In 2023 we will be celebrating 50 years of a civil celebrant program in Australia. In today’s blog celebrant Sonia Collins gives a brief history of the program as part of our celebrations for World Celebrants Week 2021.
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The business end of Celebrancy
Have you just become a celebrant or are thinking about embarking on that journey? Registered Celebrant and member of The Celebrants Network, Leslie Ridgeway gives us some insights into what you need at the business end of Celebrancy.
What is The Celebrants Network?
Funerals
Civil funeral celebrants are a popular alternative today and contrary to some beliefs are often happy to include religious components to the ceremony. The role of the Celebrant is to work with individuals and families to create and conduct a ceremony appropriate to the person; it is important to spend time with them to makes sure you are clear about what they want and that you can provide it for them...
Leaving things to the last minute!
Show me the Stats
Show me the Stats
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics dated November 2016, there were 113,595 marriages registered Australia wide in 2015.
The number of marriages decreased in 2015 by 7,602 - down 6.3%
81.1% of brides and 79.1% of grooms were marrying for the first time.
16.3% of the marriages included one partner who had been married before.
Marriages where both partners had been married before were at 11.7%
The median age for men getting married was 31.8 years and for women it was 29.8 years - both ages increased from previous years.
Couples who lived together prior to marriage accounted for 81%
54.2% of couples married in 2015 were both born in Australia.
Out of the couples married in 2015 31.9% were born in different countries.
13.9% were born in the same overseas country.
Civil Celebrants have overseen the majority of marriage ceremonies (since 1999) at an average across the country of 74.9%
If you would like to engage a civil celebrant for your marriage ceremony, commitment ceremony, vow renewal, baby naming ceremony or any other event that you'd like to celebrate - including memorials and life celebrations - then please contact one our fabulous TCN Celebrants
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Celebrating Who You Are
Celebrating who you are gives you an opportunity to thank family and friends for their love and support.
Be the reason to enable loved ones to come together to build stronger relationships. Not one of us would be who we are today without "a little help" along the way.
There are plenty of times in our lives that should be celebrated, but we generally only acknowledge a few...
Our birthdays every year; a major anniversary, getting married and having a baby - they're the staples that most people celebrate, but what about all those other life transitions and accomplishments that are forgotten about?
Here's a few for you to contemplate....
Graduating:
Pre-school, primary school, high school and university. Some people celebrate these monumental academic accomplishments with a ceremonial graduation along with their classmates, but there's nothing to stop you from also celebrating with your nearest and dearest loved ones too.
11 Questions to Ask Your Celebrant
First of all, what is the role of the celebrant?
The role of a civil celebrant is to:
- work with couples and families to create a beautiful, meaningful ceremony that suits their style.
- witness two consenting adults entering into a legal and binding relationship.
- complete all the legal paperwork and make sure that it is all done within the strict legal rules set in the Marriage Act of 1961.
Here are some questions that you might consider when engaging a civil celebrant.
1. Are you available on the date I’ve chosen for my wedding/anniversary party/baby naming/funeral?
This is probably the most important of questions because if the celebrant is not available on your preferred day, then the rest of the questions are irrelevant.
2. What paperwork is required before we can get married?
2. What paperwork is required before we can get married?
This is a great question because there is a strict time-frame as to when you need to have initial paperwork lodged with your celebrant.
3. Can we meet and get to know each other before we decide?
Of course! It’s always a good idea to meet with your celebrant and make sure you feel comfortable with them and that you get a feeling of trust - after all, they will be taking care of a very important event for you and your loved ones.
Of course! It’s always a good idea to meet with your celebrant and make sure you feel comfortable with them and that you get a feeling of trust - after all, they will be taking care of a very important event for you and your loved ones.
Image source: https://trulymarvellousweddings.co.uk
3. What services do you offer?
This can be used as a good comparison between celebrants, but it also gives you reassurance that you will be receiving everything that you want/need for your ceremony.
4. What happens during the ceremony?
If you’ve not been to too many ceremonies - weddings, namings or funerals, you may not be aware of how a ceremony works. Asking this question will help to give you a visual of how the ceremony will flow.
3. What services do you offer?
This can be used as a good comparison between celebrants, but it also gives you reassurance that you will be receiving everything that you want/need for your ceremony.
4. What happens during the ceremony?
If you’ve not been to too many ceremonies - weddings, namings or funerals, you may not be aware of how a ceremony works. Asking this question will help to give you a visual of how the ceremony will flow.
For example in a marriage ceremony where everyone will stand or when you’ll be able to kiss your new husband.
Photo credit: Shell Brown
5. Are you willing to travel?
Fairly important if you’re planning to have your ceremony 500kms away from where the celebrant lives!
