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More Blog posts can be found in the Blog Categories to the right.
Jun
20
Jan
02
Why do we make New Year's Resolutions? We make them every year and a couple of weeks into the new year, we're inevitably disappointed because we didn't stick to them. In fact apparently only 8% of people stick to their resolutions - mainly because we set goals that are either unobtainable or could be achieved, but when we don't see results straight away, we quit. So why do we make them in the first place?
Dec
19
As Australians gear up to summer with public holidays and end of the year/new year celebrations, it is time for focus on families and friends.
Whether you are of a Christian faith or another faith - we have a wonderful mix in Australia - or have your own ethical value system based on respect for your fellow human beings and our world, the coming holidays are a special time.
Whilst these days we tend to think of holidays are being times where we are exempted from work or normal business, the origin of the word "holiday in English was hāligdæg, meaning a holy day.
Whether you are of a Christian faith or another faith - we have a wonderful mix in Australia - or have your own ethical value system based on respect for your fellow human beings and our world, the coming holidays are a special time.
Whilst these days we tend to think of holidays are being times where we are exempted from work or normal business, the origin of the word "holiday in English was hāligdæg, meaning a holy day.
A “Holy Day” usually means a day set aside for a special purpose or remembrance and the origin of the word connected with Old English hal (see hal) meaning "health".
Holidays are healthy - for taking time out - for being thankful for what we have in our lives - especially family and friends.
What is special about this time of year under the Southern skies?
The end of one calendar year and the beginning of a new. Time to take stock, trim the old and embrace the new.
So why a "dark side"?
An end to the old and embracing the new is often symbolised by the birth of a child. Along with the joys of having a new bub, can come sadness with the loss of personal time, as well as the previous roles and pleasures as non-parents.
Other things some people have to deal with at this time of year are:
Dealing with death
Many people find the emphasis on loved ones - family and friends - especially difficult when a loved one has died.
Dealing with death
Many people find the emphasis on loved ones - family and friends - especially difficult when a loved one has died.
Dealing with loneliness
Playing 'happy families' once a year for families who are fractured, can cause more pain than pleasure.
Dealing with stress
Big holidays come with extra stress, eating and drinking too much, and extra work, especially for those with children and other dependent family members.
Dealing with debt
Of course, sometimes we spend more than we planned.
Many famlies these days are finding ways to limit the money they cannot afford to spend.
There are many ways to do this
One example is:
One example is:
- Make other love languages as important as gift giving. After all for many people, the other love languages are more important : quality time, touch/hugs, acts of service, words of affirmation.
TCN even suggests a combined group gift certificate for a Wedding Anniversary or Birthday in the new year where everyone contributes to the gift of engaging a professional celebrant to lead the occasion.
Search our TCN Directory for a TCN Celebrant near you.
Read TCN's full article on Special Holidays - The dark side of celebrating for more examples and ways to deal with some of issues mentioned above.
Remember - Holidays are meant to enrich our lives, our health and well-being.
Let's make that the focus of this special time of year.
???
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 ?.
Also please feel free to share ? our blog on your social media ? so we can spread the love ?!
Please use this ? link: https://www.celebrations.org.au/blog when you share. ?
Find us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter
Jan
30
Feb
14
What is love? The ancient Greeks called love “the madness of the gods.” Modern psychologists define it as it the strong desire for emotional union with another person. But what, actually, is love. It means so many different things to different people. Songwriters have described it, “Whenever you’re near, I hear a symphony.” Shakespeare said, “Love is blind and lovers cannot see.” Aristotle said, “Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies.” www.theanatomyoflove.com
Apr
11
Apr
24
I recently heard someone ask “What does ANZAC stand for and why is it such a big deal in Australia?” Here's the answer...
May
03
Mother is the term given to a female parent who may or may not be the biological parent. Mothers come in all shapes and sizes and are the subject of many poems words of love and thanks. Mother’s Day honours motherhood and the role of mothers. It is celebrated in over 40 countries around the world, many in March or May some aligning with Christian days of celebration. Other countries celebrate International Women’s Day to honour women rather than mothers and some such as Australia celebrate both days.
May
22
Civil Celebrants charge their own fee depending on the services they provide. There is a myth that goes around from time to time that Civil Marriage Celebrants charge from $500 for 20 minutes work. Let’s explore this myth a bit further and see where it takes us...
Mar
15
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...
