Wedding Ceremonies ...

created & performed to your specifications
by 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
 
Photograph by Liam Kidston
Certificate features font chosen by couple
to reflect the Mediaeval theme of their ceremony

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.
                                           
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.

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.


 
Photograph by Maestro Wedding Photography




M&P-GayundahArboretum
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:
  1. 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.
  2. 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
  3. The heart of the ceremony—exchanging the vows and rings—brings the focus down to the bride and groom
  4. Widening the focus—to include family and community, perhaps by a symbolic ritual
  5. 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:
  • 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
Coin Ritual
 
To ensure a really memorable, heartfelt and unique ceremony, it is vital that you choose a celebrant who
Factors to consider when choosing your celebrant
    • 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  ~ Small Couture Ceremony ~
~No Fuss Intimate Ceremony ~  Enchanting Elopement

I seek your input, 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 traditionsNo-Fuss Intimate Wedding
  • 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, Small 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, Small 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.

jennifer cram civil celebrant brisbane queensland australia


More information: 


Brisbane - Ipswich -  Logan - -Pine Rivers - Caboolture - Redcliffe - Redlands
Phone: +61 7 3378 3005 
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