An on-the-day coordinator is like the maestro of your wedding, orchestrating every detail so you don’t have to. Here’s a rundown of what they typically handle:
1. Pre-Wedding Setup
Before the guests arrive, the coordinator is busy setting up the venue according to your specifications. They make sure that the decor, seating arrangements, and other elements are in place. If there are any last-minute adjustments or issues, they handle them efficiently.
2. Timeline Management
The on-the-day coordinator keeps the wedding schedule on track. They ensure that everything from the ceremony start time to the reception’s first dance happens as planned. This includes managing the timing of speeches, meals, and other key events to ensure a seamless flow.
3. Vendor Liaison
Laura & Ben were married at Bidja Estate in Ourimbah, Central Coast. Here’s what they had to say about their big day.
How did you meet? We met at mutual friend's Birthday BBQ (that turned into a late night out!) We chatted the whole time and the rest is history.
What was the first thing you decided on as a couple when arranging your big day? That we wanted to be as intimate and authentic as possible.
What wedding vibe were you after? Relaxed but sophisticated and FUN.
How did you choose your outfits? A bit of good old online inspo and a 'gut' feeling when it came to trying them on.
How did you decide on your venue? As soon as we drove down the driveway to Bidja Estate we knew it was the place for us. A friend of ours got married there years ago and it matched the vibe we were after.
In Australia, a "legal-only" wedding refers to a ceremony that focuses solely on fulfilling the legal requirements to register a marriage. This type of wedding is often chosen for its simplicity, cost-effectiveness, or before a larger, more elaborate ceremony.
Here’s what is involved in a legal-only wedding in Australia:
1. Choosing a Celebrant
Registered Celebrant: You’ll need to engage a registered celebrant who is authorised to conduct marriages in Australia. They will ensure that the ceremony complies with all legal requirements.
Simple Ceremony: For a legal-only wedding, the celebrant will perform a very straightforward ceremony focusing solely on the legal aspects.
2. Legal Requirements
Amy & Simon were married at Villa Alba in Kew. Here’s what they had to say about their big day.
How did you meet? We met at a Pub Trivia night. All the tables were full so me and my friend asked to join Simon and his friends on their team. We ended up going to Trivia every Tuesday and were a couple a few months later.
What was the first thing you decided on as a couple when arranging your big day? We chose the ceremony venue. Villa Alba in Kew.
What wedding vibe were you after? We wanted a relaxed, casual mood where our friends and family felt comfortable to mingle.
How did you choose your outfits? We didn’t want to feel too formal so Simon chose a blue Hugo Boss suit with a colourful pocket square and white shirt, no tie. He changed into a floral shirt for the reception.
I didn’t want a traditional dress or veil and wanted to feel comfortable all day. I was recommended a
What role does a celebrant play in a funeral or memorial service
A celebrant plays a crucial role in both funerals and memorial services. They are a guide, facilitator, and source of support for the family. Their responsibilities can vary depending on the type of service and the wishes of the person who has passed and their family. Generally, their role includes the following:
1. Planning and Coordination
**Service Design** The celebrant helps plan the structure and content of the service, working with the family to understand their preferences and ensure that the ceremony reflects the personality and values of the deceased. This can involve choosing readings, music, and rituals that are meaningful to the family.
Rose and Nick were married at The Willow Estate at the Hunter Valley
How did you meet? Online
What was the first thing you decided on as a couple when arranging your big day? whether we were going to have a big or small intimate wedding
What wedding vibe were you after?something simple, and a vibe where everyone could just enjoy each other's company. We went for a more relaxed, intimate kind of vibe.
How did you choose your outfits?Researched online different types of styles, and figured which ones we loved the most. Tried on at a few places till we both found the one.
How did you decide on your venue? Looking at our options, visiting different places till we found the right fit. We also read reviews as well as looked at location. Overall we did a lot of research before settling.
Choosing a marriage celebrant is a pivotal decision in the wedding planning process. They play a central role in creating the ceremony that marks your union. The right celebrant can bring your vision to life, create the vibe you’re looking for, make the ceremony memorable (for all the right reasons), engage your guests, liaise with your vendors, make the whole process of getting married effortless and enjoyable. The wrong choice can lead to a ceremony that feels less personal, and meaningful, a ceremony that feels a bit copy and paste.
Here’s a guide to help you find the perfect marriage celebrant for your special day:
1. Qualifications and Credentials
**Certification** Ensure the celebrant is legally authorised to perform weddings which means they should be registered with the Attorney General. Check their credentials at https://marriage.ag.gov.au/commonwealthcelebrants/all
How did you meet? We met in High School, a classic teenager romance. Neither of us has ever had to worry about dating, or tinder. But at the same time, we had alot of growing up to do. We couldn't stay away from each other, and it ended up working out perfectly.