Jan
13
Feb
27
We are definitely living smack bang in the middle of the digital world and technology is progressing every day. So what does that mean for us as celebrants?
Feb
21
This week's blog is bought to you by Sonia Collins, TCN Celebrant, Guest Blogger and Host of the 'Tell Me Your Story' senior's workshop, held in conjunction with the New South Wales Seniors Festival which is taking place from February 13th – 24th. Other States hold Seniors Week at different times but the purpose of these celebrations is always similar – to celebrate Seniors and to encourage them to live healthy lives filled with enjoyable activities.
Feb
07
One of the great things about Australia is our ability to embrace and adopt the spirit of other cultures. This is demonstrated every day by walking around a major city in Australia and seeing how much cultural cuisine is on offer! From Asia to Africa, Europe and the Pacific, Aussies love to eat. We are currently enjoying the Lunar new year festivities, celebrations which have grown from the traditions of a cultural minority to include a wide range of groups and shared and enjoyed by all. Here is how we can include all kinds of culture and tradition in a civil marriage ceremony...
Jan
31
Thank you to Guest Blogger, Sonia Collins from Batemans Bay in NSW... Today Sonia is talking about Australia and what a beautiful place it is to get married! There are lots of good reasons why people from overseas choose to marry in Australia. Here are just a few...
Apr
29
Throughout people’s lives, there are many good times as well as challenges and hardships, and it is how we react, how and what we feel and think, and the choices we make that can impact our journey.
Jan
17
TCN’s Social Media Guru sometimes asks for volunteers to write blogs, and I put my hand up for this one... The theme - CELEBRATING LIFE. Now, what does "Celebrating Life" mean? And to make it worse, she had added the following rider: (choose your own interpretation). So, this morning as I was lying on my back, churning through the water in the local pool, I had an epiphany………I will cover a range of life celebrations!
Jan
10
You've just proposed marriage or been propsed to, you're wearing an incredible ring and you've announced your engagment to your loved ones..... now what? Well, here begins a very exciting time of planning for you you both!
For some of you this proposal might have come as complete surprise and for others it might be the final stage to what could have been months of discussion and planning. Now that you’ve made the biggest decision - to get married, there are just a few more smaller decisions that need to be discussed and decided upon before your wedding day can be realised.
Dec
19
This time of year can be chaotic! It's the end of the year, school is nearly finished, if it hasn't already; there are end of year work parties, Christmas parties, birthday parties for those people born in December who always have to compete for a free Saturday night. You're buying presents - desparately trying to think of the right gift and battling with thousands of other people in the same boat. There's more cars on the road and less parking spaces. Some people will be having family members to stay which might mean higher levels of anxiety.
If only we could think of ways to reduce all that stress....
If only we could think of ways to reduce all that stress....
Dec
11
We have a guest blogger today - Robyn Foster "Celebrations by Robyn". Robyn gave support, along with countless others, to the Australian Marriage Equality campaign and its leaders. Here is her story...
Nov
26
Funerals and memorial services provide an opportunity for family members, friends and others to gather together to honour and remember the person who died while offering comfort and support to each other.
Planning a funeral or memorial service is a highly personal process, and your decisions will be shaped by your life experiences, your relationship to the deceased, what the deceased wanted or what you desire for yourself after you die, what you can afford, and a myriad of other factors.
Whether planned after a death occurs or beforehand arranging a funeral or memorial service often proves an emotional, and sometimes exhausting, process.
Hopefully this information will help to make that process a little easier to understand.....
Nov
20
We've all got a dream of what our ceremony is going to look like. We've all searched through Pinterest and Etsy and magazines saving the pictures that will best fit our theme. But, the more ideas you come up with - the more the budget is blown out! What if I told you that there was a way to have your cake and eat it too? Check out these thrifty ways that you can have the ceremony of your dreams and still be able to afford the Uber ride home...
Nov
14
Adopting a child is a wonderful and often long-awaited experience. Here are some ideas for welcoming the newest member of the family...
Oct
21
The 11th of November is Remembrance Day. This is the day we pay our respects to those soldiers who died in the First World War. It marks the day the war ended and at 11am on the 11th day of the 11th month we observe a minute silence to remember and think about all the people who have died in wars since. There are lots of ways to remember our loved ones after they've died - here are just a few ideas...
