Are you getting married in Australia? Do you or your partner have limited English language skills? Are you or your partner hearing impaired? What about the two people you've chosen to be your official witnesses? Perhaps you have guests coming to your ceremony who don't understand English or are hearing impaired? There are a number of reasons why you might need to engage an interpreter or a translator when you are getting married....
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More Blog posts can be found in the Blog Categories to the right.
Jun
02
May
19
When you get married in Australia the law is that you must give notice in writing by way of lodging a Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM) form with your celebrant/registry office/clergy at least one (1) month prior to your ceremony date. You can lodge your NOIM up to 18 months beforehand... but why the one month wait? Celebrant Shell Brown takes us through the ins and outs of a Shortening of Time.
May
12
I just got engaged.... what do I do now? This is a common question asked by many a couple getting married for the first time, and in fact, it is still asked by people on their second and third time around. Getting married is not an everyday occurrence, so it's not a natural thing where people simply 'know' what to do. Celebrant Shell Brown walks us through the process...
Apr
06
When you meet with your celebrant before your marriage ceremony, they will hand you a brochure called "Happily Ever Before and After" which gives you information about what happens after you're married and also includes information about relationship counselling and marriage education. Have you considered seeking relationship assistance? If so, great.... if not, why not? Today's blog has been written by Celebrant Shell Brown from Geraldton, WA.
Nov
11
It is very easy to get overwhelmed during your wedding planning, so the first thing you need to decide is are you having a wedding or are you gettng married? Celebrant Melanie Lawson from Oberon, NSW explains why your wedding isn't a competition.
Nov
29
Oct
07
Planning a wedding can be an exciting time, but before you dive in, there are some important legal requirements that you should be aware of before you set about making your love legal.
Sep
21
Should you write your own wedding vows? For so many couples, this is not an easy question to answer... but never fear, Celebrant Melissa Jones from Goulburn, NSW is helping us to navigate through.
Sep
02
Well... Congratulations! You have just got engaged, you might be wearing shiny new rings, and you have a wedding to plan. Celebrant Leslie Ridgeway is going to take you through the basics of getting married.
Jun
03
In Australia, any two people over the age of 18 can marry provided they are not already married, not in a prohibited relationship and they give real consent. They do not need to be citizens or residents of Australia and they can choose any time and place for their marriage ceremony. Celebrant and member of The Celebrants Network Sonia Collins from Batemans Bay NSW discusses how celebrants are legally required to be sure that both parties consent to the marriage.
Jan
21
Ever wondered why a bride used to wear a veil or carries flowers to the marriage ceremony? Celebrant Susie Roberts takes us through some well-known wedding traditions, and the history behind them...
Nov
25
Wednesday 25 November is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. Celebrant Sonia Collins from Batemans Bay, NSW looks at Forced Marriages and why the issue of consent is so important in relation to marriage.
Oct
29
Weddings today reflect the wishes of the couple. They may be held in any venue at any time or on any day. Your choice might be a beautiful building, a garden, a boat, a forest or beach. Apart from some legal requirements you can structure the ceremony however you wish. Even though weddings are becoming more modernised, many couples still like to keep the traditional structure of a wedding ceremony, so Celebrant Shell Brown is talking us through the tradition order of ceremony...
Sep
23
If you are planning a wedding in Australia you have probably given a beach wedding at least a passing thought. Celebrant Sonia Collins from Batemans Bay, NSW gives us a few things to consider to make sure your day is amazing....
Sep
09
Our lives are constantly changing and evolving. This is inevitable. So why do we think that once we get married - that's it, we don't have to try to keep connecting with our partner? A marriage is a union of two separate people who will face personal challenges that may differ from their partners, so it's important that we continue to learn about each other....
Sep
26
It's Time! Spring equinox 23rd September 2017
It's officially spring....
the flowers are blooming...
new life is emerging....
It's officially spring....
the flowers are blooming...
new life is emerging....
