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If cost is your primary consideration ...
For couples who are focussed on their relationship and genuinely want a
simple, inexpensive wedding without all the trappings, I offer a
simple, relaxed and much
more personal and private alternative to a Registry Office Wedding.
This type of ceremony is also frequently chosen by couples fulfilling
the
requirements of fiance visa immigration.
Unfortunately,
my experience is that where couples make their choice of
celebrant solely on price it
is usually because they assume that all
celebrants
are alike, possibly because every wedding they've ever attended was the
same, so they may as well try and find the
cheapest.
While budget is important (you don't want to mortgage your future just
for the sake of a wedding), your celebrant is the only wedding
professional/wedding supplier
- who has legal obligations in relations to
your marriage, including overseeing the contract between you and taking
you into a legally recognised change in your status.
- who you can't omit or replace with DIY
It follows then that unless you really don't care about your ceremony,
choosing your
celebrant solely on price makes as much sense as buying your wedding
dress solely on price without paying any attention to size, fit, or
style.
Warm and Wonderful Weekday
Weddings ($330-$350)
Warm and Wonderful Weekday Weddings
are
a romantic and more
personal alternative to a Registry Office wedding for those who want to
marry during the week, either in a small private ceremony with just you
and your two official witnesses or in the presence of family and
friends (up to 40
people).
The
ceremony will be more personal than the Registry Office Ceremony, will
be delivered in a warm and friendly fashion, and you can
choose your vows and other selected parts of the ceremony from
beautifully written original alternatives
I provide you that include both
the traditional and contemporary vows. The ceremony will also feature
unique inclusions not offered by any other celebrant.
How this works:
- We meet once, at a mutually
convenient time (after hours is fine) and place within the
4068/4069 postcode area and at this meeting
- we talk about the style of ceremony you
would like
- you choose your declaration of intent,
vows, and ring vows from the options I provide
- I take the two of you through the
ceremony so you will feel comfortable on the day
- we complete the Notice of
Intended Marriage
- where possible you show me your proofs
of ID and how any previous marriage ended, however, if that is not
possible, you may show me those on your wedding day, just before the
ceremony commences.
- you confirm the location for the
ceremony and pay the deposit
- I give you a receipt
- The ceremony fee covers
- Delivery of your chosen ceremony style
of ceremony with warmth and friendliness
- Attendance at the venue agreed
- Solemnising of the marriage
- Compliance with all legal requirements
- Provision of the Presentation
certificate and a beautifully presented copy of your vows as a keepsake
- The following conditions apply
- The ceremony can take place anytime
(24/7)
Monday-Thursday or on Friday morning
- The ceremony venue is your choice of
private residence or other venue
- No complicated processional, rituals or
readings
By comparison, for a Registry Office Wedding you will
- pay $275 weekdays, $355 Saturdays (plus
parking fees for two
visits
- one to lodge the Notice of Intended Marriage, one for the ceremony.
At present city parking can cost you around $20 for an hour or so
during the week, so all up you can count on spending somewhere in the
vicinity of $340-$380.)
- have to attend during business hours
to complete and lodge your Notice of Intended Marriage
- have a standard
quickie marriage ceremony with
- no personalisation
- no choice - of place, celebrant,
vows, or anything else
- no readings
- no rituals
- limited number of guests
- restrictions on when you can be
married (only between 9.45am to 11.45am; 2.15pm to 3.45pm Monday to
Friday and 10.00am to 4.30pm on Saturday. No weddings on Sundays or
public holidays).
Candidly, many couples go the Registry Office or the Courthouse wanting
a short, cheap and easy marriage ceremony, and because they think the
arrangements can be made at short notice. But that is probably
not what
will really happen.
Despite the attempts made by the Registry Office to
provide more attractive surroundings getting married at the Registry
Office can be a less-than-romantic experience. To complete the
paperwork
you need to line up, and you will be required to have all proofs of ID
with you, including final divorce certificate. In practical terms this
means that, while it is legal to get married the day after your divorce
becomes final, you will be unable to marry for at least a month after
that date. To get married you need to line up. And you will
be told what time is free - rather like going to the dentist.
Contact Me
Jennifer
Cram is a
secular humanist celebrant
in Brisbane Queensland Australia
Serving all of Brisbane, Redlands, Redcliffe, Pine Rivers,
Logan and Ipswich
Ceremonies
performed
in private homes, parks, gardens, hotels, clubs, restaurants, chapels,
function
centres, reception centres, wedding venues.
Day or evening
ceremonies 365 days a year
Her Celebrant
Services include:
Wedding
Ceremonies: Contemporary, Traditional, Spiritual, Inter-cultural,
Scottish,
Celtic, Chinese, Buddhist, Mediaeval; Handfasting; Renewal of
Vows; Commitment Ceremonies
for gay, lesbian,
and straight couples; Naming Ceremonies;
Baby Dedication Ceremonies;
House Warming;
Launching; Divorce
and Separation (End-of-Relationship) Ceremonies
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