Sep
28
When you're planning a lovely outdoor ceremony, you would generally think of how beautiful the scenery is, how the area matches your theme or perhaps there is a sentimental reason you've picked this spot, but rarely do you think about whether or not your guests will be eaten alive by mosquitos.
Here are 7 fabulous outdoor ceremony ideas to make sure that your ceremony it's too hot, too cold or overrun by mozzies.....
Sep
28
Timing is vital on a day as important as your wedding day. It's a juggling act with numerous balls in the air, so having a well timed out schedule and sticking to it will help the day run smoothly. If you've planned correctly and timed it all out in advance then you be free of stress knowing that you've done everything you can and the rest is in the hands of 'whatever happens now is what happens'.
Here is why timing is vital to your wedding day...
Sep
10
You're planning your wedding... a naming ceremony... an anniversary ceremony, but where do you start? Where do you find your ceremony inspiration? Here are a few good places to start...
Aug
19
If you are having a marriage ceremony where it's just you, your witnesses and your celebrant, then you can pretty much choose where ever you like, but when you've asked family and friends to witness your special day, you need to take a few things into consideration when choosing the location of your ceremony...
Jul
04
We kiss people every day, and we generally know what's appropriate for each situation... but you know, the first kiss after the celebrant declares you married? The one with everyone watching as you lip lock in public with the cameras and videos working overtime. Yes, that kiss. That's not an everyday kiss that you will automatically know what to do. Today we're looking at what type of kiss is appropriate...
Sep
06
Stress is something that we all deal with on a daily basis but some situations create more stress than others. There has been a significant rise in reported cases of stress related illnesses brought on by work, education, debt and... weddings. Here are some ways you can move beyond the stress and enjoy the process...
May
28
TCN have an online stationery shop for all your celebrant needs. Hardback register folders; certificate presentation folders; stickers for embellishing your certificates; certificate envelopes, embossed certificate card in A5 & A4, badges and much more.....
Jun
04
Couples who are being married by a civil marriage celebrant can be confident because their celebrant operates under the Code of Practice for Marriage Celebrants.
The Code is compulsory. It is in legislation and celebrants who do not uphold the code can be disciplined. Let us take you through what you can expect from your celebrant...
Jun
12
"People do not die for us immediately but remain bathed in a sort of aura of life which bears no relation to true immortality but through which they continue to occupy our thoughts in the same way as when they were alive. It is as though they were traveling abroad." Marcel Proust
The death of those closest to us presents challenges not imagined, even though death is a natural part of life the sadness, grief, shock and confusion that may present itself at the time may feel like it will never go away...
Jul
18
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...
Jul
24
We have birthdays, mother's day and father's day... but what about everybody else in our family? When do we celebrate them?
Aug
13
Traditions at a wedding are very important to couples and their families because if you don't follow the traditions.... did you really just get married? The answer is yes, but to some people it can feel like you didn't do it properly if you don't include them. Here we look at some of the more popular wedding traditions and how they've morphed into a 21st century friendly version. As these are very old traditions - please forgive the lack of equality in them. Hopefully the way in which these traditions have transitioned will help to encompass all couples who wish to marry...
Mar
08
#BeBoldForChange
Think about the women in your life… you might have a mother, a daughter, a sister, a sister-in-law, a wife, an aunty, a grandmother, a granddaughter or a niece. You could be surrounded by female friends, work colleagues or neighbours.
Besides Mother’s Day and International Women’s Day how often to we acknowledge and thank the women in our lives for everything they do for us? They tend to make thankless sacrifices for us and we tend to assume that it’s simply their duty.
So with all that giving and us readily taking, perhaps it’s time that we paused just briefly to think of ways that we could return the love and support given to us?
Here are a few ways that we could give back:
Simply say “Thank you”
It doesn’t sound much does it, but to the person receiving those two little words - you’ll probably find that it means the world.
Tell them what they mean to you
We all like to feel appreciated and needed.
So what’s wrong with letting the special ladies in your life know?
So what’s wrong with letting the special ladies in your life know?
Leave them alone!
Sometimes the women in our lives, who do so much for us, just want a bit of time and space for themselves. Make an environment where they can do that - guilt free.
Make time for your female friends
That’s right ladies, I’m not just aiming these tips at men and children….. women need to look out for other women as well.
Throw a party
Just because women should be celebrated!
Support their ideas and their personal goals
Knowing that your loved ones are right there beside you, encouraging you to follow your dreams is very important.