Aug
23
Are you one of the many couples finding that you need to change your wedding plans because of the coronavirus? The reality of travel restrictions as well as those on ceremonies and wedding receptions means making some decisions. Luckily we have Celebrant and Chairperson of The Celebrants Network - Sonia Collins at the ready to give some suggestions...
Jul
03
Feb
27
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...
May
27
Today's blog is the Part 2 of Writing your own vows - the final instalment written by TCN Celebrant, author and guest blogger, Susanna Jose from Canberra, ACT.
May
22
Writing your own marriage vows? Not sure where to begin? Today's blog is the first of two parts - written by TCN Celebrant, author and today's guest blogger, Susanna Jose from Canberra, ACT.
Apr
29
Underage marriage is a sensitive and complex issue that affects communities around the world. This issue impacts on women and girls who marry at a young age and often without giving consent. Our guest blogger, TCN Celebrant Melanie Lawson - takes us through the stats and legalities of underage and forced marriage...
Apr
11
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...
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
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.
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...
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...
Oct
03
Why would I want to know about
relationship education?
Today’s blog starts off with a legal note about the rules that are set out in the Marriage Act (and the Guidelines to the Act) for all Commonwealth Registered Civil Celebrants. 
To quote “As soon as practicable after receiving the NOIM, an authorised celebrant must give the parties a document outlining the obligations and consequences of marriage (subsection 42(5A) of the Marriage Act). This document has been approved by the Attorney‑General in the form of a brochure entitled Happily Ever Before and After, and indicates the availability of marriage education and counselling and other important legal matters concerning marriage.
A notation of the giving of the document should be made by the authorised celebrant in the appropriate space on the reverse side of the NOIM. If the space is left blank it will indicate that the authorised celebrant has not fulfilled their obligations.” 
And, yes there is more with the Code of Practice stating “ Item 6 requires Commonwealth-registered marriage celebrants to maintain up-to-date knowledge about the range of information and services designed to enhance and sustain marrying couples throughout their relationship, not just in the period immediately preceding the marriage ceremony. Commonwealth-registered marriage celebrants must also inform marrying couples about this range of services. Meeting this obligation requires ongoing action by Commonwealth-registered marriage celebrants. The family relationship services available in their area should be reviewed by them annually at least to ensure the information they provide to marrying couples is up-to-date.” So, what do all of these legal words mean? 
Your Commonwealth Registered Marriage Celebrant is legally required to give a copy of “Happily Ever Before and After” to both the bride and groom as soon as practicable after receiving your Notice of Intended Marriage.
This handy brochure outlines some points that you might need to consider:
- Health and welfare benefits
- Changing your name
- Citizenship
- Making a Will
- Taxation after Marriage
- Before Marriage : Marriage Education
- During Marriage : Family Counselling
- Marriage Breakdown : Dispute Resolution.
This brochure has also been translated into a variety of different languages if English is not your first language. Your celebrant can obtain a copy for you very quickly as they are also available in PDF format. The brochure also provides information about the Family Relationships Online Website and Advice Line.
The other important part of the legal requirements for all Commonwealth Registered Marriage Celebrants, is that your celebrant must keep up to date with information about the local Family And Marriage Counsellors in your area, and should provide you with a list of these practitioners at the time that they give you your copies of “Happily Ever Before and After”.
Relationship Education and Counselling has gotten a bad rap over the years, with people thinking it is only for couples who are heading for the divorce court.
However, Relationship Education prior to your wedding can highlight all the good parts of your relationship where you are really compatible, and tease out the areas that you might need to work on, and let’s be truthful, every married couple has a handful of these.
Most counseling is done in a relaxed setting, with lots of talking, lots of laughter, lots of agreement, lots of ah-ha moments and lots to take home to discuss.
Counseling Services in your area can support you before getting married and throughout your marriage if tricky issues become sticking points, and they offer a safe space to discuss the myriad of concerns that every married couple has over the years, especially in this fast paced, high stress society.