What was the first thing you decided on as a couple when arranging your big day? The first thing we decided on was the music. We both have similar tastes so that part was super easy!
What wedding vibe were you after? The vibe we were after was bright and cheerful, of course! Its the best way to describe our approach to life and to our relationship.
How did you decide on your venue? We chose the venue that could offer us the full package of service to avoid any unnecessary stress on the day. There was plenty of stress even without all those extra tasks!
Sometimes couples want to change their names, once they’re married.
If you do want to, there’s just a couple of things to be aware of:
- 1. There is no automatic name change in Australia, and
- 2. There is no central point on contact to change your name.
If you want to change your surname, you will need to take your official marriage certificate (the one that Birth
Deaths and Marriages can send to you, if you request it once married) to all the places you wish to
change your name.
This means you have to change your name at each Government Agency and Private Institution you wish to change your name at. Yes it’s a bit of a long winded process!
How did you meet? Tinder!!! Haha
What was the first thing you decided on as a couple when arranging your big day? We both agreed that we wanted something on the smaller side - no interest in having a big "circus" wedding!
What wedding vibe were you after? Intimate, chill, fun!
How did you decide on your venue? We had looked at one or two other venues before we found Gracelands. One of them was absolutely stunning, but very expensive and more suitable for a large wedding. The other was less than impressive. I loved Gracelands instantly, it was perfect for what we wanted. Joel was skeptical at first, he thought it was strange that a wedding venue was tucked away in between a bunch of shops. He came around though, and we both loved everything about it. The food was amazing, the decor was simple and gorgeous and the staff were extremely helpful!
This is one of the most special parts of a ceremony.
You get to say to the person that you’re about to marry - what they mean to you, why you’re looking forward to marrying them, anything really. But the important thing is that you have written them, to say to that all important person, on the big day, in front of your loved ones.
It often gets pretty emotional here, so it’s worth putting in a bit of effort to choose or script vows that really pack a punch. They can be funny, serious, teasing – anything you want! Below are some tips to help you write those vows.
Share or Surprise?
Decide whether you’d like to write your vows together or keep them secret from each other until the ceremony. Either way works really well – just think about what works for you as a couple. If you do decide to keep them as a surprise, make sure you send them to me before the ceremony so I can make sure you’re both on the same wave length.
What was the first thing you decided on as a couple when arranging your big day?
We wanted a venue that would let us have our dog part of the ceremony, as he is part of the family!
What wedding vibe were you after?
Relaxed and for everyone to have a good time!
How did you choose your outfits?
Daniel went for a classic navy suit, no tie, and white shirt to enhance the relax vibe we wanted, and I bought a simple yet beautiful Grace Loves Lace dress, no train, no sparkles... again to reflect the people we are, easy going.
How did you decide on your venue?
1. What are the legal requirements for marriage in Australia?
a. A Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM) needs to be lodged with me at least one month before your wedding day.
I prepare the document and witness you signing it. To prepare the NOIM I need to sight your original birth certificates or passports. If either of you have been previously married, I will need to see an original Divorce Certificate or Death Certificate.
* If you require a copy of your Divorce Certificate (or Decree Absolute), contact the Family Law Court in the state in which the marriage was dissolved. More details can be found at Family Law Courts (family court.gov.au).
What was the first thing you decided on as a couple when arranging your big day?
Taking our wedding photos at the Redwood Forrest in East Warburton Victoria.
What wedding vibe were you after?
Fun, non traditional, exciting and PARTY!
How did you decide on your venue?
We initially booked a cafe restaurant for a stand up wedding and then last minute got cancelled by the owner. It let us to find out perfect venue that worked even better and fit everything we ever wanted.
What was the most stressful part of the planning process?
How did you meet? We actually met on Facebook! We had some mutual friends online and Kyle added me after I popped up in his 'people you may know' suggestions haha!
What wedding vibe were you after? We were after a comfortable, intimate and fun-filled day. We wanted everyone (and ourselves) to feel relaxed throughout especially.
How did you choose your outfits? A LOT of Pinterest and Instagram scrolling for style inspiration! I was very fortunate to find my dress second-hand on StillWhite which I immediately fell in love with, and Kyle found an amazing suit at our local Tarocash store.
How did you decide on your venue? After downsizing our original plans of a 90-person wedding to a 22-person wedding, we were after a venue that was comfortable and intimate for our guests, but still had plenty of space for our ceremony and photo opportunities. It was also important to us that the venue was local on the Central Coast - so The Olive Grove in The Quarters, Forrester's Beach ticked all of our boxes!