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Comparing AI meeting assistants: Granola and Zoom

Comparing AI meeting assistants: Granola and Zoom

I am obsessed with trying to optimise my productivity whilst maintaing a really high delivery of value to my customers. Simply because I have a wife and two children, six chickens and two rabbits, that I also want to devote time to.

So you might guess that I’m obsessed with getting as much assistance in my business as possible and considering how many video calls I take, an AI assistant to help me take notes through those meetings is high on my list.

Today I got on a Zoom call with Alex and Tim (names changed for privacy) and I thought you might appreciate seeing the comparison between Zoom’s built-in AI assistant and a new one I’ve been trialling: Granola.

Granola

Granola AI assistant

Granola bills itself as “The AI notepad for people in back-to-back meetings” promising to “aket your raw meeting notes and makes them awesome” and I’ll admit, I forgot that I could take notes inside Granola in the middle of the meeting to serve as an additional help, so that could have made Granola’s notes better.

As a person in the meeting, I rate Granola’s notes better than Zoom’s and had of I actually taken notes, I think they’d be even better.

The Zoom AI summary

Meeting summary for Josh Withers’s Personal Meeting Room (xxxx)
Quick recap
Josh and Tim discussed their pre-marriage paperwork, upcoming trip to New Zealand, and plans for an Australian marriage certificate. They also talked about the importance of authenticity and honesty in their wedding ceremony, and the weather conditions in Queenstown. Lastly, they discussed their accommodation for the trip and the attire they would wear, with Josh promising to finish the rest of their paperwork and send a copy for review.

Next steps
• Josh to complete and send the finalized pre-marriage paperwork to Tim and Alex for review.
• Josh to book flights and confirm dates for the Australian legal marriage paperwork signing in Sydney.
• Tim and Alex to prepare personal vows for the wedding ceremony.
• Josh to send the final timeline for the wedding day to Tim and Alex.
• Tim and Alex to consider bringing warm clothing options for potential cold weather during the ceremony.

Summary
Pre-Marriage Paperwork and New Zealand Trip
Josh and Tim had a brief meeting where they discussed their pre-marriage paperwork. Josh offered to help Tim and his partner with the paperwork, which could be completed electronically. They also discussed their upcoming trip to New Zealand, with Tim mentioning that they would be arriving on xxxx. Tim shared his occupation as a support worker and their current address in Australia. The meeting was scheduled to last until xxxx, but Tim had a medical appointment at the same time.

Pre-Marriage Paperwork and Witnessing
Josh and Tim discussed the pre-marriage paperwork, which Josh would send to Tim via email. Josh explained that the link would expire quickly to minimize the exposure of personal data. Tim confirmed that he and his partner both use Macs. Josh also mentioned that he would witness their signing and would double-check the paperwork before sending it.

Upcoming Travel and Signature Issues
Josh and Tim discussed their upcoming plans, including a trip to New Zealand and potential dates for an Australian marriage certificate. They agreed to finalize the date after their return from New Zealand, with options in xxxx and xxxx. Tim also mentioned a signature issue, which Josh suggested could be resolved by digitizing the signature. They agreed to send the necessary paperwork via an expiring link for Josh to review and sign.

Event Timeline and Accommodation Plans
Josh and Tim discussed a timeline for an event, which Tim confirmed Britt would send by xxxx. They also talked about accommodation for the event, with Tim mentioning they had booked an Airbnb near the Remarkables. Josh expressed his admiration for the area, calling it a remarkable part of the world.

Authenticity and Personal Vows in Wedding
Josh and Tim discussed the importance of authenticity and honesty in their upcoming wedding ceremony. Josh emphasized the need for personal vows that reflect their genuine feelings towards each other. Tim agreed and mentioned that he had some notes but planned to finalize them closer to the wedding date. They both agreed on the idea of planning the ceremony with a pragmatic approach, allowing for a more heartfelt and emotional experience.

Queenstown Trip Planning and Weather
Josh and Tim discussed their upcoming trip to Queenstown. Josh offered to provide recommendations and assistance, but Tim indicated they were easy-going and would prefer to talk to locals on the ground. They also discussed the weather conditions in Queenstown, with Josh mentioning that it could be warm or cold in xxxx. Tim asked about any potential trespassing issues, to which Josh assured him they would be respectful of landowners. They also discussed the attire for the trip, with Tim mentioning he would wear hiking boots and climbing pants. Josh advised Tim to bring something warm for potential cold days. The conversation ended with Josh promising to finish the rest of their paperwork and send a copy for review.

Granola AI summary

Zoom xxxx Alex Burns and Tim Tai’s elopement xxxx

Key Meeting Details
* Meeting with Alex Burns and Tim Tai regarding their elopement
* Date: xxxx
* Location: Zoom call
* Limited time due to medical appointments at xxxx

Pre-Marriage Paperwork
* Notice of Intent completed during call
* Alex’s occupation: Support worker
* Current address: xxxx
* Tim has previous marriage (divorce date: xxxx)
* Electronic signatures collected via secure expiring link
* Will need to complete Australian legal marriage paperwork after 1 month

New Zealand Elopement Details
* Travel dates: Arriving xxxx (3 days before ceremony)
* Location: Near The Remarkables, Queenstown
* Accommodation: Airbnb near Jack’s Point
* Timeline:
* xxxx arrival
* xxxx ceremony and portraits
* xxxx finish
* Transportation: Couple renting a car

Ceremony Planning & Logistics
* Multiple location options available depending on weather:
* Jack’s Point area (waterfront, fields)
* Crown Range (alternative weather option)
* Corona Peak area
* Attire:
* Alex wearing ice cream colored dress
* Tim wearing climbing pants and grey top
* Recommended to bring warm layers/blankets due to unpredictable weather
* Personal vows encouraged but can be written close to the date
* Next steps:
* Await detailed timeline from coordinator
* Schedule Australian legal paperwork signing (options in xxxx/xxxx)
* Josh to confirm Sydney travel dates

Chat with meeting transcript: xxxx

What to do about Bark.com

What to do about Bark.com

I’ll hazard a guess that Celebrant Institute members and other celebrant colleagues have been battered with marketing and emails from Bark.com over the past month as I have been. I wanted to explain what they do, so you can make an informed decision about joining them – or any other website like them – and then I have a closing idea on how to get rid of them forever.

Who is Bark?

Bark is an aggregator.

Screenshot of an email sent to Josh Withers from Bark

What is an aggregator?

Ben Thompson’s Aggregation Theory outlines how the internet has fundamentally shifted value creation in industries. He defines it as follows:

Aggregation Theory is the process by which companies in the internet age achieve dominance by aggregating users, leveraging a direct relationship with them, and controlling demand rather than supply.

In the wedding industry, applying Aggregation Theory can illuminate how consumer behaviour, supplier relationships, and market control have evolved.

Here’s how the core tenets of the theory manifest in the field of weddings and celebrancy: how couples (end users) interact with celebrants/vendors.

Traditionally, wedding planning relied heavily on word-of-mouth recommendations, in-person consultations, and localised marketplaces.

Now, platforms like Instagram, Pinterest, and wedding vendor aggregators (e.g., Bark, OneFlare, Celebrante, or Easy Weddings) act as points of discovery and interaction.

These platforms aggregate demand by becoming the go-to resource for couples, offering inspiration, tools, and direct vendor access.

What does Bark do?

There are no secret stashes of couples (brides and grooms) that Bark has exclusive access to. Bark is getting their leads from the same place you and I are getting – or want to get – them from. They are sitting alongside our Google search results, Meta Ads, etc.

Screenshot of an email sent to Josh Withers from Bark

So their game is to use their brand strength, marketing knowledge, muscle, and investment dollars, to outspend you – in either dollars or time – until they convince you to pay them instead of Google.

You get to choose because Bark (OneFlare, Easy Weddings, all of them) and you are fishing from the same pond. You can get the fish directly or from the aggregators.

How can we end this?

I don’t care for other companies complicating the ‘choosing a celebrant’ process, I just want the right people to find me and book me for what I do and who I am. Not because I’m on Bark or Easy Weddings.

So the easiest way to eliminate these money-wasting companies that want to get in between us and our couples is to simply take the oxygen out of the room: stop paying.

Do not buy the packs, do not buy the credits. The people allegedly frantically looking for a celebrant will indeed go to Google and search on their own.

If we stop paying all these aggregators they’ll simply stop trying, and once again the Google ads space will be freed up for you and I to advertise in.

Now we just need to figure out how to stop writing cheques to California to run our business, but that’s a problem for another day.


P.S. The last time I did this was in 2014 and Yellowpages included my name and also generic celerbancy terms in a billboard ‘search with Yellow’ campaign I’m guessing to try and convince people to use Yellow to book me?

Can you marry a step-sibling, in-law, or an uncle in Australia?

Can you marry a step-sibling, in-law, or an uncle in Australia?

A mother of a bride asks one of our members:

I understand step siblings even if they did not meet until later in life cannot marry I got married a few years ago. My daughter and my husbands son met at an event we held, fell in love and now want to marry. I have recently become aware that under the marriage act they are considered to be related If I divorced my husband and was therefore no longer married, would I be considered a de facto? If so our children are not related by marriage or as defectors would they still be considered related? Given these circumstances could they marry? Would really appreciate your advice. My daughter is excited about her engagement and she will be crushed if she cannot marry. I’d be happy to divorce if it meant she can marry. My husband and I have had our wedding and it would be no sacrifice for us. I just need to know that it would not be in vain.

Who can get legally married in Australia?

To be legally married in Australia, a person must:

  • not be married to someone else
  • not be marrying a parent, grandparent, child, grandchild or sibling
  • be at least eighteen years old, unless a court has approved a marriage where one party is aged between sixteen and eighteen years old
  • understand what marriage means and freely consent to marrying
  • use specific words during the ceremony
  • give written notice of their intention to marry to their celebrant, within the required time frame.

Gender, religion, citizenship, place of birth, politics, skin colour, wealth, do not play a role at all.

Can you be related and get married in Australia?

The following relatives can not get married by lawe in Australia:

  • a person and an ancestor or descendant of the person
  • a brother and a sister (whether of the whole blood or the half-blood)
  • a person who is or was an adopted child, and, for that purpose, the relationship between an adopted child and the adoptive parent, or each of the adoptive parents, of the child, shall be deemed to be or to have been the natural relationship of child and parent.

Which basically translates to this: you cannot marry your parent, great/grandparent, child, or great/grandchild, brother or sister, blood or adopted.

So the other side of that list leads you here. Which relatives can get married in Australia?

  • uncles or aunties
  • cousins, first, second, and onwards
  • step-siblings or step-children
  • in-laws
  • foster siblings or children
  • almost all other people

I’m not here to judge, just here to read the law and help you understand it.

Meet Enclosed, the new best and secure way to send marriage paperwork

Meet Enclosed, the new best and secure way to send marriage paperwork

Join me once more as we talk about marriage celebrant security, something that’s both mundane and critical: how we share marriage paperwork with our clients.

Traditionally, we’ve relied on email—it’s fast, familiar, and convenient. But the catch is it’s not safe. Emails stick around, unencrypted and vulnerable to breaches, and the sensitive information in marriage paperwork deserves better.

That’s why Enclosed, a free service for Celebrant Institute members, is a game-changer. It’s the simplest, most secure way to send sensitive documents without the hassle of usernames, passwords, or software installations.

Sarah and I liked this so much that we’re paying for it so Celebrant Institute members can access and use it in their business every day.

Let me unpack for you why Enclosed should be part of your celebrant toolkit.

The Hidden Dangers of Email

Email is fine for sending schedules or saying, “Great working with you!” But for sensitive documents like NOIMs or marriage certificates/DONLIMs to check, it’s a problem waiting to happen.

Here’s why:

1. Emails Don’t Disappear

Even when you delete an email, it often lingers on servers or in backups. That means your clients’ personal information could be accessible long after the ceremony. A forgotten email today could be a security nightmare tomorrow. Data kept is data that can be stolen or compromised.

2. Easy Targets for Hackers

Email accounts are one of the most frequently targeted entry points for hackers. If a hacker gets into your or your clients’ inbox, they’ve hit a goldmine of personal details that could lead to identity theft.

3. What’s in That Paperwork?

Think about the details in a marriage document: full names, addresses, birthdates, and more. This isn’t just “sensitive” information—it’s the kind of data that, if leaked, could seriously harm your clients and your reputation.

Why Enclosed is the Answer

Enclosed is a beautifully simple solution: upload a document, get a unique link, and share it.

No usernames. No passwords. No software or app installations. Just a secure link that expires after the time you choose: 1 hour, 1 day, or 1 week.

Yes, Enclosed gives you the option to set a password for extra security. But in my humble opinion, it’s often unnecessary. The unique link itself is enough. The chances of a hacker guessing or intercepting that link in the short time it’s active are incredibly low. You’re already leaps ahead in security compared to email.

This isn’t just a gimmick. Enclosed uses AES-GCM 256-bit encryption—essentially, military-grade security. From the moment you upload a file, it’s encrypted, ensuring only your intended recipient can view it.

Here’s the kicker: neither Sarah nor I (Josh) can see what’s uploaded. We don’t have an admin dashboard, a backdoor, or even a clue about who’s using the service. It’s designed this way deliberately. The only people who can access your files are you and the person you share the link with. That’s it.

Sarah and I are, however, using this every day for sending NOIMs, DONLIMs, OCMs, and other important documents to our clients and couples. We’ve been using it for months to make sure it works as we hope for and how we would promise it to you.

Why Celebrants Need This Level of Security

1. Protect Your Clients’ Trust

When couples hire you, they’re not just paying for a ceremony—they’re trusting you with deeply personal moments and details. Handling their paperwork securely reinforces that trust.

2. A Modern Professional Edge

Using a service like Enclosed isn’t just about avoiding risks; it’s about showing you’re ahead of the curve. It says, “I care about your privacy and I’m using the best tools available.”

3. Meet Legal Standards

In an era of tightening data protection laws, secure document handling isn’t just best practice—it’s becoming a legal requirement in many places. With Enclosed, you’re not just being safe; you’re being compliant.

A Quick Guide to Using Enclosed

  1. Go to the Website
    Visit https://enclosed.celebrant.institute and save it as a bookmark on your device. It works on all computers, mobile devices, tablets, phones, along with Windows, Mac, and Linux computers.
  2. Upload Your Files
    Drag and drop the documents you need to send. Select how long you want the link to be active, one hour, day, week, or month, keeping in mind that many couples are busy so one hour or day might not be long enough.
  3. Decide on a Password (Optional)
    If you want an extra layer of security, set a password. But remember, the unique link created at the end is usually secure enough. This is called security by obscurity.
  4. Copy the Link and Share It
    Share the link via email or messaging. Let your client know the link’s expiration time.

Why Enclosed is a Good Choice

Other secure file-sharing services often require accounts, apps, or learning curves that clients find annoying. Enclosed cuts out the complexity. It’s a one-and-done process that feels just as easy as email—but infinitely more secure.

Encliosed is well document, open source, and you can even run your own version of it if you like. Find it on Github and it’s documentation is really well done and worth reading whether you want to use our install or make your own. We’re paying to host it for members to use as part of their regular membership fee.

Sending sensitive marriage paperwork securely isn’t just about avoiding worst-case scenarios—it’s about raising the bar for how we serve our clients. Enclosed makes it ridiculously easy to handle this part of your job with professionalism and care.

It’s free for Celebrant Institute members, so what are you waiting for?

Head to https://enclosed.celebrant.institute and start sharing securely today.

Your clients—and your future self—will thank you.

How to remotely witness a Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM) form

How to remotely witness a Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM) form

Jake asks:

“When I get couples to sign via video chat it’s pretty clunky and I’d rather it be less clunky. I’d love to know the best ways to arrange the e-signing of the NoIM”

How to Remotely Witness a NOIM over video call

Remote witnessing of a Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM) form is one of the most significant updates to celebrant practices in recent years.

It offers flexibility for couples and celebrants while maintaining strict legal standards under the Marriage Act 1961. In this guide, we’ll cover the precise legal requirements, step-by-step instructions, and practical tips to ensure everything is done correctly and smoothly.

The Legal Framework for Remote Witnessing

As of June 12, 2024, amendments to the Marriage Act 1961 have made remote witnessing of the NOIM form a permanent option. Celebrants can use audio-visual technology to witness the signing of the NOIM under the following conditions:

  • Both the celebrant and the couple must be physically located within Australia during the video call.
  • Celebrants cannot witness NOIMs remotely for couples located overseas. In such cases, other authorised witnesses, such as consular officers, must be used.
  • The celebrant must see the original identification documents (e.g., passports, driver’s licences) held up to the camera during the video call. Copies are not sufficient unless they accompany the live sighting of the originals.
  • The signing of the NOIM form must occur during the live video call, with the celebrant observing the process in real time.

These provisions ensure compliance while allowing for the convenience of remote access.

Step-by-Step Guide to Remote Witnessing

1. Preparation Before the Video Call

Proper preparation sets the foundation for a smooth process:

  • Provide Instructions: Send the couple a detailed email explaining the process, including what documents they need (e.g., passports, birth certificates, divorce certificates) and how to prepare for the video call.
  • Request Preliminary Documentation: Ask the couple to send scans of their identification and supporting documents securely through Enclosed by the Celebrant Institute. This secure document system allows couples to upload documents with an expiry of one hour, one day, one week, or one month. Enclosed encrypts the documents at upload and ensures only the recipient with the unique link can access them, offering far more security than email or postal mail.
  • Confirm the Technology: Agree on a video conferencing platform, such as FaceTime, Zoom, Google Meet, or Microsoft Teams, and ensure both parties are comfortable using it.
  • Schedule a Test Run: Conduct a brief test call with a friend or colleague to troubleshoot potential issues, such as internet connectivity or camera clarity.

2. During the Video Call

The live session is where the legal requirements are fulfilled. Follow these steps carefully:

  • Verify the Couple’s Identity: Ask each party to hold their original identification documents (e.g., passports or driver’s licences) up to the camera. Compare these with the preliminary scans they sent earlier to confirm authenticity.
  • Explain the Process: Walk the couple through the process of signing the NOIM and confirm that they understand what they are signing. Ensure they confirm their understanding verbally.
  • Observe the Signing: Each party should sign the NOIM in view of the camera, ensuring that you can see the entire process in real time.
  • Document the Session: Take notes during the call, including the date, time, and details of the documents sighted.

3. After the Video Call

Once the video session is complete, the process doesn’t end there:

  • Securely Receive the Original NOIM: Ask the couple to upload the signed NOIM via Enclosed, ensuring secure and encrypted transfer. Alternatively, they can mail or email the document, but this method is less secure and slower.
  • Store Supporting Documents: Retain copies of their NOIM and any supporting documentation in line with your record-keeping obligations. Use Enclosed for ongoing document exchange when required.
  • Confirm Receipt: Notify the couple when you receive the NOIM and let them know the next steps in the Australian marriage process.

Additional Legal Requirements

As part of the changes to the Marriage Act 1961, celebrants must now meet separately and in person with each party before the marriage ceremony to confirm their free and voluntary consent. This meeting can occur any time up to and including the day of the marriage ceremony.

Keep this requirement in mind when scheduling meetings, as it is a critical part of ensuring the validity of the marriage.

Best Practices

  • Keep Detailed Records: Document every step of the remote witnessing process, including the date and time of the call, the technology used, the identification documents sighted, and any observations made during the session.
  • Use Secure Systems: For document sharing, always use secure systems like Enclosed. This ensures sensitive information is protected and only accessible to authorised parties.
  • Be Thorough with Instructions: Provide couples with clear, step-by-step guidance on how to prepare for the video call, including technical requirements and document preparation.
  • Use Reliable Technology: Opt for well-known and reliable video conferencing platforms to minimise technical disruptions.
  • Stay Updated: Keep up with any further changes to the legislation or best practices for remote witnessing.

Remote witnessing of the NOIM is a practical and modern solution for celebrants and couples, but it requires careful attention to legal requirements and thorough preparation. By using secure systems like Enclosed and following this detailed guide, you can ensure a smooth and compliant process that makes the experience stress-free for your couples.

For further reading and updates, visit the Celebrant Institute blog.

Preparing Your Celebrancy Practice for 2025

Preparing Your Celebrancy Practice for 2025

As we analyse the latest consumer behaviour data from the USA, clear trends are emerging that will likely influence the Australian wedding market.

Here’s how you can position your celebrancy practice to meet evolving couple expectations in 2025.

Social Media Evolution

What’s Happening: Younger couples (Gen Z and Millennials) are increasingly documenting their entire wedding journey, not just the day itself. 74% say they’re “very likely” or “somewhat likely” to share special moments on social media.

Ideas for how you can respond or meet them here:

  • Create a dedicated space in your ceremony planning process to discuss which moments couples want captured, and how you can aid or create those moments
  • Position yourself during key ceremony moments (like ring exchanges) to ensure you’re not blocking the photographer/videographer shots
  • Consider investing in a quality lapel mic for better ceremony video audio recording
  • Develop an Instagram and TikTok content strategy showcasing ceremony moments (with couple permission)
  • Include a “social media moments” section in your ceremony planning questionnaire

The Experience Economy

Modern consumers are willing to invest time and money in unique experiences, with 74% saying waiting for quality experiences was “worth it.”

How can you make changes in your business accordingly?

  • Create distinct ceremony packages beyond the standard offering
  • Develop unique ceremony elements that set you apart (e.g., special rituals, unique delivery styles)
  • Consider offering premium, limited-availability dates at higher rates
  • Create “experience add-ons” like rehearsal dinner speeches or pre-wedding storytelling sessions
  • Document and share your unique ceremony elements through your marketing

Authenticity & Transparency

Couples are increasingly valuing authentic experiences and transparent business practices.

What changes could you make?

  • Publish clear, transparent pricing on your website
  • Share your genuine personality through your marketing
  • Create behind-the-scenes content showing your ceremony preparation process
  • Write detailed blog posts about your ceremony creation process
  • Include video content of you conducting ceremonies (with permission) to show your authentic style

Digital Integration

Consumers expect seamless digital experiences throughout their customer journey.

How can you update your processes?

  • Implement digital contract signing
  • Create a user-friendly online booking system
  • Develop a mobile-friendly ceremony planning portal
  • Offer virtual consultation options for interstate or regional couples
  • Use project management tools to keep couples updated on ceremony progress

Health & Wellness Awareness

Couples are more conscious of wellness and mental health in their wedding planning.

Can you make space for them?

  • Incorporate mindfulness moments into your ceremonies
  • Offer ceremony anxiety management techniques
  • Create resources for managing wedding day nerves
  • Consider offering outdoor ceremony expertise for couples seeking open-air options
  • Include wellness tips in your client communications

Personalisation Expectations

Couples expect highly personalised experiences that reflect their unique story.

Imagine making your very personal business even more personal.

  • Develop a comprehensive couple questionnaire that captures their unique story
  • Create a ceremony element library that couples can mix and match
  • Offer specialised ceremonies for different cultural backgrounds
  • Develop skills in incorporating family traditions
  • Create resources showing different ceremony styles and options

Sustainability Focus

Environmental consciousness is increasingly important to couples.

How eco can you go?

  • Offer paperless contract and planning options
  • Develop expertise in eco-friendly ceremony elements
  • Create sustainable ceremony packages
  • Partner with eco-conscious suppliers
  • Share tips for reducing ceremony environmental impact

Marketing Strategy Development

Marketing your celebrancy practice in an AI/GEO driven world continues to be a struggle for small and solo operators.

How can you develop further/?

  • Create short-form video content showcasing your ceremony style
  • Develop relationships with wedding photographers for content sharing
  • Build a strong Google Business Profile with regular updates and reviews
  • Create shareable ceremony moment content
  • Develop a consistent posting schedule across platforms

Business Development Focus

The way we do business will continue to change if only because as we vintage, our target demographic remains the same age.

To-do list:

  • Review and potentially restructure your pricing for 2025
  • Create clear service tiers with distinct value propositions
  • Develop strategic partnerships with complementary suppliers
  • Invest in professional development in emerging ceremony trends
  • Create systems for gathering and showcasing client testimonials

As we move into 2025, celebrants who adapt to these evolving consumer preferences while maintaining their authentic approach will be best positioned for success. Remember that while trends provide valuable insights, your unique personality and ceremony style remain your strongest assets.

Remember to stay compliant with the marriage laws and regulations while implementing these suggestions, and consider discussing major business changes with your professional advisor or mentor.

Apple’s Business Connect, now accepting marriage celebrants

Apple’s Business Connect, now accepting marriage celebrants

In an exciting development for Aussie marriage celebrants, Apple has announced new features that could help make your business more professional and trustworthy in the eyes of potential clients using Apple devices like iPhones.

The expansion of Apple Business Connect, along with the introduction of Branded Mail, offers valuable tools for celebrants to enhance their digital presence and client communications.

Screenshot of Apple Business Connect's website

What is Apple Business Connect?

Apple Business Connect is a free tool that allows businesses of all sizes—including sole traders like marriage celebrants—to manage how they appear across Apple’s ecosystem.

Previously limited to businesses with physical locations, this service has now been expanded to include service-based businesses like ours.

Why This Matters for Celebrants

As marriage celebrants, much of our business comes from digital interactions and referrals.

Having a verified, professional presence across Apple’s platforms (used by over 1 billion people) can help:

  • Build trust with potential clients
  • Make your business appear more professional
  • Improve your visibility in Apple Maps and other Apple services
  • Create a consistent brand presence across all client touchpoints

The Game-Changing Branded Mail Feature

One of the most exciting new features is Branded Mail, which will be rolling out later this year.

This feature allows your business name and logo to appear prominently in clients’ iPhone Mail apps, making your emails instantly recognisable and more professional.

Benefits for Celebrants:

  • Your emails will stand out in clients’ inboxes
  • Increased legitimacy and professionalism
  • Better email open rates as clients can easily identify your communications
  • Reduced chance of important emails being missed or marked as spam

Coming in 2025: Business Caller ID

Another valuable feature launching next year is Business Caller ID. When you call clients, your business name, logo, and department will appear on their iPhone’s incoming call screen. This feature could be particularly useful when:

  • Following up with potential clients
  • Making important ceremony planning calls
  • Conducting phone consultations
  • Reaching out to couples about time-sensitive matters

How to Get Started

Setting up your business on Apple Business Connect is straightforward and free. Here’s how to get started:

  1. Visit the Apple Business Connect website
  2. Sign in with your Apple ID (or create one if needed)
  3. Register your business
  4. Verify your business information
  5. Add your logo and business details
  6. Sign up for Branded Mail (available now for registration)

Required Materials:

Best Practices

To make the most of these new features:

  • Use a professional, high-quality logo in a square icon format
  • Ensure your business information is consistent across all platforms
  • Keep your contact details up to date
  • Consider adding professional photos of your ceremonies (with couple permission)
  • Include relevant categories and keywords in your business description

Privacy and Security

For celebrants concerned about privacy, it’s worth noting that Apple maintains strict privacy standards. Your business information is only displayed when you actively contact clients through registered channels, and you control what information is shared.

These new Apple features represent a significant opportunity for us to enhance our professional presence and improve client communications. By getting set up early, you’ll be ready to take advantage of these tools as they roll out, potentially giving you an edge in an increasingly competitive market.

SA BDM unilaterally modifying the NOIM…

SA BDM unilaterally modifying the NOIM…

A few weeks ago, 9 October to be exact, one of our members alerted me to a change on the NOIMs produced by the South Australian BDM’s online registration system. They had inserted a checkbox on page 5 that read “I confirm I met separately with each party before the marriage was solemnised to confirm they were entering into marriage voluntarily and freely.”

SA BDM NOIM with new separate meetings checkbox

At first glance, this might look like a good and useful thing to add to the NOIM. It would be useful for us to have to check a box somewhere confirming we had those new separate meetings that are required by the changes to the Marriage Act from June 2024. We even talked about it at the MLCS/Associations meeting back in May, and I imagine it will be up for discussion again at tomorrow’s meeting.

The problem is that SA BDM went ahead and modified a legal form off their own bat, and that isn’t allowed. Section 119 of the Marriage Act 1961 says:

(1) The Minister may, in writing, approve a form for the purpose of a provision of this Act or the regulations. If the Minister approves a form, that form must be used [emphasis added].

Anyone other than the Minister can’t just go around changing legal forms prescribed under the Act because they feel like it. That’s not how this works. If we start allowing things like this to pass by the keeper, who knows what else will start happening.

I may be unpopular for this, but I wrote to MLCS about this issue and finally got a response today (13 November):

Thank you so much for alerting us to the inclusion of a checkbox on the NOIM by the South Australian registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages. As you correctly note, the NOIM can be modified only by the Minister, or the Minister’s delegate.

We have reached out to the BDM registry in South Australian and are advised it will be removed.

It is our job and our obligation to have these separate meetings. We should not need to be reminded by a checkbox on a form. Yes, we hope that one day soon the forms will be modified and such a checkbox included, but until then we need to be the professionals that we are and remember to do it ourselves.

Encrypting your couples’ NOIMs and Marriage Certificates

Encrypting your couples’ NOIMs and Marriage Certificates

As authorised marriage celebrants, we’re entrusted with some of the most sensitive details in our clients’ lives. One of our colleagues – an Australian marriage celebrant – was recently hacked and the hackers gained access to their computer, the hard drive contents including all files and emails. We’ll discuss email security in a future article, but today I want to make sure you are protecting your client’s personal data.

Between the Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM) forms, marriage certificates, and witness names, vows, love stories, and speeches, we hold more than just paperwork—these are pieces of our clients’ identities. This data is personal, valuable, and unfortunately, highly sought after by hackers – which is why I’d strongly encourage you to encrypt that data.

Encrypting your clients’ information not only protects them from potential harm but also safeguards your reputation as a trusted professional.

Why Encrypting Client Data is Vital

The personal details within NOIMs and marriage certificates—including full names, birthdates, parental details, wedding dates, and the names of witnesses (often the couple’s closest friends or family)—are more than just facts. In the wrong hands, this information can be exploited in a variety of ways, affecting clients’ finances, privacy, and even personal security.

How could this affect our clients?