Counseling is no guarantee, but it can provide a solid framework of understanding for your marriage to grow.
Click here if you'd like to speak to a TCN Celebrant about getting married or obtaining more information about Relationship services in your area.
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Jul
11
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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There is a comment section ? at the bottom ⬇ of the blog for you to do just that.
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Jun
29
Should we get Married in Summer or Winter?
Summer Weddings versus Winter weddings
When and where to hold your wedding are probably two of the biggest choices you will make and they go hand in hand.
Do you want a balmy summer day so that you can get married outdoors?
or
Do you prefer a cosy intimate celebration centred around a roaring fire?
When and where to hold your wedding are probably two of the biggest choices you will make and they go hand in hand.
Do you want a balmy summer day so that you can get married outdoors?
or
Do you prefer a cosy intimate celebration centred around a roaring fire?
In Australia the majority of weddings take place in Spring and Summer with only 5% of marriages taking place in June and July.
However both have their positives and negatives so let's look at some of the factors that may influence your decision:
Weather:
How do you picture your dream wedding... exchanging vows with a beautiful sunset in the background or a roaring fire? Points to consider about the weather:
Weather:
How do you picture your dream wedding... exchanging vows with a beautiful sunset in the background or a roaring fire? Points to consider about the weather:
* In summer you need to plan for excessive weather changes such as rain or extreme heat.
* In winter you know it is going to be cold so you and your guests can dress accordingly.
* In summer you may have daylight saving so longer hours to enjoy the sunshine.
* In winter the shorter days may dictate the time of your wedding.
The Wedding Dress:
How have you pictured your wedding dress… sleeveless, backless, light and summery, long sleeved? Although the time of year may not influence your choice of wedding dress you will need to consider some extras for a winter wedding such a shawl or jacket and it is not always easy getting it to match your dream wedding dress. And don’t forget your bridesmaids who will feel the cold a lot more than you as they don’t have the same amount of adrenalin to keep them warm, so will need extra clothes. The amount of clothing is much less for a summer wedding.
How have you pictured your wedding dress… sleeveless, backless, light and summery, long sleeved? Although the time of year may not influence your choice of wedding dress you will need to consider some extras for a winter wedding such a shawl or jacket and it is not always easy getting it to match your dream wedding dress. And don’t forget your bridesmaids who will feel the cold a lot more than you as they don’t have the same amount of adrenalin to keep them warm, so will need extra clothes. The amount of clothing is much less for a summer wedding.
How Quickly do you want to get Married?:
How quickly you want to get married after your engagement may determine the season in which you marry.
How quickly you want to get married after your engagement may determine the season in which you marry.
* It is far easier to book many of the wedding vendors at short notice in winter. Popular venues and photographers are booked well in advance for a summer wedding. There is greater availability and choice in winter.
* It is often cheaper to book popular vendors in winter because prices become negotiable as they are less busy. In summer you may need to pay a premium for the more popular vendors.
Flowers:
Do you want your favourite flowers for your bouquet? Flowers are seasonal so the prices will vary a lot depending whether they are in season or need to be imported. If you are happy to use only seasonal flowers you have a greater choice in summer than in winter.
Do you want your favourite flowers for your bouquet? Flowers are seasonal so the prices will vary a lot depending whether they are in season or need to be imported. If you are happy to use only seasonal flowers you have a greater choice in summer than in winter.
Practicalities:
Practicalities include all the extra little things that need to be considered for a wedding.
Practicalities include all the extra little things that need to be considered for a wedding.
* In summer that would include providing shade for your guests for the ceremony, lots of cool drinks, umbrellas on hand for sun or rain and an indoor alternative venue for rain or sun.
* In winter that would include hats, gloves, shawls, warm drinks and an outdoor alternative if its a nice sunny winter day.
Whether you choose summer or winter there will always be a TCN Celebrant free to perform your ceremony so contact your local TCN Celebrant now.
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?? We would love it if you would let us know what you think ?.
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???
