▷ SUSS ME OUT
After confirming that I’m available for your date, let's have a super chill, zero-obligation chinwag over Zoom. This brief informal chat is mainly to see if we naturally vibe as I reckon there's nothing more important when it comes to sharing such a precious, unrepeatable moment in your life. While I’m not the celebrant for everyone, that’s totally cool and in fact how it ought to be since I’d rather be one couple’s shot of Fireball than every couple’s cup of tea.
▷ LOCK ME IN
If your guts say yes, you’ll lock me in with my booking fee and gain access to the Secret Portal on this website. It’s a treasure trove of inspiration and options for each part of the ceremony format as you know it. I’ve put this together for you to explore and ponder at your own pace, and to take or leave as you wish.
From our first g'day to the big day, we can chat anytime you like.
▷ THREE - FOUR MONTHS OUT
(or ASAP if your wedding is sooner)
We’ll catch up for a second, more in-depth meeting where I can really get to know the two of you. Face to face is best if you're local or happy to venture to Lara or Geelong! We’ll knock off some riveting paperwork (aka. the NOIM), nut out your ceremony specifics, and chat/laugh/cry together about any nervy or tricky wedding things. Or maybe there won’t be any such things. I’m here either way.
Just as I’m here to be your vows sidekick, offering individual help to start, structure, or proofread those special words if either of you need in the coming weeks.
▷ THE FINAL FORTNIGHT
I recommend we touch base for a third time within the fortnight before your wedding for a brief final run-through on Zoom, which I do in lieu of a physical rehearsal. This chat, combined with our on-the-day chats, is for confirming some practical things, reminding you of what's to come, reassuring you about any uncertainties, but mostly for getting you extra pumped! Importantly, there's truly nothing I expect you to remember when you're up there on the day - all you need to do is trust that I'll be smoothly guiding both of you in the moment, every step of the way.
By this point, I'll have woven the best bits of the info you've shared with me (largely via separate, secret questionnaire responses) into a ceremony that thoughtfully balances heart, humour, flavour, and 'you'-ness. I don't share the script with any of my couples before the day so trust is a must. But if being surprised in this moment sounds swell to you, I do believe your experience will be all the more magic because of it. Completely understand if couples feel unsure about this aspect; if so, there are plenty of terrific celebrants I can recommend whose script process will be a better fit than myself.
▷ ON THE DAY
I’ll arrive on site an hour before your ceremony starts because there’s a thing or two I’d like to do: I’ll set up and sound-check my PA, befriend your other profesh folk, and give each of you a final hug and a ‘you’ve got this!’. Then with the atmosphere on point, we’ll kick off your ceremony. If I've done my job right, you’ll both giggle and sniffle... organically, because the exact words spoken will be fresh to your ears. You'll be smiling not just because there's a camera snapping but because you'll be genuinely enjoying yourselves. And then best of all, without yawns or eye-rolls, you’ll find yourself married.
▷ AFTER THE HITCHING
I’ll lodge your paperwork with Births Deaths and Marriages to officially register your marriage.
I'll send you a follow-up email including how to apply for your BDM marriage certificate if required. This is a separate legal document (different from the Commonwealth marriage certificate you take home on the wedding day) and it's what you'll need if you choose to change your name. BDM currently charges $55.80 + postage for it. Once you've ordered it, it will then come in the mail after BDM processes everything (typically 4-6 weeks post-wedding).
You’ll be relishing your state of newlywed bliss but I’ll be almost as chuffed as you... because I got to be part of something as special as your marriage.