For more information about events and activities going on for International Women’s Day, check out their website -
https://www.internationalwomensday.com
https://www.internationalwomensday.com
Their slogan this year is #BeBoldForChange
To find a TCN Celebrant to help you create an amazing celebration for the women in your life. Click here.
* _____________________________________ *
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 "a href="/blog"><strong>subscribe</strog></a>" button is up the top of the page ⇞⇞⇞ and the blog will magically ?? appear in your email inbox ?.
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Also please feel free to share ? our blog on your social media ? so we can spread the love ?!
Please use this ? link: https://www.celebrations.org.au/blog when you share. ?
Dec
02
Surviving an Australian Summer
Australia is a pretty big place - 7.692 million km² to be exact. We cross 25 degrees of longitude and 35 degrees of latitude as well as three timezones - so we're spread pretty wide - which means that we have a number of different climates.
In our south and mountainous areas, it can get super chilly in the winter, whereas in our north the same months see temperatures around the 30s. In the summer months, all over the country can see dehydratingly high temperatures, whilst the far north experiences tropical monsoonal rains.
In more recent years we've noticed that the hotter months seem to be happening a bit later and typically dry times of the year are seeing lots of rain - which means that we can no longer plan our ceremonies with any certainty that we're going to get what we hoped for.
Just this week - a December weekend in Victoria - historically a dry time of the year, has seen devastating rain and flash flooding - possibly not what most people thought would happen when they planned their ceremony 12-18 months ago.
In our south and mountainous areas, it can get super chilly in the winter, whereas in our north the same months see temperatures around the 30s. In the summer months, all over the country can see dehydratingly high temperatures, whilst the far north experiences tropical monsoonal rains.
In more recent years we've noticed that the hotter months seem to be happening a bit later and typically dry times of the year are seeing lots of rain - which means that we can no longer plan our ceremonies with any certainty that we're going to get what we hoped for.
Just this week - a December weekend in Victoria - historically a dry time of the year, has seen devastating rain and flash flooding - possibly not what most people thought would happen when they planned their ceremony 12-18 months ago.
Here are some ideas to help you survive a summer ceremony in Australia
(and strangely enough, they won't all be about the sun!)
(and strangely enough, they won't all be about the sun!)
1. Provide shelter.
Most adult guests will be able to make up their own mind as to what to wear to your ceremony - however, not everyone will want to put a hat on over their new 'do' and carrying an umbrella might be a hindrance - so to make sure your guests are comfortable from the time that they arrive and are waiting for you to arrive all the way through to when they can head to your reception - offer shelter. It might be an inside ceremony, under a marquee, umbrellas, hats, sunnies or even hiring palm leaf swishers. Offering shelter will be much appreciated..... nobody wants to sit in the sun sweating or indeed stand in the rain, especially if they've made an effort to look fabulous for your special day.
2. Offer refreshments
Iced mint water, a lemonade stand, mimosas.... it will be very much appreciated.
3. Have a Plan B
Even if you don't to use it, it's peace of mind to have it at the ready should the meteorologists deliver unwanted news on the weekend of your ceremony. A big percentage of couples state, "It's going to be a beautiful day. We won't need a Plan B." To those couples, I say, "Please listen to your celebrant/wedding planner/friends/venue manager when we suggest to you that you need to have a Plan B." We promise not to say "I told you so" when the sky opens up.
4. Consider how far you are asking your guests to walk
Your dream ceremony location may not suit the guests you've invited. Can Nana walk all that way down the sand dune? Do you think Pop can climb up the side of that mountain? Will the people wearing high heels appreciate having to walk across that field? Does anybody want to walk 2kms in the heat/rain?
5. Consider the time of day
The majority of ceremonies are held in the afternoon and this is understandable - people want to use the morning to get ready or travel and they'd like their ceremony to flow straight into their evening reception, whilst taking advantage of dusk for great photo light..... but you don't have to do it this way - consider making your ceremony later in the day when it's cooler, just before the sun goes down... great light, cooler, happier guests.
5. Offer your guests sunscreen & mozzie repellent
..... and burn some citronella or spray some essential oil magic to keep the bugs away.