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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Mar
15
Some people think that a marriage and a wedding go hand in hand.... well, they do - but really, they don't.
Yes, you have a wedding because you are getting married, but you don't (or you shouldn't) get married because you want a wedding.
It's vital not to lose sight of what is important.
A wedding can take an extraordinary amount of planning and can test your ability to deal with stress, your organisational skills and possibly your patience, but that's about all. At the end of the day, yes you'll be married (assuming you've remembered to book a civil celebrant), but throwing a successful wedding party doesn't mean that you have a successful marriage - not yet anyway.
A marriage takes work and it takes time. Years of nurturing your relationship where you treat each other with equality, respect and kindness. Marriage is supporting each other through the great and the not so great times. Marriage may force you to assess and re-evaluate some of your choices. It may also be a constant reminder that there is another person that you need to consider. It's being able to communicate with your partner effectively and working out ways to live together harmoniously. It's creating strategies to deal with conflict and disagreements.
So why do we put such a massive emphasis on the wedding day?
We follow traditions about what we should wear and what our friends should wear. We make sure that everything is colour coordinated, we adhere to the prescribed formulae so the day is perfect and a lot of us are throwing big $$$$ dollars at this one day.
Does the most expensive wedding = the best marriage?
Does getting the colour scheme wrong = a marriage failure?
Does bucking traditions = not a real marriage?
No.
A marriage is a lifelong partnership and a wedding is the one day you choose to celebrate the beginning of that marriage.
Which ever way you choose to celebrate your marriage is totally ok - there's no judgement here, however be mindful of what is actually more important to you - the marriage or the wedding.
To find a TCN Celebrant to help you create an amazing celebration for what is sure to be a wonderful marriage - Click here.
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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.
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Nov
23
The History of the Bridal Party
During the "marriage by capture" era, close friends of the groom helped him to kidnap the bride from her family. The first groomsmen were more like a small army, fighting off the bride's angry relatives as the groom rode away with her on his horse.
Bridesmaids and maids of honour became more common when weddings were planned. For several days before the marriage, a senior maid attended to the bride. This maid or matron of honour, as we know her today, ensured that the bridal wreath was made and helped the bride get dressed.
For a long time, bridesmaids wore dresses much like the bride's gown, while the groomsmen dressed in clothing that was similar to the groom's attire. This tradition began for protection against evil rather than for uniformity; if evil spirits or jealous suitors attempted to harm the newlyweds, they would be confused as to which two people were the real bride and groom.
Over time this tradition has morphed into inviting a small number of your nearest and dearest to help you plan your special day and to carry out that plan on the day. Special responsibilities are given to the bridal party, for example: bridesmaids will go with the bride to chose outfits and have a number of beauty treatments whilst the groomsmen pick their outfits and sometimes engage in a group activity like go carting or golf.
Then on the day, they are given responsibilities such as: the Best Man holds the rings, the Maid of Honour holds the bouquet; the groomsmen hand out ceremony programs and the bridesmaids are in charge of making sure that the train on the bride’s dress is sufficiently fanned and that the flower girls are looked after.
And they are all responsible for arranging buck’s and hen’s events.
So, do I actually need to have a bridal party?
The short answer is no - there is no legal reason to have a bridal party. However some people do like to have their closest buddies around them on their special day, sharing in the moment and helping them prepare, but it is not a prerequisite for getting married. A civil marriage ceremony only requires you and your partner, your celebrant and your two witnesses - everybody else is there to watch and help you celebrate.
Some 'pros' to having a bridal party
You get to share the shopping with your besties, you have access to honest advice throughout, hen’s/buck’s parties are more fun with more than one person there! If you are feeling a bit stressed on the day, your best man is there to talk you through it and your bridesmaids are at the ready with the touch up lippy. Group photos are great fun and you have your best friends sharing your most special day with you from woe to go.