6. Do you provide a PA system?
As part of the Celebrant Code of Practice, celebrants must make sure that the ceremony can be heard. So if you’re having your ceremony on the beach or in a field, it’s important that your celebrant is able to provide a good quality PA system.
5. Are you willing to travel?
Fairly important if you’re planning to have your ceremony 500kms away from where the celebrant lives!
6. Do you provide a PA system?
As part of the Celebrant Code of Practice, celebrants must make sure that the ceremony can be heard. So if you’re having your ceremony on the beach or in a field, it’s important that your celebrant is able to provide a good quality PA system.
Image source: Pixabay
7. Do you have or will you take any other bookings on the same day?
Some celebrants will book more than one ceremony on a day, which is completely fine – however a professional celebrant will make sure there is enough time to get between venues without rushing and missing anything.
7. Do you have or will you take any other bookings on the same day?
Some celebrants will book more than one ceremony on a day, which is completely fine – however a professional celebrant will make sure there is enough time to get between venues without rushing and missing anything.
Image source: wixsite.com
8. Why did you become a celebrant and what do you enjoy about being a celebrant?
Getting to know your celebrant a little and finding out what they love about being a celebrant should help you to decide whether they are a good fit for your style, your personality and your ceremony.
Photo: TCN Celebrant Scott Broadbridge-Brown - Beyond Celebrancy
9. Are you a member of a professional celebrant association like TCN?
Professional celebrant associations like TCN - (The Celebrants Network) offer their members support, assistance and ongoing professional development. Celebrants who are a part of an association are able to network with colleagues and share their knowledge and experience whilst having access to a vast amount of information to help improve their skills.
Professional celebrant associations like TCN - (The Celebrants Network) offer their members support, assistance and ongoing professional development. Celebrants who are a part of an association are able to network with colleagues and share their knowledge and experience whilst having access to a vast amount of information to help improve their skills.
10. What are your fees?
Once you’ve decided that you'd like this celebrant to be a part of your ceremony, that is the time that you’d ask them about their fees. Obviously each element of your ceremony needs to fit into a budget, but try not to make your decision based on fees alone. The ceremony is often the part that makes the event different to other family gatherings or parties, and remembered most when beautifully designed and delivered.
In regard to weddings, an article was written recently about the costs of weddings and the break down listed the celebrant as the lowest cost item on people’s budgets, which is surprising when you think of the amount of work that is done to personalise a ceremony and the fact that your marriage can’t actually begin without a celebrant.
Image source: ASIC - Money Smart
11. Would you like to be our celebrant?
What a wonderful offer. I’d be honoured!
What a wonderful offer. I’d be honoured!
* ________________________________________________ *
Thank you for joining us....
?? We would love it if you would let us know what you think ?.
There is a comment section ? at the bottom ⬇ of the blog for you to do just that.
?Click on the word "Comment" and go for it!
? Don't forget to subscribe ? to this blog - the "subscribe" button is up the top of the page ⇞⇞⇞ and the blog will magically ?? appear in your email inbox ?.
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Why have a ceremony?
ASK CELEBRANT BLOG:
Add a ceremony to your celebration!
Intuitively we know that a celebration is a way we mark important rites of passage.
Many Australians celebrate important events though, by having a booze-up and throwing in a few words towards the end. We have forgotten that the food and drink were meant to accompany the speeches or ceremony, not be the celebration itself.
Without a meaningful core to the gathering, a celebration may be boring and unsatisfying and more likely to lead to excessive eating and drinking.
Ceremony is an Act of Love - quality time spent together, a way of re-establishing that meaningful core to the event.
READ MORE
Celebrate mothers day with ceremony
ASKACELEBRANT Honours ALL Mothers Everywhere!
Why celebrate with ceremony?
Because Mothers give of themselves in so many ways. Plan now for this Mothers Day. Give a Mothers’ Day Gift that is special and unique!
Within the very busy and time poor world of today, seldom do we take the time to honour some of the vital and important ‘things and people’ in our everyday lives.
True we celebrate Birthdays, Christmas, Weddings, and so on, but when it comes to expressions of love and gratitude to certain people, especially our parents, and particularly our Mothers . . . we are inclined to fall into the ‘commercial trappings’ . . . for up until now, there have been few alternative options.
Read more on:
https://www.celebrations.org.au/everyone/content/63-celebrate-mothers-day
How do "civil" celebrants set their fees - some are wildly different?
ASK A CELEBRANT BLOG:
Most professional civil celebrants are professionals in private practice.
That is, unlike most religious celebrants, the civil celebrant has to cover all their costs of operating a home-based celebrancy practice from the fees they charge 'up-front' for their ceremonies, BEFORE they make an hourly rate for their work.
