What to Expect From Your Wedding Celebrant

Jill Keen • 4 July 2024

Before and On The Big Day!

Planning a wedding can be a whirlwind of excitement, emotions, and endless to-do lists. One key player who can make your big day truly special is your wedding celebrant. As your friendly Groovy Kind of Love Celebrant, I'm here to ensure that your ceremony is memorable, heartfelt, and smooth sailing from start to finish. So, what exactly should you expect from your wedding celebrant? Let’s dive in!


Your journey with your celebrant starts well before the wedding day. Here’s what you can look forward to before the big day:


1. Initial Meet-Up - Expect your celebrant to meet with you and maybe even shout you a coffee, tea, wine, or beer! This meeting is all about getting to know you, listening to your ideas, and understanding your vision for the celebration.

2. Getting to Know You - Your celebrant will ask a mix of fun and serious questions to learn about you as a couple. This helps in crafting a ceremony that truly reflects your personalities and love story.

3. Guest Relations - Understanding the importance of your guests, your celebrant will want to know how you’d like them to remember your day. This helps in creating a warm and inclusive atmosphere.

4. Legal Documentation - One of the crucial roles of a celebrant is to help you complete all required legal documentation, starting with the Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM) form. They’ll ensure all paperwork is in order and correctly filled out.

5. Ceremony Planning - Your celebrant will work closely with you to tailor the ceremony to your liking, providing loads of ideas and suggestions based on their experience. They’ll also suggest a plan B for those unpredictable outdoor venues.

6. Open Communication - Expect numerous meetings, emails, and phone calls to make sure everything is perfect. Your celebrant will be available to answer questions and address any concerns you might have.

7. Vendor Recommendations - Need recommendations for other fantastic local vendors? Your celebrant can help with that too!

8. Rehearsal - If you’d like, your celebrant will conduct a little rehearsal before the big day to ensure everyone knows their roles and feels comfortable.


On the Wedding Day, you can expect your celebrant to:


1. Early Arrival - Your celebrant should arrive early to set up and ensure everything is in place.

2. Sound Check - They’ll make sure the sound system is working perfectly so all your guests can hear the ceremony clearly.

3. Legal Documents - Your celebrant will secure all legal documents needed for signing during the ceremony.

4. Vendor Coordination - They’ll meet and greet with other vendors and your guests, ensuring everyone is on the same page.

5. Calm and Settle - Helping to calm and settle the bridal party is part of the job, making sure everyone is ready and at ease.

6. Ceremony Delivery - Expect a heartfelt, engaged, and playful delivery of your scripted ceremony. Your celebrant will ensure every word resonates with meaning and joy.

7. Photography Coordination - Your celebrant will step aside during key moments to ensure your photography team can capture the best shots without any obstructions.

8. Celebratory Moments - After the ceremony, your celebrant will stick around for a celebratory hug and a selfie with you both!

9. Post-Ceremony Tasks - Your celebrant will pack up all legal paperwork and head home to complete the registration process for your marriage. After your honeymoon, expect a follow-up to ensure your day was exactly as you’d hoped!


Choosing the right wedding celebrant is essential for a seamless and memorable ceremony. From the first meet-up to post-wedding follow-ups, a dedicated celebrant will be with you every step of the way, ensuring your special day is nothing short of perfect. So, if you're looking for a celebrant who will make your wedding day extraordinary, look no further than your friendly Groovy Kind of Love Celebrant!


For more tips, inspiration, and wedding magic, stay tuned to our blog!


From Toowoomba on the Darling Downs to South East Queensland down to the Gold Coast and Tweed Coast and anywhere in between, I look forward to working with you to create a celebration that reflects your unique story and personality.

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When to book your wedding vendors

by Jill Keen • 19 August 2024
If you are p lanning your dream wedding and not really sure where to start - let me help you out! Firstly, let me tell you that this is absolutely normal! Here’s my guide to booking your vendors, including the ones you need to lock in ASAP. Once you have followed this groovy formula and locked in your trustworthy vendors, you can kick back and enjoy every moment of your engagement and the countdown to your big day! 1. Straight up – your dream vendor! If you have been dreaming of this moment for some time, or you are of Generation Z era, you may already be streets ahead with your vendor research prior to getting engaged. If this is the case, you may very well have your heart set on one (or two) vendors already. I say, to avoid disappointment, book these first - like now, go! At this point you may also like to consider the vendors that can only be at the one location at a time – your dream venue may only be able to host one ceremony for the day, photographers are often solo and booked to be with couples for a lengthy duration, and authorised celebrants are usually booked to officiate only one ceremony on any day. Booking in your favourite vendor will be good mojo for the rest of your planning. Don’t have a fav vendor in mind? Then that’s ok too – just tick off the list from this point on. 2. Ceremony and Reception Venue (12 – 18 months in advance) This is where ‘time’ plays an important role in your wedding planning process – you may already have a date in mind; however, your venue of choice may not be available on that date. It may be a popular venue, especially during peak season, so get in quick – most of these will be booked solidly for 12 – 18 months in advance. If you are choosing a venue that requires an external catering vendor, then you will want to choose your preferred caterer and lock them in at the same time – this allows them to work with the venue from the get-go. 3. Wedding Planner (12 months in advance) Wedding planners are the ultimate multitaskers and if you are going to use one, they will be one of the very first vendors that you will want to lock in. A good wedding planner will also have insight into other reputable vendors that may sight your style and be able to book them on your behalf. 4. Photographer / Videographer (12 months in advance) Wedding photographers and videographers are generally booked out 12 – 18 months in advance. Most photographers/videographers operate within an annual wedding cap e.g. a limit of 25 weddings for the year. So, when deciding when to book your wedding vendors, you’ll want to book them in early too! I recommend that you do some research to find out which photographers and videographers have a portfolio that suits your preferred style, and then line a few up to interview them. ... Afterall you'll all be working closely together on the big day.  5. Celebrant (12 months in advance) More personal weddings that focus on the couple rather than traditions that are not familiar to them and don’t reflect their story or style are on the rise, and this is something I feel passionate about. These ceremonies are a chance for couples to work with fabulous celebrants to make the ceremony one of the most unforgettable moments of their lives. In saying that, if you’re looking for a legal ceremony, you will need either a: · Commonwealth-registered marriage celebrant · Commonwealth-registered religious marriage celebrant · Ministers of religion who are from a recognised denomination · State and territory officer Most celebrants will be booked 12 months in advance for popular days of the week – Saturdays being the most popular, now followed closely by Fridays and Sundays. It’s best to get in early if you have a celebrant in mind. Equally, get started on your research early and reach out for a catch up and chat. From Toowoomba on the Darling Downs to South East Queensland down to the Gold Coast and Tweed Coast and anywhere in between, I would love to work with you to create a celebration that reflects your unique story and personality. Get in touch and let's arrange to meet (drinks on me!) and get to know each other, and get the party started!
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