Along with all the excitement of planning a wedding, many couples like to consider the impact of their event on the environment as well as on their budget.
Recently, The Celebrants Network Inc received a copy of an article from 77 Diamonds, a London based jeweller, with a request to share their ideas about sustainable weddings with our readers.
Christmas, New Year and Valentine’s Day have come and gone but he didn’t propose. All is not lost!
Once every four years it is not only OK, it is actually expected that women will ask their partner to marry them. So what’s the story here? What makes this year and particularly Saturday 29 February 2020 so special? The Celebrants Network's Celebrant - Sonia Collins from Batemans Bay is going to tell us...
When a couple’s pets are their fur-babies it is natural to want to include them in any family celebration. The Celebrants Network member, Sonia Collins takes us through the pros and cons of including your pet in your ceremony.
Best Mate/Man
As I walked through the supermarket today I noticed the pumpkins and other goodies ready for the annual Halloween celebrations. The modern rituals of Halloween - carving the pumpkins into lanterns, dressing up as ghosts and witches and trick or treating are now very common in Australia but not many people are aware of the origins.
TCN Celebrant and today's guest and regular blogger Sonia Collins from Batemans Bay, NSW talks about the Remembering Our Loved Ones.
HALLOWEEN ARTICLE
Tuesday 17th September was Citizenship Day in Australia. The Australian Government established Citizenship Day in 2001 as a day when all Australians could celebrate their Australian citizenship. Today's blog is wriiten by TCN celebrant Sonia Collins from Batemans Bay, NSW
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
There are lots of reasons to consider avoiding the "wedding season" in the middle of summer. Venues and suppliers may be easier to find (and possibly cheaper). Your wedding date won't clash with all your friends who are getting married this year. Initially you may find that you get some negative feedback as people think about standing in the cold wind for your ceremony or driving to your reception on a dark rainy night. So here are a few tips to make a winter wedding a great success...
Guest - Rich Catering
Indoor wedding ceremonies grea...
How are you going to celebrate your new baby and welcome her or him into your family and community? For some couples the answer is easy - baby will be welcomed into their Church family, probably with the same ceremony that was used for the parents years before, and there will often be a family party to celebrate the occasion.
There is an alternative available for couples who prefer not to have a religious ceremony - a Naming or Name-giving ceremony conducted by a Civil Celebrant. This personalised ceremony can be held in any location the parents choose - a park or garden, in a home, at a hall or restaurant - wherever suits your plans. Baby can be welcomed in to the family or the wider friendship group in a beautiful ceremony that reflects the beliefs and wishes of the parents. If you want to you can include some religious content such as a prayer or blessing. Older siblings can participate in various ways, the parents might choose friends or family members to be mentors/guardians/guide parents/godparents to the baby. Music and poetry or stories will probably be included.
There are more ideas here
Celebrants from the The Celebrants Network can help you by creating and delivering a beautiful and memorable ceremony to welcome your baby into the world.
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?
The recent stormy weather meant that one of my couples had to make a last minute change to their wedding venue. As you can see from the photo, the decorators quickly adapted their planned headland setup to make a beautiful indoor setting for the arrival of the bridal party.
I love doing ceremonies on the beautiful beaches and headlands of the Eurobodalla area and the rain stopped long enough for this couple to get fabulous pictures after the ceremony. Kyla Hall at Tuross Head however provided a perfect setting for the ceremony and everyone was dry and comfortable.
