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Wedding
Ceremonies ...
Jennifer
Cram, Authorised
Marriage Celebrant
Advanced Diploma of Marriage
Celebrancy (High Distinction)
Certificate IV in Marriage Celebrancy
Advanced Diploma of General Celebrancy
(High Distinction)
Advanced Diploma of Funeral Celebrancy
(High Distinction)
Member Professional Celebrants
Association
Member Australian Federation of Civil
Celebrants
As a celebrant, I appreciate fully
that the single most important thing that you want for your wedding is
for it to be special, to be different, to be unique, to be something
that no-one in your circle of friends has done before, something that
everyone will remember and talk about for years. While certain
paperwork and words make the ceremony legal, it is the
language of the heart that makes it real to you as a couple and to your
family and friends. That is why I offer imaginative and truly
personal
ceremonies custom-created for you rather than restrict you to the
limited choices provided by standard or mix-and-match
ceremonies.
For even more information about all the
wedding choices and possibilities available to you
please go to my www.jennifercram.com.au website
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A successful marriage ceremony is
complex and personal. It depends on a number of factors:
- The quality of the relationship
which has been built up between you and
your celebrant while developing the ceremony
- the skill and warmth with which the
ceremony is performed on the day,
and
- the efficiency and accuracy with which
the legal requirements, including the paperwork, are
met
It is important that you choose a celebrant with
whom you feel comfortable, in whom you feel confident, and who
emotionally connects with you. A celebrant who doesn't feel like a
stranger.
As your celebrant, I am responsible for
the creation and
stage-management of your ceremony, but only as your facilitator.
I will do nothing to disempower you or compromise your right to
make your ceremony uniquely yours.
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There is an enormous amount of flexibility possible in how your
ceremony is structured and what elements are included, some of which
will be influenced by the type of wedding you choose.
I delight in creating and performing
- Traditional wedding ceremonies with a
very personal flavour
- Contemporary wedding ceremonies
- Theme wedding ceremonies - modern
interpretations of age-old traditional weddings (including Mediaeval,
Irish/Celtic, Scottish
Tartan, and True-Blue Aussie weddings)
- Interfaith/Intercultural wedding
ceremonies
- Spiritual wedding ceremonies
- Destination wedding ceremonies (for
overseas and interstate couples)
- Double weddings
- Combined wedding/naming ceremonies
- Encore weddings (second marriages)
- Wedding ceremonies for blending families
Your Marriage
Ceremony
Wedding
traditions comprise many
and varied customs. These are merely the reflection of the history of
the people and cultures concerned. They can therefore be creatively
tailored to suit your own circumstances and situation.
There
is no right and wrong beyond doing what comes from the heart and is
authentic to you.
I would like to thank you for a
beautiful and
most memorable wedding ceremony. You managed to personalise the
ceremony as we
requested and many guests commented it was very emotional for them too.
From
the bottom of my heart, thank you.
- Melissa
and Andrew
Photograph
by courtesy of Scott
Lawler
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All wedding ceremonies have a linear
structure
that flows from
beginning to end, and, if well-done, builds emotion to the
high-point—the pronouncement that you are now husband and wife.
In addition to
the essential structure, which follows a logical
order—the opening, the exchange of vows and the pronouncement— there
are two other components which, while they are usual, are entirely
optional:
- Significant elements
- Reflections on marriage by the celebrant
- Ring exchange
- Segments that add richness and meaning
- Readings (Poetry, prose or songs)
- Additional rituals (such as rose
ceremony, candle-lighting, wine ritual, water ritual, sand ritual,
honey ritual, hand-fasting, and
so on. Rituals offer an opportuny to give visual expression to an
important part of the ceremony, as well as to add cultural and symbolic
touches meaningful in the context of your individual or shared heritage)
- Music (the soundtrack of your ceremony)
The ceremony falls into five parts, each of which has its own objective:
- Calling together - This is the
process by which attention is
focussed on the ceremony. It can include the prelude music, the
processional, and welcoming and opening words by the celebrant or the
couple.
- Setting the mood -This provides a moment
for the bride and groom to
gain their composure, and the attention of everyone is focussed on the
ritual by readings, words by the celebrant , and/or symbolic acts
- The heart of the ceremony—exchanging the
vows and rings—brings the
focus down to the bride and groom
- Widening the focus—to include family and
community, perhaps by a
symbolic ritual
- Creating a sense of finality so that the
ceremony ends on a high
point—this is often accomplished by the recessional but can be
accomplished in a number of other ways.
The choreography and stagecraft of the ceremony - who moves
where, when, and how the words are delivered - are as important as the
words themselves. I work with you to plan and stage your wedding,
using skills gained both as a celebrant and over many years of stage
experience. I use the ceremony venue to best advantage to ensure
that the whole wedding party is deployed to best visual advantage
and I ensure that every participant in your ceremony is confident
in their role and comfortable with what is required of them. On
the day I direct the ceremony as well as officiate at it to ensure that
the movement, flow and timing match the style and the beauty of the
words.