  1. Identity Theft and Financial Fraud
    Hackers can use full names, birth details, and parental information to impersonate clients, leading to identity theft or fraud. With access to this data, a hacker could:

    • Open accounts in the client’s name, or apply for credit cards and loans, leaving them with debts they didn’t incur.
    • Access existing financial accounts by providing the stolen personal data as verification. Banks and other financial institutions often rely on birthdates, names, and parental details for identity confirmation.
    • Commit tax fraud by lodging fraudulent tax returns, signing them up for MyGov or other government services, leading to complications and financial repercussions for the client.
  2. Social Engineering Attacks on Clients and Witnesses
    Social engineering is a hacking tactic that manipulates people into giving away confidential information. With detailed knowledge of a client’s wedding, witnesses’ names, and other personal details, a hacker could:

    • Pose as a trusted celebrant or vendor to convince clients or witnesses to reveal even more personal information, like account details, or even to pay bogus “final invoices” for wedding services.
    • Target witnesses directly, pretending to be the couple or celebrant in need of urgent financial help, exploiting the trust and emotional connections linked to a recent wedding.
    • Gain access to online accounts by answering security questions based on public wedding details or parental names, allowing the hacker to reset passwords or gain further information.
  3. Data Sold on the Dark Web
    For many hackers, the ultimate goal is selling data to others on the dark web, where it can be used for a multitude of malicious purposes. If client details are left unprotected, a hacker could:

    • Sell the couple’s information to spammers or malicious actors, leading to endless spam, scams, and even attempts to sell fabricated “luxury services” or “honeymoon upgrades.”
    • Expose clients to location-based threats by revealing details of their wedding date and venue. This could be exploited by individuals looking to target empty homes during known travel dates.
    • Place both clients and witnesses at risk of stalking or harassment, especially if they’re public figures or have a strong online presence, by giving malicious actors a set of comprehensive personal details.

Using Cryptomator to Lock Up Your Clients’ Data

Cryptomator provides an effective and simple way to keep client data safe from these kinds of threats. It’s what I use, it’s open source which means many eyes from the open source community keeps the code safe, and it’s using industry standard cryptography.

By using encryption, you can create a secure vault – think of it like a fireproof-safe in your home but it’s on your computer, where sensitive client files are stored and protected against unauthorised access.

Even if your device is stolen, hacked, or remotely accessed, encrypted files remain unreadable to anyone without the vault’s password.

Here’s Why Cryptomator is Perfect for Celebrants

  1. Centralised and Encrypted Storage: All your client files—NOIMs, marriage certificates, and supporting documents—can be stored in a single, secure vault. Rather than scattering documents in various folders, you have one encrypted location that acts like a digital safe.
  2. Prevents Remote and Local Access: Once encrypted in Cryptomator, files are locked down. Even if someone hacks into your computer, they won’t be able to access your client files without the vault password.
  3. Works with Cloud Storage for Backup: Cryptomator integrates with cloud storage, meaning you can back up your client documents securely, knowing that even cloud-based breaches won’t compromise your data. I keep my vault on my Dropbox so I can access it anywhere.

For those not as familiar with tech, think of Cryptomator like a locked filing cabinet. While an open cabinet leaves all your client files exposed, a locked one keeps everything safe. Even if someone finds your filing cabinet (or your computer), they’d still need the key to open it.

Or, picture it as a safe deposit box in a bank. You store all your valuable information there, and even though people can see the box, they have no way to access it without the key you hold.

Getting Started with Cryptomator

  1. Download Cryptomator: As a free and open-source tool, Cryptomator is readily available and has no hidden fees.
  2. Set Up Your Vault: Create a vault for all your sensitive client documents—NOIMs, marriage certificates, witness information, and more.
  3. Add Documents to the Vault: Drag and drop files into your new vault to encrypt them instantly. Once stored, they’re secure from prying eyes, accessible only to those with the passphrase. When I set mine up I dropped my entire archive of NOIMs and Marriage Certificates in there.

Taking a few minutes to encrypt client data not only protects your clients but also reinforces your commitment to professionalism.

By using Cryptomator to secure NOIMs, marriage certificates, and other key documents, you ensure that sensitive information is protected from theft, misuse, and exploitation, allowing you and your clients to focus on the joy of the wedding day with peace of mind.

How to use Cryptomator

To access your files in the vault you’ll need to decrypt them, you do this by opening the Cryptomator app and unlocking it, entering your password, and you’ll find a new virtual (not-physical) drive attached to your computer. Now you’ve got access to all the files inside the vault.

Once you’re finished, open Cryptomator and lock the vault.

AI webinars on productivity and search

AI webinars on productivity and search

The future of celebrancy isn’t just about heart and soul—it’s about working smarter, not harder. This month, we’re thrilled to present two game-changing workshops that will transform how you harness AI in your celebrancy practice.

Josh/I’ll be presenting the workshops and answering your questions and the oracle will be in attendance to bring civility and wisdom. All wedding professionals are invited, celebrants and all.

Workshop 1: Supercharging Your Business Productivity with AI

Watch webinar replay now.

Think of AI as your personal assistant with superpowers. Just as a forklift amplifies human capability, AI tools can dramatically boost your productivity, profitability, and—most importantly—the joy you bring to couples on their special day.

Learn practical ways to leverage AI for:

  • Streamlining administrative tasks
  • Enhancing ceremony editing and ideation using your personal writing powers
  • Creating more personalised client experiences
  • Increasing your efficiency without sacrificing quality or comprising on integrity

Get your tickets to watch now


Workshop 2: Being Found in the AI Era

Watch webinar replay now.

As couples increasingly turn to AI-powered search tools to find their perfect celebrant, ensuring your visibility is crucial. This workshop will equip you with strategies to:

  • Optimise your online presence for AI search tools
  • Stand out in AI-generated recommendations
  • Adapt your digital footprint for the evolving search landscape
  • Connect with couples who are using next-generation search methods

Get your tickets to watch now


Don’t miss these opportunities to future-proof your celebrancy practice. These workshops aren’t just about understanding AI—they’re about embracing it as a powerful ally in creating even more meaningful wedding experiences.

Join us as we step confidently into the future of celebrancy, where technology enhances rather than replaces the human touch that makes our work so special.

What to do when it’s a tough financial season

What to do when it’s a tough financial season

Things are tough out there, financially and commercially speaking. Many of us are on the coal face, working hard, and not striking gold.

Starbucks is selling fewer coffees and Heineken is selling fewer beers, McDonalds is struggling, music festivals aren’t financially viable, fun-boy-toys aren’t selling as well as they used to, Country Road is moving less duffel bags, while Mimco, Trenery, Witchery and Politix are all selling less rags, meanwhile all of Australia’s media companies are generally making less money – some 69% less – because they’re selling less ads. Wall Street is down, down, and although BWS and Dan Murphy’s sales are up, profits are way down.

JB Hifi suffered a 20% drop in earnings at the start of the year but they’ve made some changes to the way they run and they’re back in black. Even Telstra – although they’re still profitable – has copped a 13% drop in profits but they’re rising prices regardless.

Doing some SEO research this week while I was relaxing in the Joshua Tree desert – yes, I relax weirdly – I found the number one organic result for a celebrant-related search term has their Google Calendar live-linked from their website, which is fine but weird, and for someone ranking number one on Google their booking calendar is empty. They have like 2 weddings over the summer. First on google, last in bookings.

It’s a weird time to be in the wedding business.

So what am I doing? Here’s my priority list for survival in this time, feel free to steal it, adapt it, make it better, make it yours.

  1. Refining the Core Offer: Successful small businesses typically refine their core offerings to better align with market needs. Rather than spreading themselves thin, they concentrate on what they do best, ensuring the highest profitability from key services or products. I’m looking into packaging complementary services or products that can increase perceived value without significantly increasing costs, helping maximise revenue per transaction.
  2. Cost Management and Efficiency: Tightening up on unnecessary expenditures (e.g., office space, non-critical software subscriptions, luxury purchases) can provide more breathing room for a difficult season. Investing in automation and AI, where possible, has helped me streamline operations and reduce reliance on manual labour, cutting costs while maintaining or improving output.
  3. Diversifying Revenue Streams: Adding services that are low-cost but highly profitable can create new revenue streams. For instance, you could start offering digital content creation packages (photography, video, social media strategy), which can be sold alongside core services. Businesses can also thrive by expanding their digital presence. Whether through e-commerce, offering virtual consultations, or moving events and classes online, going digital can open new customer bases.
  4. Strategic Marketing and SEO: Investing in smart, highly targeted marketing rather than blanket campaigns has historically provided a better return on investment. Focusing on ultra local SEO and niche audiences helps us reach the most relevant couples efficiently. Creating marketing campaigns that address immediate customer pain points in the current market while positioning services or products for the next season can keep a business top-of-mind without overspending.
  5. Collaborations and Partnerships: Partnering with complementary small businesses for promotions or packages is a powerful strategy. For instance, a celebrant business might partner with local photographers, venues, and florists to create comprehensive wedding packages that offer a full solution to couples. Historical data shows that businesses that collaborate during slow periods often strengthen their networks, opening up new client bases and lowering customer acquisition costs.
  6. Diversifying Client Segments: When the primary market segment shrinks, some businesses look for opportunities in adjacent or underserved markets. In the wedding industry, this could mean marketing to smaller, intimate ceremonies or elopements instead of large events during tough economic periods. In tough times, offering budget-friendly options without sacrificing quality helps maintain a customer base. This might involve scaled-down versions of services or product bundles aimed at cost-conscious consumers.
  7. Preparing for Post-Recession Demand: History shows that businesses that prepare for a market rebound, whether by training, streamlining processes, or expanding offerings, are well-positioned to take advantage when demand returns.
  8. Building a Flexible Business Model: A flexible business model that can pivot based on market needs has been a historical key to success. This could mean being ready to adjust pricing, adding remote services, or expanding into new markets.
  9. Price Yourself Up: Take a cue from Telstra and don’t discount yourself, but price yourself up – at least in line with inflation – so as the market turns you’re in a better position. It might well be that you provide lower cost products or services, but don’t reduce your value or your worth at the same time.

Small businesses that survive tough markets typically take proactive, thoughtful steps like these.

The businesses that do best don’t just wait for the market to recover—they actively position themselves for future profitability by focusing on efficiency, relationships, and customer-centricity.

Seth Godin writes in the Harvard Business Review this week:

A strategy, on the other hand, comes with the motto: “This might not work.” Strategy is a philosophy of becoming, a chance to create the conditions to enable the change we seek to make in the world.

Godspeed, friends.

Shortage of celebrants in NSW???

Shortage of celebrants in NSW???

Some of you (maybe one or two) may have heard Newcastle celebrant Kerryn Tippett on the ABC Newcastle Drive show on Monday 14 October (segment starts at 3 minutes and runs about 10 minutes). The ABC wanted to speak to a celebrant about a report released on Monday suggesting there’s a shortage of civil celebrants in New South Wales. Kez rang me for a chat about it, and obviously I have thoughts. Here they are.

The report

Jobs and Skills Australia‘s Occupation Shortage List provides a point-in-time snapshot of which occupations in Australia have enough workers and which ones have shortages. The report is used to inform Federal Government labour marketing and training policy.

An occupation shortage is defined as one when employers are unable to fill or have considerable difficulty filling vacancies for an occupation or cannot meet significant specialised skill needs within that occupation, at current levels of remuneration and conditions of employment and in reasonably accessible locations.

The report is generated from:

  • data modelling
  • statistical analysis of the labour market (including review of job vacancy advertisements)
  • employer and stakeholder surveys
  • enagement with:
    • peak bodies
    • industry groups
    • professional associations
    • unions
    • education providers
    • regional representative bodies
  • Commonwealth government
  • state and territory governments
  • Jobs and Skills Councils.

For context, according to the report the occupation with the highest shortage in the country is aged care workers.

A shortage of celebrants?

For some completely unknown reason, the Occupation Shortage List shows a shortage in civil celebrants in New South Wales.

Occupation Shortage List

Occupation Shortage List showing a shortage in civil celebrants in New South Wales (screenshot from https://www.jobsandskills.gov.au/data/occupation-shortages-analysis/occupation-shortage-list)

Honestly, I’m completely baffled by this. As of today, 16 October 2024, the AGD’s register of celebrants is showing there are 3245 civil celebrants registered in New South Wales. That’s the most of any state or territory in the country.

According to the latest set of marriage statistics we have available, those for 2023, released in August 2024, 39,018 marriages were registered in New South Wales in 2023.

We know approximately 80% of all marriages are carried out by civil celebrants (including Registry Officers), so let’s say 31,214 civil marriages.

We don’t have the breakdown of how many are conducted by Subdivision C Civil Celebrants and how many by Subdivision B Registry Officers (they’re all counted as civil ceremonies), but let’s hazard a rough guess and say 10% are Registry Office weddings. That leaves 28,092 marriages to be conducted by civil celebrants.

Dividing those weddings by the number of registered celebrants, that’s less than 9 weddings each!

How is that a shortage??? No one can pay their mortgage on 9 weddings a year!

But where exactly is the shortage?

If you listen to Kez on the radio, she makes the excellent point that we’d probably need to drill down a bit to find out WHERE in New South Wales this apparent shortage is. In Sydney or Newcastle you’d probably pass a celebrant in the street wherever you were walking. Perhaps the shortage is in regional or rural New South Wales.

Where did this shortage data come from?

Given there are no job vacancies for celebrants, where on earth did the shortage data come from? Who reported that these shortages exist? Feeling incensed about the entire situation, I wrote to Jobs and Skills Australia to ask.

Hi there

I’m hoping to talk to someone about where the data came from that caused a shortage rating for celebrancy in NSW in today’s Occupation Shortage List.

I’m a full-time celebrant of almost 11 years’ experience and I own and run The Celebrant Institute RTO, teaching the next generation of celebrants through our Cert IV in Celebrancy program.

We have absolutely no indication that there is anything like a shortage in celebrants anywhere in the country, least of all NSW; if anything there are too many celebrants to cover the number of weddings conducted per year.

The report and information on your website seems to suggest the information is gathered from job vacancy listings and feedback from industry bodies; we are all sole traders and there are no job vacancy listings, and as far as I’m aware no celebrant industry bodies were surveyed for this report.

I would really like to speak to someone to better understand where your data has come from

Many thanks

Sarah

To give them credit, they came back to me in less than 24 hours, although the information provided was, to put it politely, sparse. Here it is (emphasis added):

Dear Sarah,

Thank you for your email.

For your background, please note that the sources used to assess occupation shortages are diverse. These include data modelling; additional statistical analysis of labour market data, and employer and stakeholder surveys; and engagements with various stakeholder groups. Feedback is also sought from the Commonwealth Government, state and territory governments, as well as Jobs andSkills Councils.

The occupation rating for New South Wales (NSW) was based on feedback received from NSW government agencies. At the time, we considered the feedback to be of sufficient quality/standard to accept and incorporate into our assessments for occupations. Feedback such as that provided by you is valuable and helps to make a more balanced assessment of the available evidence.

With the above, we welcome you to contribute to the annual stakeholder survey which will open to the public between November and close in February the following year. The survey primarily targets peak bodies, industry groups, professional associations, unions, regional representative bodies, and education and training advisory bodies. However, government agencies, recruitment agencies/labour hire firms, employers and Jobs and Skills Councils are welcome to complete the survey.

If you would like to participate, please let us know, and we will add you to the mailing list. We also welcome you raising awareness of the survey with the industry bodies and other organisations that you are in close contact with.

Kind regards,

Workforce Analysis team

Labour Market Research & Analysis Branch
Jobs and Skills Australia

Naturally I have asked to be added to the mailing list for future stakeholder surveys.

So I’m not really any further along with the mystery than I was on Monday afternoon. The information came from the NSW Government, and JSA decided it was of sufficient quality to inform the rating. I didn’t bother asking them which department in the NSW Government the data came from; I’m pretty sure they wouldn’t have given it to me.

I’m curious as to whether anyone out there has anymore information on this; fill us all in and let us know!

Where I stand during the ceremony, Josh’s point of view

Where I stand during the ceremony, Josh’s point of view

Let’s talk about why I, as a celebrant, stand in the middle of the ceremony, right between the couple, instead of off to the side.

The short answer? Our senses demand it.

We don’t experience weddings purely through words—we experience them through sight, sound, feel, taste, and smell. And believe me, all five senses deserve a front-row seat at your wedding ceremony, and that’s why I stand right in the middle.

Sight: The Visual Story

When you look back at your wedding photos and videos, you’re looking for a narrative, a visual flow. It’s the same thing as guests experience the ceremony.

I just imagine seeing two people standing across from each other in the middle of a ceremony, declaring their love, with me standing off to the side like an awkward third wheel. It throws off the visual symmetry.

Instead, standing in the middle keeps me as part of the story, but not in a way that distracts—it’s balanced. Just like your love story.

Sound: The Perfect Acoustics

Our ears crave balance. That’s why concert venues and churches put speakers evenly spaced at the front, often on either side, because our ears are wired for that perfect stereo experience. Similarly, the ceremony needs that balance. With me in the middle, I can direct my voice equally to both of you, acoustically and with a PA system, making sure that the words that legally bind you reach both hearts equally.

It’s the same reason we place a PA system where everyone can hear it clearly—not too far to one side, not too close to another. It’s why I prefer to have left and right speakers for a ceremony.

Feel: The Emotional Connection

The emotional center of a ceremony is the two of you. My job is to guide you through that journey of emotions—laughter, tears, the whole rollercoaster—and being right there in the middle allows me to be the calm anchor. When I’m in the middle, I’m not just connecting the two of you with words, but with presence, energy, and intention. I see the ceremony as something the three of us are creating together, not a thing I’m delivering to a couple and their guests.

Smell and Taste: The Atmosphere

Okay, maybe you’re not tasting or smelling anything unusual during the ceremony (unless we’re standing near an amazing garden or the sea breeze is wafting in), but even these senses pick up on the atmosphere. And believe me, when the celebrant is centered, the whole ceremony feels more connected, more cohesive. I’m not some sideline commentator; I’m right there with you, ensuring the flow of the ceremony is felt on every level.

In the same way that every sense is engaged during your wedding, every detail I plan out for a ceremony is intentional.

From where we place the PA system to how I position myself between the couples—it’s all about balance, connection, and making sure your ceremony is a true reflection of the love and life they’re building together.

When the couple exchange vows I offer up my handheld microphone and will move out of frame for the moment, and once we’ve exchanged vows and rings I subtly start moving away from the ceremony and will pronounce them married from the side of the ceremony.

Podcast: They just decided to extend that to all weddings

Podcast: They just decided to extend that to all weddings

Welcome to the Celebrant Talk Show! I’m Sarah Aird, and in this episode, Josh Withers and I catch up after a four-month break to discuss some big changes in marriage law, including the introduction of remote witnessing for the NOIM and the new requirement for separate meetings with each party to confirm consent.

We talk through how these changes are affecting celebrants, especially the overreactions we’ve seen in Facebook groups, and offer practical advice on keeping things simple. I also share how I’m managing these changes without making a big deal out of it.

Plus, we dive into some celebrant pricing strategies, how to assess consent safely, and Josh’s funny rant about why he avoids celebrant Facebook groups!

We really want to hear from you with anything you want us to talk about, or anything you might disagree with! Hit us up at [email protected]

Scan QR code to listen in Apple Podcasts
Scan to listen in Apple Podcast

Celebrant Talk Show Podcast Transcript

Josh: [00:00:00] Friends and family, welcome to Australia’s most well barbered podcast for marriage celebrants. I can pretty much all say no other celebrant podcast has been to the barber inside the last hour and a half, but this one has this is the celebrant talk show. My name is Josh Withers and I’m joined by the other 51 percent of this podcast, Sarah Aird.

Sarah, have you been to the barber in the last 90 minutes?

Sarah: No.

Josh: You’re really letting the rest of the podcast down.

Sarah: yeah, I, yep. Nope. Okay. Every time it’s something different,

Josh: that’s the thing. That’s the goal.

Sarah: that was the thing. Yeah. It’s good. So we have not done a recording for, it’s been like nearly four months. In fact, it’ll be four months tomorrow. We did the last episode we did was on the 12th of June. And that was the day that the new laws came into being.

So that’s why we

Josh: It’s been a ride.

Sarah: And [00:01:00] today we’re doing a bit of a follow up on that really.

Josh: can I can I speak into that? I like podcasting without anything with anyone. I just love a good chinwag. Put that on my tombstone. It’s been a busy time. I’ve been in Europe. I’ve been in. Other places that I can’t remember. And but I like podcasting with you, Sarah. Sometimes Sarah and I won’t podcast because we’ve got nothing to say, which I think is a valid reason for not podcasting.

However, if there are topics, things, questions and answers so there’s, this is different to Celebrate Institute ask a question about marriage law, but those things you’d like Sarah and I to weigh in on, jump into our inbox and that will certainly peer pressure us into podcast recording.

Sarah: It totally will. I was actually thinking about that the other day, cause when we first started the podcast back in 2017, maybe.

Josh: years ago?

Sarah: It was pre our Celebrant Institute membership platform, and people used to write into [00:02:00] us with their questions that we would then talk about on the podcast. And we don’t really do that anymore because now we have the membership platform.

So people write to us, they email us with their questions, having paid us 12 bucks a month to answer them. And then we answer them by email. So it would be cool though, if people wanted to ask

Josh: Maybe it’s a topic or subject matter that is a little bit more than a, Celebrity Institute kind of email.

Sarah: that an email,

Josh: Sarah can you spend the next hour talking to us about the contrasts in things? I don’t know.

Sarah: You really thought that through, didn’t you? Does our

Josh: Yeah, it all goes to the same place. Hello at sullibrant. fm should get to us.

Sarah: Yeah. That you’d like us to talk about.

Josh: Sarah been a, it’s been a weird world in that there’s been a few little lawful changes happening this year. I am fairly inoculated from a lot of the chit chat around it. Because I am allergic to wedding industry, Facebook groups. If you do see me in one, know that’s [00:03:00] me trying to get back on the train and expect me to leave soon.

Sarah: I know you joined one like two weeks ago, are you

Josh: Yeah. But I’ve also, I’ve turned off notifications. Like I don’t really see anything.

Sarah: Every now and again, I’ll get a screenshot from Josh going, look, I just joined this group. And I’ll be like, yeah, in 48 hours, tell me if you’re still there. He’s

Josh: horrible. They’re the worst, just the worst thing.

Sarah: Look, they are pretty horrible, but I am in a lot of celebrant related Facebook groups and look, industry related Facebook groups because I because it’s a way for me to keep my finger on the pulse of what is going on, what people are struggling with and that all helps me to inform my training and my professional development.

Opportunities and things like that. So that’s why I stay. But it’s okay that Josh doesn’t. So the reason we’re talking about Facebook groups is [00:04:00] because since the law changed on what the 11th, 12th of June to bring in particular remote witnessing of norms and also the separate meetings about consent, there has been a lot of chatter in the Facebook groups that I’m a member of about two things.

The first one being about the meet, the separate meetings and what that actually means. And honestly, I have seen a lot of people who have been way overreacting and overthinking these separate meetings. So I just want to go right back to basics. All the Marriage Act now says is that before the marriage takes place, the celebrant must meet separately with each of the parties. Full stop. That’s it. It doesn’t actually say in the act to confirm they are consenting.

Josh: just catch up

Sarah: It doesn’t

Josh: share, we could just share a KitKat.

Sarah: Because this is one of the issues of legislation is that it often [00:05:00] tells us that we have to do something, but it doesn’t tell us why we have to do it. So it’s not until you go back and look at the, explanatory memorandum from when that legislation was created, that you find out what the intent behind it was in the first place.

This is something that I’ve been grappling with recently because for an example, the Certificate IV qualification, one of the many knowledge requirement elements is, the purpose of celebrants giving the happily ever before and after brochure to our couples. And I was like who knows what the purpose is?

It doesn’t say. in the Act, it just says that we have to give it. I now know what the purpose is because I found it. It’s in an explanatory memorandum from 1975 when that requirement was introduced and the purpose was to try and bring down the divorce rate. But that is my issue with this whole separate meetings thing is that it doesn’t [00:06:00] tell us why we have to do it or what we have to do or what should be, how those separate meetings should be managed or anything like that.

So that really means that as long as you meet with your people separately, you can do whatever you like. now we, of the Attorney General’s Department in putting this requirement in was for us to be able to ensure consent, particularly in a circumstance where we are remote witnessing the NOIM and we don’t know who else is in the room off camera, essentially, when we’re watching somebody sign the NOIM.

That was the original purpose of it. And they just decided to extend that to all weddings. So that’s the intention. But let’s just remember what the Act says. Meet with each of the parties separately. The way I’m seeing a lot of people really freaking out about this. I’ve seen people talking about, I’ve emailed all my couples with a lengthy description [00:07:00] of the fact that we now have to have separate meetings and I’ve explained that to them all and I’m putting them in my calendar and I’ve even seen somebody produce a document that you can have your couple sign to say that they are consenting to the marriage.

I don’t know, I think the Notice of Intended Marriage is them. signing to say they consent to the marriage, but okay. And the

Josh: and the marriage

Sarah: like that’s the documents. South Australia BDM has even changed the norm. I don’t even know if they’re allowed to do that. And I’ve written to MLCS about it, but if you use the South Australia online registration system, The norm that it creates has added a tick box that says, I confirm I met separately with each party before the marriage was solemnized to confirm they were entering into

Josh: you remember when Queensland BDM went online? And because they’re, I don’t know if you remember or know this, but the Queensland NOIMs look a lot of basically different. Just, [00:08:00] yeah but, And yeah,

Sarah: yeah, because they

Josh: the same

Sarah: they made it themselves.

Josh: it’s just not the same format, not the same font.

And the feedback we received at that point was that it was fine because the annoying, I think do you remember, did they say it was a working document? Was that the wording?

Sarah: No, I think the reason was that the NOIM is not in the Marriage Act. The contents of the NOIM is not in the Marriage Act. So it doesn’t actually say anywhere that this is the information you have to, whereas, for example, the contents of the Form 15 is in the Marriage Act. So that cannot be changed.

But anyway, I don’t know if it’s legal for the South Australia BDM to just unilaterally add things to the NOIM or not. I’m not sure if that’s, Cause that’s a different matter from it looking different from the formatting being different, that’s different. They’re just adding things. I’ve seen a lot, basically a lot of freaking out about this.

And I personally would like to talk you through how I [00:09:00] am managing this requirement and that it is not a freaking out ness of mine.

Josh: So are you freaking out about this or are you not freaking out about this, Sarah?

Sarah: the way I’m dealing with this. I’m not freaking out about it at all. So the way I’m dealing with this, I’m not doing anything with my current couples.

like ahead of time. What I’m doing is I’m telling them we have to sign the Don Lim separately. The Declaration of No Legal Impediment to Marriage. So if it’s a new couple, when I’m talking through all the paperwork and everything that we’re going to sign before the marriage, I say, one of the documents is the declaration.

This is what it says. We have to do it before the marriage ceremony and we have to sign it separately. So I’m just going to take you away, like 10 steps away from each other. Have a little chat. And so a couple, my couples who are already signed up, I’m just like on the day. I’m just going, so we need to sign.

We take them. I take them literally 10 steps away because there’s no [00:10:00] requirement that it’s in a different room or that it’s on a different day or anything like that. It’s just separately. So they need to not be able to hear the conversation and that’s fine. And we go through the Don Lim like I always do.

This form says you’re not married to someone else. You’re not siblings or parent and child. You’re over 18. And are you happy to sign that? Yes. And are you happy to get married today? That’s it. That’s all I’m doing. Now, if they say to me, if I say to them, are you happy to get married today? And they say, no.

Okay, far that hasn’t happened. It’s not, I don’t think it’s going to, but that’s not the point. I’ve ticked off my requirement to do the separate meeting and it hasn’t been a big, massive drama. It’s just, are you happy to get married today? Separately away from the other party. And that’s it. Yes, I am. So that’s the first thing I wanted to talk about and I’m, we’re on zoom so I [00:11:00] can see Josh is getting ready to say something

Josh: No, it’s a a constant thread, something that you and I probably we want to outrightly address this, but I think we address it almost weekly with a question from a celebrant institute member. And it’s something we’ve, this has been a theme of conversation for the last 10 years. But before you marry people.

as a Commonwealth Authorised Marriage Celebrant in Australia, you say the words, or words to this effect, I am duly authorised by law to solemnise marriages according to the law. And that’s not just true in the middle of the marriage journey, that’s true in life, because you’re a Commonwealth Authorised Marriage Celebrant, if you are a celebrant, listen to this.

And so the reason I highlight that is to convey that there is an authority that you have been given, you can. You can just believe someone is consenting If you believe it to be true in the same way that when someone takes male or female or sorry X

Sarah: non binary.

Josh: No, I’m sorry. [00:12:00] Yeah, it was X for a second and then yeah and there’s the sense of authority that I feel many celebrants don’t know they have And then you might come back to me and say, Oh, but what if they’re lying?

If they’re lying. And that’s fraudulent. So we have protections for these things. And so if someone isn’t consenting and you look at them and think they are, and they say they are, but they’re not, there’s only so many seashells you can save by throwing them back into the ocean.

And so people try to flesh out or buff up their authority Bye. Making paperwork and things and getting on bloody Facebook groups. And the thing is, you are a com authorized marriage settlement, authorized to marry people according to law. there’s this authority. I just want everyone to grab ahold of and know that they have, that you don’t need to make more of it.

Sarah: Yeah. And I think that’s actually, it’s a good reminder that so I’m going to talk about consent again in a minute, but in terms of this, I [00:13:00] have met with them separately and I have said, I’ve looked them in the eyes. I have done a kind of review of their body language and their voice and their facial expression.

And I’ve said to them, are you happy to get married today? And they have told me, yes, I’m done. That is my requirement and obligation. And we’ll talk more about consent in a minute and how you look at that in a minute, but that is as far as it goes. There’s no requirement for forms and tick boxes.

Not yet. We’re looking at tick boxes on the forms, but there’s no requirement for lengthy forms and lots of questions and digging in and, separate meetings at different times of day and different venues. And that’s just not a requirement. And so I think some of us have a tendency to really overthink it and to really go way beyond what is our requirement and our obligation.

It’s the same as, people come to me and they say, how do I know they’ve never [00:14:00] really been married before? You don’t, but they’ve told you that they’re signing the documents that say they’ve never been married before. Those documents are legal documents and there are penalties attached for making false statements on them.