Some 'cons' that come with having a bridal party
Sometimes having a bridal party can be a bit of a drama. Before there was just you and your fiancé to think about, now you have a MOH a BM, 4 BMs and 5 GMs - Then you are plagued with questions: Is it going to look awkward if the numbers are uneven? Do you invite somebody just to fill the numbers? Will asking my 2 year old niece to be a flower girl balance the numbers out even though she won’t know why she’s there or even remember the day? What colours will they wear? Will they all were the same? My girlfriends are all different shapes and sizes, will the same dress suit them all? That’s a lot of money to pay for a dress that they’ll only wear once. I’ve got 4 best friends but I only want 3 bridesmaids - how will I choose and how will my left out friend feel?
How you choose to celebrate your marriage is totally up to you.
Here are 8 'non rules' that might be helpful when deciding if you want to include a bridal party or not.
1. You don’t have to have a bridal party if you don’t want to.
2. You don’t have to stick to female bridesmaids and male groomsmen - this is going to sound crazy, but you can choose who ever you want.
3. You are under no obligation to ask anybody to be your bridesmaid/groomsman - (even if you promised them when you were 9 years old)
4. Remember you are getting married to the person that you love - not putting on a show for paying customers.
5. The ceremony is about you and your loved one pledging your life to each other and declaring undying love. You don’t need help with that part - except from your celebrant.
6. You can give friends and family special roles/jobs i.e: a reading, day of co ordinator, holding the rings, being in charge of not running out of champagne, looking after the gift table - sort of like a bridal party, but they can wear what they want and they sit with the other guests while you have centre stage.
7. Giving those people that helped a special mention in your speech is all that is needed.
8. You can have as many bridesmaids, groomsmen, flower girls, page boys, matrons of honour and best men that you want to - it's your day!
During the "marriage by capture" era, close friends of the groom helped him to kidnap the bride from her family. The first groomsmen were more like a small army, fighting off the bride's angry relatives as the groom rode away with her on his horse.
Bridesmaids and maids of honour became more common when weddings were planned. For several days before the marriage, a senior maid attended to the bride. This maid or matron of honour, as we know her today, ensured that the bridal wreath was made and helped the bride get dressed.
For a long time, bridesmaids wore dresses much like the bride's gown, while the groomsmen dressed in clothing that was similar to the groom's attire. This tradition began for protection against evil rather than for uniformity; if evil spirits or jealous suitors attempted to harm the newlyweds, they would be confused as to which two people were the real bride and groom.
Over time this tradition has morphed into inviting a small number of your nearest and dearest to help you plan your special day and to carry out that plan on the day. Special responsibilities are given to the bridal party, for example: bridesmaids will go with the bride to chose outfits and have a number of beauty treatments whilst the groomsmen pick their outfits and sometimes engage in a group activity like go carting or golf.
Then on the day, they are given responsibilities such as: the Best Man holds the rings, the Maid of Honour holds the bouquet; the groomsmen hand out ceremony programs and the bridesmaids are in charge of making sure that the train on the bride’s dress is sufficiently fanned and that the flower girls are looked after.
And they are all responsible for arranging buck’s and hen’s events.
So, do I actually need to have a bridal party?
The short answer is no - there is no legal reason to have a bridal party. However some people do like to have their closest buddies around them on their special day, sharing in the moment and helping them prepare, but it is not a prerequisite for getting married. A civil marriage ceremony only requires you and your partner, your celebrant and your two witnesses - everybody else is there to watch and help you celebrate.
Some 'pros' to having a bridal party
You get to share the shopping with your besties, you have access to honest advice throughout, hen’s/buck’s parties are more fun with more than one person there! If you are feeling a bit stressed on the day, your best man is there to talk you through it and your bridesmaids are at the ready with the touch up lippy. Group photos are great fun and you have your best friends sharing your most special day with you from woe to go.
