To be honest, no two ceremonies are the same but here is a commonly used order of components:

1. Housekeeping
   This all happens before the ceremony begins. You can use this time to let your guests know how you would like things to roll – use of mobile phones, cameras, social media are all important if you have a definite idea of how you want people to participate. Other important information like schedule and venue details should also be relayed here as well anything else that you feel is going to help things run smoothly.

2. Processional
   Wanting a small procession of flower children, bridesmaids or your Roller Derby teammates to walk down the aisle before you? This is what the processional is all about. Who proceeds you down the aisle and to what type of music is completely up to you.    

3. Welcoming
   This is a small welcome speech normally read by myself that we can craft together. If you were wanting to do an Acknowledgement of Country, I would suggest doing it here as well. 

4. The Escorting (or Giving Away)
   Who walks who down the aisle is completely up to you. Some people have one or both parents whereas other people have a significant person to ‘give’ them away. Or, they walk together as a couple or they both start at the front of the ceremony together and don’t walk down the aisle at all. Like I said, it’s up to you.

5. Introduction
   This is where we set the tone for how you want to talk about your commitment to each other. 

6. Your Story
   Consider this the condensed version of your love story. This is normally delivered by your celebrant and I consider it a privilege to be able to do this for you.

7. Reading(s), Music, Singing
   You select a reading or readings that reflect your relationship for friends and family to read out. Or you have somebody sing or play a special song. Get creative with it!

8. Monitum
   This is a mandatory legal statement made by the celebrant before you make your vows, ensuring you understand the legal nature of marriage.

9. The Asking
   This is where you get to say ‘I do’

10. Legal Vows
    There are minimum legal vows that must be included in your ceremony. This ensures that both of you fully understand the nature of the ceremony and that you are marrying each other. 

11. Personal Vows
    Now you can get creative and personalise what it is you want to say to each other.

12. Ring Exchange
    You can make this a stand alone section of your ceremony or add it to the vows or leave a ring exchange out altogether, it’s completely up to you.

13. The Pronouncing
    I ‘pronounce’ you partners or husband and wife or wife and wife or husband and husband … the choice is yours. 

14. The Kiss
    Go ahead, kiss! Or don’t if you feel it’s something for a private moment. 

15. The Signing of the Register
    One last formality for the day. Yourselves  and two witnesses must sign two copies of the Official Certificate of Marriage and the Form 15 Marriage Certificate. 

16. Union Ritual
    Some couples perform a small ritual here such as lighting a candle together to symbolise their newly formalised union.

17. Conclusion 
    This can be a short and sweet wrap up of the ceremony so far. We can also do a bit of housekeeping here to let guests know what is happening with photos and the venue.

18. Summing Up or Blessing
    Some couples like to have a small blessing or verse read before they are introduced.

19. Congratulations
    Big congratulations are in order by this stage and you are then introduced to your guests in the manner you have decided on together.

20. Recessional
    Cue the music as you walk back down the aisle with your wedding party in tow!

Well, that’s kind of a piece of string kind of question. Every celebrant prices their services differently. The best way to find out is to start a conversation. I have standard packages and all of my prices are available upon request.

My ceremony packages are listed in the section above this one.

My answer to this is always, yes. An an MC, I ensure that your reception runs smoothly and you aren’t bothered by vendors asking you questions about the run sheet. My background in film production has given me a great passion for a run sheet and I am well rehearsed at getting people to do what needs to be done at the right time.
Having a professional MC to oversee your reception means that neither you or your guests have the responsibility or making sure things run smoothly. You all get to kick your heels up and have fun.
You may have a friend or relative who is the life of a dinner party. They’d make a great MC, right? Ask yourself, ‘are they going to be the most appropriate person after a few glasses of wine to keep things on track?’
Like I said before, ‘I’m here to help’

As soon as possible once you have set a date and booked a venue! Us celebrants get very busy. Even if I am booked already, I have a network of wonderful celebrants that I work with through The Celebrant’s Society and I am more than happy to pass your details onto them.

Basically, there are a few things we need to do to ensure that your marriage is a legal one:

1. When you first book me, I will help you complete the Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM). This needs to be signed by you no less than 30 days prior to your wedding day. you will need to provide me with proof of place of and date of birth. Don’t worry, I will step you through this.

2. I am obliged to give you a copy of “Happily Ever … Before and After’ a booklet that is issued by the Attorney-General’s department. It outlines the obligations and consequences of marriage and states the availability of marriage education and counselling to both parties.

3. Prior to your ceremony I will ask you to sign the Declaration of No Legal Impediment (DONLI). This basically says that you understand that you are getting married and you are doing it by your own free will.

4. I will ask you separately if you give your consent freely. This verbal confirmation is important.

5. At the signing of the register during the ceremony there are three documents that must be signed you, your witnesses and myself. These are two copies of the Official Certificate of Marriage and the Form 15 which is the commemorative certificate you get to keep.

6. All paperwork must be submitted to the Births, Deaths and Marriages department in your state. Never fear, I will do this for you in the days following your ceremony.

The short answer to this is, ‘No.’ You are more than welcome to have religious readings or hymns as part of your ceremony but I cannot proclaim anything in the name of any religious deity. With great respect, I leave all of the religious ceremonial things to the people who have dedicated their lives to their religion.