and heartfelt; It can help you to feel more connected.
Add a cultural element
the meaning will come from the pride you feel about your home and the traditions that you can share.
Stay true to who you are
your wedding doesn't become more meaningful based on how much money you spend on your reception.
Meaningful ceremonies take place when you are together, sharing a moment with the most important people in your life.
Why not contact one of our fabulous TCN Celebrants and let us create meaning ceremonies for you.
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This next snippet was on a friend's Facebook page today.....
"A lovely military man selling poppies stopped me today and asked if he could re-position mine - while doing so he told me that women should wear their poppy on their right side; the red represents the blood of all those who gave their lives, the black represents the mourning of those who didn't have their loved ones return home, and the green leaf represents the grass and crops growing and future prosperity after the war destroyed so much. The leaf should be positioned at 11 o'clock to represent the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, the time that World War One formally ended. He was worried that younger generations wouldn't understand this and his generation wouldn't be around for much longer to teach them."
Lest we forget...
Talk to one of our celebrants who can assist you with preparing a ceremony.
Civil ceremonies and celebrations for significant life events - for individuals, couples, families or communities - are designed and delivered to provide an inclusive environment in which to
Despite the impression you may have gained from the latest reality TV show, you are legally required to give your celebrant a completed Notice of Intended Marriage at least one month before the planned wedding, if you want to be married in Australia.
Most couples of course plan their wedding much earlier and are keen to book their celebrant well in advance, especially if they are marrying on a busy Saturday in summer or a popular date like Valentine's Day. Wedding planning is an important part of the preparation for your life together as a married couple and working with your celebrant over a period of time to design your ideal ceremony is part of the fun.
There are some very limited circumstances where the Notice period can be shortened to less than one month. In situations such as terminal illness, immediate overseas postings and similar cases it is possible to obtain permission for an earlier wedding. Your celebrant will be able to tell you about these rules how to go about seeking permission.
So don't be fooled into thinking that you can call up your celebrant for a wedding in the morning because you have just met the new love of your life. It just doesn't happen like that.
Of course, if you are so madly in love that you cannot wait a month to gather your family and friends around you and declare your love to the world, you can ask your celebrant to do a "commitment ceremony" - this is what you saw on TV. These ceremonies have absolutely no legal basis and the celebrant makes this clear to everyone present. Later on, if you both decide you want to marry then you can return to your celebrant, give due notice and have a legal wedding - as large or small as you wish.
Many Australian couples and overseas visitors decide to take advantage of our beautiful beaches, parks and headlands for their wedding ceremony.
The result can be a beautiful ceremony with a stunning backdrop which delights you and your guests.
Here are my top four tips for an outdoor ceremony.
1. Have a plan for wet weather or extremely hot weather - both are common occurrences.
2. Try to have all the guests seated. Some councils limit the number of chairs you can set up on public land but it really is much more comfortable for guests if they are seated.
3. Think about your syle of wedding and location when choosing your outfits - very high heels and billowing long dresses and veils can be difficult to handle on the beach or grass.
4. Check the tides. At the wedding pictured we almost got our feet wet!!
What's your experience - do you have other good tips?
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I was born in Northern Ireland and came to Australia in 1975. Got married in Australia in 1975 and moved to Goulburn in 1976 with the intention of staying for the three years required by the Department of Education.
The Goulburn area certainly grew on us and it was a very good area to raise our three sons and for us to be part of a great rural community and so we are still here.
We now have five beautiful grandchildren in different parts of NSW.
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www.celebrant.org.au
Celebrant's background
Christine says "I have run my own business for 25 years. Before that I was a specialist medical rep and also worked in recruitment for a while. I have worked with many different people on many different levels. I am also an author and I have several blogs about personal development."
What attracted you to celebrancy?
I decided to become a celebrant because I was concerned that many people had turned away from the church but still wanted to experience the spiritual content of their vows and the important rites of passage in life.
I was thinking about this question when someone recently suggested that civil ceremonies were a "cheap" option compared with the traditional church wedding. Really nothing could be further from the true reason people choose civil ceremonies. No matter where the ceremony is held, the cost of a wedding is determined by all the extras - dresses, flowers, photographs, cars, reception and so on, and these are usually the same whether the ceremony is civil or church.
No! The real reasons are about atmosphere and choice. For the couple who do not have strong connections with a church, the words, music and atmosphere of a church service can be alien. Whereas with a civil ceremony the couple can choose the time and day, their favourite location, the words and music for their ceremony and can make vows to eachother that are truly meaningful to them. This choice leads to a happy, relaxed atmosphere in which guests can really appreciate the love and commitment that the couple are showing towards each other. No wonder that civil marriage ceremonies, conducted by celebrants trained in both ceremonial and legal requirements, are the most popular ceremonies today.
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On a Pop-up Wedding Day several couples are married at the same venue, in carefully controlled timeslots throughout the day. They are certainly a fun, low cost alternative to the traditional large wedding. For around $1000 and an hour of your time you have a short ceremony with a registered celebrant, photos in a pretty setting, a glass of champagne and some cake. You don’t need to invite anyone – there will be witnesses on hand – or you might take a couple of guests with you. The ideal answer for couples who want a low key, no fuss, intimate occasion.
Or is it?
You should know that you can cut the costs and the fuss and still have total control of your wedding. Choose a place that you both love and decide the day and time that suits you, book a celebrant for a simple short ceremony, book a photographer for a one hour shoot or take along a talented friend with a camera, chill a bottle of decent bubbly, pick up a cake (or your favourite food) and enjoy your special day your way. Fun to plan whether it’s your secret or shared with some close friends, unique and personal. Plus, you’ll definitely save money!
This weeks featured celebrant is Glenda Ashurst from Brisbane QLD.
As a child I lived on a farm so it was therefore necessary to attend boarding school for my education. I was fortunate that extra tuition was available for Elocution and Drama training which I feel has stood me in good stead for projecting my voice and the ability to perform in front of a lot of people for presentation at ceremonies, even though I am still a little nervous. A colleague told me recently that was good because it meant I still cared about my couples and the quality of my work.
ASK A CELEBRANT BLOG: What does the ceremony do for a wedding?
Your wedding ceremony sets the tone for the rest of your wedding day and creates memories for you, your family and friends for years ahead
Getting married is about making one of the most important legal, emotional, social, economic and practical commitments you will ever make in your life.
It is a day too, that will never be able to be repeated.
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