Consider:
- Couples have not 'lay-buyed' part of their ceremony as couples have via donations to a church or via government taxes to a Registry Office.
- A religious celebrant is usually supported financially by their church stipend and has their travel, phone and other expenses covered by their religious institution. Likewise registry office celebrant.
- A independent civil celebrant is required to ensure the ceremony suits the individual couple.
- In most cases, this requires considerable extra work in sourcing wedding prose, poetry and other materials, or even writing of new material by the celebrant.
- READ MORE
What is a civil 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
- honour all people - respecting the diversity of their individual talents and skills; gender; sexual preference, race; family, educational, religious, social, cultural backgrounds; life experiences; beliefs; personal, emotional, spiritual, social and other needs
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?
Why engage a celebrant when old uncle Fred can do as well?
ASK A CELEBRANT BLOG:
Having a skilled celebrant can mean the difference between an event being mediocre or an inspiring, memorable tribute to people who have a special place in our lives.
Like any good entertainer, the time a celebrant spends in front of the audience is only a very small fraction of the time spent in practice and acquiring the knowledge and skills to perform well.
A good celebrant is much more than a good performer. They need to be .. . . .
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
How do you choose the celebrant for you?
ASK A CELEBRANT BLOG There are many things to consider in choosing a celebrant
Like a jigsaw puzzle, there are many things to consider before you have the full picture. Some people go on first impressions or “gut feelings”. Others choose on price – the least or most expensive. Yet others look for value for money.
Each of these on its own is rather limited when you consider the celebration can never be repeated!
But each has something valuable to consider, when trying to make the best decision for your situation.
Consider the celebrant’s ……..
Why do 75% of couples choose civil ceremonies?
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.
What can we do? Things Happen!!
ASK A CELEBRANT BLOG: What did we do? from TCN Civil Funerl Celebrant Jan Woolrych
As we all know ‘things happen’ and we have no control of these things no matter how well we plan. Yesterday on the M1 from the Sunshine Coast to Brisbane there was an accident which caused the M1 to be closed/blocked/diverted for around 3 hours. Hopefully those injured are on the mend. Our thoughts are with them and their families.
I was to conduct a Funeral Ceremony at Mt Thompson Crematorium (south of Brisbane) at 1.00pm and was travelling to Brisbane with the Funeral Director when we were caught in the traffic snarl.
A Christmas poem from a TCN member
ASKACELEBRANT BLOG: Christmas in Australia by TCNA Celebrant Member Eunice Phipps
Christmas in Australia is always so darn hot;
If we could build a snowman, he would melt right on the spot.
Christmas in Australia is never white with snow;
Its boiling in the coolest shade, no matter where we go.
Christmas in Australia means there is no fireplace;
For Santa to step out of, with soot upon his face.
Christmas in Australia means we can’t ride down hills on sleds;
We’d have to use a billy cart and brave the roads instead.
Christmas in Australia means we cannot skate on ice;
Unless we go to skating rinks, and pay a hefty price.
Christmas in Australia, not a snow plough to be seen;
We do have trucks that sweep the street, to keep our cities clean.
Christmas in Australia and not a single reindeer in sight;
Here Santa uses Kangaroos, to pull him through the night.
Christmas in Australia, Santa’s suit is way too hot;
But still we see him struggle on, he must really sweat a lot.
Christmas in Australia and it’s way too hot to cook;
Our Christmas lunch is shared with flies, who want our cold cooked chook.
Christmas in Australia means there is no snow ball fight;
I guess we could throw ping pong balls…. at least they would be white.
Christmas in Australia no chestnuts to roast upon the fire;
But we can buy boiled peanuts; if that is our desire.
Christmas in Australia no real fir trees to decorate;
We all use the store bought ones, and some look really great.
Christmas in Australia is as hot as hot can be;
But my Christmas in Australia, is the only place for me.
Because it’s shared with you my friend,
And my precious family.
Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy, New Year!
by Eunice Phipps
Civil Celebrants - better than wine & almost as good as chocolate!
ASK A CELEBRANT BLOG: (www.celebrants.org.au) Customer Satisfaction rankings - Australia’s leading business review website womo.com.au (word of mouth online) has released new research revealing civil celebrants in the nation’s top 10 best performers for customer satisfaction.
Can a couple be "more married" than married?
Response by our TCNA Life Celebrant Member Dally M Messenger III to a Recent Letter
Unwedded bliss
Peter Waterhouse repeats an old slur often told by supporters of formal marriage, that de facto relationships just take the form of some sort of ''holding pattern'' until ''something better comes along'' (Letters, 15/8). My partner and I have been in a loving de facto relationship for more than 25 years, producing two wonderful sons on the way. We have never had any intention of either looking for something better or of getting married.
