Just as we kicked off the new year, full of excitement for what it had in store, a global pandemic stopped the world in its tracks. Nobody saw it coming, yet COVID-19 hit so many of us hard.
Lives have been changed, jobs have been lost and the wedding industry certainly has never seen more uncertain times. Plans and dreams that were years in the making - suddenly brought to a screeching halt.
Read MoreHow do you know your wedding ceremony was a success and pulled at all the heart strings? You’ll have laughed, cried and probably overhear your guests reminiscing “That was so sweet and so them!”.
Fine-tuning your ceremony to achieve the perfect balance between personal, emotional and fun is my area of expertise. It can however become quite tricky when couples want a personalised wedding that’s all about them, celebrates their story and their interests; but they give me hardly anything to work with.
Read MoreCustomised photo albums, videos, framed images and #instafeeds are all awesome mementos of your special day.
But what if I told you there’s another way to keep those memories alive? Get your wedding featured in a bridal magazine and enjoy seeing your love story carefully crafted into a beautiful, editorial keepsake to share with your family and friends.
Read MoreHands down the best thing at your wedding, apart from tying the knot, is seeing your guests’ faces light up when you surprise them with something unexpected. And, adding that startle effect will also give you something to talk about for years to come.
Below I’ve summarised some of my favourite things to do; but really, when it comes to adding that wow factor, the only limit is your imagination.
Read MoreWith a capacity of over 20,000 Central Coast Stadium hosts a wide range of events including International Rugby Union, National Rugby League and National A-League Football matches; boxing, and motor cross. It even has a few open-air rock concerts under its festival belt.
But why, you might wonder, am I talking about a sporting venue on my celebrant blog? Because this epic venue also played host to one of my all-time favourite weddings. Arna and Matt, the first couple to ever do so, tied the knot at Central Coast Stadium in October last year and I am still pinching myself that this wedding actually happened for real.
Read MoreWhether it’s dating, shopping or planning the next big holiday, tapping into the latest technology to make things easier and more fun has become pretty common place.
Your wedding doesn’t have to be an exception. There are so many gadgets, apps and ideas on the market that can help with the planning and smooth delivery of your big day… or at the very least, they’ll add a bit of fun.
Read on and find a collection of my favourite tech wedding trends for this season.
Read MoreIt’s my favourite time of year – proposal season!
For many brides and grooms their engagement is one of the most memorable and romantic moments in their lives. Often when I first meet my couples and ask them to share their engagement story, I can literally feel the love they have for each other.
From carefully planned, to totally spontaneous, a proposal sets the stage for your incredible journey towards getting married.
Here’s one of my favourite stories to celebrate the season!
Read MoreJess and Todd met at a fancy-dress rooftop party on a beautiful spring day. Fast forward eight years, many shared adventures and a proposal later, and I had the absolute pleasure of being their wedding celebrant at their totally romantic Ardeena wedding this April.
I’m so excited to introduce you to Jess and Todd and I’m sure you’ll draw a lot of inspiration from their gorgeous, boho wedding.
Read MoreWhen it comes to the words you say on your big day, the more personal the better!
Gone are the days when couples had no control over their vows or the style of their ceremony. No one wants to sit through an hour-long sermon, or turn up to watch another celebrant read the same lines and poems they’ve delivered a hundred times before.
Quite contrary, the trend today is to create very personal vows. Modern brides are looking for ideas, inspiration and those unique, modern twists on the traditional wedding.
Below, I reveal my four top tips to help you create wedding vows that are truly heartfelt and unique.
Read MoreIt’s undeniable that today’s brides are more conscious than ever of the need to think eco-friendly when planning their wedding.
Sustainability is a way of life, and your nuptials should be no exception. There are so many options to help reduce your eco-footprint. From choosing local suppliers to opting for organic make-up, creating a ‘greener wedding’ is really easy to achieve one decision at a time.
When it comes to sustainable wedding planning, there are some great celebrity examples. Remember Natalie Portman and Benjamin Millepied’s vegan wedding in 2012? Or Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank, who made their wedding a completely plastic free celebration?
To help you get hitched in a more eco-friendly way, I’ve gathered my top industry tips for a sustainable wedding.
Read MoreGetting married is one of the most exciting times in your life.