Some 'cons' that come with having a bridal party
Sometimes having a bridal party can be a bit of a drama. Before there was just you and your fiancé to think about, now you have a MOH a BM, 4 BMs and 5 GMs - Then you are plagued with questions: Is it going to look awkward if the numbers are uneven? Do you invite somebody just to fill the numbers? Will asking my 2 year old niece to be a flower girl balance the numbers out even though she won’t know why she’s there or even remember the day? What colours will they wear? Will they all were the same? My girlfriends are all different shapes and sizes, will the same dress suit them all? That’s a lot of money to pay for a dress that they’ll only wear once. I’ve got 4 best friends but I only want 3 bridesmaids - how will I choose and how will my left out friend feel?
How you choose to celebrate your marriage is totally up to you.
Here are 8 'non rules' that might be helpful when deciding if you want to include a bridal party or not.
1. You don’t have to have a bridal party if you don’t want to.
2. You don’t have to stick to female bridesmaids and male groomsmen - this is going to sound crazy, but you can choose who ever you want.
3. You are under no obligation to ask anybody to be your bridesmaid/groomsman - (even if you promised them when you were 9 years old)
4. Remember you are getting married to the person that you love - not putting on a show for paying customers.
5. The ceremony is about you and your loved one pledging your life to each other and declaring undying love. You don’t need help with that part - except from your celebrant.
6. You can give friends and family special roles/jobs i.e: a reading, day of co ordinator, holding the rings, being in charge of not running out of champagne, looking after the gift table - sort of like a bridal party, but they can wear what they want and they sit with the other guests while you have centre stage.
7. Giving those people that helped a special mention in your speech is all that is needed.
8. You can have as many bridesmaids, groomsmen, flower girls, page boys, matrons of honour and best men that you want to - it's your day!
If you would like to speak to an experienced TCN Celebrant about how you can create your own marriage ceremony - CLICK HERE
What are your thoughts on having a bridal party - leave your comments in the comment section below.
* __________________________________________________________ *
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
& Twitter
* __________________________________________________________ *
Thank you for joining us....
?? We would love it if you would let us know what you think ?.
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Jul
14
Humans have used ceremonies and celebrations for thousands of years to:
- affirm or encourage people at special events e.g. Olympic Games, Presentation nights, graduations
- celebrate milestones in our individual life journey e.g. birthdays, anniversaries, retirement
- acknowledge significant life-changing occasions e.g. namings/ christenings, engagements, marriages, funerals
- honour individuals or celebrate community values, e.g. memorials, Australia Day, Citizenship Day, Harmony Day
The pros and cons of a private ceremony
TCN celebrants have noticed a recent trend towards couples choosing to elope and having a small ceremony with just the celebrant and witnesses.
On the plus side, these ceremonies can be romantic, fun, stress free and far less expensive than the traditional family occasion. They are ideally suited to some couples.
The down side may be that family are genuinely hurt by being excluded from this important occasion.
This can be difficult to understand, especially for couples who are already living together and who decide they just want to "make it legal" with minimum fuss.
Sharing is Caring
However, if the couple think more deeply about the significance of the marriage ceremony they may see the value in a larger ceremony that involves family and friends.
The marriage ceremony results in changes of legal status and relationships. The marriage partners become legally responsible for each other and any children of their relationship. They also acquire new relationships with their in-laws - a new extended family and friendship group. For the parents of "first time marrieds" the marriage ceremony symbolically marks a "graduation" at which their work in raising a baby to adulthood formally ends.
So in many ways a marriage is not just a relationship between two individuals. It is a formal and social relationship between two networks of family and friends. Being part of the ceremony means a lot to those who love the couple.
"But big family weddings are too expensive - eloping cuts the cost!"
This can certainly be true. So how can we have a big celebration for a small cost?
This TCN article about having a big celebration on a low budget could assist your planning.
Share your ideas on how to involve family and friends in celebrations that are meaningful for everyone present …
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Sep
20
Your wedding is getting close and your nerves are becoming more frazzled. Feeling overwhelmed is becoming your new normal, and you and your fiance seem to spend all of your time consumed with wedding plans.