You’ve done what you can, you’ve asked them, you’ve got them to sign the form, that’s all you can do. So it’s the same kind of thing with this. Don’t overthink it. Don’t make it bigger than it has to be. So that’s my, the first thing that people are freaking out about. Which is about making these separate meetings bigger than Ben The second thing that people are freaking out about is what if they say no? What if the person says that they’re not consenting? What if the person says that they’re not happy? What do I do? Is it’s not going to be safe for me. It’s not going to be safe for them. Blah, blah, blah. It’s always been our job, always, before the separate meetings came in, it has always been our job to assess consent. if [00:15:00] we think there is a problem, to refuse to solemnise the marriage. That is not new. That bit is the same. It’s always been there. I’m hearing a lot of, but what if they say no? Then you would do the same thing you always would do if they said no, because that is our requirement. I’m seeing, There’s a seller in one of the groups who is doing some really great work on.

Writing up kind of professional development tips about consent. And some of what he’s writing is going a bit too far, I think, in terms of our obligations. And I did talk to him about this. I did challenge him and we’ve, we came to something that we thought was better. So for example if on the day you get the idea that somebody isn’t consenting, then you should, Make sure that you and the person are safe and then you should go and tell the other party that the marriage isn’t going ahead. I don’t know if that’s our job. [00:16:00] It’s, I think it’s my job to support the person who is not consenting and it is my job to, if I need to, get them out of there because they might not be safe. But it’s not necessarily it’s not every time going to be our job. To tell the other party and the venue and the guests that the marriage is not going ahead.

So I think that anyway. That’s beside the point. The biggest point is this freak out about what do we do if they say no, because this is not safe, blah, blah, blah. Again, that hasn’t changed. That requirement has always been there that if we have any concerns about consent, we refuse to solemnize the marriage.

And we have always been required to be assessing consent from the moment we first meet them right up to. Before they say the legal vows, we need to be assessing consent at every [00:17:00] touch point that we have, whether it’s meetings, rehearsals, when we meet to sign paperwork. When they get out of the car, when we, even when they’re walking down the aisle, they can withdraw consent at any time. Just as with all forms of consent. You can withdraw them at any time. Even if you said yes half an hour ago, you can change your mind. You are allowed to do that. That’s a thing. So that has not

Josh: There’s this issue of safety there, which is really important though as well. But as a celebrant and I’m aware I’m a 42 year old male, white male celebrant. My safety levels are going to be different than other people’s just cause they all are different people or different whatever’s. But you should always be like, gosh, some of the stories I hear from female wedding professionals at weddings.

Just from handsy people, etc. Like it’s you always need to be considering safety. And just beware. And maybe it’s like whether there’s a safe person there. [00:18:00] Maybe it’s whether you’ve got a partner with you or something like that. Or just simply calling Chablot. If you’re not, if you’re not feeling safe.

That’s why we have Chablot. If you legitimately don’t feel safe, that’s why. And sometimes it might be about just simply removing yourself from the venue, just walking out and you’re allowed to, because if it’s an issue of safety like no judge in the country is going to, I don’t know, tear you apart as a celebrant because you walked out cause you didn’t feel safe.

Sarah: Absolutely. A thousand percent. And also. Encouraging maybe a person who is not giving consent,

Josh: Yeah.

Sarah: encouraging them to maybe come with you if they are not feeling safe, the hope is that if there were any consent issues, you would get to them well before the marriage day. That is the hope that we would not be dealing with this.

in the moment on the day. But things do happen. I and not just about consent because, oh, it’s a forced marriage or whatever, but consent because of [00:19:00] intoxication. They can’t give consent if they’re intoxicated. I had a mentor in fact, he was the reason I became a celebrant because I saw him at a wedding and he was so good.

He turned up to a wedding. Groom was absolutely off his face. He got the bride and the bride’s mother. To sign a declaration, like he just wrote it on a bit of paper saying I, celebrate name and not performing the wedding at this time because the groom is intoxicated and cannot give consent. And he got the bride and her mother both to sign that as well, that they were aware of it.

They were totally with him because they were pissed with the groom. And so that protected him. He was a big dude. Again, older white male. So had a level of safety anyway, but he got that signed for himself for legal safety too. And so those things happen. It’s not just about, Oh, this person’s being forced.

It’s, it can be about this [00:20:00] person’s too drunk. And was in theory a lot, but I think people are starting to freak out a little bit more now because of these separate meetings about what happens if it actually happens in practice. And I would say, we’ve been talking about consent the last, this year’s OPD is about consent, OPD two years ago was about consent, we talk about consent a lot, because it’s not new, that requirement is not new and I don’t think that the number of times, that a wedding has to be stopped due to a lack of consent is actually going to go up just because of these separate meetings because I don’t believe these separate meetings are going to make any difference at all.

Personally, I’ve talked about that on the Celebrant Institute blog quite a lot and we talked about it in the Celebrant Institute submission to the Senate inquiry on this bill. If somebody’s not consenting and they’re going to be prepared to tell you as a celebrant, they’re going to tell you anyway whether or not you have a separate meeting with them.

[00:21:00] I don’t think the separate meeting is going to make any difference to that at all. But, okay, sure. I don’t think that this is going to make the, I don’t think people are suddenly going to start saying, no, I’m not consenting more often just because you’re meeting separately with them. I would really encourage you to not freak out.

Don’t freak out about the separate meetings and what they mean. Don’t freak out about consent. Consent has always been a requirement. It’s just the same. It’s not going to get any worse or any better or any different. The requirement is still there. So there is quite a lot in the guidelines about consent and I really do encourage you to go back and read that stuff it because it is useful.

There’s a lot in this year’s OPD about consent is really great in terms of consent when under guardianship orders and those sorts of things. I think that’s right. Yeah, that’s this year. I can’t remember I did it so long ago and it all melds into one. But I’m pretty sure that’s this year.

So there is lots of great [00:22:00] information. I have also seen a lot of celebrants saying, if you’re going to make us do these separate meetings to check consent, why aren’t you teaching us about consent? They are! teaching us about consent. A, it’s in the guidelines. B, it’s OPD. I don’t know how they can teach us anymore.

Honestly, it’s quite yep. So they are teaching us about consent. But if you have any concerns about your ability to assess consent, I’m really happy to have a chat with you. About, about the things that I look for. The AGD, when the separate meetings requirement came out, they issued of guidance.

They emailed it to everybody. And that has some things that you can look for when assessing consent. So go back and review the stuff in the guidelines about consent. It’s 2024 and people are talking about consent in terms of sex a lot right now. It’s the same thing.

Josh: It’s the same mechanic.

Sarah: Okay. [00:23:00] That’s right. It’s this, you might be looking for the same things, people not making eye contact, people not wanting to talk those sorts. It’s the same kinds of things that you might be looking for.

Go and do some reading on consent in general. Just Google. What should I look for when assessing consent? Who knows what you’ll find, but I’m very happy to have a chat to you. If you do have concerns about how to assess consent, or if you have concerns about a specific couple, we’re always happy to answer those kinds of questions at the Sullivan Institute.

We we’ve. I’ve certainly had experiences in my own practice of dealing with couples where I wasn’t entirely satisfied about consent and I’ve got, all sorts of ideas and thoughts about what I’ve done in those situations.

Josh: I’ve been a celebrant for 15 and a half years and then we’ve just dug a little bit and it’s [00:24:00] been okay, but I’ve inquired about it but like just nothing really that interesting, like no, no deep interesting stories of legals only between a guy who seemed to be a very unlikely partner for his, Thai partner and so I just very deeply took them through the notice of intent and what it meant and as if, if you can imagine someone doing a half hour TED talk on annoying, that was me.

They all signed it. then he calls like a week later, he goes, man, I just can’t, I can’t believe it. She was using me for a visa. I’m like, I did not see that coming. I am surprised as well. There’s that. And then I’ve had, someone who was probably displaying intoxication and I. said this is raising some concerns for me.

It turns out we’re just playing it up for the girls. yeah, so I think they’re the two moments that I’ve really had to delve into this in my whole career. I’m obviously aware, I do the training, I read, when we do the [00:25:00] celebratory shit we talk about every day, I’m aware of looking for consent and it’s something on my mind, but at the end of the day, that’s as deep as I’ve gone.

Have you ceased the activity of solemnizing someone’s marriage?

Sarah: I haven’t, but I know someone who has, and they have given me permission in the past to talk about the situation in general terms. And I think we’ve even talked about it on the podcast. It’s many years ago now, but the the bride was of an international background and had lots of people flying from their home country to attend the wedding.

But told my celebrant friend that they did not want to get married. Because they had found out something about their partner and and they weren’t happy and they really didn’t want to get married, but they didn’t feel that they could cancel the wedding because of the shame it would bring to their family.

And because of all these people who had spent lots of money and were flying in. And so [00:26:00] my friend did the absolute correct thing and said, I’m not going to marry you. I would recommend that you go, we can do a commitment ceremony on the day. That’s totally fine. I would recommend that you go away and get some counseling.

Come back in six months and I’ll marry you then. And the groom found out about these discussions and said that’s ridiculous. It’s going ahead. And we believe coerced the bride into changing her story and saying that, yes, she was happy to go ahead. And they found another celebrant to marry them. And of course, the first celebrant can’t tell the second celebrant why they’re not going to marry them because the code of practice requires us to maintain privacy and confidentiality. And that’s a problem. A problem that I did actually raise with the AGD last time we were there. The second celebrant went ahead and married them.

Who knows what happened. But, in my view, the first celebrant was absolutely spot on. [00:27:00] That They refused to marry them because the bride had outright said to her I do not want to get married but I feel

Josh: We should remind the guys in the

Sarah: So they won’t consent in

Josh: thing. I feel every couple of weeks or months, it’s like, Hey, do you guys get a phone call from John Smith and, Melissa Brown? And the other thing, I don’t marry them.

Sarah: Don’t marry them. Yeah. I’ve had a few where I’ve had to think about it. So I had one many years ago. it was a mutual friend of somebody that I knew, was the bride and at the first meeting with the couple, he sat sideways in his chair as if he was getting ready to make an escape.

He barely spoke to me. He barely looked at me. He grunted a lot. And I couldn’t get any sort of excitement or interest or. engagement out of him at all whatsoever. They were having a big party and they wanted to do a legal signing the week [00:28:00] before because he didn’t want to be there. So I don’t mind. And I was really concerned.

I rang her at work the next day and said, look, mate, I’m right now. I’m not prepared to marry you because I don’t think he’s consenting. And she’s no, he’s just, he’s pretty grumpy and he’s just like that. And I’m like I’m going to have to call him. And have a chat to him, like separately, because this doesn’t feel right to me.

So I did call him and he said enough of the right things, he said enough of I love her and I want to marry her and I want to be with her and blah blah blah. that I agreed to marry them. It was fucking awful. It was three weeks after marriage equality came in. It was just after Christmas in 2017.

They both sat on the couch and he had a beer in his hand the whole time. He wasn’t drunk. It was early in the morning. It was like 11 o’clock. And when I got to, Australia is the union of two people, he went, man and woman in this house.[00:29:00]

Josh: Oh God.

Sarah: great. It was just, it was awful. I got out of there just going, I feel like I need to have a shower.

It was really gross, but he gave enough. He made the right noises that I couldn’t refuse

Josh: Made the right grunts.

Sarah: made, he said enough of the right stuff that I couldn’t, there was nothing for me to refuse them on. Basically, and they’re still married today. And they’ve got kids and the whole lot. Another one was where I had a groom who fairly clearly had a mild cognitive impairment. He’d managed to get to our meeting on the train And find where to come, you know without too much explanation and when I asked him Why he wanted to get married he could tell me that she was gonna Look after him forever and that he really liked it when she cooked him dinner and they were gonna live together and it was really nice And that was enough.

Because if you look at the guidelines, it talks about people with a disability, and it talks about people with a cognitive disability [00:30:00] not needing to have a deep understanding of the nature and effect of marriage, but that a surface understanding is enough. So he said enough that I was happy to marry them. And then I had one who was in his late 90s. She was 83. They’d been together for 15 years. They were getting married because his family was not. in agreement with their relationship. Isn’t that cute? At 83 and 90 something. So it’s not like they’re 15.

Josh: Poor guys.

Sarah: And he was getting worried about what would happen to her when he died.

In terms of, access to their assets and so forth. So they got married, but because he was so old. He was in his late nineties. I was pretty careful and I asked him a lot of questions and he could tell me where they met, when they met. He could tell me all the details of his previous two marriages.

He could tell me, he knew. Plenty of details, all the things. He was very excited about getting married. He knew why they were getting [00:31:00] married. Like he could explain all those things to me. and I came home and I made final notes after those discussions. And I was very happy to marry, delighted, in fact, to marry him.

They were lovely. So yeah, they’re the kind of situations that I’ve had where I’ve just had to ask some more questions. and make sure that this was okay. And I’ve done 550 weddings and I’ve had less than five issues where I’ve been particularly concerned about consent. And everyone else has been I think we also have to remember that when we’re talking about consent and we’re talking about what we’re using to assess it.

We also need to remember cultural differences in the way people express excitement and emotion and also we need to think about arranged marriages. A reminder that arranged marriages are not forced marriages. Forced marriage is where one or both parties are not consenting. They’re being forced to marry [00:32:00] by an external party.

An arranged marriage is where both parties are consenting, even though the relationship has been arranged by an external party. I’ve done lots of arranged marriages because I work a lot with the Indian community. And I have done marriages where they have barely looked at each other. They, there’s been no holding hands, there’s been no kissing and that’s fine.

But they could both also tell me enough about the other person and about why they wanted to get married, that they could tell me they were consenting. So just because they weren’t showing affection or emotion or excitement in what we might call like a typical Western way, didn’t mean they weren’t consenting.

That just meant that they have a different relationship style to what we might be used to. We do need to remember those cultural differences as well. All of my Indian couples, they never kiss because it’s not appropriate for them to kiss in front of their parents. So that doesn’t mean [00:33:00] that they’re not consenting or they don’t want to get married.

It just means that there are cultural differences in the way

Josh: can I just remind,

Sarah: that’s okay.

Josh: everyone if you open the Marriage Act of 1961, I’ve got the latest one as a PDF, And if you just open up your old search field on the PDF, And do a search for the word love, no results found, Kiss, no results found there’s no rings, nope nothing up, these things are lovely things for certain people in certain cultures and what not but they’re not required by law.

Sarah: Also, hang on before you go on, cohabitation is not in

Josh: Hang on let’s do a search for sex,

Sarah: is not in there. None of those. Also not in there because none of those things are required for

Josh: like the kind of article I want to share with you, maybe, I feel like I read it a year or three ago, where and now that I’m saying it, maybe it was a Malcolm Gladwell thing, but regardless of where it came from, there’s the act of smiling, like the what everyone listening would consider the plain old Western smile, looking at [00:34:00] someone and smiling.

There’s, I think there’s a South American tribe. I think the research went to that’s an act of aggression. Yeah, and so you can be, one person can read a smile and say happy, and the other person can be like, ah, he’s angry. You can’t portray your cultural expectations of marriage and love and relationship, et cetera, onto other people.

You just can’t. What you can do is look for consent, and if you’re not sure, you can dig a little bit deeper. And worst case scenario, not worst case, but in such a case scenario, you can, Refuse solonization and you can if you feel unsafe, you can leave, but, and then that’s your butt covered, but it isn’t something that they have to cater to.

Yeah.

Sarah: So that’s our little rant about consent and about the separate meetings. I hope that some of you maybe have got something out of it, although we may be preaching to the converted. If you completely disagree with what we’ve said, we want to hear about it. Cause we love to be challenged.

So [00:35:00] tell us hello at celebrant. fm and tell us if you’ve got a different thought or if you’ve got a different way of

Josh: something that I’ve always thought about in regards to consent, I guess this kind of client where this could present as an issue. If you don’t want to deal with this kind of thing, one of the easy things you can do is to charge more, which we call this a Segway in the business, Sarah, it’s actually something I’ve had in my mind because For those that haven’t been following along, I relocated to Hobart earlier this year.

Actually, we’re in the Huon Valley to be precise. But in Tasmania, the birth center marriages doesn’t have a registry kind of marriage office, a place we can get married by the government. Here you have to get married by A celebrant or a minister of religion. And so the paperwork only stuff is a bit more of a business here than it is in other places.

Obviously, you’re not going to build a whole business off of it. But yeah there’s more paperwork owners getting around than I did on the Gold Coast, for example. I want to look to the [00:36:00] marketplace. I thought I’m going to charge the most out of everyone just because it’s, that’s an easy way to get out of that conversation often if there’s issues around consent or whatever.

They’re looking for the cheapest person. And I just didn’t want to be that. But continuing the segue an article that I wrote last month has been getting some some good feedback and I just wanted, I thought it’d be a nice conversation for the Celebrant talk show. I was asked by Polkadot Weddings to talk about price.

Everyone knows that’s my favorite conversation to have. I love talking about price. And they asked a bunch of questions and I just wrote, I what I wrote back to them, I put up as a blog for the Celebrant Institute members because I thought it was actually a helpful conversation to help people talk about price.

Because, Sarah, if we know anything about celebrants don’t like talking about price. Or fees, or money, or anything. And I thought what I’d do, I’d just quickly run some of the questions past you, [00:37:00] and see how you reply, and then see how I reply, okay? Sound good? What factors should couples consider when setting celebrant budget?

Sarah: Oh, they should definitely not consider a lot of the budget tools they find online because they’re designed in America, where mostly people are married by religious ministers and charge like 200. So they shouldn’t look at that. What should they look at? It’s hard because it’s always hard when you’re starting out but they should, they should just do some research

Josh: Yeah, every

Sarah: see what people are charging.

Josh: some might do it as a hobby, some might do it as like a side gig, it’s just kinda, we do a couple of weddings a year so we can go on a holiday, that’s how I started, when we first did the first wedding expo, Britt and I said, If we charge 5. 50 a wedding and we get 10 weddings a year, that’s just a nice little holiday.

It’s like a, five and a half grand is lovely. It’s a lovely little [00:38:00] holiday. Obviously things changed pretty quickly after that, but you certainly can’t expect all celebrants to charge the same just because, as a daily messenger found out it’s illegal to price fix. So yeah, so we’re not all charging the same and it’s okay for everyone to charge different.

Sarah: don’t do that.

Josh: All right, new question. how much of their total wedding budget should couples typically allocate to a celebrant?

Sarah: Wow, that’s a question.

Josh: Oh,

Sarah: I’m gonna say

Josh: bit more nuanced just because much of the wedding budget scales according to guest numbers because it’s like a per head, like caterings per head, that kind of thing, seating, drinks.

Sarah: That’s fair. Yeah.

Josh: larger the venue, that kind of thing doesn’t really affect celebrant but it does affect other prices.

So I don’t think a percentage really works instead. As we found in [00:39:00] the survey, was that earlier this year, the celebrant prize survey, and the average nationally was about a thousand, was it a thousand and twenty, I think a thousand and fifty.

And that’s a national average. I know different areas charge different

Yeah. But I would say today, for a full time professional celebrant there are celebrants in Sydney, which is arguably one of the more expensive places, Sydney and Melbourne, that are charging 2, 500 for like just the ceremony.

And there’s celebrities that are charging close to a thousand I know one guy in Brisbane, who’s doing great work and charging 5, 000. That’s his, if you want him at a Saturday wedding. Now there’s more in that, but also he’s welcome to charge me once. So anything from 1000 to 25 to 5, 000.

Sarah: I know celebrants in regional areas who are still charging five or six hundred dollars as well. Because that’s what the market in those areas will pay.

Josh: This comes to the next question. They’re talking about a typical price range for wedding celebrant services. But I think the meat of the question is [00:40:00] this, what influences where a celebrant falls in the range? And before you answer, I’ll give a little bit of my answer. I think the modern day 2024 price range for a celebrant is about 800 to 2, 500, which isn’t to say there’s people either side, but that’s the.

main part of the bell curve. So Sarah, how do you, what do you think? What’s your understanding of the messaging when people are on that scale? Let’s say we’ll stick to 800 to 2, 500 as an example. Okay. So if you and I are presenting to Jack and Jill as a celebrant and I’m 800 and you’re 2,

What’s your understanding of So we both identify as a settler.

I’m charging 800. You’re charging 2, 500. What else is not being said when we set those numbers?

Sarah: I tend to find that the people who are charging [00:41:00] less, are often trying to justify their price by this is how much it costs me to run my business, so that’s why you should pay me this much. Whereas the people at the top end are all about, this is the value I can provide to you as a couple. So they’re much less about. This is why you need to pay me this much and more about this is what you get When you buy me

Josh: When you call my pimp and book me in

Sarah: you book me, that’s better Yeah So Yeah, so I think that The difference is, can be in terms of the way people are marketing themselves.

But I also think that There are differences in, so if we’re talking about like for so if we’re talking about capital city, so we’re not talking about regional, rural, talking about capital city, say we’re talking about Melbourne, there are some celebrants who charge 800.

There are some celebrants who charge 3, 000. What’s the difference? Why are they charging different amount? There [00:42:00] are differences, I think, in genders and in ages. So I think different gender, like male celebrants can charge more because there’s less of them. There’s, that’s the supply and demand sort of thing.

If you want a male celebrant, there’s they can charge more. I think that older celebrants are more likely to celebrants and therefore charge less than. younger slash middle aged counting myself as middle aged celebrants who are doing this as their profession and therefore may need to charge more to be able to pay the mortgage.

I think there are differences in, I’m going to say it, differences in aesthetics. I know as a larger, celebrant woman who uses a walking stick. I have been the stick is bit less of an issue. Certainly my size, I firmly believe has come into some couples. [00:43:00] Purchasing choices. I have watched couples faces fall as they walk in and see me for the first time.

Now they’ve seen pictures on my website and my social media. So I don’t know as a surprise, but I felt that there is a proportion of couples out there who are making choices based on aesthetics. And I think that, there are some aesthetic profiles that can charge more because people will pay more.

That’s not all couples. A lot of couples don’t give a shit what you’re done with but there is a proportion, maybe 10%, who are like, I’ve got a certain view about what my wedding is going to look like and everybody has to fit into that. I also think that there are, and these are all things that I talk about when I talk about pricing with my students, there are also, differences in terms of, doing this, like I talked about with many older celebrants viewing celebrancy as more of a community service, because if they’ve been around for a long time, when celebrancy started [00:44:00] 50 years ago, it was a community service.

And you can only charge 5 for it. And that was in the act, how much you’re allowed to charge. Whereas, in the last 10 or 15 years, there’s been much more of a movement to make celibacy into a profession and a career that you can actually make a full time living from. And so the intention behind your celibate practice, I think also informs your pricing.

And also what else do you have a partner who makes enough money that you can live on? are you, independently wealthy for whatever reason? do you only do this for family and friends? Like the intention and what else is going on in your life, all of those things will inform differences in price as well.

Josh: I don’t disagree with you at all and it’s funny because that’s all stuff I wish I had written. I went on a slightly different angle this is in no way every circumstance, but I [00:45:00] feel that there’s this kind of marriage between value slash perceived value, which is the same thing, I guess you could argue, married with the confidence of delivering that value.

And so the very, very top of your. price shot is the person who believes they’re bringing the most value and they are most confident they can deliver that value. And then there’s this kind of stepping down where not that the 800 person or the lowest price person is bringing less value, nor are they the least confident of that.

But it is there’s a union of that in some sort. And it might not even be the lowest of confidence, but just not as confident and maybe Not as much value as perhaps the word I was trying to say, but yeah, it is hard because also there’s colleagues of yours and mine and I’ve talked and I know I see that work and I’m like, Oh, are you charging that mate?

You should definitely be up in that a bit more if only because there is market segmentations in perhaps capital cities and more metro markets. [00:46:00] I don’t think you are what you should be, but it’s such a nuance and unique conversation. And moving on to the next question.

Sarah: What are the typical components of a winning celebrant package and how do they affect the cost? And see, okay, so that’s a really interesting question because a lot of people do charge differently depending on https: otter. ai Oh God, that sounds exhausting.

Josh: you imagine rocking out to a wedding with a red carpet?

Sarah: My, and then there are people who charge more or less based on how many people, how many guests you have. They might charge less if there’s 10 guests than if there’s 500 guests. I personally, rate my different charges on how much work I’m going to have to do. that is based on the script, on the ceremony. So my legals only is only the legal words. My short and [00:47:00] sweet is a pre written standardized script that they can, make changes to with vows and music and rings, but readings, but it’s standard. I don’t have to write it and I don’t write their story.

The premium is whatever bells and whistles they want completely tailored to their requirements, including their story. I don’t really care how many people are out. I do have, for my legals only, I do have on my website, a maximum of 10 guests. But when people say to me, oh look, like I had in January, this couple who were both getting married for the second time, they had kids, they were having the big wedding, 100 people, the whole thing, and they’re like, We really just want to do the legals though.

We do not care about the ceremony. It is not important to us. We just want to get married. And I’m like, as long as you tell your guests that it’s going to be really short and not interesting, I am totally on board with that. What I don’t want is to be turning up to a room full of guests who are expecting a half hour to get married.

Romantic, [00:48:00] genuine, authentic, personalized ceremony and delivering a three minute legals only because that makes me look bad. So I literally turned up and I had people coming out to me going, I hear this is going to be the shortest wedding I’ve ever been to. I can’t wait. So they had done exactly what I asked them to and they had told all their guests it was going to be super quick and just the legals and we were getting it done.

And they were like, yes, we’re on board with that. So I don’t really care how many people are there. That actually doesn’t change the amount of work I have to do. The amount of work I have to do is in the writing and the interviewing and the. Whatever else that’s where the work is. And so that’s where the difference in my prices.

Josh: Yeah, That’s good. What extras and upgrades might a couple need to consider in their celebration budget? How much do they usually cost? Example,

Sarah: So I include a rehearsal in my premium[00:49:00]

Josh: MC, that kind of

Sarah: don’t include it in my short and sweet because I don’t think people need it for a short and sweet, but if they want it, they can pay an extra couple of hundred bucks. I’ve never had one rehearsal for a short and sweet in 10 years. I don’t MC because I want to be at home on the couch eating pizza by the time it gets messy.

I don’t want to be there. And yes, travel fees are a thing which you don’t have to pay because you don’t have to book a celebrant who’s far away from you. You can either book a local celebrant and pay less, or if you really want to book someone who you really jive with for whatever reason, you might have to pay a travel fee. But other than that, there’s not a lot of add ons.

Josh: Can I talk about the pizza? Just cause it still happens. I’m guessing it’s industry wide. I’m guessing it’s not just a Josh thing, but people and the kindness, the nicest couples. I’m very lucky. I have the nicest people generally book me as a celebrant and they’ll I’ll say, so we stick around afterwards, do you want [00:50:00] to stay for the reception?

And in that moment, I have to understand that they think. That’s a really generous offer. I’m like, mate, unless I’m being paid, the last thing I want to do is hang out with your cousin. I have chosen a wife of my liking that I would like to perhaps see before I die. we have given birth to two children who I really like.

The last thing I need to do is to sit with your mate from work and

Sarah: only ever been to one reception

Josh: talk about

Sarah: awful. It was my second year. She begged me because a bunch of people had dropped out in the week before the ceremony. I think she asked me five times and eventually I caved and I went, I ended up on the misfit table with I don’t know why he was at the wedding, but he was.

and like some teacher from primary school. Like I ended up on the table of people who literally didn’t have anybody else to talk to. It was awful. And I will never do it again. And I am, I’m very open with people. I’m, I always [00:51:00] say, thank you so much for the lovely invitation, but I don’t know anyone.

And I would like to spend the evening with my own family. They don’t know that I don’t have a partner at home. That doesn’t matter. I might be spending the time with my Netflix

Josh: Yeah.

I have, This question, cause we’ll bring this podcast on in the close to near future, but I’m going to ask this question and I’m going to hook into another thing, which this is me teasing that there’s going to be a hook. But the question is how to factors like wedding date, location and ceremony complexity.

Sarah: We’ve covered complexity, but I know there are celebrants who certainly do charge differently based on venue. Because they’re like, if you’re paying 300 a person to get married at Stones, you can pay me more. And that’s fine. And they don’t have their prices on their website, so they can do that.

So if they’re like, it’s a Saturday in October, it’s the busiest day of the year, and you are getting married at, yeah, at Stones, and I know you’re paying 350. [00:52:00] Fine. No problem. I don’t want to be thinking about that every day because I don’t have enough bandwidth to go, how much should I charge this person?

It’s just on my website. Just look at my website and you’ll know. But yeah, there are certainly celebrants who charge differently for date and venue. And we’ve talked about ceremony complexity.

Josh: Yeah. All right. I’m going to come back around to that in a second. Just ask one more question from the list that I poke about gaming, because I think this is just interesting. How many hours do you Sarah typically spend on a winning from the initial inquiry through to the lodgement paperwork, like Jack and Jill inquire book, Mary,

Sarah: If

Josh: how many hours?

I don’t know. You’ve got have you got three packages? I think you’ve got three. And I’m guessing that kind of varies across the three.

Sarah: I think I’ve worked it out at about 10 to 12 hours, but I do have to caveat that with the fact that I am not normal, [00:53:00] which we all know. I write very quickly, so I can write an entire

Josh: changes everything.

Sarah: the couple’s story in 45 minutes.

And I know that a lot of celebrants take four or five, six hours. I would say for an average celebrant, somewhere between 15 and 20 hours is probably a good kind of average amount of time that you can think of.

Josh: Yeah, I put on average 12 hours. I only really have the one package. so about 12 hours is what the kind of buying of my time. I will say I don’t love the way, and you talked about this a little earlier when some celebrants are saying this is what it costs for my business.

I don’t love the idea of, a per hour, like I’m essentially in on charging per hour just because me charging per hour and someone else, there’s different value being shared there. There’s

Sarah: And I also, hang on a second, just back to that per hour [00:54:00] thing

Josh: I’m going to do the whole crayons where I was talking about, oh, sorry.

Sarah: In the first year, you might think about a per hour and base your total package cost off that. But I would hope that as you evolve in your celebrant journey, that you actually get quicker and more efficient at doing things.

So if it takes you less hours to do something that it did in the first year, does that mean you should get paid less? No, it doesn’t. You should get paid more. Yes, you can raise your hourly rate.

Josh: Yep.

Sarah: again, the, yeah, the value that’s being exchanged is different and you should get better and quicker and more efficient as you evolve through your business.

