Celebrant's Corner
Rustic DIY Barn/Farm Wedding Venue on the northside of Brisbane
Posted By Christina Towler,
26/05/2024 I have conducted hundreds of weddings at many different venues. Yesterday, I had a pleasure and privilege of officiating a ceremony at ‘Brisbane Barn Weddings’ which is a Rustic DIY Barn/Farm Wedding Venue on the northside of Brisbane, and I fell in love. Not only are the farm manager, Alicia and the owner, Len the sweetest people who will go above and beyond for their guests, but the venue is just a little slice of paradise with lush backdrops, an abundance of green nooks and...
RING WARMING CEREMONY
Posted By Christina Towler,
18/04/2024 A ring warming ceremony is a lovely way to include all of your guest or just a select group for example your families. You will appoint two ring bearers; Person 1 will hold the rings in a pouch, box or pillow when the ceremony begins, and Person 2 will be the one to hand over the rings to the bride and groom when it is time. The words can be as following: Celebrant: Having this love in their hearts for each other Bride and Groom will now exchange rings as a symbol of their vows. The...
WHAT IS A SAND CEREMONY
Posted By Christina Towler,
17/04/2024 A Sand ceremony is a beautiful way to celebrate your family, whether it is just the two of you, your children, your blended family, or your fur-family. Your family relationship is symbolised through the pouring of the individual bottles of coloured sand into a vase, frame, bottle or other. And just as the grains of sand can never be separated and poured again into the separate containers, so will your marriage and family be. You can purchase many gorgeous versions of Sand Ceremony Kits on Etsy...
WHAT IS A CANDLE CEREMONY
Posted By Christina Towler,
16/04/2024 A candle ceremony is a beautiful way to honour loved ones who can't be part of your wedding day. The words can be as following: 'Anne and Brian would like to take this moment to remember Anne's Dad, Tim who is no longer with us. Anne and Brian would like to honour him with the lighting of this candle'. (Together lighting the candle)
SHOULD WE INCLUDE A POEM, READER OR BLESSING IN OUR CEREMONY?
Posted By Christina Towler,
15/04/2024 If you’re looking to have a wedding ceremony that’s super-personalised, readings are a great way to do it. Wedding ceremony readings also allow you to give loved ones – particularly those who may not be in the wedding party, a special role in your big day. I am big fan of poems, readings, or blessings, and especially love it when a child feels brave enough to step up a do a reading. I have a great selection for you to choose from..
CONFETTI
Posted By Christina Towler,
14/04/2024 The throwing of confetti was started by the Medieval Italians who loved to throw things at each other. Sugared almond sweets called ‘confetti’ were thrown during carnivals, processionals, and parades. At weddings, it was thrown as a sign of fertility and prosperity. Grains, seeds, and rice have been thrown throughout the years. And these days, everything from paper confetti, shredded paper, through to freeze-dried flower petals and even compressor cannons are being used. Soap bubbles are...
CHILDREN IN WEDDINGS
Posted By Christina Towler,
13/04/2024 Including Children in your wedding ceremony. Children might not do everything you think they will during your ceremony―it might not be ‘perfect’, but I can assure you it will be cute and entertaining. I have had brides breastfeeding during her ceremony and a pair of twins playing hide and seek in the wedding dress. It is organic and my favourite part of a wedding. One great story is where a little boy takes the rings up the aisle, but every few steps he turns around and makes a ferocious face...
PETS IN WEDDINGS Your fur-family is welcome!
Posted By Christina Towler,
12/04/2024 A big part of any wedding day is involving your nearest in your celebrations, and more and more people are choosing to include their pets, as they are a big part of your life and a valued member of your family. I get that. In 2015, my husband and I renewed our wedding vows after 10 years of marriage. We chose a secluded beach with only a few present; a Marriage Celebrant, a Photographer, our two young sons and our beloved cattle dog, Tane. We had a fabulous day! Tane sadly passed away in...
HOW DO I CHANGE MY SURNAME? AND DO I HAVE TO?
Posted By Christina Towler,
11/04/2024 Once your Celebrant has lodged the documents with the registry of Birth, Death and Marriages (RBDM), you will receive your Official Government Marriage Certificate – You can apply for this through your Celebrant while completing the initial paperwork, or at any time after your wedding directly through the RBMD for $60 including registered post (April 2024). This is the certificate that you will need as proof of marriage and to change your family name should you wish to. It is not a legally...
SIGNING THE MARRIAGE DOCUMENTS - NEW NAME OR MAIDEN NAME?
Posted By Christina Towler,
10/04/2024 The ceremony is over and now it is time to sign the documents. Do you write your new name or your maiden name on the marriage certificates? This is a great question and something that a lot of my couples get confused about when it comes to getting married. On the actual day of your ceremony, you sign three documents and all three are required to be signed with the same name and signature that you used in all the pre-ceremony paperwork that you completed with your Celebrant.