Sounds familiar? According to a survey by fearcourse.com
- 71% of brides-to-be suffered from some type of nerves during the build-up to their wedding
- 92% of brides experienced nerves on the day of the wedding or the evening before
- 66% reported that it affected their daily lives prior to it, or hampered their performance and enjoyment during the day itself.
These feeling of overwhelm could be caused by a number of issues in the busy lead up to your wedding.
- Budget
- Guest lists
- Seating plans
- Suppliers who don't deliver
- Disagreements over some of the wedding details
- Family pressure
- Wanting the day to be perfect.
Whatever your reasons are, perhaps it is time to take a wedding planning break, just you and your partner spending time together, just hanging out and remembering your reasons why you wanted to get married.
Taking a mini break dedicated to you as a couple is a great way to let you see the big picture, strengthen your bond, and to set a good pattern for your marriage, especially after you have kids.
Minibreaks could be an afternoon off, a weekend off, or even a whole week with wedding planning put on the back burner, while you spend time looking after your relationship. Some great mini breaks are :
- A couples massage session
- An afternoon movie session
- A romantic dinner date
- A weekend away at your favourite B and B
- Bingeing out on a whole TV series.
- A walk on the beach.
Time out is a great habit for couples to adopt, and when better to start the habit, than during the planning of your important day.
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Thank you for joining us....
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Sep
13
The Celebrants Network Incorporated is a celebrant based non-profit community association promoting civil ceremonies and celebrations.
Civil ceremonies and celebrations uphold the values of a civilised society - respecting and supporting all people in its jurisdiction.
Today is Australia’s Citizenship Day. Australian citizenship is more than a legal status. It is our common bond that represents our shared democratic beliefs and gives us a sense of belonging and need to work for our common good as a nation.
This Day provides a wonderful opportunity for all Australians to reflect on the meaning and importance of Australian values such as a “Fair Go”, looking out for the 'underdog', government by democratic processes - for the people and by the people - respect for all people without discrimination, upholding civil and human rights and our rights and responsibilities with justice under law.
• TCN supports Marriage Equality
and
• TCN supports Religious Tolerance
Section 47 of Australia's Marriage Act 1961 allows Ministers of Religion and independent religious celebrants to refuse to marry any couple on any grounds. Therefore it is possible for Australia as a whole to support both religious tolerance and marriage equaility as TCN does.
Now that the Marriage Equality plebiscite has been announced, what can we as celebrants do to help to inform the public about marriage law and reduce the predicted hateful and discriminatory debates?
TCN has created a Fact Sheet on the Marriage Act 1961 to assist in understanding how religious celebrants already have exemptions under the Act.
One of the most important rights and responsibilities we have as Australian Citizens is to VOTE
As free people, we can play our part in deciding how our nation is governed, what services our government revenue is spent upon and what laws are made to balance our freedom and safety as individuals, families and communities.
As free people, we can play our part in deciding how our nation is governed, what services our government revenue is spent upon and what laws are made to balance our freedom and safety as individuals, families and communities.
Few opportunities come along in our lifetimes where we can change unfair laws directly, by referendum or plebiscite.
Are you registered to vote?
Are your children and eligible grandchildren registered to vote?
Are your children and eligible grandchildren registered to vote?
The Marriage Equality plebiscite will be democracy in action.
While the plebiscite result will not be binding on the government, each and every vote is vitally important.
Voting is one way we can uphold our Australian values of a "fair go" and ensure our civil laws are upheld for all.
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Thank you for joining us....
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Jul
14
Today we look at using Interpreters at marriage ceremonies conducted in compliance with Australian Law. Section 112 of the Marriage Act provides that ‘where a celebrant considers it desirable to do so, they may use the services the services of an interpreter in or in connection with a marriage ceremony. ‘
What Does Section 112 Mean?
- If you as the Celebrant are only able to conduct a ceremony in English and if either of the couple or the official witnesses do not speak/understand English fluently, an interpreter will be required.