So it should take you less time, I would hope, as you get systems in place and efficiencies and all those sorts of things. So yeah, hourly rate, I think is good to think about at the start when you’re first thinking about your pricing, but not as you work through your solvent career.[00:55:00]

Josh: So the the hook I wanted to make around was it’s to another podcast called the wed. co podcast. I linked it to it on the Celebrant Institute website. You can use your own searching through YouTube or podcast app or Google. Wed. co podcast. Where’s my voice is

Sarah: was

Josh: today.

Wed. co podcast. I don’t know why it’s so hard. Yeah, but There’s two things that I wanted to point people to in that, and one was that question that we asked before, how do factors like wedding date location affect celebrant pricing? Because what I actually wrote to Polkadot is something, I don’t know if I’ve ever talked about it on the podcast before, but it’s something I’m a little thing I’m trying to make a thing, which I don’t know.

I actually don’t have faith in me making anything because I don’t know whether I can change the world this much. But anyway, I think that everyone’s world will be easier if instead of getting inquiries for, Hey Sarah, are you available for such and such date? But instead people say, Hey Sarah, you’re our kind of celebrant.

We’re going to find a date that works with you. And then you have photographer. This is a little with his wedding method, I call it where people find their team and then find a date [00:56:00] based on their team. And the reason point.

Sarah: much, much harder.

Josh: it’s, and I know all the

Sarah: married for four years. If they’re looking for a date that fits three different providers.

Josh: No, that’s not true. if you’re looking for three or four different providers, you can probably get married in

Sarah: If you’re happy to get married on a Wednesday.

Josh: anyway. Exactly. Anyway, I talk about this in the word code podcast. But that’s not the main reason. One of the main reason I wanted to point people there is because we were going to talk about on this episode, but I feel like we’ve run towards the timeline a little bit quicker than we imagined that I have become a little bit infamous in wedding videographer circles for a social media post I made on my social and also tag the celebrity institute.

About not allowing videographers to tape microphone tape recording instruments to a celibate microphone. I went into great depth about it WEDCO podcast. Happy slash embarrassed, but mostly [00:57:00] happy to say a lot of celebrants have heeded this wisdom and they’re telling videographers not to post not to tape things to their microphones.

And the reason I’ve said not to do that is well detailed in the WebCode podcast. And so I wanted to point people to there so that if you’ve ever thought that maybe videographers taping things to your microphone is not a good idea, I’m in agreeance with that, but I actually go into great detail about it on the WEDCODE podcast, and it’s a reason why Settlement should know their PAs better, we should know our microphones better, and understand how radio and audio works, and videographers should too, and videographers taping microphones to transmitting microphones should know that’s going to be an interference.

So anyway. That’s all on the Webco podcast. So the boys there are videographers and they I don’t know if they agreed with me, but they heard me and I explained myself fairly well. And I will say as well, I’ve posted on the Celebrant Institute website about the new microphone I’m using a new road [00:58:00] interview pro.

And so I’ve gone and shared about that on the Celebrant Institute website, and I think it would be a good microphone for people to have if they want to record their ceremonies and really good audio and maybe even use it for content for their own social media. So there you go.

Sarah: Cool. Love

Josh: I reckon that’s a podcast

Sarah: it is too. I think we’re done. Yeah. Yes.

Josh: Please share this with other celebrants. I’d love to hear that more celebrants are listening to this podcast. Also, if you’re not a member of the Celebrant Institute, it’s some of the best 12 a month you’ll ever spend. Go to celebrant. institute to become a member. Please send us any topics or information that you’d like us to cover in future episodes.

The more you email, the more we’ll podcast and record and the more fun we’ll have. So yeah, it’s been a pleasure podcasting with you again.

Sarah: You too. Yay. Bye everybody. We’ll talk to you soon.

How to be a rockstar celebrant: commanding attention without a spotlight

How to be a rockstar celebrant: commanding attention without a spotlight

Speaking to a group of people who don’t have to listen to you is a privilege I don’t take lightly. As a celebrant, it’s a daily honour, and it comes with an immense responsibility every time I pick up that microphone. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out, my hope is that every celebrant learns how to be a powerful speaker and a meaningful communicator—a rockstar at the wedding.

But let’s get one thing straight: The world doesn’t need celebrants who crave the celebrity spotlight.

We’re not talking about the fame/infamy that comes with being a really high performing celebrant like those who can command an audience and hold their attention and shape the atmosphere of the moment.

A true rockstar celebrant doesn’t need to be the loudest voice or the biggest personality, but they do need to own that space up the end of the aisle, communicate meaningfully, and create an unforgettable vibe.


These are the pillars of Julian Treasure’s TED talk on how to speak so people want to listen—HAIL for short:

  • H: Honesty – Be clear and straightforward.
  • A: Authenticity – Be yourself.
  • I: Integrity – Be your word.
  • L: Love – Wish people well.

Every time I’ve left a wedding feeling on top of the world, it’s because I’ve nailed these four things. It’s about showing up real, cutting the crap, and delivering something truly meaningful. No gimmicks, no fluff—just you, your values, and the love in the room.

Stay true to yourself. Don’t chase trends or try to replicate someone else’s ceremony just because it seemed cool. That’s not what the couple needs. Each ceremony should be an authentic reflection of their story, not a copy-paste from Pinterest or someone else’s highlight reel.

Words are powerful. They can change a room, the air, the mood. A few well-chosen words can shift the entire experience of a wedding, so choose them, and your celebrant, wisely.

Now, do yourself a favor and watch Julian’s TED talk. It’s 10 minutes that will change how you communicate, not just in ceremonies, but in life.

My new favourite microphone: the Rode Interview Pro

My new favourite microphone: the Rode Interview Pro

For the last decade, I’ve famously recommended the Sennheiser EW range of wireless microphones to celebrants. They’ve been my go-to for reliable, high-quality sound in all kinds of wedding environments. And while I still believe they’re the best for many situations, I’ve recently found an almost-perfect microphone that I’ve come to love: the Rode Interview Pro.

The main reason I’ve switched to using the Rode? It records directly on the microphone!

Here’s why that’s a game-changer, not only for celebrants but also for wedding videographers.

Say goodbye to videographers taping recording devices to our microphones

If you’ve worked with wedding videographers, you’ve probably experienced the awkward moment where they want to attach their own recording devices to your microphone. It’s cumbersome, not to mention it can interfere with the aesthetics of the ceremony. With the Rode Interview Pro (paired with an appropriate receiver), that’s no longer necessary.

This handheld wireless microphone transmitter can automatically record all the audio on the microphone, giving videographers (and you) a built-in backup of the ceremony’s sound. They no longer need to tape extra gear to the microphone, and you don’t have to worry about additional clutter or interference. The result? A cleaner setup and a smoother workflow for everyone involved.

About the microphone pattern/type

There is one potential downside, in my humble opinion: the Rode Interview Pro uses an omnidirectional pickup pattern, while the Sennheiser EW 935 microphones I love use a cardioid pattern.

What’s the difference?

  • A cardioid microphone (like the Sennheiser 835) focuses on sound directly in front of it, making it ideal for ceremonies where you want to capture the couple’s vows or readings without picking up too much background noise. It helps isolate the sound of the celebrant or person speaking while minimising noise from other sources, like guests talking, wind in the background, whilst minimizing feedback from the PA system speaker, that high-pitched squeal we hate.
  • An omnidirectional microphone (like the Rode Interview Pro) picks up sound equally from all directions. This can be great for interviews or spontaneous moments where people are speaking from different angles, but in a wedding setting, it might pick up more ambient noise, such as guests chatting, babies crying, environmental sounds like wind, or it could hear itself coming out of the speaker, thus creating that high-pitched squat we call feedback.

Why is this a negative?

In a wedding scenario, where clarity and focus are essential, an omnidirectional mic can occasionally be a bit of a challenge. While it ensures that no matter where the couple is facing or how softly they speak, their voices will be captured, it also means you might pick up unwanted sounds from around the ceremony. This can be a problem in outdoor settings with wind or in large venues with lots of guests.

So, while the Rode Interview Pro has a lot going for it, including its ability to record on the microphone and its ease of use, you’ll need to consider the venue, speaker positioning, and the potential for background noise. If you’re officiating in a particularly noisy environment, the Sennheiser’s cardioid mic might still be your best bet for isolating the couple’s voices and ensuring clear audio.

Why I love the Rode Interview Pro

Despite the omnidirectional pickup, I’ve found the Rode Interview Pro to be incredibly useful, especially for the flexibility it offers. Here’s why I still think it’s a top choice:

  1. Local Recording: The fact that this microphone records directly on the transmitter is a huge advantage. It’s a built-in failsafe in case something goes wrong with the wireless connection, and it’s a feature that videographers will love. They can rely on the local recording, freeing them from the hassle of attaching extra recording devices to your microphone.
  2. Syncing Audio for Social Media: If you’re like me and want to capture moments during ceremonies for social media content, the Rode Interview Pro makes it easy. You can set up a basic iPhone on a tripod to capture video and then sync that video with the high-quality audio recorded on the mic. This results in professional-grade content, even from a simple setup.
  3. Flexibility with Couple: Because the mic captures sound from all directions, it’s forgiving if someone isn’t speaking directly into it. This makes it perfect for those candid post-ceremony interviews with the couple or spontaneous guest interactions.

I still recommend the Sennheiser EW range for celebrants who want absolute control over their audio in busy or noisy environments. But the Rode Interview Pro is quickly becoming my favourite, thanks to its innovative features—especially the ability to record directly on the mic. It’s a great tool for anyone looking to streamline their workflow and get high-quality sound for both ceremonies and social media content.

If you’re a celebrant looking for a new microphone or just want to level up your audio game, definitely check out the Rode Interview Pro. It’s not perfect in every situation, but for many weddings, it’s the closest I’ve found.


If all you buy is the Rode Interview Pro – the microphone/transmitter – you will simply be able to record audio, but it won’t go anywhere because the Interview Pro is a transmitter but does not come with a receiver in box.

If you already own a Series IV Rode Wireless product like I’m about to list, then that Rode Wireless receiver can be synced to this microphone. You’ll want either a:

  • Rode Wireless Pro – this package is the best quality wireless audio receiver, all the accessories you’ll need, a charging case, and two wireless microphones for lab mics, and the whole system records in 32-bit Float Recording and has the current best wireless reception, this is what I am using and recommend, or you can get a,
  • Rode Wireless Go II dual lav mic edition or single lav mic edition. The Wireless Go II is a great product, but it doesn’t support 32-bit float and its wireless audio reception is good but not as good as the Pro.
  • You’ll likely also need the Rode VXLR adaptor so you can plug the Rode Wireless receiver into your PA system’s XLR port.

The key to success is plugging the microphone and the receiver into your computer and setting the sensitivity lower and dynamic volume control off. Here are the settings I’m using for the microphone and the receiver. You use the Rode Central application on your computer or phone to configure these settings.

 

These are the audio settings I am using for the Rode Interview Pro. Note GainAssist is off, mic gain is around 22dB, the high-pass filter is set to 100, and recording is set to always.

These are the settings I’m using on the Ride Wireless Pro receiver. Not that gain mode is manual and set to -27.

What does the microphone sound like?

Here’s a recording from a wedding I performed on Monday

 

How to perform a commitment ceremony without breaking the law in Australia

How to perform a commitment ceremony without breaking the law in Australia

A commitment ceremony can be an important and simple way to celebrate a marriage-like-love when the legal formalities of marriage according to the law in Australia aren’t possible, as in one of our member’s cases today where her couple won’t have their divorce papers ready in time. While not legally binding, these ceremonies can be as meaningful and special as a wedding, maintaining a fun, honest, and legal approach without stepping into the realm of marriage solemnisation under Australian law.

Avoiding Legal Pitfalls

According to the Marriage Act 1961, celebrants must be careful not to include certain legal elements such as the monitum or official vows required for legal marriage. A key principle is that while a commitment ceremony can closely resemble a wedding, it must not cross the boundaries into legal territory.

Key considerations:

  1. Avoid the monitum: Do not include the monitum, which legally defines marriage as “the union of two people, to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life”.
  2. No legal vows: Ensure that the couple does not recite the legally required vows, like “I call upon the persons here present…”.
  3. No signing legal certificates: While a symbolic certificate may be signed, it should be clear that it has no legal status. A simple decorative certificate can represent their union but must not reference marriage.

Fun, Honest, and Legal

The Guidelines to the Marriage Act highlight the importance of clarity and honesty in non-legal ceremonies. As celebrants, we are responsible for ensuring that all participants and guests understand that this is not a legal marriage. However, it is equally important to maintain the celebratory atmosphere. Here are some strategies to balance these requirements:

  • Opening Statement: Begin the ceremony by acknowledging that while the couple is not being legally married today, this is the day they choose to celebrate their love. This keeps the tone light-hearted and prevents any misunderstandings:

“Although today’s ceremony is not a legal marriage, it marks the day [Name] and [Name] affirm their love and commitment in front of those dearest to them. Today is the day they celebrate the joy and beauty of their union, as partners in life and love.”

  • Inclusive Language: Steer away from using the word “marriage” throughout the ceremony. Use terms like “union,” “commitment,” or “partnership” to describe their relationship:

“This ceremony represents the deep commitment [Name] and [Name] have chosen to make, a union of love and respect that will guide them through the years ahead.”

By avoiding terms that imply legal marriage, you remain within the guidelines of the Marriage Act while still offering the couple an intimate, meaningful event.

Keeping the Ceremony Fun

A non-legal ceremony doesn’t mean it has to be overly formal or distant. The focus should be on the love the couple shares and the joy of the day. Here are some suggestions to make it feel celebratory and fun:

  • Personal Vows: Encourage the couple to write their own vows, focusing on their journey together, their shared experiences, and their hopes for the future. This personal touch adds a unique dimension to the ceremony without stepping into legal territory.
  • Audience Participation: To keep the ceremony lively, involve the guests. For example, you could have them give blessings or share short anecdotes about the couple, adding warmth and humour to the proceedings.

A commitment ceremony provides a unique opportunity to celebrate love and union without the legal framework of marriage. By ensuring that you remain within the boundaries of the Marriage Act and focusing on modern, creative rituals like the Unity Painting, you can offer a ceremony that is both fun and deeply meaningful. By framing the day as a celebration of commitment rather than a wedding, you honour the couple’s wishes while staying clear of legal complexities.

The deal with Australian celebrants and international weddings

The deal with Australian celebrants and international weddings

Anka asks:

Lately, I’ve noticed a lot of celebrants on Facebook have started advertising that they can do weddings overseas? I didn’t think we could? I’m presuming they might be just completing paperwork at the airport before they depart? Or did I miss something?

Hi Anka, this is a question I personally field often, and I’m glad I get to address it on the Celebrant Institute today.

Under what authority?

The Attorney-General’s office has the authority to appoint marriage celebrants according to Australian law. However, that law and authority are only valid within Australia. So, when an Australian authorised marriage celebrant leaves the country, they no longer carry the authority they did in Australia and become subject to the laws of the country they’re in—marriage laws and all. In simple terms, when an Australian marriage celebrant is in New Zealand, they lose the title of “marriage celebrant” while retaining the title of “Australian”. Outside of Australia, you’re not officially a celebrant, which is why celebrants cannot witness notices of intent overseas.

If you see myself or others performing ceremonies overseas, we are working under the local laws. In those countries, if we have the necessary authority to marry people, then we may well be conducting legal weddings. If not, it’s technically not a legal marriage ceremony.

As of the time I’m writing this, I have the authority to marry people in Australia, the USA, and British Columbia, Canada. In other countries, when you see me officiating, the couple are getting married in their hearts, in spirit, but not legally married – not according to the law.

Even though I have the authority to legally marry in Canada and the USA, many of my couples still opt for the Australian paperwork route, as it makes it easier to change names and update passports or driver’s licences.

So, how do people get “married-married”?

It’s up to the couple to find the best legal process for themselves, depending on the country they’re in. Some people value the simplicity of having an Australian legal marriage and handle the paperwork on Australian soil before or after their overseas ceremony. Others prefer to have the date they exchanged vows as the official date on their marriage certificate, and they arrange things accordingly.

Isn’t this strange?

For many Europeans, it’s quite common for the celebrant to have no legal authority. The couple typically visits a marriage office in the days leading up to their wedding, or even on the morning of, to legally solemnise their marriage there. (Do I get 10 points for using “solemnise” in a sentence?)

Similarly, for many Australian couples who would like a friend to marry them, I offer a similar service.

Can I witness Australian legal paperwork (like a Notice of Intended Marriage) while overseas?

No, Australian marriage celebrants have no legal authority to witness Australian marriage paperwork or solemnize marriages when they are not in Australia.

Can I put the international wedding date on their Australian marriage paperwork?

No.

The only way to do that would be to use international timezones to your, or their, benefit. Like signing the marriage paperwork at Sydney Airport, taking a flight to LAX and then doing the wedding in California after you land, but it’s a bit silly to try such a feat.

The business end of the deal

You’ll meet very few wedding vendors who’ve successfully built a life—both financially and socially—around being a destination wedding vendor. I’m fortunate that Britt loves travelling more than I do, and Luna and Goldie like it even more! We love travelling the globe and we plan our international wedding schedule around our own dreams and hopes.

Most people reading this would probably love to travel too. I wish you all the best, but know that living with the word “destination” in your bio isn’t easy, if only because so many others have it there too. My advice? Focus on your local market and take on destination weddings that suit your personal life and family schedule.

Josh on the Wed.co podcast

Josh on the Wed.co podcast

This week, I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Steve and Joel on the Wed.Co Podcast, recorded at the picturesque Gabbinbar Homestead in Toowoomba. It was such a great chat about all things celebrancy, storytelling, and the magic of creating wedding ceremonies that truly resonate with couples and their guests. We covered some real gold in this episode—definitely one to tune into if you’re in the wedding industry or simply curious about how the best ceremonies are crafted. We went deep on weddings, celebrancy, and the industry, and covered so many points, including:

  • Owning Your Ceremony Style: We talked about how easy it is to fall into the trap of following traditions or trying to be what people expect, but the real magic happens when you lean into your own style. I shared a few stories about how, as celebrants, it’s crucial to put your own personal stamp on a ceremony to make it not just memorable, but truly unforgettable.
  • Preparing for the Unexpected: Weddings are live events—things go wrong, people forget their lines, the weather turns—but that’s where the fun lies. Steve, Joel, and I discussed the importance of planning for those unpredictable moments and how to roll with them so the couple (and their guests) never even notice.
  • The Power of Storytelling: This was a big focus of our conversation. A wedding ceremony is more than just a legal requirement—it’s the moment where the couple’s story is told. We chatted about how to weave their journey into the ceremony in a way that keeps everyone engaged and emotionally invested from start to finish. It’s about turning that love story into something that leaves a lasting impression.
  • Engaging the Audience: We also talked about how to keep the crowd’s attention throughout the ceremony. Whether it’s through humour, timing, or those heart-on-sleeve moments, it’s all about finding ways to draw everyone in. I shared some tips on pacing the ceremony, making sure it flows naturally and keeps people connected, so they’re not just witnesses—they’re part of the experience.
  • Tech Tips—The Importance of Audio and Video: We also delved into the practical side of things—like the game-changing power of a good wireless microphone and a quality PA system. I cannot stress enough how crucial it is for everyone to hear the ceremony, especially for those sitting at the back or for the videographer capturing the day. We discussed how working closely with videographers and ensuring the right tech setup can make a world of difference, not just for the couple on the day, but for their memories down the line when they watch their wedding video.

It was a fantastic conversation, and I think anyone who’s planning a wedding or working in the industry will take a lot from it. So, if you’re keen to hear more about how to make wedding ceremonies truly stand out, have a listen and let me know what you think. Search for “Wed.Co” in your podcast app, or follow these links to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Youtube.

The five laws of sales your celebrant website needs to respect

The five laws of sales your celebrant website needs to respect

When you’re building your celebrant website, you’re crafting the digital front door to your business, the handshake before you meet your couple. And like any good intro, it needs to do more than look good—it needs to work for you. Let’s break it down using these five laws of sales, turning those clicks into conversations, and those conversations into bookings.

Jacob’s Law: Familiarity Wins

Jacob’s Law tells us that people spend the majority of their time on other websites. What does that mean for you? They expect your site to behave like others they’ve seen. No wild, confusing navigation or quirky layouts just for the sake of being “different.” Instead, make your website intuitive.

When a couple hits your homepage, they should easily find a button to learn more about you, view your services, or book a chat. Simple navigation, clear headlines, and obvious buttons keep visitors happy because it’s what they’re already used to. Be creative with your content, but let the layout be familiar.

Hick’s Law: Don’t Overload Their Brains

Ever been to a restaurant with a menu so long you feel paralyzed by choices? Hick’s Law is all about decision fatigue—the more options you give someone, the longer they take to decide, or worse, they might decide not to decide at all.

On your website, streamline the decision-making process. Have one clear call-to-action per page. Want them to book a call? Make that button pop. Too many distractions—like social media feeds, a blog that’s outdated, or three different links to click—will only delay the action you want them to take. Make it easy, make it obvious, and make it quick.

Principle of Least Effort: Don’t Make Them Work

Visitors to your website want the path of least resistance. We’re naturally inclined to take the easiest route to get what we want. So, if booking a celebrant chat means digging through layers of pages or completing a complex form, they’ll likely bail.

Let them do the least amount of work possible to get the maximum value. That could mean a homepage that leads them directly to a scheduling tool, auto-filled forms, or a clear FAQ that handles objections before they even ask. The goal: Make every step feel as easy as a conversation with a mate over a coffee.

Anchoring Effect: Show Them What’s Normal

We’re all wired to compare. The anchoring effect is where people rely too heavily on the first piece of information they see. So, set the expectation high.

On your website, present your premium package first, not last. When couples see that option first, everything else feels more reasonable. If the first thing they see is a high-end, all-in package, the mid-tier and lower-end offerings seem like great deals in comparison. It’s about controlling the narrative—don’t be afraid to put your best (and priciest) foot forward.

Social Proof: Let Your Clients Sell for You

Social proof is powerful because it’s human nature to look for cues from others before making a decision. Your potential clients want to know you’re the real deal, and nothing says that better than glowing reviews and real wedding stories.

Don’t just hide those testimonials on a dedicated “Review” page. Sprinkle them throughout your site. Have a client rave about how smooth the process was? Put that on the booking page. Did a couple gush about how comfortable you made them feel? Let that review be the first thing they see on your homepage. Couples want to feel like they’re making the right choice, and nothing convinces better than someone else’s happy experience.


When designing your celebrant website, think like a couple looking for a trustworthy guide.

Keep it simple and familiar (Jacob’s Law), reduce the overwhelm (Hick’s Law), make it effortless (Principle of Least Effort), anchor expectations with your best offer (Anchor Law), and let happy couples do the selling for you (Social Proof).

When all of these principles come together, you’re not just making a website—you’re creating a powerful tool that turns curiosity into connection, and connection into commitment.

When someone gets engaged, what’s on their mind?

When someone gets engaged, what’s on their mind?

The best marketing in the world meets the target market where they’re at. Whether that’s in placement, or in creative.

Have you ever considered where people are “at” when they get engaged? And more importantly, have you considered how the at changes over time?

I’m reminded of the first radio station I had work at, 4CRM in Mackay. When I started there in 2002 their brand was “107.5 FM Stereo” forty years after stereo FM radio was formalised and 20 years after it was popularised. They were wasting brand equity on a term everyone expected. Like a hotel I stayed at recently that offered free Foxtel, but I didn’t even turn on the TV.

Many businesses don’t accurately know where their customers are at. If a radio station wanted to win me over today it wouldn’t be playing music, in stereo or not, and if a hotel wanted to win me over they’d boast of their pillows, beds, and bedside USB-C charging.

Do you and I know where are customers are at today? Where are our wedding clients of tomorrow and how can we best position ourselves and our message to reach them effectively?

Physically

Consider the literal, physical spaces your couples frequent. Is there outdoor advertising you could engage in via something like Cassie

Are they attending wedding expos, local bridal boutiques, or elopement destinations?

Meet them in the spaces they naturally gravitate towards, whether through in-person engagement or targeted advertising.

For example, collaborating with venues, popular tourist destinations for elopements, or wedding fairs can help you be present where they’re physically planning and experiencing wedding-related activities.

Geographically

Are they at home, or maybe they got engaged on holidays? Why do you think the post-winter and the post-Christmas enquiry seasons exist?

Couples in certain regions will have different needs and desires for their weddings.

For instance, those in city areas may want more modern, chic weddings, while couples in rural or coastal areas may prefer something laid-back or nature-driven.

Understand the geographical wedding trends in your area and how they might change over time.

Tap into local culture and aesthetics to craft a service that feels tailor-made for your region.

Internationally or destination-focused celebrants must consider time zones and local laws when planning their outreach.

Emotionally

Emotionally, newly engaged couples are often overwhelmed with excitement, but also anxiety.

Are you addressing their fears—budget, logistics, family dynamics—or just feeding into their Pinterest-fueled fantasies?

The best marketing connects emotionally, assuring couples that you’ve got their back and understand the gravity of their big day.

Reassuring them that you’re a problem-solver and an expert in navigating this emotional rollercoaster helps build trust.

Storytelling and testimonials can work wonders in this space, making the emotional connection more personal.

Financially

Weddings can be one of the biggest financial commitments people make outside of buying a house, particularly this early in their relationship.

Where is your target audience financially? Are they young professionals balancing student loans with wedding budgets, or are they older couples investing heavily in their dream event?

Align your pricing and payment structures with where your clients are financially.

Offer value packages or transparent pricing to take the financial sting out of the equation, which in turn makes them feel empowered and secure in choosing you.

Online

Where are they spending their time online? Instagram? Pinterest? Are they Googling wedding photographers or watching YouTube for wedding inspiration?

Your online presence needs to meet them where they hang out digitally. Be active on the platforms that matter to them and provide valuable, SEO-optimised content.

Create blog posts, guides, or Q&A videos that answer their burning questions—like navigating legalities or how to write personal vows.

Relationally

Understanding where couples are relationally can guide how you market yourself.

Some couples are in the early, dreamy stages of engagement, while others are managing family tensions, blending families, or even considering a small, intimate wedding after several years together.

Recognise the different types of relationships and market accordingly. For instance, you might share content that speaks to how your services cater to both elopements and larger traditional weddings, or you could offer resources on how to incorporate blended family rituals into a ceremony.


It’s highly likely they aren’t even thinking of celebrants, or if they are, there’s a one in a billion chance they’re thinking of you or me. It’s our job to market ourselves to them, to meet them where they’re at.

A personal problem I’ve had to face this year is a personal internal attitude that had crept up through Covid. I’d accidentally, unintentionally, and silently developed an unhealthy attitude of entitlement. I’ve been doing this long enough, surely I don’t have to dance on TikTok to get a wedding booking do I?

And although I might not need to dance on TikTok to get an enquiry, I deserve that next wedding enquiry no more (and no less) than the celebrant that was appointed this last week.

No-one owes me an enquiry, a reply, or a wedding booking. If I work hard enough for it my hopes and prayers are that they’d arrive, but me being entitled doesn’t help at all.

Talking about talking about celebrant price

Talking about talking about celebrant price

A wedding blog that you and I both love posed some questions to me about how much celebrants cost, how to budget for one, and what to expect from certain fees. I know from a recent celebrant group chat I’m in that this conversation sends most of us to the sand to put our heads in the ground, so I thought I’d share the questions and answers posed by the blog, for the benefit of members, so we can start talking about talking about money and fees and prices.

I’d also submit my words below to your comments. Disagree? Think it could have been written better? I’m ready for the conversation about it.


Q: What factors should couples consider when setting their initial wedding celebrant budget?

A: Couples planning to book a celebrant should know that there is no national agreement on what a celebrant should charge or provide. Every celebrant is a unique person, with a unique offering, style, and packages, as well as their own business goals and lifestyle. One celebrant might do this as a hobby and charge a hobbyist fee, another might do celebrancy as a side-gig, so your expectations should match their standard. Another might be the sole provider for their family, meaning their fee, offering, and level of professionalism will differ. With a full-time celebrant whose only work is celebrancy, you’ll pay more but you’ll likely get more than you ever expected.

Q: How much of their total wedding budget should couples typically allocate to a celebrant?

A: Much of the wedding budget scales according to guest numbers. The larger the guest list, the larger the venue and other services, but the celebrant isn’t overly affected by guest list size. So, a percentage of the budget doesn’t work well here. Instead, budget around $1,000 for an average celebrant—that’s the national average. For a full-time professional celebrant, you might pay up to $2,500, with some offering extras and services that could bring the total closer to $5,000.

Q: What’s the typical price range for wedding celebrant services, and what influences where a celebrant falls within this range?

A: Going to a public servant in a registry office can cost up to $800 in some states, so the personalised service a celebrant offers begins where the government leaves off. I’d say the price range for a celebrant is from $800 to $2,500 for the ceremony. Cheaper celebrants may not be as confident in their offering, the value they bring, or the level of service they provide. As the price moves higher, the celebrant is typically more confident in their ability to meet expectations and bring immense value to the ceremony.

Q: What are the typical components of a wedding celebrant package, and how do they affect the overall cost?

A: The bare minimum a celebrant must do is comply with the Marriage Act of 1961. This means delivering a legally compliant, respectful, and accurate marriage ceremony, maintaining professionalism, protecting the couple’s privacy, and providing information on relationship support services. This includes receiving the marriage paperwork at least one month before the wedding and ensuring legal compliance. Beyond this, celebrants are free to design their offerings. These can include personalised ceremonies, rehearsals, writing scripts, including readings and rituals, providing wedding furniture or ornaments, acting as MC, or even DJ services. Travel expenses may also apply, particularly if the celebrant travels globally, as I do.

Q: What extras and upgrades might a couple need to consider in their celebrant budget, and how much do they usually cost (e.g., rehearsals, travel fees)?

A: I’ve never attended a rehearsal that made the wedding less stressful or more enjoyable, so I don’t include rehearsals because I don’t love them. My packages are simple: ceremony only ($1,800) or ceremony and reception ($2,800). The only added cost would be if the wedding requires me to stay overnight or fly, and those expenses are made known before the couple books.

Q: How do factors like wedding date, location, and ceremony complexity affect celebrant pricing?