A
word about readings and rituals
Readings
can serve a number of purposes:
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- they can bring a change of pace to the
ceremony
- they are a mechanism by which more people
can actively participate in the ceremony
- they can express many-facetted sentiments
and ideas very succinctly (particularly true of poetry)
- they can inject the words of an "expert"
But they can also be used as fillers to save the celebrant the effort
of writing - a ceremony that
basically consists of a series of readings strung together with a few
words is something to be avoided as it destroys the personal nature of
the ceremony.
Rituals are
symbolic ceremonial elements
that incorporate acts highlighting
some aspect of your intention for your future. They are often referred
to as
“ceremonies”, as in “ring ceremony”. And the objects used in the ritual
can be
retained as a keepsake.
The
exchange of rings
is the most common ritual used in marriage ceremonies, but there are
many
others.
Filipino/Hispanic
Coin Ritual
Photograph by Sheila
Sissons
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We just want to say a BIG THANK YOU for a
wonderful ceremony
you have provided for
us last month. It was
truly awsome and we
can't thank you enough
for your professionalism
Despite extreme heat, it
all worked out beautifully.
Thank you again.
- Eliza and Roy who
married
in a ceremony
that
honoured their Filipino heritage and included Eliza's daughter.
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To ensure a
really memorable, heartfelt and unique ceremony, it is vital that you
choose a celebrant who
- is creative, imaginative,
skilled, trained, and totally focussed on your needs and wishes
- is a facilitator and
advisor, committed to ensuring that the ceremony is an expression of
your vision for your wedding, not a showcase for the celebrant
- has an in-depth
understanding that a marriage ceremony should be a heart-centred
ceremonial ritual
- takes you through a
mindful process to develop a unique and personal ceremony in which the
ceremonial elements are woven together with words that reflect who you
are
- has clear diction and
speaks with warmth, competence, understanding, inflection and emphasis,
and, where the size of the gathering requires it, uses a high quality
portable PA system.
- delivers value for money
- won’t try to convince you
that it is acceptable to slot you in as one of several ceremonies on
the same day
- ensures that whole wedding party is
well rehearsed
- ensures that all of the
legal requirements are met
Am
I the right celebrant for you?
I am best
suited to couples who want a completely original heartfelt
ceremony that is authentic to you, that is 100% personalised,
that expresses the union of two adults, celebrates the depth of your
relationship
as well as the breadth of your lives, pays close attention to the
visual, the subliminal and the emotional aspects of the ceremony, and
fully engages your guests — and are therefore willing to work
with me to achieve that goal.
I don't offer
apparently low prices for a standard ceremony. A great ceremony can't
happen without a great script.
I only offer exceptional service and creative unique ceremonies at
whichever of my service
levels
best fit your needs and circumstances
Full
Service Couture Ceremony ~ Simpler Couture Ceremony ~
~No
Fuss Intimate Ceremony ~ Enchanting Elopement
I seek your input (you will have to some homework!), listen to you,
make suggestions, and then work with
you to create the
ceremony, composing a draft which I send to you for approval,
corrections and changes.
The focus of the ceremony will always be on the promises you make and
on acknowledgement and inclusion of all those who are important to you.
You will have unlimited consultations and final approval, so that, in
the end, we have the ceremony that is perfect for you, and with which
you are comfortable and familiar, so that on the day you are relaxed
and able to be in the moment as you exchange your vows.
My
fee for a
wedding ceremony
- Developing and performing a
custom-created wedding ceremony takes
commitment, creativity, knowledge and time that goes far beyond the
visible half hour of the actual ceremony.
- The invisible hours (at least 15, and
generally more, for a
full-service couture ceremony)
include:
- Initial (for all ceremony types) and
unlimited followup meetings (for full-service couture ceremonies)
with you and communicating with you by email and/or and/or email. Where
it is logistically possible, I prefer to meet face to face at least
once, but I am comfortable with using other means - email, phone or
mail - to
communicate where distance or other factors make this more convenient.
- Providing you
with information about the
legal process, the framework for the ceremony, and exploring with you
ideas and opportunities to ensure that your ceremony fits with the
overall style of your wedding celebrations but also provides substance.
- Preparing and completing all the legal
paperwork and lodging the paperwork after the ceremony
- Writing a unique ceremony that is centred
on you, reflects your love and your values, and respects and honours
your beliefs and cultural traditions
- Working through and refining the ceremony
draft
- Conducting the rehearsal (full-service
couture ceremony)
- Delivering your ceremony on the day in a
joyful, engaged and meaningful way
- Travel to and from meetings with you and
to and from the ceremony venue
- Briefing your photographer, videographer
and musicians
While fees and
services of celebrants vary widely, you would expect to pay a higher
fee for a ceremony with substance that, through both its language and
its style reflects your unique relationship, and that serves as a
blueprint for your marriage, a ceremony which supports and sets off
your
vows, like the setting of your engagement ring sets off the gem.