6. Wear appropriate outfits
If you have had your heart set on a large, puffy, lots of material wedding dress, and 3 piece suits.... then perhaps the beach isn't the ideal setting for you. Sand is not designed to be walked on in shoes (especially heels) and heavy, layered outfits are not designed to be worn in the blazing sun. Always think "Comfort! Comfort! Comfort!" This goes for your guests as well - set an appropriate dress code for your guests so they know it's ok to kick off the heels for the ceremony.
7. Check the weather
There are a number of Apps where you can easily check the weather the week before giving you plenty of time to be prepared. Willy Weather gives you information on the temperature, rainfall, wind, sunrise/sunset, UV index and tides - all essential things to know about when planning an outdoor (beach) ceremony.
8. Know the weather in your area
Being able to check the weather is great, but having a bit of knowledge about the weather (especially the wind) in your area can be crucial to the planning process. And if you're holding your ceremony in a different location from where you live - ask your celebrant - they'll know.
Studies have shown that the ideal temperature for people to be able to focus and take in what is being said is 22 degrees, so if you want your guests to be mentally present at your ceremony, then strive for the ideal climate, anyway you can.
???
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 ?.
Also please feel free to share ? our blog on your social media ? so we can spread the love ?!
Please use this ? link: https://www.celebrations.org.au/blog when you share. ?
Find us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter
Most adult guests will be able to make up their own mind as to what to wear to your ceremony - however, not everyone will want to put a hat on over their new 'do' and carrying an umbrella might be a hindrance - so to make sure your guests are comfortable from the time that they arrive and are waiting for you to arrive all the way through to when they can head to your reception - offer shelter. It might be an inside ceremony, under a marquee, umbrellas, hats, sunnies or even hiring palm leaf swishers. Offering shelter will be much appreciated..... nobody wants to sit in the sun sweating or indeed stand in the rain, especially if they've made an effort to look fabulous for your special day.
2. Offer refreshments
Iced mint water, a lemonade stand, mimosas.... it will be very much appreciated.
3. Have a Plan B
Even if you don't to use it, it's peace of mind to have it at the ready should the meteorologists deliver unwanted news on the weekend of your ceremony. A big percentage of couples state, "It's going to be a beautiful day. We won't need a Plan B." To those couples, I say, "Please listen to your celebrant/wedding planner/friends/venue manager when we suggest to you that you need to have a Plan B." We promise not to say "I told you so" when the sky opens up.
4. Consider how far you are asking your guests to walk
Your dream ceremony location may not suit the guests you've invited. Can Nana walk all that way down the sand dune? Do you think Pop can climb up the side of that mountain? Will the people wearing high heels appreciate having to walk across that field? Does anybody want to walk 2kms in the heat/rain?
5. Consider the time of day
The majority of ceremonies are held in the afternoon and this is understandable - people want to use the morning to get ready or travel and they'd like their ceremony to flow straight into their evening reception, whilst taking advantage of dusk for great photo light..... but you don't have to do it this way - consider making your ceremony later in the day when it's cooler, just before the sun goes down... great light, cooler, happier guests.
5. Offer your guests sunscreen & mozzie repellent
..... and burn some citronella or spray some essential oil magic to keep the bugs away.
6. Wear appropriate outfits
If you have had your heart set on a large, puffy, lots of material wedding dress, and 3 piece suits.... then perhaps the beach isn't the ideal setting for you. Sand is not designed to be walked on in shoes (especially heels) and heavy, layered outfits are not designed to be worn in the blazing sun. Always think "Comfort! Comfort! Comfort!" This goes for your guests as well - set an appropriate dress code for your guests so they know it's ok to kick off the heels for the ceremony.
7. Check the weather
There are a number of Apps where you can easily check the weather the week before giving you plenty of time to be prepared. Willy Weather gives you information on the temperature, rainfall, wind, sunrise/sunset, UV index and tides - all essential things to know about when planning an outdoor (beach) ceremony.
8. Know the weather in your area
Being able to check the weather is great, but having a bit of knowledge about the weather (especially the wind) in your area can be crucial to the planning process. And if you're holding your ceremony in a different location from where you live - ask your celebrant - they'll know.
Studies have shown that the ideal temperature for people to be able to focus and take in what is being said is 22 degrees, so if you want your guests to be mentally present at your ceremony, then strive for the ideal climate, anyway you can.
???
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 ?.
Also please feel free to share ? our blog on your social media ? so we can spread the love ?!
Please use this ? link: https://www.celebrations.org.au/blog when you share. ?
