1. Fill me in….Give me the details
I would need you to share the details about your special day, the date and where you are getting married. If I am available on your date, we can plan a meeting in person, or if distance/schedules are an issue, we can arrange a virtual meeting via Zoom or FaceTime to see if I am the right Celebrant for you.
2. Secure your date
To secure your date, once you have accepted my quote, you will need to sign my client service agreement & T&Cs and pay the booking fee. Once received, your date will be confirmed, and we can start planning all the special details for your ceremony. *Note – Payment plans can be arranged.
I will send you a copy of my wedding kit which includes the basic legal requirements for your wedding, reading/poem/song suggestions, sample vows etc along with my writing your own vows cheat sheets.
3. Intention to Marry
Prior to your wedding date, you will need to lodge your intent to marry which is known as the Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM). This needs to be completed/signed and provided to your Celebrant a minimum of one calendar month prior to your wedding date. The NOIM is valid for a maximum of 18 months prior to your ceremony date. (Your second payment will be due around this time).
Each of you will need to provide some personal documents to prove your identity, date and place of birth. You can show me any of the following:
- Your birth certificate and your driver’s license/ passport or proof of age card
OR - Your passport and driver’s license or proof of age card
Don’t panic if you don’t have these documents. There are other acceptable documents, but these are just the most commonly used ones. I can talk you through other options if needed.
If you’ve been married before or you have changed your name, I will also need to see additional documents, but I will advise you of this before the meeting.
4. Creating Your Perfect Ceremony
As we get closer to your ceremony, my aim (with your help) is to develop something unique and personal to suit your special day.
I will send you my individual questionnaires and logistics documents so you can provide as much information as possible to help me craft a unique and personalised ceremony.
I am here to support you through the process and work out the finer details to ensure everything is perfect as we bring your wedding vision to life.
6-8 weeks before the wedding date (time pending), I will request your answers to the questionnaires & logistics information so I can commence writing your ceremony.
1-2 weeks prior to the wedding date, any ceremony changes are best to be emailed through.
Your final payment is due four weeks prior to your ceremony.
Food for thought – Have you picked an MC for your celebrations? If you are stuck for someone to help keep your reception running smoothly, ask me about my MC services.
5. Rehearsal (optional)
If you wish to have a rehearsal, this can be held any time from a few weeks prior to your ceremony or the day before.
At the rehearsal, we will go over all the final details such as timing, entrances, placement of the wedding party, ring exchange etc. We will also need to sign another legal document (Declaration of No Legal Impediment to Marriage) prior to the wedding (I will prepare everything for you).
This is a time to try to relax and get super excited for the events that will unfold…
6. Wedding day
On the day, I will arrive approx. 30 mins prior to the agreed ceremony start time to set up, greet guests and play background music (unless you have arranged for one of the talented local artists to perform for you). I will cover some of the usual house keeping notes, wrangle guests and get everyone ready for your big arrival.
Once we are ready to start, I will ask guests to be up-standing for your arrival and play your chosen song as you walk down the aisle to your waiting partner.
7. Registering Your Marriage
After your ceremony, I will submit all your signed paperwork to the NSW Births Deaths and Marriages (BDM) to register your marriage. I can also request a copy of the BDM registered marriage certificate on your behalf.
If you request a certificate from the BDM, please note this can taken anywhere from 1 week to 8 weeks to arrive depending on how busy the BDM is.
8. Changing your name after you get married (optional)*
If you or your partner wish to change your name after your are married, there are some companies who can assist with the process.
*Please note, your name change doesn’t automatically happen after your marriage is registered. This is a personal choice if you wish to change your name. Click here to view more information.
Celebrations by Kate 