A cheap ceremony may not necessarily be value for money. It may
actually be quite expensive if broken down to per hour of effort put in
by the celebrant. A low fee is generally an indicator of one of two
things:
- the celebrant is a 'conveyer-belt'
celebrant, that is, he/she performs multiple ceremonies on the same
day, generally scheduled close together to maximise earnings on
high-demand days. Your ceremony will be pretty standard, and
there is a high risk that if an earlier ceremony runs late there will
be a ripple effect, compromising every subsequent ceremony on that day.
- the celebrant is attempting to gain
experience by undercutting the market and may well lack the
infrastructure and skills required to deliver a professional ceremony
in a poised, professional and engaging manner.
My fee for a Wedding ceremony (about average for the Brisbane area) is
No hidden costs,
add-ons, or extra 'surprise' charges.
Preparation of
letter for shortening of
time at no extra cost
No additional charges for meetings, a rehearsal, lodging your
application for
certified copy of your marriage certificate, keepsake copy of ceremony,
use of PA system, use of decorative pen and holder sets,
use of ring dishes, or anything other than travel beyond 100km
return and parking fees (where
required due to the nature/location of the venue).
Where additional
services are required
relating to application for a Prospective Marriage visa, there will be
a small charge.
Payment
accepted by
Cash, Cheque, Direct Deposit, and Money Order.
Full
Service
Couture Ceremony, Simpler Couture Ceremony, No Fuss
Intimate Ceremony or Enchanting Elopement?
The wedding ceremony for you is the
one that truly expresses who you are. If you are a no-fuss couple, a
couple that wants something simple, generally your choice has been to
settle for a prescripted standard wedding ceremony. But this means
that your tradeoff for simple
and cheap is standard, impersonal, and potentially soulless.
There is a another option - a no-fuss commitment ceremony conducted
by Jennifer Cram. Shorter, perhaps, Simple, yes,
Standard, absolutely not! This ceremony is available to couples
who want a quiet, private ceremony, with no more than 15 people in
attendance.
There is a world of difference between my No Fuss Intimate Ceremony
and the standard pre-scripted No Frills ceremony offered by the
Registry
Office, and by many celebrants.
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: a maximum of 15
people attending, the ceremony is shorter, thus involves less
preparation time, there is no full-caste rehearsal, and declarations
are signed immediately before the ceremony, possibly in
the presence of your guests
though in a formal way which enhances the experience for everyone. A
small CD player is available together with a selection of CDs.
Whether you choose a Full Service
Couture Ceremony, Simpler Couture Ceremony, or a No Fuss
Intimate Ceremony, the focus is on you and the promises you
make to each other. Both include a high level of engagement with
you, unlimited 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, Presentation Certificate,
use of an elegant pen and stand for signing, use of a ring dish,
and lodgement of all legal
paperwork.
A Full Service Couture Ceremony
includes a full-caste rehearsal and PA system if the number of guests
warrant it.
Signing of declarations may be incorporated into the rehearsal to give
the
moment significance. A Small
Couture Ceremony is for those who are having a limited number of
guests and simple ceremony staging, but enjoy all the advantages of the
longer Couture Ceremony. The difference is a limit on the number of
guests (40) and no rehearsal, hence there are constraints on choice of
rituals and ceremony staging .
While an average Full Service Couture Wedding 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 obligated to rush through it. The first few minutes will be very
dreamlike
for you, so if your ceremony is too short you may have no recollection
of it.
A variation of the No
Fuss Intimate Ceremony is an
Enchanting Elopement - the ideal
choice for couples who want a very private ceremony. The minimum number
of people required to be present is 5, the two of you, two independent
witnesses
and the celebrant. If required, I can arrange witnesses. For this
ceremony, I write a short but heartfelt and individual ceremony based
on your wishes. Parts of the ceremony can be unscripted, allowing
for spontaneity.
More
information:
- You
will find more details of what my services comprise, on my Fees
and Services page
- Changing
your name through marriage - information for brides
- Download Happily Ever .... Before and After:
Important information for people planning to marry
- Download a copy of the Notice of Intended Marriage (this
may be filled in online and then printed, or printed out and filled in
by hand)
- Download a Statutory Declaration Form
- Please contact
me for more
information, to arrange an obligation-free consultation, or to book a
ceremony in Brisbane, Ipswich, Pine Rivers, Caboolture, Redcliffe,
Redlands, Logan, or surrounds
- You may find some
information
about Relationship
Education and Services useful.
- Recommended
reading:
- Practical advice for how to truly make
your engagement one of the most meaningful times of your life.
- How to turn vows into realistic plans
for a long and happy marriage
- Examines how the pressure to give in to
the crowd and the associated traditions can sometimes be at odds with
what the bride and groom have decided in private. To keep our sanity
and integrity intact Wicoff says, "the way we marry matters".
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 Ceremony;
House Warming;
Launching; Divorce
Ceremony; Separation
(End-of-Relationship) Ceremonies
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