Jess Stanley

As an actor and writer, I'm in a pretty good position to provide you with a confident, well-spoken and quick-thinking celebrant. Want help writing your vows or just someone to glance over them? No problem. Want your ceremony to be a lil bit funny and silly? Fab. Want it to be as quick and painless as possible? No dramas. I really enjoy meeting with couples and hearing about their story so far, so that I can ensure your ceremony matches your tastes, wishes and needs. In short, even though I'm a Leo, I'll make sure your ceremony is all about YOU.

I'm based in Naarm/Melbourne, and can travel to regional Victoria for an extra travel fee.

Why I'm a celebrant: Why did I become a celebrant? Well, it was a long-term goal of mine, so when I stood beside my bestie as she got married to the love of her life in 2019, I knew that I wanted to help other couples have the most magical ceremony possible that truly highlights the uniqueness and depth of their love story. I also know that my strengths include listening, speaking, performing, writing, and being empathetic; I wanted to find a way to combine these skills into something that would give back to the community. So, here we are!

Treasured memories: The first wedding I solemnised was for a couple that I met while working at one of my day jobs. I was serving them at the counter and we got chatting while I was wrapping a gift; she referred to the man as her fiancé, so I asked a couple of questions about their wedding (which was coming up very quickly) before saying something like, "Oh I don't mean to be nosey, I'm a celebrant so I love to hear about weddings!". They practically LUNGED at me and asked if I was free that day because they hadn't found a celebrant yet. We met up for cheese and wine a few weeks later and it felt like sitting with old friends. They even invited me to join them for dinner with their mates afterwards! It was such a special experience, having met them organically and getting to know them so well before the ceremony. I didn't think I was the kind of person that loved meeting strangers, but...I LOVE the feeling of walking away from meeting a new couple and having shared a little bit of our lives together.

Tips : I'm a HUGE advocate for couples writing their own personal vows! Remember, people don't tune into your ceremony to listen to your celebrant. They want to hear from you. Whether you're petrified of speaking about your love publicly and just come up with two sentences, or have been waiting for this moment to shine your entire life and have a five page essay ready to go, it all works!

and I'd like to say: It can be hard to gauge a personality online. So here's my honest self-assessment: I’m warm, open and friendly, and I’m an excellent listener. I’m creative and grounded, with just a touch of quirkiness. I’m organised and tidy, but also a little bit of a prankster. I’m not the loudest person in the room or the quietest - that’s to say, I don’t think anyone would ever walk away from meeting me and think, “Wow, she’s a bit much, isn’t she?” or “Geez, where did she hide her personality?”.

As a celebrant, I get that the day isn’t about me. It’s about the two of you and the commitment you’re making. When I solemnise a marriage, I ensure that the ceremony is focussed on you and your relationship, and try to let the humour come out through the stories about the two of you, rather than me trying to be a stand-up comedian and get laughs for the sake of laughs. In other words, I’ll be there to spotlight the two of you, not myself. I’d say that my ceremonies are a chilled out mix of cheeky, romantic and sincere. I won’t bore your guests with endless droning and I won’t nervously rush through the moment, either. Not to mention, I love a theme or dress up.