A: If you choose a wedding date before securing your team, every conversation with a vendor will start with “Are you available?” My best advice is to first choose a core team (celebrant, photographer, videographer, florist, stylist, planner, entertainment) and a venue, then collaborate on a date that works for everyone. If you approach each enquiry with a set date, you might end up booking vendors you didn’t plan for—whether they’re cheaper with less service or more expensive than you anticipated.

Q: Are there any often-overlooked expenses related to wedding celebrants that couples should budget for?

A: After your ceremony, your celebrant will hand you a certificate of marriage, but this can’t be used as proof of a name change or marriage. For that, you’ll need to contact the Births, Deaths, and Marriages office in the state where you were married to order an official certificate, which typically costs around $50. This isn’t a celebrant cost, but it’s something couples should budget for.

Q: What are the “hidden” costs that might be included in what we pay a celebrant?

A: I run an honest business with no hidden fees. However, some celebrants charge for rehearsals, meetings, sales calls, if weddings run late, or if there are date changes. These should all be detailed in writing before you book, so hopefully, there aren’t any surprises.

Q: How many hours do you typically spend on a wedding from the initial enquiry through to the lodgement of paperwork?

A: Each wedding booking takes about 12 hours of my time, plus travel. Sometimes, I’m away from home for three days due to travel.

Q: Is there a typical payment schedule celebrants follow?

A: I take a booking fee to secure the date, which is about one-third of the total fee. The rest is due four months after booking. This is typical, though some celebrants may break it into thirds over the pre-wedding period, and some take full payment in the weeks before the wedding. The key point is that collective bargaining is illegal, so celebrants do not operate as a group charging the same amount or using the same payment schedules. Every celebrant’s business structure is different.

Q: What options are available for couples on a tight budget who still want a quality wedding celebrant?

A: To get quality, you often need to compromise. Like choosing a luxury car, you trade value for quality. Celebrants are a small portion of the overall wedding budget, particularly in terms of cost-per-guest. You could cut back on the guest list to free up budget for a celebrant. Some celebrants offer better prices for weekday weddings or earlier in the day, as they can still book another prime-time wedding that week.

Q: Anything else you’d like to tell us about setting a budget and what to expect when it comes to celebrants?

A: Your celebrant sets the tone and vibe for your entire wedding. If you want a wedding that feels awesome, get an awesome celebrant!

Learnings from MrBeast’s strategy, for wedding celebrants

Learnings from MrBeast’s strategy, for wedding celebrants

If you don’t know who MrBeast is, then jump onto Youtube and search for the guy with 312 million subscribers, and almost 60 billion views over his 800 videos released over the last 12 years.

Jimmy has a large staff today and as anyone with a strong company culture does, he’s published a PDF for new employees on how things work around Mr Beast HQ.

Here are my take-aways from the document you can find my Googling and I’m not going to share a link to because it might get us in trouble!

Jimmy’s quotes are, and you’re not going to guess this, in quotation marks.

Focus

“Your goal here is to make the best YOUTUBE videos possible. That’s the number one goal of this production company. It’s not to make the best-produced videos. Not to make the funniest videos. Not to make the best-looking videos. Not the highest quality videos… Everything we want will come if we strive for that.”

As a marriage celebrant, our primary goal is to create the most meaningful and memorable wedding ceremonies possible. Just as MrBeast focuses on making the best YouTube videos, your focus should be on delivering the best wedding experience for each couple. Everything else—whether it’s marketing, social media, or administration—should support this central goal.

Be adaptable and innovate

“We pivot a lot, be ready to have everything flipped on its head at a moment’s notice lol.”

In the wedding industry, trends change, and so do clients’ needs and expectations. Being adaptable and open to new ways of conducting ceremonies or marketing your services will help keep your business relevant and in demand. This is ever more true for social media and content creation. As I write this some of the smartest people in social media are at a conference in Perth (State of Social) and I – and you – should have been there to learn from the best.

Surround yourself with great people

“A-Players are obsessive, learn from mistakes, coachable, intelligent, don’t make excuses, believe in Youtube, see the value of this company, and are the best in the goddamn world at their job.”

Whether you’re working with other vendors or hiring assistants, aim to surround yourself with people who are equally committed to excellence. This ensures that every part of the wedding experience is handled with the utmost care and professionalism.

Creativity is key

“Creativity is the answer… Instead of just throwing money at the problem, we used creativity.”

The wedding industry can be competitive, so finding creative ways to differentiate your services—whether through unique ceremony elements, personalised touches, or creative marketing—can save money and elevate your brand.

Understand the importance of storytelling

“Hook people at the start of the video, transition them to an amazing story that they are invested in, have no dull moments, and then have a satisfying payoff at the end of the video with an abrupt ending.”

Just as MrBeast emphasises the importance of storytelling in his videos, a good wedding ceremony tells the story of the couple’s journey. Each ceremony should have a structure that keeps guests engaged and emotionally invested from start to finish.

Always be improving

The best in any field continually seek ways to improve their skills and services. Whether it’s refining your public speaking, learning new cultural traditions, curating better content or advertising, or finding more efficient ways to manage your time, constant improvement is vital.

“We must always be improving and innovating. The camera angles need to always get better, the pacing, the story, the jokes, the color, the lighting, the music, the props, the people, our framing, our ideas, literally everything must always be improving and innovating.”

Your information diet matters

“What you consume on social media, when you watch youtube, tv, the games you play, etc. are what I like to call your information diet… Consume things on a daily basis that help you write better content.”

What you consume—be it media, books, or even conversations—shapes your creativity and influences how you conduct ceremonies and run your business. Ensure you’re consuming content, books, newsletters, podcasts, videos, and seminars that inspire and informs your work as a celebrant.

Establish clear communication and accountability

“It’s very important as a company we maintain proper communication lines. On set and off set… Ideally when communicating across departments you go up and then over. If you skip and just go below you… then you have no idea what’s going on.”

In your wedding business, clear communication with clients, vendors, and your team is crucial. Miscommunication can lead to mistakes that could affect the entire event. Make sure everyone involved knows their responsibilities and that there’s a clear line of communication to avoid any last-minute issues.

Learn how to be an expert emailer (check your spam folder and make sure your emails are not ending up in the receiver’s spam folder!), an expert video-chatter, an expert iPhone user etc. Communication is the number one way to set yourself apart in this modern world.

Emphasise authenticity and excitement in your services

“If I’m not excited to get in front of that camera and film the video, it’s just simply not going to happen. I’m not fake and I will be authentic, that’s partly why the channel does so well. And if I’m not excited by the video, we’re fucked.”

Being authentic in your approach to ceremonies and genuinely excited about each wedding will resonate with your clients and make their experience more memorable.

Clients can sense when you’re genuinely invested in their ceremony, which adds to the overall experience.

Plan for contingencies and have backup plans

“Always have a backup day… When you’re spending hundreds of thousands of dollars securing a set, renting a tank, etc. make sure you have the ability to extend them in case something goes wrong.”

Weddings often involve multiple variables that can change last minute, from weather to vendor issues. Always have a backup plan to ensure the ceremony goes smoothly regardless of what happens.

My wife knows who my celebrant-besties are and she knows my scheudle so if something goes wrong she calls them.

Leverage “Wow Factor” moments

“Another non-trackable thing about virality I’d like you to know is what we call the ‘wow factor’… Anything that no other youtuber can do. And it’s important we never lose our wow.”

Creating memorable moments in your ceremonies—whether through unexpected elements, emotional speeches, or unique rituals—can set your services apart and make the event unforgettable for the couple and their guests.

Always seek feedback and improvement

“Run your content by as many people as possible for inspiration on how you could make it even better.”

Actively seek feedback from clients and peers to refine your services. Don’t hesitate to ask how you can improve or what might have made the ceremony better. This openness to feedback helps you stay at the top of your field.

Be prepared to handle setbacks and use them to your advantage

“If something goes wrong on shoot always check to see if it can be made into content. A tree falls over on your car and breaks the 100 vases we needed to give away? THAT’S FUCKEN HILARIOUS AND WE SHOULD MENTION IT IN THE VIDEO LOL.”

When something goes wrong, as it sometimes does in weddings, see if you can turn the setback into a positive part of the experience. Whether it’s a last-minute change or an unexpected issue, use your creativity to make it work in your favour.

That’s your next blog post or social media content piece.

Strong opening

“The first minute of each video is the most important minute of each video… Hook people at the start of the video, transition them to an amazing story that they are invested in, have no dull moments, and then have a satisfying payoff at the end of the video with an abrupt ending.”

“On this particular video we lost 21 million viewers in the first minute of the video… This is why we freak out so much about the first minute and go so above and beyond to make it the best we freakin can.”

All I can think about here is the first few seconds a brand new person sees your website, your social, the email reply to their enquiry.

Start strong.

Structuring the ceremony to maximise engagement

“Strong payoffs at the end of videos boost retention… You get invested in the progress and the challenge… Luckily the winner isn’t revealed until the end of the video so as long as we don’t make the video boring as hell people are very likely to stick around until the end.”

Similar to how MrBeast structures his videos with a clear beginning, middle, and end, your wedding ceremonies can be carefully planned to maintain engagement of the couple and the guests.

This could involve starting with an attention-grabbing introduction, followed by meaningful storytelling elements that keep the guests emotionally connected, and finishing with a powerful closing that leaves a lasting impression – aka the kiss and the aisle.

By applying these principles, you can ensure that your ceremonies not only hold the attention of the guests but also leave them deeply moved and engaged throughout the entire experience.

Hook your audience early with engaging content

“The first minute of each video is the most important minute of each video… Hook people at the start of the video, transition them to an amazing story that they are invested in, have no dull moments.”

Just as in a video, the first moments of your content (emails, replies to enquiries, ceremonies, all of it) need to grab the attention of couples and keep them interested.

Whether it’s a blog post, a social media update, or a video, start with something that directly addresses their excitement or concerns. For instance, share tips on where to start planning, or highlight the importance of personalising their ceremony. The goal is to make them feel that your content is exactly what they need at that moment.

Create content that feels exclusive and special

“Anytime we do something that no other creator can do, that separates us in their mind and makes our videos more special to them. It changes how they see us and it does make them watch more videos and engage more with the brand.”

To keep engaged couples interested, offer content that feels unique to them—perhaps insider tips on wedding planning, behind-the-scenes looks at ceremonies you’ve officiated, or special offers for those who follow you on social media. This creates a sense of exclusivity and keeps them invested in your content.

KYC: Know your customer

“Our content is consumed by everyone at this point… Despite saying all that, at its core if I had to describe it, I’d say the average MrBeast viewer is a teenage memer that likes video games.”

Understand that engaged couples are at different stages of their planning journey. Tailor your content to address the diverse needs of your audience, whether they’re just starting to think about their wedding or deep into the planning process. This could involve creating different series of content for each stage, ensuring that you’re always relevant to their current situation.

What do I do if a celebrant has the same name as me?

What do I do if a celebrant has the same name as me?

Tracey asks:

As of last month, another celebrant has been registered in the regional city where I live (population 40,000) who has the exact same personal name as mine. Our registered business names are slightly different, but both include our first names. Word of mouth and contacts are important sources of business in this area. I am currently in the process of registering my business name as a trademark. I’ve had to go into overdrive to mitigate any potential implications of this situation. Any advice on steps I might take that I haven’t already considered or done would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

My general encouragement for any celebrant is to simply operate under their own name, if only because it’s one less thing for people to remember when talking about you. However, in cases like yours, where another celebrant in your area has the same personal name, securing a solid mark of trade—a trademark—becomes particularly important. This will help you establish a distinct identity and protect your brand from potential consumer confusion.

If I were in your shoes, I would start by having a coffee with this celebrant to discuss the situation and assess their business goals and how they align or differ from yours. Open communication can help you both navigate the landscape more amicably and may reveal opportunities for differentiation that hadn’t been considered.

From there, you should make a plan for a solid business trading name and brand style. It’s worth investing in professional assistance to develop a cohesive brand guide, logo, trademark, and associated website. Not only will this help legally protect your brand, but it will also enhance your search engine optimisation (SEO), making it easier for clients to find you online without confusion. Additionally, reviewing and possibly differentiating your social media handles and online profiles will further reinforce your unique identity.

You might consider using a middle name, nickname, maiden or married name, or even a company name to distinguish yourself. For example, if another Josh Withers appeared today, that would be their problem, not mine. But if I were the newbie, I’d probably brand myself as Joshua Daniel Celebrant, or maybe JD. It’s crucial to communicate these changes clearly to your existing and potential clients to avoid any misunderstandings. This can be done through direct communication, as well as consistent branding across all materials—from business cards to email signatures.

Remember, celebrancy is how I put a roof over my family’s head, and the viability of my business is my number one priority. Gathering and displaying client testimonials that emphasize your unique approach or service style can further distinguish you from the other celebrant, reinforcing your brand’s distinctiveness. Thinking long-term, consider how this situation might influence your future branding or business expansion. You may even find opportunities to pivot or evolve your brand if necessary.

You might make different decisions, but that’s what I’d do.

Best portable PA speaker system for wedding celebrants in 2024

Best portable PA speaker system for wedding celebrants in 2024

Jo asks:

Hey Josh, it’s one of your favourite subjects – P.A. systems. I am saving up for my first one, not even sure where to start but think my budget might stretch to $2k. Is that too little? Can you provide some options and good suppliers? Would love to hear your thoughts.

Jo, you are so correct, this is one of my favourite subjects. Well before I was a celebrant with opinions on PA systems I was a guest at weddings and even regular events where I struggled to hear the person speaking. Nothing frustrates my brain more than being able to see the lips moving but the sound isn’t in my ears. In fact, good stage designers and performance creators base their decisions on the audience’s five senses being in line with what they are trying to deliver. Can the audience member at the front, middle, and rear, see, hear, feel, smell, and taste exactly what we want them to. read more…

A decade of Aird and Withers

A decade of Aird and Withers

Over a decade ago (a decade and two months actually) everyone’s favourite celebrant-shaped human and oracle – Sarah Aird – reached out to me with a software/technology question and that was the beginning of a decade long text-message-thread/phone-call-marathon/email chain/beverage-exchange/business-partnership that Sarah Aird and I call our friendship.

This morning another Australian marriage celebrant association had a political meltdown (there’s always seems to be a celebrancy-flavoured community breakdown happening somewhere in Australia) and I was reminded of why Sarah and I joined forces to create the Celebrant Institute.

Our relationship bloomed early on the love of a few common threads:

  • screenshotting and sharing with each other the wild stuff happening in Facebook groups for weddings, wedding industry, and celebrants
  • desperately trying to find the right piece of software or computer hardware that will finally soothe our nerdy souls
  • a deep desire to be the best celebrant we could individually be
  • raising the professional level of celebrants and what the marketplace expects of us
  • making celebrancy our full-time careers
  • memes

In October 2017 I shared a Google doc with Sarah where we could share all of the topics we’d talk about on a podcast for celebrants, and that podcast still publishes today at celebrant.fm.

In late March 2018 Sarah spurred the idea that we would start what you now know to be the Celebrant Institute. What was the pitch?

I have LOTS of content I can get up on the website before we even start – years of questions that I’ve answered for people. So people are paying not only to be able to ask questions, but also to have access to the searchable content (which is all available in the Guidelines but we know people don’t like to look there). What’s the easiest way to present a searchable database of content? Blog posts?

People email in their questions, we respond to them by email, new questions get a new blog post, questions that have already been answered get added to the post that’s already written, and we do a monthly digest of the questions we’ve answered that month.

Then began a ride that I supported Sarah on in accredited training eventuating in Sarah buying her own RTO in 2020, just a few hours before a little global pandemic set in. that RTO is now named Celebrant Institute RTO and I’m really proud of the training Sarah delivers there. I talk to new or aspiring celebrants every week and our students are smarter, better-prepared, and far more likely to graduate and become celebrants. Sarah runs a great ship over there.

What are we?

I shared an idea with Sarah towards the end of last year and again this week and she (rightly) canned the idea because it’s not what we do and I think in a world and economy where things are changing more than they ever have, we can benefit from people who are experts, passionates, about their thing. People that are narrowly focused on single issue.

What’s ours?

  • We give no-bullshit, honest, helpful, contextual, correct answers to questions celebrants have, or should have. In support of that we share the answers here on the blog and in a monthly email, plus we make a podcast when we have something to say. If we don’t have something to say, we don’t say anything so as to not add to the noise. If we don’t know an answer, we’ll be honest about it and endeavour to find out.
  • We interface with the Attorney-General’s Department and BDMs on your behalf, and we advocate for modern, useful, fresh, and helpful marriage laws and regulations.
  • We charge a monthly subscription fee to ask those questions and read the blog posts.
  • Do we have a Facebook group where you can ask a question, get ten wrong answers, then have the fight for the right answer? No.
  • Do we have insurances? No. (We recommend Duck For Cover but you can also do your own research)
  • Do we do this for free? No, I wouldn’t hire a free business coach/mentor or a free security guard. If something is worth something, you pay for it.
  • Do we make you vote in AGMs or attend meetings? No, it’s just Sarah and I running a for-profit company (Celebrant Institute Pty Ltd), slogging away at the forefront of celebrancy, trying our little hearts out to make a better world for you, us, and the people that aren’t even celebrants yet.

We’re so glad to have been doing this in some small way or another for a decade now, and we’re so glad you’re here.

I’ll no doubt write something similar on the respective anniversaries of everything else we’ve done, but on this Saturday morning as I prep for a wedding, I wanted to say thanks to Airdy for being my mate, and I’m really glad that we have had the chance to answer questions for hundreds of celebrants; lead OPD , workshops and seminars for thousands of you; and to write a monthly email and publish a podcast for tens of thousands of you.

And if you want to run, attend, join a celebrant community or online group, go for it, just come to us for the legal and business help, and you guys do the coffee and the catch-ups.

Marriage statistics 2023

Marriage statistics 2023

It’s marriage statistics release day, somehow three and a half months ahead of schedule! For as many years as I’ve been paying attention to them, the marriage statistics have been released at the end of November or early December. I got my usual daily email from the Australian Bureau of Statistics today, outlining what had been released, and I had to look at it several times to make sure it really did say Marriages and Divorces! Phew, what a moment for this little nerd!

So now that I’ve recovered from the unexpected release, here’s my annual rundown of the marriage statistics for 2023.

Number of marriages

As expected, the number of marriages registered in 2023 dropped from the record high we saw in 2022, which was all the catching up after COVID postponements. 2023 saw 118,439 marriage registered, 6.9% fewer than 2022. The numbers were still well above the record lows we saw during the pandemic lockdown years of 2020 and 2021. I don’t think we’ve quite settled into a new normal yet, especially with the downturn we’ve seen in 2024 with the cost of living crisis etc, but we’re definitely heading back to more “normal” numbers.

As I did last year, I’m posting this graph because pictures are often more useful than words in these situations. Check out that COVID dip, the extreme recovery of 2022, and the drop again in 2023.

graph showing number of marriages registered from 2003 to 2023

Gender

I am LOVING the info we now have on gender in marriages. Last year was the first year we had some numbers on marriages including at least one person identifying as non-binary, due to the release of the new marriage documentation in September 2021. In 2022 there were 159 marriages that involved at least one non-binary person. In 2023, that number has jumped to 204.

However, marriages of two partners identifying as male were down a bit (1767 to 1735), marriages of two partners identifying as female were down a bit (2667 to 2619). Therefore total marriages involving the same gender or at least one non-binary person were down a tiny bit overall (4593 to 4558).

I’ve written on my own blog about my interest in these growing statistics on non-binary people getting married, and whether this tells us something about more common usage of this gender identity in the general population. I’m not a researcher, but I think it’s an interesting question.

Age

The age people get married at continues to climb ever so slightly: 32.9 was the median age for men to marry (as opposed to 32.5 years in 2022), and 31.2 was the median age for women to marry (against 30.9 years in 2022).

Location

As expected, there were fewer marriages in every state and territory than 2022, except for South Australia and Western Australia. For some completely unknown reason, marriage in both those states was not only higher than in 2022, but higher than 2019, pre-pandemic!

WA saw 16.8% more marriages in 2023 than 2022, and 12.5% more marriages than in 2019. SA saw 7.1% more marriages in 2023 than 2022, and 9.3% more than in 2019. Any WA or SA celebrants want to make a comment as to why they think this happened??

The ACT saw the largest decline in marriages (14.1% fewer than 2022), NSW (13.2% fewer), and Tassie (11.2% fewer).

Vic, QLD, Tassie, and the ACT, despite recording fewer marriages in 2023 than in 2022, all recorded more marriages than in 2019, pre-COVID. As with WA and SA, I’m pretty surprised by that. Only NT and NSW recorded fewer marriages in 2023 than in 2019.

As I said last year and above, I don’t think this is the end of the rebalancing of marriage numbers. We may need to wait another few years to see what happens next.

table showing the number of marriages registered in each state and territory from 2019 to 2023

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Marriages and Divorces, Australia 2022

Date

Marriage dates were back to the patterns we used to see prior to COVID-19: peak marriage numbers occur in Spring and Autumn, and lower numbers in Winter, and at Easter and Christmas.

The most popular day for marriage in 2023 was 11/11/2023 – it’s always handy when the matching numbers fall on the weekend! There were 1799 marriages that day, 85 more than the 1714 marriages that fell on 25/3/2023.

Here’s a pretty graph showing those lovely Autum and Spring peaks, with rather dramatic drops for Easter and Christmas:

graph of dates of weddings across 2023

Divorces

We were back to more usual numbers of divorces with 48,700 finalised in 2023, down 1.1% from the 49,241 granted in 2022. Again, no huge jumps as may have been expected coming out of the COVID era; continue to watch this space.

Decreased statistics

From last year, the ABS has decreased the number of statistics they’re releasing on marriage and divorce. This means we no longer have information on things like the split between civil and religious marriages, whether this is people’s second marriage, where people were born (overseas or in Australia). I’m kind of pissed about it, but shy of spending a minimum of $600 (and probably much more) to get more specific questions answered, we’re going to have to make do with what we’ve got.

So that’s my overview of the 2023 marriage and divorce statistics. Let me know if you have any other questions you’d like me to look into!

The best modern SEO strategy for Australian wedding celebrants

The best modern SEO strategy for Australian wedding celebrants

If you’re a wedding celebrant looking to improve your online presence and attract more couples, here’s a straightforward SEO content strategy you can use to make your website more visible on Google and Bing. If things are quiet through winter, this is a great strategy to unload on your website in preparation for the Christmas/New Year enquiry season.

1. Focus on Content that Matches What Couples Are Searching For

Create Content for People Ready to Book: Start with blog posts or pages that directly address what couples are looking for when they’re ready to book a celebrant. This might include titles like “Best Wedding Celebrants in [Your Area]” or “How to Choose the Right Wedding Celebrant.” These types of posts are crucial because they attract people who are ready to take action, like booking a consultation or asking for more information.

Educational Content for Couples Researching: Next, create helpful, informative content that answers common questions couples have as they plan their wedding. Posts like “How to Write Your Wedding Vows” or “Top Wedding Ceremony Ideas” will draw in couples who are in the research phase and help establish you as an expert in the field.

2. Build Authority with Linkable Content

Create Content Others Want to Share: Develop resources that other wedding-related websites would want to link to. For example, you could create a comprehensive guide on “The Legal Steps to Getting Married in [Your Area],” which local wedding planners or venues might reference. This kind of content increases your website’s authority in Google’s eyes, making it more likely your site will rank higher in search results.

3. Use a Content Funnel to Guide Couples

Guide Visitors from Research to Booking: Think of your website like a funnel. Start by attracting visitors with broad, helpful content (like the vow-writing guides), and then guide them towards content that encourages them to take action (like booking a consultation). Make sure every piece of content on your site is connected, so visitors naturally move from one page to the next, getting closer to booking your services.

4. Optimise for Local Searches

Target Your Local Area: Since weddings are local, make sure your content mentions your specific service areas frequently. Use phrases like “Wedding Celebrant in [Your City]” throughout your site to help Google know exactly where you work, which will help you show up in searches from couples in your area.

5. Keep It Simple and Consistent

Regularly Update and Add Content: Google favours websites that are active and continually provide fresh content. Make a schedule to regularly post new blogs, update old ones, and keep your site dynamic. This steady flow of content signals to Google that your site is active and should be recommended to users.

By following these steps, you’ll gradually build a strong online presence that attracts more couples to your wedding celebrant services. It’s all about being helpful, consistent, and making sure your content speaks directly to the needs of your potential clients.

Where should I advertise as a celebrant?

Where should I advertise as a celebrant?

Amanda asks about social media and marketing:

Hi, I’ve been registered since March 2024. Initially, I was lucky to secure four bookings relatively quickly, but lately, it’s been super quiet. I’m attempting to navigating the world of advertising and could use some guidance on the most effective approach with a pretty small budget. I’m on social media, have a website, and have undertaken some paid advertising, but I’m very unsure about the best way to go in this industry moving forward, seem to have lots of money going out with little reward. Some people have suggested focusing solely on social media, others recommending Google Ads or partnering with larger businesses. Yes I know I need to be patient but I would appreciate some advice for a newbie please?

Hi Amanda, welcome to the team, we’re so glad you’re here! You’ve tapped onto one of my favourite conversations, I’ve been writing about starting as a celebrant for close to a decade! I’ll share some truths and then explain what I’m doing.

Most business advice is like winning the lotto. If I won the lotto and gave you my winning numbers, they’re unlikely to win again. It equates to “I made this decision and got this result” without considering environmental context and pure luck. Listen to others’ stories, but look for the underlying strategies, not just the winning lotto numbers.

Secondly, the wedding industry is in a weird place right now. Years from now, you’ll be the lucky one who can say you started in the valley and climbed to the peak with the rest of us. Covid and the 2020-2023 era was strange for the wedding industry. Weddings involve gathering people together, often from different places—things that were hard, frowned upon, or avoided for almost four years. Additionally, the regular cadence of people meeting, progressing into relationships, engagements, and then marriages was disrupted in 2020/2021. This disruption means fewer people are getting married now. On top of that, the cost of living with inflation and interest rates means spending isn’t like it used to be.

A third point I learned in commercial radio is that a big portion of advertising isn’t meant to generate revenue or build brand equity. A lot of advertising is paid for to make the business, business owners, and marketing team feel good. Many wedding businesses love to be featured on specific websites or directories, but little comes from it. I know wedding businesses spending thousands annually to be on certain websites or magazines simply to be known as a business on that platform, which is wild to me.

Finally, much wedding social media created by wedding vendors and celebrants is purposeless—it’s just noise in an already noisy room. Remember, social media isn’t advertising; it’s marketing. Our goal there is the engage with couples, help them, entertain them, inspire them, love them.

Advertising aims to convince people to transact with you now or soon. Marketing is about brand awareness and strength so that when people are ready to transact, they choose you without shopping around. My goal is to pull those two levers as needed but always be marketing. When done well, you never need to advertise—at least in my humble opinion.

An old business adage states you can hold one of three positions in a marketplace—cheapest, best, or first. The marketplace is defined by you and ratified by the real world. It can be a geographic area—dominating a city might be hard, but your local area could be easier. It can also be a theme or type. Identify where you can bring the most value to a community and be the best there. If you can build workflows and efficiencies to be the cheapest while still profiting, you can try that as well.

On price, I encourage celebrants to raise their prices because we do important and valuable work in our communities and deserve a good wage.

However, when I started 15 years ago, I charged very little because I delivered very little value. My price matched the value I brought. When I did my first wedding expo 12 years ago, I offered $550 wedding ceremonies and would MC for free if booked that week. It was a roaring success. I credit my business success today to that small start where I learned so much from doing many weddings at a low rate.

Today, I charge $1800, and if the economy was in a better place and I wasn’t trying to break into the Tasmanian market, I’d charge more, purely because I know how much my business costs to run today and what kind of wage I’d like to earn. I share to reinforce that price should match the value you bring. If you want to charge more, bring more value.

So what am I doing today? I’m playing the long game and working hard at delivering immense value through my social media. This way, if new people find me, there is value waiting for them, and for my existing community, I continually deliver value.

As for advertising or building new business, I focus on:

  • Attention arbitrage
  • The 2024 version of search optimisation
  • Product

Attention Arbitrage

Where is everyone’s attention? Which website, blog, network, or app are my people focusing on? That’s where I want to be marketing and advertising. Personally, I think many wedding blogs, magazines, and directories don’t have anyone’s attention anymore. I’m spending money, time, content creation, effort, and community building (aka replying and commenting) in the areas where my couples have attention today.

Here’s a good book on the topic

2024 Search Optimisation

SEO in 2024 is about more than just search engines; it’s about being found where people are looking. People Google, but they also ask AI chatbots, use Snapchat, YouTube, and Instagram. I’m working hard to understand how people search and how to be found there. Have you asked ChatGPT who the best celebrant in Coffs Harbour is? Then ask it how it knows that. I reverse-engineer search results to understand how to get listed.

Read this chat log from ChatGPT

Product

The world is forever changing. The Australian civil marriage celebrant role is revolutionary worldwide, with over 80% of all weddings and many funerals. The wedding industry continues to evolve. I keep my ear to the ground, research, engage on social networks, and read articles to understand what people want in a celebrant today and how I can match my skills to market needs. For example, on your website, you mention naming ceremonies, milestone, and celebration of life ceremonies. I’d be curious how many of those ceremonies were booked in Australia last year. I’d bet $100 it’s less than ten.

Focus on what you do best, find your product niche, own it, excel, and make it yours. Let your website showcase your product expertise and value until you’re making a good income. Then, expand to other things you’re passionate about and enjoy.

Professional people wanting to make celebrancy their professional income get other professionals to help them with this work, so hiring a photographer, website designer, marketing and social media consultant and others will almost always be a better spend than advertising in a wedding magazine, particularly while you’re young in business.

It doesn’t matter what you and the rest of the industry think – the people paying the invoices have the final say on what is being bought and booked, look to them for inspiration and for you to lead them

I’d also be remiss to not plug our upcoming Instagram mythbusting webinar for you and all celebrants wanting to actually understand how to win on Instagram.

Instagram mythbusting for wedding creators

Instagram mythbusting for wedding creators

Are you ready to take your Instagram game to the next level? Re-watch the recording of the online event, the Instagram Mythbusters event, featuring the incredible Edwin Smith from The Social Sandwich and hosted by me (Josh Withers).