There’s the proposal, the engagement party, the dress shopping, the wedding planning. Suddenly your life becomes a whirlwind of decisions and things to do that are loads of fun, but also totally exhausting!
When it comes to getting organised, a run sheet is one of the must-have items for your wedding day. Also known as a running order or an event order - a wedding day runsheet is a document that helps everyone know how you want your big day to play out. It starts from the moment you first wake up and ends with your guests leaving the venue at the end of the night.
I’ve caught up with Yvette Sitters, founder of Manage My Wedding, to get her tips on writing a fool-proof and fun wedding day run sheet.
Read MoreCongratulations, you’re getting married!
More than likely, this is the first and only time you’ll ever plan your own wedding. And, let’s face it - it’s not every day you have to shop around for a wedding celebrant!
Google, Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest are great ways to start getting to know the best celebrants in your area. But, once you’ve made a little shortlist of your favourite people, what next?
The first rule of thumb is to really focus on choosing a celebrant you trust. When meeting for the first time, listen to your ‘gut’ feeling. If you instantly click and it feels just right, don’t hesitate. Book it in!
Read MoreGuest blog by Emma Scott, For Love and Living - boutique wedding planning, styling and hire service
For Love and Living has been creating design concepts for Love Story Ceremonies for the past year.
When Jo Hurley first approached us to create beautiful spaces for her to demonstrate her work as a celebrant, it was a no- brainer to create a series of stunning, modern wedding arbour installations. We designed these arbours to represent the intimate moment Jo shares as a celebrant with her real-life couples on their wedding day.
Read MoreYour wedding music will create the mood for your whole event. Picture your guests arriving and imagine the experience you want them to have. A visually beautiful wedding takes on a whole new feel when it is enhanced by a beautiful sound.
Maybe music is high on your priority list, or maybe you haven’t even given it a second thought. One thing is for sure, if you aren’t involved in weddings every day, it can be easy to mess up this crucial element of your big day.
To help make your day unforgettable, I’ve revealed my top wedding music tips
Read MoreOver the past few weeks, we’ve been looking at the finer details of this year’s MAFS weddings and locations. The final installment on this journey takes us to three beautiful club-style weddings with a difference.
Come and join as at Mike and Heidi’s nuptials at the Byron Surf Life Saving Club as well as Sam and Elizabeth’s and Melissa and Dino’s weddings at the Sydney Polo Club.
Image: Byron Bay Surf Club by Pavilion Marquees
Read MoreOver the past couple of weeks we’ve stepped back in time and taken a closer look at the gorgeous styling and locations of this year’s parkland- and country chic-inspired Married At First Sight weddings.
Today we are all about elegance, delving into the finer details of Martha and Michael’s wedding at Regent Theatre in Melbourne and Nic and Cyrell’s nuptials at Curzon Hall in Marsfield.
Read MoreWedding season is still in full swing and what better way to get in the mood, than delving into the themes, locations and styling ideas Married at First Sight has brought to our screens this year.
Today, we go country-chic and check out Ines and Bronson’s wedding at Forget Me Not, Mick and Jessika’s nuptials at Gurragawee Eco Venue and Matthew and Lauren’s celebration at Earth House.
Read MoreAustralia’s favourite, romantic reality TV show is back! And, while Married At First Sight dishes up all the drama, romance and heartbreak, it is also an awesome resource for wedding inspo.
Much to our dismay the show all but brushed over the getting married part. So, we’ve decided to rewind time and take a closer look at the range of gorgeous locations and themes that set the scene for this year’s MAFS nuptials.
Image: Garden House, by Atlantic Group
Read MoreSunny days, late nights, gentle breezes and the odd storm… summer has definitely arrived. And, with everyone in holiday mode, no wonder this time of year is a favourite for proposals and weddings!
If you’re planning a summer wedding, here are my top tips to make the most of what summer has to offer.
Read MoreWhether you call the Gold Coast home, or are planning a destination wedding, our beautiful backyard really is the perfect setting for your big day.
Imagine saying ‘I do’ nestled against the rugged mountain backdrop of the Gold Coast hinterland, or while you dig your toes into the warm sands of our pristine beaches. You might even want to sail away to a secluded island just off the coast. The options really are endless and exciting…
Below are some of my top local insights to help you start planning your dream Gold Coast wedding.
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