Ruby Birthday for one of our special celebrants
Congratulations to our lovely Lyn Knorr
Lyn achieves 40 years today as civil celebrant having been appointed in Australia on 24th July 1973, the second Civil Marriage Celebrant appointed in Australia and the first in Victoria.
Celebrants and Celebrations Network Australia - TCN is privileged to have Lyn Knorr as one of our founding TCN Inc Committee members and a TCN Life Member.
And with some long-timers at the 40 the Anniversary last Friday of the appointment of the first Civil Marriage Celebrant, Lois D'Arcy.
Lyn shared some of her memories of the Early Days at a 2005 celebrant conference.
We thank her for her faithful service to the Australian public and our civil celebrancy profession and wish her all the very best in the years ahead.
How have civil celebrants changed the face of marriage in Australia?
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.
Truly an Australian success story :-)
http://www.celebrants.org.au/ask-a-TCNa-celebrant/stories/celebrating-civil-celebrants-ruby-anniversary/
And one we take for granted every week around our amazing country.
Let's celebrate
Rona Goold
Celebrants & Celebrations Network Australia
Coordinator.
Celebrants Sharing the Love
Being a Civil Celebrant means that we are creating Ceremonies of love for people within the community. Ceremonies that Recognise and Celebrate the milestones in a person’s life.
It does not matter whether it is a Marriage , Naming, Commitment, Anniversary, Birthday, Rite of Passage, a Funeral or Memorial, a Ceremony attached to any Celebration adds meaning and enables the love to be shared by all who attend.
We Celebrants love what we do; We love being able to create meaningful and memorable ceremonies for people; and in the words of Leo Buscalia, “We don’t love to be loved, we love to love!”
On the 9th and 10th June in Melbourne at the Amora Hotel in Richmond, there will be the opportunity for Celebrants to join together to share experiences, to learn, to get to know each other and to celebrate and to share the love.
It would be wonderful to see lots of Celebrants at the conference. To find out more about this go to:
http://www.celebrations.org.au/blog/entry/general/invitation-celebrant-conference-not-to-miss
Proudly sponsored by:
WAYS WITH WEDDINGS
From Roslyn McFarlane
Celebrants & Celebrations Network Australia Member
The Celebrants Network Inc Vice Chair
When you think of a wedding, one normally thinks of the Bride wearing a beautiful white dress, a stunning bridal party dressed in colour co-ordinated clothes, amazing flowers and a wonderful reception at a fancy wedding venue. Often the choice of words, music and vows will be very predictable. But it does not have to be that way!
Michael - In Memory Of tribute
“A Loving Heart is the Truest Wisdom ..” Charles Dickens
Free On-Line Memorials in our "In Memory Of" section
Introducing ASKACELEBRANT''s newest section "In Memory Of" on our www.celebrants.org.au website.
Do you have a loved one or friend, or respect a community member for whom you would like to make a tribute for their life?
Every day there are short poppies that stand tall in the lives of families and communities who never receive a public acknowledge in the "Obits" of even the local papers. ASKACELEBRANT wants to hear some of their stories.
Easter a time to mull about life's mysteries
Rona Goold
Coordinator Celebrants & Celebrations Network Australia
Civil Marriage and Family Celebrant
Last year our family had a tragic loss when one of my husband's nephews died while snorkeling. He was 26.
His life just opening up to all the wonder of life's creation and opportunities. "Life cut short too soon, wise, soft . . ."#
It was a bitter, bittersweet time to review his life. Seeing Sam as baby, a toddler, child, teenager and young man brought back the memories hidden in the mind and heart.
His ceremony strengthened resolve to treasure all our loved ones, with awareness that life is short. To honour all those who give a part of who they are, to become a part of who we are. To be present to pain and loss. To support those who grieve beyond ending. To be present to the love within us and around us. And yet to face a new dawn with courage and hope for one more day of life's journey, knowing our turn comes inevitably to join the mystery of death.
Civil ceremonies tap deep into the human need to honour life, to share our stories, our pain, our truth and hope. They may or may not acknowledge the specific religious beliefs of some present, but they all aim to treasure life.
Easter time can be for everyone a time to mourn and treasure the past, reflect upon presence and the present, and renew hope for the next moment.
May this Easter bring peace of mind and heart to all - with a touch of delight in the shape of an egg!
# Words texta-d on Sam's coffin.
Can a funeral be fun?
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Post by Meg L’Estrange
Celebrants & Celebrations Network Australia Member
Melbourne Victoria
http://meglestrange.com.au
Can a funeral be fun?
You bet!
For some families this is the best way to honour the person they have lost.
Bo: Bo was a larger than life personality and stories of his antics abounded.