Webinar information and tickets

Event Details:

  • Date: Wednesday, 3rd July 2024
  • Time: 7 PM AEST
  • Location: Zoom webinar, link to be provided after ticket purchase.
  • Recorded webinar

What to Expect

  • Myth Busting: We’ll debunk common Instagram myths and reveal the truth about hashtags, the best posting times, and the power of Reels versus Stories.
  • Expert Insights: Edwin, renowned for his work with top TV shows and brands, will share his strategies for organic social media growth.
  • Practical Advice: Learn how to create compelling content and effectively use Instagram to boost your wedding celebrant or wedding creation business.

Why You Should Attend

Edwin’s expertise in social media is unmatched, with a portfolio including The Voice, Love Island, and more. This is a rare opportunity to get direct truth about how Instagram works along with advice from one of the industry’s best.

Tickets:

  • General ticket: $40
  • Celebrant Institute Members: $20 (become a member for $12 today)

Webinar information and tickets

Celebrants must have separate meetings with each party to marriage before the wedding

Celebrants must have separate meetings with each party to marriage before the wedding

Webinar on this topic: $10 to watch on demand webinars to learn about the new marriage law changes.


From 12 June 2024, all authorised marriage celebrants must meet with each party separately and in person before solemnising a marriage to ensure real consent is given voluntarily and without coercion.

Here’s the direct information given by the Marriage Law and Celebrants Section of the Attorney-General’s Department to us this week.

Separate Meetings – Your obligations under the Marriage Act 1961

  • From 12 June 2024 all authorised marriage celebrants are required under the Marriage Act 1961 (the Marriage Act) to meet with each party to the marriage separately and in person before they solemnise the marriage.
  • This applies to all legal marriages and all authorised celebrants, including Commonwealth-registered marriage celebrants, ministers of religion of a recognised denomination and State and Territory officials authorised to solemnise marriage.

Why?

  • Real consent is the cornerstone of the Marriage Act.
  • As has always been the case, you – as an authorised marriage celebrant – must be satisfied that each party to the marriage is providing real consent before the marriage is solemnised. This obligation has not changed.
  • A court may find a marriage to be void where the consent of either of the parties is not real consent.
  • Under the Marriage Act 1961, a person’s consent to a marriage is not real consent if:
    • it was obtained by duress or fraud
    • a party is mistaken as to the identity of the other party or the nature of the ceremony performed, or
    • a party does not have mental capacity to understand the nature and effect of the marriage ceremony.
  • ‘Duress’ may include coercion or threats including psychological or emotional pressure.
  • A separate meeting with a party to establish real consent is not new, and has been a long-standing principle in The Guidelines on the Marriage Act 1961 for authorised celebrants where any concerns  existed about consent.[1]
  • A separate meeting in person with each party to the marriage before the marriage is solemnised is intended to maintain safeguards for establishing real consent.
  • Celebrants should be aware that it is an offence to cause another person to enter into a forced marriage.[2]

When?

  • A separate meeting with each party must take place before a marriage is solemnised, regardless of when the NOIM was received (unless you have already met separately with each party to establish real consent).
  • If the NOIM has been transferred to a new celebrant, the new celebrant must also meet separately with each party. This is necessary because the celebrant who solemnises the marriage must comply personally with all legal requirements.
  • The timing and duration of a separate meeting with each party is at the discretion of the celebrant and the marrying couple, provided it takes place before the marriage is solemnised. Suggested opportunities may include:
    • a convenient time after receiving the NOIM
    • when signing the Declaration of No Legal Impediment, or
    • on the day of the wedding.
  • If you have any concerns about consent at any stage you should meet with the parties separately and at the earliest opportunity. Meeting in advance of the wedding day will assist the celebrant to manage any concerns about real consent appropriately.
  • Real consent may change over time and celebrants should exercise sound judgement about whether or not to solemnise a marriage.
  • Circumstances may arise on the day of the wedding that may impact on real consent. For example, if either of the parties appear intoxicated or otherwise unable to provide real consent at that time, or for any other reason including medical issues.

Where and How?

  • A separate meeting provides you with an opportunity to check in with each party to establish if they are entering into the marriage voluntarily and freely, and with an understanding of the binding legal nature of marriage. This involves the type of discussions you would already be familiar with in your role as an authorised celebrant.
  • There is no specific set of questions or words you need to use to satisfy yourself about real consent. Open-ended questions often allow the party to express how they feel about their upcoming wedding.
  • A separate meeting needs to take place in the absence of the other party to the marriage. You need to speak in person and separately with each party – but this does not mean you have to meet alone with the party. The party may choose to bring a trusted person.
  • For privacy and safety reasons, do not contact third parties such as family members, interpreters etc, without the express consent of the party.
  • Separate meetings are to take place in a culturally appropriate context and in line with the preferences of the party, including as to the location of the meeting. It can be a public setting provided the privacy of the conversation can be maintained. This could be a public space agreed to by the party, such as a coffee shop or similar venue.
  • If another person attends the meeting with a party, the celebrant should have regard to whether their presence appears to be coercive and take this into account in their decision whether or not to solemnise the marriage. You should not say anything that may expose the party to risk. Instead, consider following-up with the party by telephone if you have concerns.
  • Remember other people may read your emails, text messages or written communications, or may listen to your voice messages. If you need assistance about how to proceed you should contact the expert support services listed below.
  • It is recommended the celebrant should keep a record of the meetings, who was present, the factors you considered and the conclusion you reached on the question of real consent. This means if any questions arise at a later date you have a record of your decision-making process. This is important because celebrants may be called upon to give evidence in court as to the consent of the parties.
  • As has always been the case, if you have any concerns whatsoever about real consent and consequent validity of a marriage, either before or on the day, you should not solemnise the marriage. You may consider offering a non-binding commitment ceremony and later solemnisation, depending on circumstances.
  • Please note: It is important that you always act in the best interests of a party who may be at risk, by being mindful of their safety as well as your own.
  • The following additional resources are available to support authorised celebrants and vulnerable parties.

Resources

What are the signs of a forced marriage?

  • The crime of forced marriage not only applies to legally recognised marriages but to cultural or religious ceremonies and registered relationships.
  • If someone is in, or at risk of a forced marriage, they may find it hard to tell someone about their situation.
  • A combination of the following signs may indicate that a person is in a forced marriage, or at risk of being made to enter into a forced marriage. Some of these signs may not be immediately obvious to an authorised celebrant but could provide a guide about the kinds of questions to ask the couple (or the person).
  • Have a family history of elder siblings leaving education early, marrying early or indicating concerns of an early marriage
  • Exhibit signs of depression, self–harm, attempted suicide, panic attacks, social isolation or substance abuse
  • Have high level of control and restrictions exercised by family / community members over all aspects of life in and outside of the home e.g. surveillance, always accompanied, limited or no control of finances, limited or no control over life decisions, education and career choices
  • Have communications monitored or restricted
  • Show evidence of family or domestic violence within the family unit
  • Show evidence of running away from home or isolation from the community
  • Express concern regarding an upcoming family holiday or overseas travel
  • Make a sudden announcement they are engaged
  • Express feelings of shame or dishonour on the family if family / community expectations are not met
  • Show evidence of economic or dowry abuse including:
  • Family members or others seeking to gain financially from a proposed marriage or engagement
  • Ongoing demands for cash or material goods
  • Threats made when financial obligations or arrangements are not met
  • Demonstrate feelings of conflict or concern for the ramifications if they do not go ahead with an agreed marriage / engagement
  • Have intergenerational and cultural conflict within the home
  • Express concern of physical or psychological violence for not fulfilling family / community expectations.

Arranged marriages are different to forced marriages. While an arranged marriage involves the spouse being introduced by a third party or family member, it requires the consent of both parties, who can agree or refuse to marry. The Marriage Act does not prevent a person from consenting to marry another person that they have not met prior to the marriage ceremony.

How can I help a person at risk of forced marriage to stay safe?

It is important that you always act in the best interests of a person at risk of a forced marriage, by being mindful of their safety as well as your own.

If an authorised celebrant forms a view that one of the parties may be under duress or otherwise not freely and fully consenting, they should attempt to discuss the matter with the party concerned in the absence of the other party or any family members to determine whether they consent to the marriage.

When seeking assistance, you can help protect a person at risk of a forced marriage, and yourself, by:

  • dialling Triple Zero (000) if you have immediate concerns for your safety, the safety of another person, or there is an emergency
  • contacting the AFP or a specialist community organisation
  • ensuring you do not attempt to set up a meeting with the person and their family or community members to discuss the situation, or contact family or community members, if you do not have the express permission of the person
  • remembering that other people may read your emails, text messages or other written communications
  • providing the party with information about forced marriage and services that can help them
  • meeting in a safe and private place, and
  • if using an interpreter to communicate with a person suspected to be at risk of forced marriage, consider that the interpreter may know the person, their family or their community.

For more information on forced marriage see the ‘People smuggling and human trafficking’ page of the Attorney-General’s Department website.

Seek assistance

Marriage celebrants may wish to download fact sheets or the small fold away booklets so that they can be provided to the person suspected to be at risk of forced marriage, if it is safe to do so. It is important to refer the person to the right place where they can get appropriate advice and assistance. Care should be taken to ensure that the person suspected to be at risk is not put in danger.

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) can provide initial advice to people who are in, or at risk of a forced marriage, including where a person needs help to make sure he or she won’t be taken overseas. The AFP can also refer victims for support, including safe accommodation, financial support, legal advice and counselling.

Initial support is available for victims even where they don’t want to assist with an investigation or prosecution. In cases where the victim is a child, the AFP will always act in their best interests.

You can also provide anonymous information about criminal activity to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 orwww.crimestoppers.com.au.

My Blue Sky is an easy to use, non-government website dedicated to preventing and addressing forced marriage in Australia. The website provides people in, or at risk of, forced marriage with important information and links to support services, as well as useful resources for frontline responders, service providers and the general community.

For free, confidential legal advice about forced marriage, you can call My Blue Sky’s national forced marriage helpline on (02) 9514 8115. The My Blue Sky helpline operates Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm AEST), with an out of hours recorded message. You can also get help by emailing [email protected] or sending an SMS to 0481 070 844.

The National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service is a free 24/7 confidential telephone and online counselling service, staffed by professional counsellors to assist any person who has experienced, or is at risk of family and domestic violence and/or sexual assault. You can call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) or visit the National Sexual Assault, Family and Domestic Violence Counselling  Service website.

The following specialist community organisations may also be able to provide help and advice:

Tel: 02 9514 9662 Email: [email protected]

Tel: 03 9481 3000

Tel: 02 9211 5794 Email: [email protected]

You may also wish to seek advice from the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia: see Family violence: Overview | Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (fcfcoa.gov.au), or a family solicitor at your closest Legal Aid office.

The Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) can be contacted on 131 450.

NOIM Remote Witnessing has been made law

NOIM Remote Witnessing has been made law

Webinar on this topic: $10 to watch on demand webinars to learn about the new marriage law changes.


As of today remote witnessing of the Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM) is made permanent by Commonwealth law.

Remote witnessing of the NOIM is law

It’s finally happened! After many months and a LOT of work, remote witnessing has been made permanent by the Royal Assent of the Attorney-General’s Portfolio Miscellaneous Measures Bill 2023. As of today, all Commonwealth Marriage Celebrants can once again witness signatures on the Notice of Intended Marriage via Zoom or other video conferencing platforms like FaceTime, Google Meet, Skype, WebEx, and others.

Celebrant Talk Show Podcast


Listen to the podcast

But there’s more

That’s not the only change this legislation has created.

There are other changes, some of which will significantly impact the way we work and Sarah has written about them before.

Webinar to learn about new changes to the Marriage Act

If you want to hear Sarah Aird discuss the changes to the Marriage Act including the remote witnessing, the separate meetings now required, and to explain how they’ll work in practice, come along to one of the Zoom webinar sessions the Celebrant Institute is running:

 💻 Webinar details

The webinars have been recorded and are available to watch on demand for $10 through the webinar ticket below.

  • Dates: Thursday 13th and Tuesday 18th of June 2024
  • Cost: $10

🎟️ Buy webinar ticket

Official note from the Marriage Celebrants Section of the Attorney-General’s Department:

Notice of amendments to the Marriage Act – Attorney-General’s Portfolio Miscellaneous Measures Act 2024

We write to you with an important update. Over the past months, the Australian Government has been progressing a bill before parliament to update, clarify, and improve the intended operation of legislation administered by the Attorney-General, including the Marriage Act 1961. The changes seek to clarify and improve the operation of the Marriage Celebrants Program and include a new requirement for celebrants to meet separately and in person to ensure safeguards for real consent to a marriage are maintained, and the ability to witness the signing of NOIMs in Australia on line.

The Attorney-General’s Portfolio Miscellaneous Measures Bill 2023 received Royal Assent on 11 June 2024 and becomes law on 12 June 2024.

The changes to the Marriage Act are summarised below.

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email  [email protected] with the subject name ‘MARRIAGE ACT ENQUIRY’.

Yours sincerely

Marriage Law and Celebrants section

Attorney-General’s department

Summary of upcoming amendments to the Marriage Act

Remote witnessing

The Marriage Act will be amended to permanently provide couples with the option to have their Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM) witnessed remotely, via audio-visual link, as well as in person.

NOTE: The requirements for authorised witnesses will remain unchanged and location-dependent. If the couple is in Australia then the person remotely witnessing the NOIM (which can include an authorised celebrant) must also be in Australia. If the couple is outside Australia, the authorised witness (which cannot be a celebrant) must also be outside Australia. To be clear, you cannot witness online a NOIM for a person or couple outside Australia.

Separate Meetings

The Marriage Act will require an authorised celebrant to meet separately and in person with each party to the marriage before the marriage is solemnised. The purpose of the meeting is to ensure that each party is freely and voluntarily consenting to the marriage.

A separate meeting needs to occur in the absence of the other party to the marriage and in a culturally safe environment – but this does not mean you need to meet alone with a party. Other persons can attend with the party’s permission.

The timing of the separate meetings is at the discretion of the celebrant and the couple. It can occur at any time up to and including the day of the marriage, providing it occurs before the marriage is solemnised. Additional guidance material will be provided to assist you to meet these requirements.

Evidence of date and place of birth

The amendments re-order the acceptable evidence of date and place of birth under paragraph 42(1)(b) of the Marriage Act. They clarify that where it is impracticable (practically impossible) for the party to the marriage to obtain a certificate or official extract of an entry in an official register and they do not have a passport, only then should they rely on a statutory declaration to declare to the best of their knowledge, their date and place of birth.

The term impracticable does not mean inconvenient. For example, it is not impracticable for a person born in Australia to apply to the state or territory Registries of Births, Deaths and Marriages for a copy of their birth certificate, or except in special circumstances, for overseas born persons to apply to the appropriate authorities in their country of birth.

Transfer of the NOIM

The amendments also clarify the circumstances when a NOIM can be transferred to another authorised celebrant include at the request of the marrying couple. This is in addition to transfers due to the death, absence or illness of the celebrant or where it is otherwise impracticable for a celebrant to solemnise the marriage.

Other measures

Other amendments include:

  • the introduction of deputy registrars for the Marriage Celebrants Program
  • extending the timeframes for considering an application for registration as an authorised celebrant
  • providing for the refund of the application fee only if an applicant does not have the requisite qualification or skills referred to in the Marriage Act
  • clarifying that a celebrant must be physically present to solemnise a marriage, together with the parties and 2 witnesses and
  • confirming that a celebrant can only be registered or authorised under one subdivision of the Marriage Act at a time (this applies only if the person’s application is received after the commencement of Schedule 3, Part 7 ie, 28 days after the Act receives Royal Assent).

Questions

The Marriage Law and Celebrants Section is available to assist you with any questions you may have about these amendments.

If you have received this transmission in error please notify us immediately by return e-mail and delete all copies. If this e-mail or any attachments have been sent to you in error, that error does not constitute waiver of any confidentiality, privilege or copyright in respect of information in the e-mail or attachments.

Celebrant Talk Show Podcast

Links to your favourite podcast player and app are all available on the podcast website.

Transcript

Welcome to the only podcast, probably in the known universe, that will utter the words today, Attorney General’s Portfolio Miscellaneous Measures Bill, 2023. My name is Josh Withers, joined today by Sarah Aird. You’re listening to the Celebrant Talk Show and we are here to bring what I can only consider, looking over all of our notes and all of our preparation we’ve been preparing this for quite a long time. This will be just a banger of a podcast episode, full of excitement and joy. And if you are sitting down, may I suggest holding onto your seat. If you’re not sitting down, perhaps find a seat. And if you’re driving, can I ask you to engage, adapt to the cruise control for your safety please. Sarah, welcome to the podcast.

Thank you, Josh. That was quite an introduction. This is not gonna be the only podcast to mention that there was an event.

No one else is like today. No one else is saying those words.

Today, today that is correct.

Mammia is not covering this.

Today, however, I am already pre-booked to talk about this when it goes through, so, you know, on another podcast. So there will be another podcast that discusses it, just not today, that’s fair. I’ll accept that. Yeah.

Yeah, all right. Yeah, so this is a podcast. Look, I’m just gonna put some clarification in there. We’re recording this ahead of this bill, receiving Royal Assent. We’re gonna release the podcast when the bill has received Royal Assent because we want there to be clear communication about what is and isn’t. So we’re recording this on 12th of June. And we’re talking about, as I’ve already teased the exciting title, Attorney-General’s Portfolio Miscellaneous Measures Bill 2023. In particular today, we’re talking about the tantalizing, I mean, I’m thrilling the section on it that is all about amending the marriage act, the schedule three. Sarah, can I take you through schedule three? Can I say things that are written on paper and then you reply with intelligent definitions and understandings of what those things on paper mean?

Well, before we do that, I would just like to give a very brief overview of kind of how long this has taken.

Yeah, I was going through it through my-

To where we are, because it’s quite ridiculous. This bill was first discussed with the Associations and Networks Group back in October last year. The Marriage Law and Celebrant section contacted us for a teleconference and said, look, this bill’s about to go to parliament. We just wanna check if you’ve got any dramas with it. It went to the House of Reps on the 15th of November, 2023. It was, that was the first reading debate. Second reading debate was on the 28th of November. It was then referred to the Federation Chamber who referred it to a Senate committee. That committee, we were the only celebrant association to put in a submission. That committee reported on the 1st of February this year that report went to the House of Reps on the 7th of February. The House of Reps went, yeah, okay, we’re happy. Send it to the Senate. The Senate introduced the bill on the 8th of February and then they didn’t get back to it until the 16th of May, despite me watching the Senate live for many days, because of course they knew that I was watching it live waiting for them to get to this bill. And they specifically ignored it just so that I would have to suffer through more live days of the Senate.

Just imagine all the money that Netflix lost by not having you for those hours.

So they got to it on the 16th of May and basically the Senate kind of went, oh, we’ve got a whole lot of things we’ve got to get to, let’s just do it. And then it went back to the House of Reps because there was one small amendment and it just had to be agreed to. And the House of Reps agreed to that on the 28th of May. So it has, we’ve been waiting since the 28th of May for it to get Royal Assent. That process can take 24 hours as it did when marriage equality was passed. Royal Assent was granted in less than 24 hours after it was passed by both houses. Or it can take several weeks, which is what we’re seeing now. So we’re just waiting. Josh and I literally just Googled where is the Governor General right now? Why is he not signing bills? (laughs)

I think he’s in England. From the best I can see on his Instagram today, it looks like he’s in England, or he’s at least in the European continent.

So who knows? But the day after the bill is granted Royal Assent, that’s when it will come into force and we have to start doing the things that are in the bill. So this podcast episode that we’re recording on the 12th of June will be released on the, as soon as we are aware that it has been granted Royal Assent and we have dates for it being in force. So, I mean, that could be tomorrow or it could be in two or three weeks. Who fricking knows? Nobody.

Yeah, just a little bit of a peek behind the curtains. So today on the 12th of June, I’ve just flown, well, yesterday I flew from Fiji to Sydney. I had a wedding in Fiji and now I’m off to Sicily. No direct flights, Sarah, if you’re wondering, none. It’s a multitude of flights from Fiji to Sicily and that involves me being in Sydney for the day. But with all of this, with all the planning around, letting everyone know about the marriage law changes, we’ve scheduled up, we’ve drafted, we’ve got all these things waiting in the ranks because it’s, what’s gonna happen, this is just Murphy’s Law, is that the second I get on a plane, that’s when it will happen. And so after Sarah will get on there and release everything, but we’ve got a webinar planned to let everyone kind of go a little bit deeper on some of the understandings and blog posts and emails. If you don’t get our monthly email, and also there’s sometimes middle of the month emails if there’s something really big, go to mail.celebrant.institute to subscribe, that’s free. And the big kind of, I suppose, public information regarding this, we’re gonna publish all on our website, celebrate.institute, free for everyone to view. And if there’s deeper kind of, I guess, analysis or help that we can put in there, that’ll be made available to members and membership starts at $12 a month. And look, while I’m talking as well, you’ll probably find when you go to celebrate.institute, we’ve also launched a webinar on myth-busting Instagram. So if that’s something you’re interested in, check that out. But I think, is that all the housekeeping we need to get through before we start?

Well and truly.

All right, cool. Oh, it’s one more thing, be good to your mother. Okay, schedule three. Schedule three, Amendment of the Marriage Act in 1961, part Unu number one, deputy registrars of marriage celebrants. Is all of this boring and it’s just, is about marriage, the marriage law and celebrant section of the AGD?

Yeah, look a little bit. I think it’s quite useful for people to be aware of because, so basically what’s happening is that a deputy registrar position is being created. So what that means is that right now, there’s a legislative position, which is the registrar of marriage celebrants. And that person has a lot of responsibility. So some of those responsibilities are now going to be able to be delegated to deputy registrars. That’s the headline, yeah.

So number two, it goes on to talk about that. I’m gonna keep on scrolling ’cause I don’t wanna spend all day boring people to death. We get to section four, we’re still omitting things. Okay, subsection five. What is omit three months, substitute six months.

Okay, right, yes. Yeah, you’re not looking at the headings, you’re looking at the actual changes to the act. It’s all good though.

I totally understand. Timeframes for considering application for registration as an author of celebrant. So we’re gonna omit three months, substitute six months. What does that mean?

So currently the legislation says that when you apply to become a celebrant, the marriage law and celebrant section has to make a decision within three months. If they haven’t made a decision within three months, your application is deemed to have been rejected. They are changing that to six months, not because they plan to extend the period of assessment to six months for everybody, but for some special circumstances where by no fault of their own, a celebrant application takes longer than three months. So they don’t have to start again, we’re changing it to six months.

Okay, part three, refund or registration application fee.

So this is when you apply to become a celebrant, you have to pay a fee. Currently it’s $400. It has been $600 in the past, but right now it’s $400. There are approximately half a dozen applications a year by people who are not able to become celebrants because they don’t, usually because they don’t hold the qualification. So they’ve managed to fill in an application form and go through the whole process and pay the fee, but they don’t actually have a cert four or any of the other qualifications. So they can’t be a celebrant. Generally it’s because they’ve got mental health issues or something else. And so at the moment, there’s no way for their fee to be refunded, even though they don’t meet the basic requirements and the marriage law and celebrant section feels bad about that. So now they’ll be able to refund those fees for people whose applications don’t meet those very basic requirements.

Now that’s a quattro, a celebrant to be physically present at marriage. Do we have to turn up? Is this a thing?

I know. (laughing)

No one told me.

This is just making it super clear that when we say that a marriage must be solemnised in the presence of an authorised celebrant and two witnesses, that means physical presence. Because the word physical doesn’t currently appear in the act. A lot of people have said, “Oh, but you could be electronic presence.” No, you can’t. So the word physical is being put in the act. So that a marriage must be solanized in the physical presence of an authorised celebrant and two witnesses.

And side note on that, we’ve just got current little things that we’re talking about about, like what does marriage look like in say 2050? I don’t know, years from now, does it happen online? So that’s a conversation very, very stupidly early, very small, and it’s amongst other things. But yeah, that’s just conversations we have at the celebrant associations and networks meetings in Canberra. That we have. Number five, identity requirements.

This one’s a bit sort of arbitrary. It kind of, it’s just kind of, oh, it’s changing the order of the evidence of date and place of birth in the act. Because at the moment it says that you can produce a birth certificate, or you can produce a stat deck if they can’t get a birth certificate, or they can produce a passport. So it’s just going to strengthen that to say, or like to clarify that it’s like the passport thing is above the stat deck thing. So you can produce a stat deck if you can’t get a birth certificate, and if you don’t have a passport. It’s just changing the order a little bit. It doesn’t actually change the way we do our work. So don’t worry too much about it. It’s not a total, much of an issue for us. Still the same rules apply. You have to either see a birth certificate or a passport for evidence of date and place of birth. If they can’t get a birth certificate and they don’t have a passport, you can get stat deck instead. Yes.

Part six. This is the big one. I’m going to split this in half, two halves, because one of those two halves taught in my opinion. And I’m going to read part six, section 35, paragraph 42, part 2C. So when talking about the notice of intended marriage with the law, the bill is going to amend in the marriage act that will omit the, in the presence of, sign the notice of intended presence of, and substitute for under the observation, whether or not by means of a facility that enables audio and visual communication between persons in different places. And the people must be in Australia. So I was kind of getting a little freestyle at the end there. But part six, the first half, we’re doing audio and visual communication between persons in different places, Sarah.

So this is the big one. This is the one we’ve all been waiting for. It is remote communication. It is remote witnessing of the notice of intended marriage. This is what a lot of celebrants think this entire bill is about. They don’t realise that there’s a whole bunch of other things in there. So this is the big one. We will once again be able to witness notices, witness people signing the notice of intended marriage by Zoom, FaceTime, Skype. Is anybody still using Skype? Whatever you want. You, as long as that person is in Australia and you are in Australia. If a person is overseas, they can also use this video conferencing facility for witnessing snitches with an overseas witness.

I’m gonna jump in here. There’s two part, essentially it’s the old Noim facilities, but introducing video. So if you’re an Australian celebrant, you can only do this while you’re on Australian soil and the couple are on Australian soil. But if the couple are not on Australian soil, they can do this, but not with a celebrant.

Correct. So it’s the same witnesses. So if the couple are overseas, it’s Australian Consul or Embassy staff member or a notary public, basically. They’re the classes of people who can witness overseas and that remains the same, but they can do it by Zoom. So if, so for example, years ago, I had a couple who were living in Canada and they were a 12 hour drive away from the Australian Embassy. So they could Zoom with the Australian Embassy in Canada to now they will be able to, to witness their Noims.

Okay, a bit of a quick.

As long as the Australian Embassy in Canada is happy to do that, of course. But for us, it remains how it was. We can witness people signing their Noim if we are in Australia and they are in Australia over Zoom or FaceTime or whatever.

Okay, so a couple of questions around this. You can just do yes or no. So the couple that are getting married are Josh and Britt and Sarah is a celebrant. Okay, Sarah is in Melbourne, Josh and Britt are in Tasmania. Can we Zoom?

Yes.

Josh and Britt are in Canada. Sarah’s in Melbourne. Can we Zoom?

No.

Josh and Britt are in Canada. Sarah’s in London. Can we Zoom?

No.

Now here’s the one I wanted to get to. Josh and Britt are in Canada and there’s the Australian Consulate in London. Can we Zoom?

Yes.

So inter-country is fine.

My understanding is-

Inter-country outside of Australia.

Yes. ‘Cause it doesn’t say an overseas witness in the same country. It doesn’t say that anywhere.

You know who we’ve got to find and I don’t know who this is ’cause I, I’ll be honest with you, I haven’t gotten too involved in international. I would have had international couples. I’m just like, here’s the list, figure it out brother. I’m like, I don’t know. Like everyone’s just in different places. I’ve just never really terribly involved myself in the, oh go to this consulate or whatever. I just kind of, here’s the list. It’s your responsibility to get me one of the people on the list.

Yeah.

It would be great to find like, there’s a guy who’s on that list and he’s in, I don’t know, whatever, he’s in Jakarta. I don’t know where he is. And he’s just like, he’s the guy. And he’s like, it’s 50 bucks. Just witnesses everyone around the world.

Sure, yeah. I mean, that would be cool, but yeah. Yeah.

All right, okay. Go back to the law because we have gotten a little bit, well not off track, but we’re just, we’ve got the other half of our big part six. So the first part of part six is the witnessing annoyings. It remains the same. It’s just that instead of being in the presence of, you can be over audio or visual communications, which obviously is-

Well visual has to be visual.

Oh, audio and visual, sorry. I said audio.

And visual.

Yeah, not all.

And not all. And so yes, Zoom, yes, FaceTime, yes. Weabooks, Google Meets, Skype. I think you can still Skype.

Yeah, Teams, whatever.

Messenger, whatever it is. And whatever next thing comes out next year, yes to that as well. If it’s audio and visual, yes. The second part is the part that Sarah went into, went to a bit of about, who are you guys? And honestly, we should be lost. But the second section is, the title of it is section 42B. Authorized celebrant must physically meet each party to intended marriage separately. And I’ll just read the sentence beneath it. An authorized celebrant must not solemnize a marriage unless the authorized celebrant has met separately with each party before the intended marriage. The authorized celebrant and the party must be physically present at the meeting. Sarah.

This is the one that I’m actually gonna talk about in depth at the webinar because it, there’s gonna be a lot of confusion about it. And there’s likely to be a lot of questions. So I’m very happy to answer all of those questions at the webinar. Basically, we have to meet each person separately, not alone, separately from the other party, in person, before the wedding, to ensure they are consenting. This was first mooted as a measure to ensure that when we are witnessing the noim remotely, that we are still ensuring that they are giving consent. I’ve had a lot to say about that, but you can read everything I’ve said about it on the article on the Celery Institute website when I talked about the submission that we made to the Senate inquiry. So that was the purpose, but they decided just to extend it to all couples. It’s all celebrants, so it’s not just civil celebrants, it’s religious celebrants as well. Everybody must meet each party separately, in person, before the wedding. There is no requirement in the legislation for timing of that meeting, like when it occurs. There is no requirement for what happens in that meeting or how long it takes or anything like that. The requirement is that we meet them separately and the purpose is to ensure their consent. I’m very happy to talk at length about it with more instructions and thoughts and et cetera, answers to questions during the webinar.