Find us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter
Nov
30
Celebrating Life
Throughout our lives there are many milestones that we traditionally celebrate... birthdays, coming of age, weddings, anniversaries, etc... and we celebrate them because in doing so we gain a sense of belonging and achievement, like we've reached a goal, we've finally arrived at a particular stage of our lives.
We made it!
Celebrating these special moments in our lives can give us a special sense of meaning and happiness.....
... but what about all the other moments that don't get the same social recognition?
What about the wonderful moments inbetween those big events?
Throughout our lives there are many milestones that we traditionally celebrate... birthdays, coming of age, weddings, anniversaries, etc... and we celebrate them because in doing so we gain a sense of belonging and achievement, like we've reached a goal, we've finally arrived at a particular stage of our lives.
We made it!
Celebrating these special moments in our lives can give us a special sense of meaning and happiness.....
... but what about all the other moments that don't get the same social recognition?
What about the wonderful moments inbetween those big events?
A beautiful sunrise
That job prmotion
A perfectly still ocean
Your indoor netball granfinal win
Your favourite bottle of wine is on sale
Funny cat photos and videos
A fresh new notebook
Reading the papers on a Sunday
Making somebody laugh
A cool breeze on a hot day
Freshly cut flowers
Getting the USB plug in the right way first go
Successfully using chopsticks
Each of us will have our own list of little moments that fill in the space between the big events and each and every one of them should be celebrated.
Some moments in life are meant to be celebrated publicly, with family, friends and sometimes with a celebrant.....
.... and other moments are meant for us to simply enjoy on our own.
If you'd like to speak to a TCN Celebrant about any moment you'd like to celebrate - Click Here
???
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 ?.
Also please feel free to share ? our blog on your social media ? so we can spread the love ?!
Please use this ? link: https://www.celebrations.org.au/blog when you share. ?
Find us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter
???
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 ?.
Also please feel free to share ? our blog on your social media ? so we can spread the love ?!
Please use this ? link: https://www.celebrations.org.au/blog when you share. ?
Find us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter
Nov
22
Sticking to a budget
Planning a wedding, or any festive celebration can be a pricey affair, but there are ways around it so that you don't have to remortgage your house or sell an organ on Ebay. The best way is to set a budget and to stick to it.
There have been surveys done that show people are spending an average of $30,000 on a wedding day. Obviously there are people who spend way more than that and if that's what they want to do and they can afford it, then good on them - go crazy. However, if you'd prefer to spend your well earned money on something else... a house, a car, a holiday, your kids, whatever.... then a budget is the way to go.
ABC Article - How much do weddings really cost
ABC Article - How much do weddings really cost
In the past we have written blog posts with ideas on how to have a gorgeous backyard wedding on a budget, so searching for ideas on ways to save is a great start.
Here's a TCN member's blog post about budget wedding ideas
Here's a TCN member's blog post about budget wedding ideas
Next, make a list up of all the things you'd like or that you think you have to have at a wedding, then put them into two lists:
1. the things you definitely can't live without and 2. the things you can.
1. the things you definitely can't live without and 2. the things you can.
Things like:
the designer dress.....the huge bridal party.....the trillions of guests.....the venue/location.....the open bar.....the vintage cars - [which I think are really cool... but It's not me who is paying].....the hens/bucks nights/bridal shower/kitchen tea/etc....the flowers .....the DJ/Live band.....the cake.
Then while you're looking at that list and trying to convince your partner that you really can't live without those designer shoes try and remember what the day is actually about. It's about the two of you pledging your love to each other and getting married.....
and you won't be any less married if you aren't wearing those Manolo Blahniks.
Tips to sticking with a budget:
1.
do your homework
do your homework
2.
write everything down
write everything down
3.
be in agreement with each other about it and discuss any changes
be in agreement with each other about it and discuss any changes
4.
Ask a third party to be your voice of reason
Ask a third party to be your voice of reason
5.
Keep a picture of your ultimate goal for after the wedding ie: holiday destination, house or car up on the fridge or near your computer to keep you motivated not to spend all your savings on this one day.
Keep a picture of your ultimate goal for after the wedding ie: holiday destination, house or car up on the fridge or near your computer to keep you motivated not to spend all your savings on this one day.
When it comes to your cermeony - marriage, commitment, vow renewal, naming or any other life event you're celebrating, speak to a TCN Celebrant
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