- The couple and witnesses MUST fully understand the legal components of the ceremony, which includes the Monitum and the legal vows.
- It is the responsibility of the Celebrant to decide if an Interpreter is required.
- It is advisable to use an Interpreter, if either or both of the couple are hearing impaired.
Who can be an Interpreter?
- Where possible, it is best that the interpreter be an accredited interpreter through the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters Ltd (NAATI) or another official agency. To find an interpreter, please visit: http://www.naati.com.au/
- The interpreter must be a person other than a member of the wedding party. Where a family or friend is used as an Interpreter the Celebrant must be confident that he/she is doing the job properly.
- The Interpreter must provide a Statutory Declaration, prior to the wedding, stating their fluency in the relevant language. This must be witnessed by the Celebrant.
- After the ceremony the Interpreter must provide a Certificate of Faithful performance of his or her services. This must be witnessed by the Celebrant.
Who can be a Translator?
- Your celebrant must be satisfied that the translation is a true and accurate translation of an offical document through NAATI or another official agency.
- The National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters Ltd (NAATI) is the only agency to issue accreditations for practitioners who wish to work in this profession in Australia.
- If you need a certified translation, please visit: http://www.naati.com.au/
The Difference Between an Interpreter and a Translator
Interpreters and translators perform similar tasks, but in different settings. While an interpreter converts any spoken material from one language into a different language, as required in Wedding Ceremonies, a translator converts written material in the same manner, as required in the use of legal documents in relation to marriage.
If you are unsure about your need to use an Interpreter, you may contact The Celebrants Network or the Marriage Law and Celebrant Section of the Australian government for more information.
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Jan
27
Are you wanting to get married, but not sure what you need to do?
The law in Australia at the moment is that legal marriage you must comply with these five things:
1. your relationship must be between a man and a woman
2. you must be 18 years of age or over *
3. you must not be married to anyone else
4. you cannot marry a person who is your antecedent or descendant by marriage or adoption
5. you must both be capable of and give free consent to marry the other
If you can say yes to all five of those stipulations, then you are clear to start the getting married process with your celebrant.
Making the union legal between you and your partner can sometimes be a confusing business which is why it's a great idea to #AskaCelebrant and they will walk you through all the important legal requirements.
You can find a celebrant in your area by clicking here.
Your first job, after finding your celebrant, is to complete the Notice of Intended Marriage form, commonly known as the NOIM. Once this is filled in (your celebrant can help you) you lodge it with your celebrant. This must be done no earlier than 18 months and no later than one whole month before your ceremony date.
If you are lucky enough to have found the one you love and they just happen to be the same sex as yourself then we are working hard to ensure that you are able to marry legally here in Australia. However, until that time comes there are avenues in some states where you can register your union. Click here for more information.
Why not speak to your celebrant about a Commitment ceremony or 'Betrothal' ceremony in preparation for full equality in marriage becoming legal in Australia?
* Under rare circumstances, a person between the age of 16 and 18 can marry, provided their prospective marriage partner is 18 years or over, and the couple have been granted permission by a Court as prescribed in the Marriage Act 1961.
Jan
22
ASK A CELEBRANT BLOG: Problem is by the time I've reached this age, I'll probably need someone else to organise this for me!
So how can a congratulatory message be organised? Australians who are celebrating a special birthday or wedding anniversary can receive personal congratulations from the Prime Minister, Governor-General or The Queen.
Who is eligible for a congratulatory message?
- The Prime Minister will send a message of congratulations to people turning 90 years of age or more.
- The Queen and Governor-General will send a message on a 100th birthday.
Dec
12
ASK A CELEBRANT BLOG: Australia's High Court has ruled that the ACT Same Sex Marriage Bill was inconsistent with the Federal Marriage Act, and were therefore unconstitutional. So the hopes of many couples and families have had a set back. The full judgement will be released later. Read More on: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-12-12/high-court-decision-on-act-same-sex-marriage-laws/5152168