Your
Commitment Ceremony
For any one of a
number of reasons you may
not be able to legally marry, for example, you are a same-sex couple, or a
couple that was married overseas away from family and friends. Or you
may just not wish to make a legal commitment. But that is not
sufficient reason to
forgo a
public ceremony that is an act of love. While a
commitment ceremony has no legal standing, it is a ceremony that makes
public love that is interior and private.
The
format of a commitment ceremony is similar to that of a wedding, but
without the legal requirements. As
well as vows, exchange of rings or other symbolic gifts, and that
all-important public kiss,
symbolic rituals can be included.
I
will be glad to help you plan your commitment ceremony so that it
reflects
what you and your partner most value. I do so with the following
commitment to couples who love each other, but are unable or unwilling
for a variety of reasons to legally marry: I will not just perform a commitment
ceremony for you; I will feel honoured to be able to to do
so.
Celebration of Civil Partnership
Since 23 February 2012, both
same-sex and heterosexual couples wishing to legally register their
civil partnership in Queensland may do so at the Registry Office in
Brisbane and at local courthouses.
While I have applied to be registered as an external Civil Partnership
Notary, enabling me to conduct legal Civil Partnership ceremonies, at
this stage no external notaries have been appointed and there is no
indication of how long the process will take.
Therefore, you have the option of having a commitment ceremony which
acknowledges your intention to register or partnership, or celebrates
that you have already done so.
My fee for a
Commitment
ceremony (about average for the Brisbane area) is
- Full
Service Couture Ceremony $550
- Simpler
Couture Ceremony $450
- No fuss
Intimate Ceremony $350
Fee includes travel
to a ceremony
site up to 50km from my office (100km return). Cost for travel above
100km by negotiation. Part of this fee is required upfront as a booking
fee to confirm
the date and time in my diary and start the process of ceremony
development. My fee for an Enchanting Elopement
is by negotiation.
A Couture Ceremony is the full
"white-wedding" experience. It
includes a full-caste rehearsal, and PA system if the number of guests
requires one. while a Simpler Couture ceremony is a
simpler version of this that requires no rehearsal. because there is no
bridal party as such.
My No Fuss Intimate Ceremonies
focus on the promises you make to
each other - I work with you to create those promises and set them
within a ceremony that acknowledges your guests and
witnesses individually and celebrates your commitment to each
other. The ceremony is purpose-written for you, not pre-scripted.
For a No Fuss Intimate Ceremony
there are conditions: limited number of people attending, the
ceremony is shorter, thus involves less
preparation time, there is no rehearsal.
More
information about Commitment
Ceremonies for Same Sex Couples
Whichever
ceremony
style you choose the focus is on you and the promises you
make to each other. All include a high level of engagement with
you, unlimited phone and email consultation, an individually
written ceremony
over which you have final sign-off, generous amount of travel,
performance of the ceremony at the venue of your choice, beautifully
presented printed keepsake copy of the ceremony, copy of the ceremony
on CD, certificate,
and use of an elegant pen for the signing.
While an average Full Service Couture Ceremony takes about 30 minutes
(it
can be shorter or longer) there is good reason not to rush through the
ceremony no matter what option you have selected. People need time to fully absorb what is
going on, so the ceremony should be long enough to allow everyone
to relax into it and focus on it. This is not only a
beautiful time in your lives, it is a gift you’re giving your guests,
so you shouldn't
feel that you must rush through it.
Parking fees (where required due to the
nature/location of the venue)
at cost.
Payment accepted by
Cash, Cheque, Direct Deposit, and Money Order.
No hidden costs, add-ons, or extra 'surprise' charges.
Contact Me
Jennifer
Cram is a
secular humanist celebrant
in 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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