And you’ll just, as a link out, celebrant.institute is the website and we’ll have the webinar signup links on there. Okay, part seven, single registration as an authorized celebrant. Are people double fisting celebrancy, Sarah? They totally are. So basically this is just formalising a rule that’s pretty much already in place in that you can only be registered in one category of celebrants. So if you are a category C or subdivision C civil celebrant, like Josh and I are, you can’t also at the same time be registered as a subdivision of B, state and territory officer who performs marriages at the registry office. You have to choose one or the other. There are a small handful of people who have managed to slip through the cracks over the years and are registered in two categories. Those people, their registrations won’t change. It’s, this is only going forward. It was always really like kind of an unspoken rule. It’s just never been in the legislation before. So they’re just formalising it and putting it in the legislation. I’ve got a friend who was, well, I mean, apparently still is registered as a religious minister and has the authority to marry people under his religion. And then he also became a civil marriage celebrant. And so he apparently also holds two registrations. And so this law would also speak to that as well, wouldn’t it? No, it won’t impact him at all. Oh no, no, no, but for future. For future, yes. If his situation arose tomorrow, well, not yet tomorrow. Correct, yes. Doesn’t impact people who are already holding dual registrations, but it won’t be possible in the future. And that brings us to the end of the list.

Gosh, what aThat’s it. That was tantalising, Sarah. That was amazing. We should read the law more. We should do a whole podcast where we just read the entire marriage act. That’d be great. People love it. Nope, nope, nope. So look, that’s the basic headlines. You’re very welcome to go and obviously do your own research and have a look at this. There will be comms. Hopefully the comms from the marriage law and celebrant section will have come out before you hear this podcast because they’ve got it ready to go. And as far as I’m aware, as soon as Royal Assent is granted, they’ll be pressing the send button like we will. So please read your emails from the marriage law and celebrant section. They’re really important. But if you want more information without having to figure it out yourself, feel free to come along to one of my webinars and I’ll tell you all about it. Housekeeping wants more. celebrant.institute is the website. That’s the complete domain. And people like celebrant.institute.com, no, no, just celebrant.institute. That’s where we’re gonna be leaving all the information about the marriage law changes, the webinars. Also you can register for the Instagram myth busting webinar. If you’re sick of hearing complete BS about, oh, you’re gonna go on Instagram at this time of day and you’re gonna do this. If you just wanna kind of cut through the crap and actually learn how to grow your Instagram reach and reach more couples, then please come on to that. And also just come and be in celebrant.institute.com because when you’re paid to be a member, you’re paying for things like this to happen. And we just love to help you guys. This podcast can be found at celebrant.fm. If you loved it, rate it, review it, make sure other people know about it. And Sarah, it is such a pleasure to hear your dose of time. So ladies, once more, thank you for coming.

You are welcome, thank you.

Your celebrancy business needs an accountant like a wedding needs a celebrant

Your celebrancy business needs an accountant like a wedding needs a celebrant

Let’s have a chat about something not everyone loves discussing, but we all know is essential: accountants. Your celebrancy business needs an accountant like a wedding needs a celebrant. Seriously. And there’s no better time to get on board with a good one than right now, as we approach the end of the financial year on June 30. You want to set yourself up for success for the current year and ensure you’re off to a strong start for the next one.

Complex Tax Obligations

First things first, taxes. They’re unavoidable, but understanding GST obligations and navigating income tax deductions specific to us celebrants can be quite the headache. An accountant ensures compliance with ATO regulations, helping us avoid those pesky penalties that nobody wants to deal with.

Getting ahead of a problem in accounting is a million times better than getting caught years later. I can sit here and name countless wedding creators who still today are paying tax bills that are years old.

Financial Planning and Budgeting

Now, let’s talk about planning and budgeting. An accountant can help create and manage a budget tailored to your business needs, advising on financial planning to ensure sustainable growth. They assist with cash flow management, which is crucial for maintaining financial stability. It’s about making sure we have enough in the coffers to keep things running smoothly, even during the quieter months.

Maximising Deductions

One of the best parts of having an accountant is their ability to maximise deductions. They know all the ins and outs, ensuring we claim every possible deduction—from travel and marketing to professional development costs. They also make sure all documentation is spot on, which is a huge relief come tax time.

Streamlining Bookkeeping

Bookkeeping might not be the most exciting task, but it’s essential. Accountants can set up efficient bookkeeping systems that save us time and reduce stress. They can recommend and train us on the best software, like Xero or MYOB, making our lives a whole lot easier.

Professional Advice and Strategy

Every celebrant business is unique, and a good accountant offers tailored advice based on our specific needs. They help with business structure decisions—whether we should operate as a sole trader, partnership, or company. Plus, they assist with financial forecasting and setting realistic financial goals, so we know exactly where we stand and where we’re headed.

Compliance and Reporting

Keeping up with compliance and reporting can be daunting, but accountants ensure all financial reports and statements are accurate and submitted on time. They stay up-to-date with changes in tax laws and industry regulations, so we don’t have to worry about falling behind.

Support During Audits

No one likes the idea of an audit, but if it happens, having an accountant on your side is invaluable. They provide support and representation, ensuring all records are in order and compliant with legal requirements. It’s like having a safety net when you need it most.

Optimising Pricing Strategies

Pricing can be tricky. An accountant can analyse our costs and profits, helping us set competitive and profitable pricing. They offer insights into how to adjust pricing strategies based on market trends, ensuring we’re always ahead of the game.

Investment and Retirement Planning

Looking beyond the day-to-day, accountants advise on investment opportunities to grow our personal and business wealth. They help plan for retirement, ensuring we have a stable financial future. It’s about thinking long-term and making smart decisions now.

Peace of Mind

Ultimately, having an accountant brings peace of mind. They reduce stress by managing the financial aspects of our business, allowing us to focus on what we do best—creating beautiful ceremonies. They offer ongoing support and advice, helping us navigate any financial challenges that come our way.

Instead of Guessing, Know for Sure

Instead of guessing about financial responsibilities and whether or not you’re making a profit, an accountant can provide clarity. They ensure we know for sure, giving us the confidence to make informed decisions for our business.

In conclusion, don’t wait until the last minute. Find yourself a good accountant today and set your celebrancy business up for success. Your future self will thank you.

And if you can’t find a good accountant, mine is in Brisbane and services heaps of wedding creators like us and I’d happily recommend him.

How Sharon and Adam chose Tim Maddren to be their celebrant and MC

How Sharon and Adam chose Tim Maddren to be their celebrant and MC

Come dive into Sharon and Adam’s wedding in the picturesque Douglas Vale Historic Vineyard and Homestead in Port Macquarie, New South Wales.

Sharon’s wedding was not just a lovely occasion but also a masterclass in thoughtful planning and celebrant selection in Tam Maddren. Her choice of venue—a volunteer-run historic site—ensured that their wedding expenditure supported the local community.

Key Insights for Celebrants from Sharon’s Wedding Planning:

1. Understanding Client Values:
Sharon’s emphasis on privacy, accessibility, and support for community ventures provides a template for celebrants to understand and align with the values of their clients. By focusing on venues and vendors that resonate with these values, celebrants can enhance their service offerings and appeal to clients who prioritize similar ideals.

2. Venue Selection:
The choice of Douglas Vale Historic Vineyard and Homestead due to its accessibility, ample parking, and flat terrain catered beautifully to the needs of guests with mobility issues. This highlights the importance of celebrants understanding the specific needs of their clients and their guests, making recommendations that address these requirements comprehensively.

3. Financial Planning and Transparency:
Sharon’s candid discussion about budgeting reveals that while initial plans may be modest, actual expenses can grow. For celebrants, offering guidance on budget management and being transparent about the costs of different services can help couples plan more effectively and avoid financial stress.

4. Vendor Interaction and Selection:
Sharon’s experiences at a wedding fair underscore the importance of celebrants maintaining a genuine and unobtrusive presence. The feedback about vendors being too forceful or making the event about themselves rather than the couple is a crucial takeaway. Celebrants should strive to enhance the couple’s day, not overshadow it, by being facilitative rather than intrusive.

5. Personalization Over Standardisation:
The personal touch in choosing a venue that also showcased local wines during the pre-ceremony gathering illustrates the value of personalization. Celebrants can encourage couples to infuse personal elements into their ceremony, making it more memorable and unique.

Insights from the SBS Insights episode on weddings and the Wedding Grinch

Insights from the SBS Insights episode on weddings and the Wedding Grinch

The wedding industry in Australia is vibrant and evolving, despite the shifting societal views on marriage.

As a celebrant deeply embedded in this industry through both personal and industry-wide lenses, I’ve distilled some insights from recent discussions on SBS Insight [watch the episode + story on the couple who spent $200k + story on Phoebe almost calling off her wedding]  to help you navigate and thrive in the 2024 wedding market.

The cohort of people getting married by a civil celebrant today is far more diverse than when I started as a celebrant back in Jesus’ day.

  • Continued Popularity of Weddings: Despite reduced societal pressures to marry, the increasing cost of living, and modern views on marriage, weddings remain popular. Couples are spending more on their weddings, although they are inviting fewer guests compared to previous years.
  • Diverse Wedding Preferences: From extravagant celebrations costing upwards of $200,000 to intimate micro weddings and DIY approaches, couples are choosing wedding styles that deeply reflect their personal beliefs and financial situations. This diversity requires celebrants to be adaptable and responsive to varying needs and expectations.
  • Cultural and Personal Expressions: Weddings are increasingly seen as expressions of personal identity and cultural heritage. This is particularly evident in ceremonies like those of LGBTQ+ couples who celebrate their love while honouring their unique identities.

If you put food in the pantry by being a celebrant, that is to say that celebrant provides for your family, then you’ll be interested in what kinds of insights we can glean from these interviews with real people planning real weddings:

  • Emphasise your personalisation skills: Market your services by highlighting your ability to tailor ceremonies to the unique stories and identities of couples. Showcase past weddings where you’ve embraced diverse cultural, personal, and thematic elements.
  • Use Authentic Testimonials: Share stories and testimonials from past clients that reflect the depth and breadth of your offerings. Real stories resonate more deeply and can illustrate your versatility and sensitivity to clients’ needs.
  • Engage Through Social Media: Utilise the social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and Pinterest where visual inspirations for weddings thrive. Regular posts featuring your weddings and how you served those clients can tap into the aspirations of potential clients.
  • Diversify Offerings: Consider offering packages that cater to different types of weddings—from lavish affairs to simple elopements. This diversification can help stabilise income streams but also help potential couples find a package that suits their unique wedding plans.
  • Invest in Professional Development: Keep abreast of trends, such as the growing preference for non-traditional venues and secular ceremonies. Training in cultural competencies and inclusive practices can also enhance your appeal. May we suggest a Celebrant Institute membership, and/or our professional development courses.
  • Focus on Relationships: Building strong relationships with wedding venues and other wedding vendors (e.g., photographers, planners) can lead to referrals. Equally, maintaining good relationships with past clients can lead to word-of-mouth recommendations, crucial for sustainable business growth.
  • Understand market segmentation: In this program there are a couple who spent one thousand dollars on their wedding, forty thousand, and two hundred thousand. Those three couples were looking for three very different celebrants and packages. Understand these market segments, what products you are putting forward, and how they would choose a celebrant.

The Australian wedding market, while diverse and evolving, presents significant opportunities for dedicated celebrants giving the market their all.

There always has been and always will be the greatest opportunities in one of three areas in any business market:

  1. First: You might not be the first celebrant, but you can be the first to offer something unique or a different type of service or ceremony.
  2. Cheapest: Cheapest isn’t about being the lowest dollar for a similar service, but it’s about creating efficiencies and systems so that you can offer a product at a cheap price point whilst still making a good profit. Think more Jetstar, less Bonza.
  3. Best: This is the empty end of the market. It’s hard work being the best, and not just being the best, but communicating it, marketing it, being there sustainably for a long time. But it’s the most rewarding and I encourage all of you to aim to be here.

I’d encourage all of you to watch the episode on SBS On-Demand but I’ll leave you with this moment of zen, where a celebrant for Samantha and John stands there for the first kiss.

How do all celebrants worldwide not know to move for the first kiss today?

Are you prepared to lose your Facebook, Meta, Google, access?

Are you prepared to lose your Facebook, Meta, Google, access?

This week saw the 28th user of Instagram – that’s right, he’s been using Instagram for longer than everyone except for 27 other people – get locked out of his Instagram because an automatic content checker deemed that he had shared one of the worst and most criminal things you could share not just on social media but in the world. M.G. Siegler shares his story on his blog and email, Spyglass, and just as well he actually operates his own website, blog, and email list, so he actually had a chance of ever telling the story.

M.G. Siegler's banned account screenshot

You might see my online presence and call me prolifically online, and you might not be wrong (booking weddings puts food in my kids mouths), but I also hold a deep distrust of companies like Meta and Google, companies that give so much away for free, companies that we invest so much of our brand capital into, but there are close to zero incentives for them to honour the bargain.

Apple is better but only barely – they’re a big corporation that can turn their cheek on a whim, but at least I have a financial relationship with Apple. I could take legal action, or even just walk into an Apple Store, to deal with an issue like accidental account deletion.

Companies like UniSuper aren’t even immune to accidental deletion curse, but luckily they have a Google Cloud account manager because I’m sure they spend thousands of dollars a year with Google. The incentives to help and serve change when you charge a fee. They also change when you’re not a “big corporate”.

That’s the reason I moved all of my email from Google to Fastmail a few years ago. From a big corporation in California who has a history of accidentally deleting accounts – it happened to a photographer friend of mine a few years ago and he never got it back, even with my help – to a medium sized business in Melbourne that also happens to be a world-renowned email host.

[If you’re interested in Fastmail, my referral link gives you 10% off]

It’s also the reason I started the Rebels Guide email a few years ago, to gather couples off Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and even away from Google. I’ve written about this twice before on the Celebrant Institute, once about how Google considered leaving Australia, and Facebook actually did it in a small way.

The old joke to an influencer was that if Instagram stopped existing tomorrow would you still be a model. My question for you is, if Google, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, LinkedIn, Snapchat, TikTok, or X left Australia or stopped existing tomorrow, would you still be a celebrant?

That’s why I so actively work towards email deliverability – making sure our emails stay out of spam – and convincing all of you to sign up for the free monthly email letter.

[We use Buttondown for our emails, love it, and this link gifts you a $9 credit on your account]

For the sakes of feeding our kids and booking weddings we can’t leave these networks today (you can leave Gmail though, just saying) but you can start to build a world where you’re not reliant on them.

History of the one month’s notice period

History of the one month’s notice period

I have a problem. I often get sucked down online rabbit holes and before I realise it, it’s 8pm and I haven’t left my desk since lunchtime. Last week I got sucked down one such rabbit hole and hoo boy, it’s a good one.

The Happily Ever… Before and After brochure

It all started when I went looking for the purpose behind the requirement for us to give the Happily Ever… Before and After brochure to our couples. Because that requirement is within section 42(5A) of the Marriage Act 1961, I knew it had been added after the Act was originally written. The capital letter at the end of a section or subsection number gives it away. If it was in there at the time of original publication, it would have its own section number. The capital letter means it was shoved in between two other sections at some later point.

I discovered this requirement had been added to the Act as part of the Marriage Amendment Bill 1976. I was hoping that reading the Explanatory Memorandum to the Bill as well as the Hansard records from the time would give me the purpose of the requirement to hand out this brochure. It did, sort of, good enough at least for what I was looking for.

The notice period

But then. Then I read the rest of the Explanatory Memorandum. And it was one of the other amendments in that Bill that really interested me:

Clause 13 – Notice to be given and declaration made: Paragraphs (a) and (b) of this clause provide for the extension of the minimum period for giving notice of intended marriage from 7 days to 1 month before the intended marriage [emphasis added].

What? The notice period used to be 7 days???? Whenever we have mentioned even the possiblity of considering decreasing the notice period, we have been utterly howled down by many celebrants, for reasons such as:

  • celebrants need at least a month to craft a personalised and meaningful ceremony
  • couples need plenty of time to make sure they’re not making a mistake
  • but the divorce rate!!!
  • anyone who needs to get married quicker can just apply for a shortening (it’s really not that easy!).

I immediately texted Josh (because that’s who I text about most of my marriage law discoveries).

Texts between Josh and Sarah

And hence, the rabbit hole. Josh took out a 24-hour subscription to the Sydney Morning Herald archives, I found the transcripts from the House of Representatives debates about the proposed amendments on Historic Hansard, and we were on the case. As well as we can figure out from the media coverage, the Bill, the Explanatory Memorandum, the debate in the House of Reps, and other historical research, here’s a brief history of the notice period and what happened to bring it up to one month.

Pre-1963

The Marriage Act 1961, the one that governs how couples marry in Australia today, came into force on 1 September 1963. Before that, marriage was managed by the individual States (the Territories were governed by the Commonwealth until 1978). They all had their own marriage laws with completely different rules around literally everything. One day I’ll write about all those differences (they’re utterly fascinating), but for this post I’m concentrating on the notice period.

Across the country, weddings in some Christian churches may have required the banns of marriage to be read for three consecutive Sundays. This was to ensure anyone who knew of any reason why the couple should not be married could make their knowledge known ahead of time. Reasons could include one of the couple being married to someone else, or the couple being too closely related by blood.

Otherwise, according to Antony Whitlam, Member for Grayndler (ALP), in his address during the debate on the Marriage Act Amendment Bill 1976 on 19 August 1976, (backed up by my fact checking) the notice periods for marriages across the country were as follows:

Queenslandno notice required

New South Walesno notice required

Victoria3 days

Tasmania: 7 days

South Australia: 10 days

Western Australia: 7 days

Yes, you read that right. In New South Wales and Queensland, you could literally rock up to the District Registrar’s office, sign some declarations, and get married straight away.

Marriage Act 1961

When the Marriage Act 1961 was created, there was a LOT of debate about how long the notice period should be, but they eventually settled on 7 days. And that was all well and good for more than 10 years. Then came the Whitlam Government’s changes to divorce laws. We’re going on a bit of a tangent here, but it’s absolutely required.

Divorce pre-1976

Before the Family Law Act 1975, divorce was governed by the Matrimonial Causes Act 1959. Under that Act, you could only get divorced if you had already been married for three years, AND if you could prove that your spouse was at fault, and you had evidence of such. There were a whole bunch of different grounds for divorce:

  • adultery
  • desertion for at least two years
  • refusal to consummate the marriage
  • habitual cruelty for at least one year
  • the spouse has committed rape, sodomy, or bestiality
  • habitual drunkenness for at least two years (or parts thereof)
  • habitual intoxication from drugs for at least two years (or parts thereof)
  • the husband has had frequent convictions for crime, been sentenced to prison for at least three years, and left the wife without reasonable means of support (yes, the Act specifically says that the hsuband has committed the crimes and left the wife without support – none of the other reasons are specific as to which spouse is the guilty party!)
  • being in prison for at least three years for a crime punishable by death or imprisonment for life for more than five years
  • being convicted of having attempted to murder or inflict grievous bodily harm on their spouse within the last year
  • habitual refusal to pay maintenance for at least two years
  • failure to comply with a decree of restitution of conjugal rights for at least one year (basically a legal requirement for them to live together and “perform marital services” – feel free to interpret that however you like)
  • being of unsound mind and unlikely to recover
  • being confined to an institution for at least five years for being of unsound mind
  • absence for long enough and under such circumstances as to presume death
  • separation for at least five years.

Collecting evidence of any of these grounds for divorce was time-consuming and expensive. Plus there was the expense of appointing a solicitor and a barrister, and don’t forget the humiliation involved in proving one of these grounds. All in all it was a mess.

Family Law Act 1975

The Family Law Act 1975 changed all of that by introducing no-fault divorce. The person applying for the divorce simply had to declare that the marriage had broken down irretrievably, which was proven by the fact that the couple had been separated for at least 12 months. That was (and is) it. Divorce under the Family Law Act 1975 was far more accessible than it had been under the Matrimonial Causes Act – it was cheaper, less time consuming, and far simpler.

The Family Law Act was created by the Whitlam Labor Government. It passed through Parliament and was enacted on 12 June 1975, just a few months before Whitlam was dismissed and Parliament was dissolved on 11 November 1975. That’s relevant to this story because at the ensuing election, the Coalition won power with the largest majority in Australia’s history: 91 House of Representatives seats to Labor’s 36.

The Family Law Act and therefore no-fault divorce came into force on 5 January 1976. In the first quarter of 1975, there had been 6261 divorces. In comparison, Following the introduction of no-fault divorce, the first quarter of 1976 saw 21,846 divorces. What happened? The new Coalition government FREAKED THE FUCK OUT. Honestly, I don’t know what they were expecting: a divorce was now way easier and cheaper to get, of course there were going to be more of them!

Marriage Amendment Bill 1976

And now we finally come to the point. Horrified by the massive “flood” of divorces (as described by the Sydney Morning Herald on 9 May 1976), the Coalition created the Marriage Amendment Bill, which was designed to “discourage the formation of hasty or ill-advised marriages” (Bob Ellicott, Attorney-General, 3 June 1976).

Thus entered more funding for pre-marriage education, the requirement that we tell couples about pre-marriage education by giving them the Happily Ever… Before and After brochure, and the change to the notice period from 7 days to 1 month. After passing through Parliament unimpeded, the new laws came into force on 20 June 1977.

And that’s why we have the 1 month’s notice period for marriage in Australia.

Has it worked?

These amendments were designed to “take positive steps to underpin marriage and the family as part of society”. As reported in the Sydney Morning Herald on 9 May 1976, they were “to offset the rising levels of divorce.”

At the time these amendments were being drafted, 1 in 6 marriages ended in divorce. Now, it’s somewhere between 1 in 2 and 1 in 3 marriages end in divorce (this article suggests 44%).

Clearly, these amendments did NOT work to slow down the divorce rate. It therefore begs the question, is the one month notice period of any use in today’s Australia? Increasing the notice period didn’t have the proposed impact, so is there any point maintaining it? Why not consider bringing it back to 7 days, or even 3 days like our friends across the pond in New Zealand? No, I’m not saying I think the notice period should definitely be 3 days. I’m saying I think we should look at it and seriously consider whether a month is the most appropriate notice period for Australia in the 21st century.

 


Quotes from various stakeholders in 1976

If you’re interested, here’s some quotes from various stakeholders in 1976.

Bob Ellicott, Attorney-General (Coalition)

A widely made suggestion for promoting marriage stability is that persons should be made to wait longer before being able to marry. I have received suggestions that persons should have to wait up to 12 months before being able to marry. Although the opinion of marriage counselling experts is somewhat divided on the value of long engagements, the Government saw merit in the proposal to extend the minimum period for giving notice of intended marriage beyond the existing period of 7 days. Proposals for substantial expansion of this period had to be weighed against the consideration that, in principle, arbitrary restrictions on a fundamental right such as the right to marry should not be lightly imposed. The Government decided that the best compromise would be to increase the minimum period of notice of intended marriage to 1 month, which is the period proposed in many of the suggestions received [emphasis added].

I said earlier that I did not believe for one moment- I do not think I ever suggested it- that by increasing the time for giving notice of intention to marry from 7 days to one month we would suddenly solve all problems. However, this proposal emphasises the fact that those entering marriage ought to think more carefully about it and about the obligations of marriage. If they do they are more likely to have a more lasting marriage. That is the theory behind it.

Jack Birney, Member for Phillip (Coalition)

The whole purpose of the Marriage Amendment Bill is without doubt to uphold the institution of marriage by instilling in persons desiring to enter into the marriage state a perceptiveness of the obligations and responsibilities of the marriage vows. This is most laudable at a time when the institution of marriage in many quarters is being held up to ridicule and indeed in contempt.

Maurice Neil, Member for St George (Coalition)

This clause has received the most favourable public reaction. There have been numerous Press reports. I understand telegrams have been received by the Government stating that the extension of the period is an admirable idea as it signifies to the nation the importance of thinking about marriage and of arranging it in a sober fashion and in a sober time space

Antony Whitlam, Member for Grayndler (ALP)

The proposal is that the minimum period of notice which intending partners to a marriage should give will be extended from 7 days to 30 days. That is a gross invasion of civil liberties.

From the kind of information I put before the House, it appears that not significantly more people in Queensland before 1961 who were married and who had to give no notice of their intention to marry have had their marriages come unstuck than persons in South Australia where, before this Parliament legislated, 10 days notice had to be given.

There is no logic whatsoever in extending the period of notice to 30 days.

Albert James, Member for Hunter (ALP)

I am opposing the provision in this legislation for the extension of notice from 7 days to one month. This would prolong the agony that a young couple have to suffer when they are in love, they are going to have a child and they want to get married as soon as possible.

Gordon Scholes, Member for Corio (ALP)

We delude ourselves if we think that will make any significant difference in the degree of breakdown of marriage. Marriage breaks down for a variety of reasons. I do not think delaying the decision to marry by an additional 3 weeks will make a great deal of difference to that breakdown.

Lionel Bowen, Member for Kingsford Smith (ALP)

This legislation when introduced in 1961 was based on what we might call a non-party philosophy. The basis for the provision that we are now considering is that 7 days would be a sufficient period for the purpose involved. In my view, that provision was related more to giving adequate notice to enable a celebrant to organise the necessary details than to suggesting that this would be the minimum period required for the parties to get to know each other [emphasis added].

Vic Parsons, civil celebrant (quoted in The happy making of a marriage, the civil way, The Age, 11 May 1976)

This will be a general imposition on the community that is not going to be beneficial.

In Victoria, before the Commonwealth took over marriage in 1961, people wanting to wed were required to give only three days’ notice, and still the divorce rate increased.

Time has nothing to do with divorce. What it is really is a sign of the times.

This is to placate a certain conservative section of the community concerned about the divorce rate.

Decrypted Australian PDF Marriage Forms

Decrypted Australian PDF Marriage Forms

We understand that accessibility is key in providing seamless services as a marriage celebrant, and we also understand that the Notice of Intended Marriage and Official Certificate of Marriage being provided from the AGD as protected PDFs is not just annoying but an impediment to a digital and modern paperwork workflow.

That’s why we’ve taken the initiative to make your life a little easier by decrypting the PDFs provided by the Marriage Law and Celebrants Section of the Attorney-General’s Department and making them available to members use. Here, you’ll find all the essential documents you need, free from the cumbersome password protections that can slow you down – or in my case recently, stop a marriage being registered by the BDM.

Our aim is to ensure that you, as a celebrant, have quick and effortless access to these important resources, allowing you to focus more on crafting memorable ceremonies for your couples. Whether you’re conducting legal paperwork or looking for guidance on the latest in marriage regulations, our unlocked PDFs are readily available for your convenience.

Dive into our collection today and experience hassle-free access to all the documents you need at your fingertips:

How did we do it? A free and open source software called QPDF installed on my computer by Homebrew.

Let this be a lesson: easy passwords are easily breakable. Use a password manager like 1Password to generate long, unique, and hard to remember passwords; keep as little information as possible because data you don’t have is data you can’t lose or have stolen; and use secure computers with audited protection.

Sarah-Louise’s trip to the wedding trail and her Maleny wedding

Sarah-Louise’s trip to the wedding trail and her Maleny wedding

This Insights podcast episode is with Josh and Sarah-Louise Anderson, who is planning her wedding on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland for the 1st of October. They discuss the process of choosing a wedding date around her partner’s FIFO work schedule, her brother’s availability, ensuring her preferred photographer – Luke Middlemiss – was available, and then booking Jay Flood as her celebrant.

Sarah emphasises the importance of selecting a venue that fits her micro wedding size and budget. She shares her experience with venue costs, noting that a venue she liked was too expensive at $18,000 for 30 guests, leading her to choose a different venue for $3,000. She also talks about her experience at the Hinterland Wedding Trail, where she was able to shortlist vendors and see venues set up for a wedding.

The conversation also touches on the challenges of vendors not taking no for an answer and the importance of finding vendors who are easy to work with. Sarah found her photographer, cake maker, invitations, and lighting at the wedding trail. She later hired a wedding planner specialising in micro weddings and a celebrant recommended by several people, Jay Flood.

Based on the conversation with Sarah, here are three action points for wedding celebrants looking for business development tips inspired by her journey:

  1. Understand and Respect Client Boundaries: Sarah emphasised the importance of vendors recognising when a potential client is not interested in their services and not pushing further. Celebrants should practice reading the room and respecting boundaries. If a couple seems uninterested, it’s better to gracefully exit the conversation and allow them to explore other options. This not only saves time for both parties but also leaves a positive impression that could lead to future referrals.
  2. Be Direct and Transparent: Sarah appreciated vendors who were straightforward about their pricing and services. Celebrants should ensure that their communication is clear, especially regarding costs and what is included in their packages. Being upfront can build trust with couples and help them make informed decisions without feeling pressured or misled.
  3. Personalise the Experience: Sarah’s choice of celebrant was heavily influenced by recommendations and the celebrant’s ability to understand her unique situation with her FIFO (fly-in fly-out) partner. Celebrants should strive to personalize their approach to each couple, showing genuine interest in their specific circumstances and preferences. This can involve being flexible with communication methods, understanding scheduling challenges, and offering tailored advice that aligns with the couple’s vision for their wedding day.
Kim & Zac’s Cronulla wedding

Kim & Zac’s Cronulla wedding

Kim and Zac married in Cronulla and they always knew that Tania Marsh was going to be their celebrant.

The couple got married in Cronulla and flew Tania down to Sydney for their wedding.

Listen to their story and how they made their wedding planning decisions in this podcast episode.

Main points from the interview:

  • Kim is originally from the UK and now lives in Sydney, New South Wales.
  • Married to Zach, an Australian.
  • Wedding ceremony held in a local park in Cronulla, followed by a reception at a restaurant called 1908.
  • Got married on March 3rd, end of summer/early autumn.
  • Together for six years before marrying; engaged for three or four years, with a long engagement due to COVID.
  • Planned the wedding in four months.
  • Prioritised reception venue first, looking for a casual and affordable option, which led to choosing 1908.
  • Ceremony location was recommended by the reception venue.
  • Guest list determined by venue capacity: 120 for cocktail style, 100 for seated, but settled on 94 guests for an intimate feel.
  • Music was a key element; wanted a live band for both ceremony and reception, they chose a band called Red Soda Ruby, which played their desired first dance song.
  • Invites were sent quickly via email and Facebook due to the short planning timeframe.
  • Bridal parties and outfits were organised after the venue and music.
  • Photography was done by a friend who specialises in family and pets.
  • Videography was casually done by Kim’s uncle with a camcorder.
  • Celebrant was a professional celebrant who is also a family friend, Tania Marsh, who was personal and engaging.
  • Budget expectations started at 10k but ended up around 20k.
  • On the day, they wished for an on-the-day coordinator to handle minor issues.
  • Happy with the music, photography, and minimalistic decor.
  • Used a Polaroid camera for candid guest photos.
  • Video quality was not a priority as they don’t plan to watch it often.
  • Important aspects of the wedding were the venue, music, celebrant, and photographer.

Business development and marketing points:

  • Personalised Service: The couple appreciated a celebrant who took a genuine interest in their relationship and personalised the ceremony to reflect their story. Celebrants should consider how they can offer a bespoke experience that resonates with the couple’s unique journey.
  • Referrals and Recommendations: The couple relied heavily on recommendations from friends and the reception venue for various services, including music and ceremony location. Celebrants should focus on building strong relationships with other vendors and clients to encourage word-of-mouth referrals.
  • Engagement and Creativity: The celebrant’s ability to keep the ceremony engaging and creative was highly valued. Celebrants should strive to make ceremonies memorable and avoid a one-size-fits-all approach.
  • Communication and Guidance: The couple appreciated their celebrant’s guidance throughout the process, especially since they were unfamiliar with the typical wedding structure. Celebrants should communicate clearly and offer helpful advice to couples during planning.
  • On-the-day Coordination: The bride expressed a wish for an ‘on-the-day coordinator’ to handle logistics, suggesting that celebrants could either expand their services to include day-of coordination or partner with wedding planners to offer a comprehensive package.
  • Value Perception: The couple had different budget expectations, with the bride initially aiming for a lower budget. Celebrants should be transparent with their pricing and communicate the value they bring to justify their fees.
  • Marketing Approach: Traditional advertising may not always capture attention. Celebrants need to find creative ways to stand out in social media feeds and make an impression on potential clients.
  • Minimalism and Authenticity: The couple preferred a minimalistic approach and candid photography, indicating a trend towards authenticity. Celebrants should be aware of such trends and adapt their services and marketing to align with the preferences of modern couples.
  • Flexibility and Adaptability: The couple planned their wedding in a short timeframe, which required flexibility from vendors. Celebrants should be prepared to work with varying timelines and be adaptable to last-minute changes.
Basic accounting and financial management for celebrants

Basic accounting and financial management for celebrants

A celebrant reached out recently with a query that sparked me thinking about how well we’re all managing our finances. They emailed me asking if they were still a paying member of the Celebrant Institute.

Ironically, the simplest way to find this out would have been for them to log in and check their account status on the website themselves – members.celebrant.institute, and if not that, they should know what they’re spending money on each month.

Their situation highlights a common oversight many sole traders may encounter—the lack of active engagement with their own business finances. Knowing what you’re paying for, and more importantly, understanding your business’s revenue and expenses, is fundamental to discerning whether you’re operating at a profit or merely treading water.

This anecdote serves as a perfect segue into why robust financial management practices are not just advisable but essential for every marriage celebrant.

Here’s how you can keep your business’s financial health in check and ensure long-term sustainability.

1. Separating Your Personal and Business Finances

Start with the basics: open a separate bank account for all your business transactions.

This distinction simplifies financial management and is crucial for clear, accurate record-keeping—a must for any business. The only time the two shall meet is when you transfer money from your business to your personal and that’s called paying yourself a wage.

2. Efficient Record Keeping for the ATO

Maintain meticulous records of all business transactions, including detailed tax invoices or receipts. Store these securely (digitally or if you must, on paper) for at least five years, as required by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).

Proper record-keeping not only facilitates smoother tax filing but also provides invaluable insights into your financial health.

The best way to do this is in accounting software. I’m not going to recommend one in particular, I hate them all equally, but I currently use Xero for my business plus we also use Xero at the Celebrant Institute. Is it the best, possibly,  but gosh if you read this and you know something better, for all of our sakes jump in the comments and let us know.

3. Managing GST and BAS Requirements

For those of us whose business turnover exceeds the ATO threshold of $75,000, registering for GST is mandatory.

This involves adding or including GST to your prices, saying “ex GST” or “including GST” on your price page, claiming GST credits on business purchases, and filing regular Business Activity Statements (BAS).

Proper management of your GST obligations ensures compliance and prevents unexpected liabilities. If you don’t know about GST it’s your responsibility to learn.

4. Diligent Preparation for End of Year Tax

Don’t wait until the last minute (aka June 30th) to prepare for your taxes. I’m writing this on April 21 and I’ve had a meeting-via-multiple-emails with my accountant about end of year already, if you haven’t, initiate the meeting now.

Regularly update your financial records and consult with a tax professional to identify possible deductions and strategies to minimise your tax liabilities. Consider setting aside a portion of your income regularly to cover your tax obligations.

5. Reconciling Accounts Regularly

Regular reconciliation of your accounts ensures that your bank statements and financial records match up. This practice is crucial for catching and addressing any discrepancies early, thus maintaining the integrity of your financial data.

Also, just between you, me, and the door knob, my accountant said that if/when you get audited, if you’ve been reconciling your bank statements with your accounting software, like Xero and others offer, then it’s a signal to the auditor that you’re actually running a good business and you know what you’re doing.

6. Generating and Analysing Business Reports

Frequent generation of business reports like profit and loss statements, and balance sheets, gives you a clearer picture of your financial status.

These reports are indispensable for effective financial planning and decision-making, helping you to identify trends, manage cash flow, and plan for future growth.

7. Continual Financial Education

Stay updated with the latest financial regulations and practices. Engage in continuous learning through workshops, courses, and relevant publications. This knowledge is vital to navigating the complexities of financial management and keeping your business compliant and profitable.

§

Ironically that celebrant won’t read this article, but I hope it’s been a blessing to members, and a reminder that your financial obligation to yourself, your clients, and the ATO, sits on the same level of important as the monitum.

Embracing good financial management practices like these offers more than just regulatory compliance; it equips you with the knowledge and tools to make informed decisions, ensuring your business thrives.

Many, maybe quite a few, celebrants might find that upon inspecting their finances they are not even earning the median Australian wage of $67k per year, or the average Australian wage of $99k a year after their cost of doing business.

Understanding and managing your finances effectively means less time worrying about money and more time doing what you love—making marriages, going on holidays, collecting expensive whisky, or whatever it is that puts a smile on your face.

Just a bunch of gibberish + legislation + quiet wedding industry times

Just a bunch of gibberish + legislation + quiet wedding industry times

In this episode of The Celebrant Talk Show, hosts Josh Withers and Sarah Aird discuss the current state of the wedding industry and the impact of COVID-19, inflation, and the “engagement gap” on wedding businesses. They also provide an update on the Attorney-General’s Portfolio Miscellaneous Measures Bill 2023, which includes amendments that would allow for remote witnessing of notices of intended marriage. However, the bill has been delayed in the Senate due to controversy over unrelated amendments to the Native Title Act.

Josh and Sarah share their personal experiences with the downturn in the wedding industry, with Josh noting a significant decrease in inquiries and bookings and Sarah discussing her efforts to improve her website’s SEO through blogging. They encourage fellow celebrants to create content that reflects their unique processes and personalities, highlighting the importance of being true to oneself and avoiding negative marketing.

In this episode we chat about the Attorney-General’s Portfolio Miscellaneous Measures Bill and how long it’s taking to get through Parliament. You can read Sarah’s articles about it here, here, and here.

We also chat about the state of the wedding industry worldwide and what we’re doing about it for our own businesses. You might want to read Josh’s article about the engagement gap.

Let us know how you’re keeping afloat in these difficult times.

Marketing yourself as a new celebrant

Marketing yourself as a new celebrant

Silvia asks:

I really want to find out how to start a website when you haven’t done any weddings yet. I’ve looked at many celebrant’s websites and find myself overwhelmed.

Starting out can be hard, but rest assured, everyone started at zero so it’s a journey worth taking. If I was starting today and I had no weddings under my belt, I would stop focusing on what I don’t have, and focus on what I do have, or can get:

  • Brand – pay a designer to create a brand for you, a colour scheme, logo, fonts, design principles. Don’t know a designer, get in touch and I can recommend people I like.
  • Photos – pay a wedding photographer you love to take some branding photos for your new website and social media.
  • Dream – there’s obviously a reason you’ve become a celebrant, work that out into a first year blogging and social media plan. Create a plan and content for social media and your websites blog based on all the standard celebrant questions, rituals, the reasons you became a celebrant, your philosophies, everything that makes you a celebrant.
  • Promise – Refine that dream into a core promise that is the reason people will book you as their celebrant. Create a website out of this. A promise that you will be this kind of celebrant.
  • Honesty – Be honest that you’ve done zero/few weddings, but also be confident that you have done your training, you’ve received your authority, and you’re ready to rumble. Humble about your reality, bold about your promise.
  • Simple Stuff – Cover all the boring simple stuff about getting married in Australia, legalities, forms, paperwork, vows, monitum, one month notice etc. It’s always news to couples.

People often say that you’ve got to fake it til you make it, but I don’t like faking it. Just be honest, but also be bold and ambitious.

Public speaking skills you can learn from Steve Jobs and John Mulaney

Public speaking skills you can learn from Steve Jobs and John Mulaney

As a wedding celebrant, our role is pivotal in creating a memorable experience for couples on their special day. Public speaking is an integral part of this role, and there’s much to learn from seasoned speakers across different fields. Let’s delve into the insights that comedians like John Mulaney and visionaries like Steve Jobs can offer to help you refine your public speaking skills.

Embrace Your Unique Style

John Mulaney’s success as a comedian stems from his distinctive voice and delivery. He doesn’t just tell jokes; he weaves stories that resonate with his audience. As a wedding celebrant, finding your unique style is crucial. Whether it’s through humour, heartfelt stories, or a combination of both, your personal touch will make ceremonies unforgettable.

Connect with Your Audience

Steve Jobs was known for his ability to captivate audiences. He didn’t just present products; he created experiences that connected with people on an emotional level. Similarly, as a celebrant, your goal is to connect with the couple and their guests. Understand the couple’s story and share it in a way that engages everyone present, making them feel like they’re part of the journey.

Preparation is Key

Both Mulaney and Jobs meticulously prepared for their performances. While Jobs rehearsed his keynotes to perfection, Mulaney polished his routines through repetition and feedback. As a celebrant, preparation is just as important. Rehearse your speech, know the flow of the ceremony, and be ready to handle any unexpected moments with grace.

Timing and Pacing

A comedian’s timing is critical to landing a joke, and Mulaney is a master of this. In the world of tech presentations, Jobs knew when to reveal key information to keep the audience on the edge of their seats. For wedding celebrants, timing and pacing are equally important. Know when to pause for effect, when to speed up to maintain energy, and when to slow down to allow moments to sink in.

Simplicity and Clarity

Jobs was a proponent of simplicity, both in design and communication. He made complex ideas easy to understand. As a celebrant, aim for simplicity and clarity in your speech. Avoid jargon and speak from the heart. Your message should be easy for all guests to follow and appreciate.

Adaptability

Both Mulaney and Jobs could read the room and adjust their approach accordingly. As a celebrant, be adaptable. If the audience responds well to humor, lean into it. If the moment calls for solemnity, provide it. Being attuned to the atmosphere will help you deliver the right tone at the right time.

By incorporating these lessons from John Mulaney and Steve Jobs, you can elevate your public speaking skills and become a more effective wedding celebrant. Remember, your role is to enhance the celebration with your words and presence. With practice and dedication, you can create a lasting impact on the couple’s special day and ensure that their wedding ceremony is as beautiful and engaging as they dreamed it would be.


This post was inspired by McGuire Brannon’s video on the topic for tech industry leaders, which is a great watch.

2024’s Ongoing Professional Development topics are now available

2024’s Ongoing Professional Development topics are now available

Our friends in Canberra emailed all Aussie celebrants with the good news that our OPD – our ongoing professional development obligation – is now online on the Marcel Portal.

The department is delivering the two (2) activities free of charge and they are set out in the statement Marriage (Celebrant Professional Development) Statement 2024 (legislation.gov.au).

The compulsory activities are:

  • Real Consent (Including Capacity) — Compulsory, 60-minute duration
  • Knowledge of the Law No 1 — Compulsory, 60-minute duration.

And if you were unsure if OPD was for you …

Your obligations

You must complete all your compulsory activities by 11.59PM on 31 December 2024 (Canberra local time).

Under s39G(1)(b) of the Marriage Act 1961 it is a legal obligation for registered marriage celebrants to undertake all professional development activities required by the Registrar of Marriage Celebrants. Failure to do so (subject to any exemption granted) may result in disciplinary measures being taken, which may include a caution, additional professional development activities, suspension or deregistration.

Exemption applications

If you have an exceptional circumstance that will prevent you from undertaking this important obligation for a significant period of the professional development year, you may apply for an exemption: Guidelines for exemption from ongoing professional development requirements | Attorney-General’s Department (ag.gov.au).

And who per-chance would you call or pay or ask to do your OPD in 2024?

Marriage Celebrants Portal

Information on accessing the marriage celebrants portal is available at: Marcel Portal (ag.gov.au).

Haven’t logged into Marcel in sometime?

Please note that celebrants accessing the portal for the first time since 30 June 2023 will need to set up multifactor authentication using their registered email address.

Some celebrant have reported logging in issues to me and my best advice is to click the “forgot password” link or if that doesn’t work, then to contact the AGD’s MLCS section on [email protected].

What is OPD about in 2024?

There are two topics being taught and assessed in 2024’s ongoing professional development program:

  • Real consent
  • Knowledge of the law

If you know your Marriage Act, Guidelines, and Marriage Regulations Act, then you’ll be set to go.

Our best advice is to stop, breath, and read the topics and questions; download the workbooks linked in the questions; and ahead of time, download the PDFs or Word documents of the:

Pour a coffee, schedule up to two hours of solitude, and head on over to marriage.ag.gov.au/mcportal now to get started.

How do I know I’ve met my obligation?

Your portal will reflect your completion, and as an added advantage, there will be some emails in your inbox.

Card Buddy, your new ceremony writing app

Card Buddy, your new ceremony writing app

I’ve described my ceremony preparation and writing style before as a series of “bits”, much like how a comedian will assemble a show from their jokes and bits, I’ll assemble a ceremony together much the same.

So when I saw Card Buddy being reviewed in issue 110 of Hulry I thought I’d see if it would work for a celebrant assembling their ceremony.

Card Buddy in the Mac App Store

Card Buddy Screenshot

Card Buddy is available in Apple’s Mac App Store for download for free to try, but to save your writing you need to purchase the app. To unlock the app to Pro mode it costs $29.99 – a one off purchase cost.

How does the app work?

Imagine paper cue cards or index cards that you’d purchase from an office supplies store, and you have all your index cards laid out on paper in front of you, this is that, but digitally on your Mac computer.

You can drag and drop bits around and read them out to see how they feel.

How I imagine using it is to write all my bits in a master file, then duplicate that for someone’s wedding and to rearrange, and edit, as needed. Then you can print out a PDF that would be a great place to read from.

You can try Card Buddy for free to see if the app suits your mental workflow, and at $29.99 it’s a bargain if it cuts down the amount of time you spend creating ceremonies.

Engagement ring sales in 2023 explain the 2024 dip in enquiries

Engagement ring sales in 2023 explain the 2024 dip in enquiries

Listening to the really good WedCo Podcast episode with my old mate Shane Shepherd enlightened me beyond expectations for that podcast episode. I now understand why enquiries and bookings are so quiet in 2024.

Explaining the 2024 dip in wedding enquiries and bookings, or the shortening of planning time, Shane references a New York Times article which references the investors letter from the world’s largest retailer of diamond jewellery, Signet.

Signet is experiencing financial headwinds because of the reduction of engagements due to the pandemic.

Disruptions in the dating cycle caused by the pandemic and the pace at which such impacts on engagements are expected to recover.

And the New York Times fleshes out the story like this:

The company is selling fewer engagement rings this year (2023) because, it says, singles who were stuck at home during lockdowns failed to meet their would-be fiancés in 2020.

Fortune Magazine reported it a little bleaker:

There’s now proof of the loneliness epidemic and how COVID devastated dating—a drop in Signet engagement ring sales

Even Australia’s own Michael Hill closed six stores earlier this year, five of those in Australia, and axed senior management roles amid a “challenging period for the business”.

What does this mean?

So the long and the short of it is that the average couple dates for two and a half to five years before getting engaged, then the wedding is somewhere between three and eighteen months away, but that timeline has been extended because not only were people not out meeting their future fiancé in 2020, 2021, and even into 2022 due to fears and worries about getting COVID.

Because new couples were not getting together as much during those COVID years, the subsequent engagements did not appear. Signet reveals that engagements started to dip in 2022 (from 2.8 million in 2021 to 2.5 million in 2022) and bottomed out in 2023 (from 2.5 million in 2022 to 2.1 million in 2023), and although those are American numbers. Those couples who were originally planning to ask the question through 2021 and 2022 also decided to postpone their engagement until things were “back to normal” which also contributed to the decrease in engagements because some of those people did other things like children or mortgages, and many broke up as well.

What does the future hold? We’ll all find out together, but my tea leaf reading says that weddings will come back stronger than ever, we just might have a few quiet months ahead of us yet.

Science proves: quick reply means a positive impression

Science proves: quick reply means a positive impression

A new study finds that the later we meet someone in a sequence, the more negatively we describe them. The research finds that unconscious bias could disadvantage people who happen to be evaluated later in a sequence, whether it’s job applicants, contestants on a reality show, Tinder dates, or wedding vendors couples are enquiring with.

The study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology by Koch A, Bromley A, Woitzel J, Alves H called Differentiation in social perception aimed to study why later-encountered individuals are described more negatively.

Imagine you’re the 20th celebrant to reply to a wedding enquiry, you’re the 20th celebrant in their inbox, or the 10th hopeful stepping onto their email stage to audition for that role. You’re just as qualified and just as talented as those who went before you. According to this study, you are at a surprising disadvantage, thanks to an unconscious bias in how we perceive and describe others.

The study found that the later we encounter someone in a sequence, the more negatively we tend to describe them.

The simple takeaway for celebrants wanting to be perceived positively – isn’t that all of us? – is that we need to be closer to the front of the sequence.

These are scenarios I can think of that we could focus on:

  • Be the quickest to reply to an enquiry. I have AI send a personal reply, not templated, almost immediately after the couple enquires.
  • SEO. Be closer to the top of a search engine search. SEO still matters.
  • Meet couples earlier in their journey. Whether it’s the couples who haven’t got a date yet, or have only just got engaged, find a way to engage with them early. This is a surprisingly big benefit of wedding expos, magazines, and helpful social media like Youtube and Instagram.
  • Word of mouth always matters. So getting on referral lists is still important, particularly with venues as they’re often the first booked.
  • Creating content for that era. Many of us are creating content to help and inform couples that are closer to their wedding date. Create content for the pre-planning era, or early-planning era of their wedding journey.

From SuchScience:

The researchers coined this phenomenon the “serial position-negativity effect.”

They hypothesised that when we sequentially encounter people, we focus on distinct attributes that differentiate each new person from those we’ve already met. And because distinct attributes tend to be negative in the grand scheme of things, our descriptions of later-encountered people become increasingly negative.

To test this, the researchers conducted a number of studies. In one, they had 992 participants (recruited from Prolific Academic) describe 20 people based on their Facebook profile pictures.

The participants described the first few individuals quite positively, using an average of 6.2 positive words each. But as they progressed through the sequence, their descriptions became significantly more negative, dipping to an average of just 4.7 positive words by the 20th person.

In another experiment, 987 participants (about evenly split between male and female, with an average age of 42) were shown short video clips of women introducing themselves on the popular TV show The Bachelor. In these clips, each woman tried to make a memorable first impression on the bachelor, often in creative and attention-grabbing ways.

As the study participants progressed through the sequence of videos, their descriptions of the women became increasingly negative: the tenth woman was described significantly more negatively, on average, than the first woman, despite the fact that the order of the videos was randomised for each participant.

And this last piece really captured me:

And their descriptions also became increasingly specific over time. As participants encountered more women, they focused more on what made each new woman stand out, leading to more unique and ultimately more negative descriptions.


Citation: Koch A, Bromley A, Woitzel J, Alves H. Differentiation in social perception: Why later-encountered individuals are described more negatively. J Pers Soc Psychol. 2024 Feb 29. doi: 10.1037/pspa0000383. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38421750.

The state of the wedding industry, according to the 2024 Easy Weddings survey

The state of the wedding industry, according to the 2024 Easy Weddings survey

The Easy Weddings 2024 Australian Wedding Industry Report provides an overview of the state of the wedding industry from the point of view of Easy Weddings and its 4,200 engaged and newlywed couples that completed the survey, input from nearly 600 wedding businesses, and perspectives of 49,000 Instagram followers.

It offers valuable insights into the planning, spending behaviours, and preferences of couples, as well as the challenges and opportunities faced by wedding businesses.

Here are some actionable points for wedding celebrants to adapt, grow, and serve the wedding population effectively:

Understanding the Modern Australian Couple

  • Age and Engagement Period: The average age of marrying couples has increased, and they are engaged for about 22 months. Consider offering flexible scheduling and long-term planning services to accommodate their timelines.
  • Budget Consciousness: With the cost of living affecting budgets, couples are prioritising their spending. Tailor your offerings to fit various budget ranges, emphasising value.
  • Personalisation and Authenticity: Couples seek personalised experiences, especially when it comes to vows. Focus on creating bespoke ceremonies that reflect the couple’s unique story and values.

Adapting to Market Trends

  • Embracing Technology: With a significant number of couples turning to online platforms for vendor discovery and planning, ensure your online presence (website, social media) is strong, engaging, and updated.
  • Flexibility and Adaptability: Offer flexible packages that can be customised based on the couple’s needs and budget constraints. Being adaptable to changes and last-minute requests can set you apart.
  • Sustainability: As couples become more environmentally conscious, consider promoting eco-friendly practices in your services.

Enhancing Customer Service

  • Rapid Response: The report highlights the importance of quick responses to inquiries. Implement or improve your CRM system to ensure timely communication.
  • Gathering Reviews: Positive reviews significantly impact couples’ decisions. Encourage satisfied clients to leave reviews by providing exceptional service and following up after the ceremony.
  • Building Relationships: Couples value a personal connection. Take the time to understand their vision and preferences, and maintain open, empathetic communication throughout the planning process.

Networking and Collaboration

  • Collaborate with Vendors: Building relationships with other vendors can lead to referrals. Consider creating packages that include services from other vendors, such as photographers or planners.
  • Continuous Learning: Stay informed about industry trends, attend workshops, and network with other celebrants to refine your offerings and stay competitive.

Marketing and Promotion

  • Social Media and SEO: Utilise social media to showcase your services and connect with potential clients. Invest in SEO to improve your visibility online.
  • Showcasing Real Weddings: Share stories and pictures from weddings you’ve officiated, with permission, to give couples an idea of your style and approach.

The Easy Weddings report underscores the evolving nature of the wedding industry and the diverse needs of modern couples. By focusing on personalisation, budget flexibility, and strong customer service, while leveraging technology and fostering vendor relationships, wedding celebrants can effectively meet these needs, stand out in a competitive market, and build a successful business.

Download the 2024 report, 2023 report, and 2022 report.

The report also brought some statistics about the celebrant industry worth noting:

On average, marriage celebrants in Australia:

  • Have been in business for 8 years
  • Are among 9,000+ registered celebrants across the country
  • Are booked 9 months before the wedding
  • Spend 28% of their revenue on marketing and advertising (Josh: which is wild and well above the 5% industry norm)
  • Work 16 hours on each wedding
  • Respond to couple enquiries within 1 hour (42%) followed by within 24 hours (38%)
  • Are devoted 92% to weddings and 8% to funerals and other events
  • $874 is the average cost of a marriage celebrant (as interviewed by Easy Weddings) in Australia which is a 7% increase

Learn from WeddingWire’s annual report WeddingPro report

Learn from WeddingWire’s annual report WeddingPro report

The 2023 WeddingPro Benchmarking Report offers a comprehensive look into the current state of the American wedding industry, focusing on the challenges and strategies wedding professionals use to grow their businesses.

It’s important to note that this report is designed to reaffirm and encourage advertising and listing with Wedding Wire, but regardless, there’s always something to learn.

Here’s a summary, highlighting key points relevant to Australian wedding celebrants:

Challenges highlighted in the report

  • Experienced Professionals are better at converting new leads into bookings: The report found that experienced professionals tend to have higher conversion rates, so this indicates the importance of communicating your experience and your commitment to continual learning and professional development. “Pros with 10+ years of experience generate 28% of their business from referrals, while those with >4 years of experience see 19% of business being generated from referrals.”
  • Finding new customers continues to be a challenge: A universal challenge across the industry but especially for celebrants. 25% of leads are coming from enquiries, 23% from advertising, 18% from SEO/website, 13% from social media.

Take aways from the report

  • Importance of Presence: Having an online presence across various platforms is essential to build credibility and capture couples at different stages of their decision-making process. Most businesses surveyed had seven presences on different websites, and paid for two.
  • Impact of Reviews: Featuring reviews prominently boosts credibility. Encouraging couples to leave reviews is beneficial.
  • Understanding Lead Sources: Knowing where leads come from helps optimise strategies. Continuously asking couples how they found out about your service is crucial.
  • Quality over Quantity: When paying for advertising, the quality of leads is more important than volume. Target platforms where couples have a high intent to book.
  • Gen-Z and Social Media: With the rise of Gen-Z getting married, platforms like YouTube and TikTok are becoming more relevant. It’s important to adapt marketing strategies to include user-generated video content.

Actionable tips

  1. Focus on Conversion: Invest in education and strategies to improve your lead conversion rates.
  2. Enhance Online Presence: Ensure visibility across various online platforms, including wedding directories and social media plus your own website. Make sure the branding, logos, colours, messaging, is consistent and strong.
  3. Leverage Reviews: Encourage past clients to leave reviews to boost credibility.
  4. Understand Your Audience: Tailor your advertising and marketing efforts to target platforms where your ideal clients are most active.
  5. Evaluate Advertising ROI: Continuously assess the effectiveness of your advertising spend across different channels.
  6. Adapt to Changing Trends: Stay informed about emerging social media trends and preferences, especially as new generations start planning their weddings.

Download the report here.

On Sanebox, and how I learned to love my inbox again

On Sanebox, and how I learned to love my inbox again

I love my email inbox. That’s not something many people can say today. But I really do. I do my business there which provides for my family, plus I subscribe to so many interesting and important email letters there, so it’s a source of income, entertainment, and joy for me.

I am a certified weirdo.

But I have a secret: Sanebox. Sanebox is a service that I give access to my inbox and it manages all my email if I give it permission to do so. I’ve told Sanebox not to do anything unless I tell it to, and these are the Sanebox features I’m using to keep the sanity in my inbox:

  • Attachments: Sanebox will automatically take all the attachments to emails and save them to a cloud storage folder for me, helpful, but also keeping me beneath my email quota size.
  • Do Not Disturb: Sanebox can, either on a schedule, or when you tell it, move all incoming emails to a DoNotDisturb folder so your weekends, days off, or holidays can be left undisturbed, even if you check your email. After the designated period all the emails are moved back to your inbox.
  • Reminders of no reply: If I’ve emailed someone and they haven’t replied I get a reminder that they haven’t replied to me yet.
  • Reminders to action things: I can either CC or forward email to a SaneReminders email address to be reminded of that email later. For example, I’m meeting up with a wedding vendor friend in May because we’re both busy, so I CC’d [email protected]  in on the email I sent to them saying I’ll get in touch then, and that email will pop back into my inbox in eight weeks, reminding me to action that.
  • Reminders to myself: I’ll write emails to my future self, address them to email addresses like [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], or [email protected] to be reminded in 1 year, and at that time the email comes back to my inbox.
  • Snoozing email: I can create snooze folders in Sanebox that I can then move email in to, to be snoozed until that time, like a SaneTomorrow folder that I can just snooze things in til tomorrow.
  • Blackhole: Some companies, spammers, scammers and others don’t get the unsubscribe message. So if I never want to see an email from a certain company again, I move them to the SaneBlackHole folder and every email from them is moved there automatically, then deleted in 7 days.
  • Deep Clean: Sanebox can search for old email that’s filling up your email quota and use AI to help you reduce that data size.
  • SaneCC folder: Every email that’s not actually sent to me directly, but I’m CC’d in, all moved to a folder for me to review later.
  • News folder: I subscribe to a lot, so many, newsletters. I love them. I’m also an avid unsubscriber. But the newsletters I get are not urgent, they’re entertainment, to be read later. So SaneNews moves them to the SaneNews folder automatically, and things that aren’t newsletters, I move back to the inbox which trains Sanebox to know it’s important, not news.
  • SaneLater: I don’t use this feature but I know people love it. Sanebox detects emails it deems not important and moves them out of the inbox and into this folder.

Basically, Sanebox saved my life.

This Sanebox referral link gets you a $5 discount after a 14 day trial, plus it also gives me one free month, but you’re also welcome to skip the referral link by just visiting sanebox.com. I highly recommend for sanity and so you can fall in love with your inbox again.

Charissa and Scott got up real high in their wedding

Charissa and Scott got up real high in their wedding

In this episode of the Insights podcast episode – Insights level members can listen here – Josh interviews Charissa and Scott, who celebrated their marriage on August 1st, 2023, soaring above the Gold Coast in a hot air balloon, with Hampton Estate Wines as their plan B in case the hot air balloon couldn’t fly that day.

They share their journey from planning to the big day, emphasising the personal touch and genuine connection they felt with their celebrant, Graham Snow. The couple highlights the importance of trust, creativity, and the celebrant’s role in personalising the experience, making their day unforgettable. They also booked A Thousand Miles Photography for their wedding.

Listen to the podcast to find out how Charissa and Scott made their decisions and found their wedding vendors including their celebrant.

Action points from this episode

  1. Personal Connection: The couple’s experience underlines the importance of building a genuine connection with clients. Celebrants should prioritise getting to know the couple personally, understanding their story, and incorporating elements that reflect their personalities and journey together into the ceremony.
  2. Creative and Unique Offerings: Charissa and Scott’s choice of a hot air balloon wedding signifies a trend toward unique and memorable wedding experiences. Celebrants should explore and suggest creative ideas and venues that align with the couple’s vision and personality, differentiating their services in a competitive market.
  3. Flexibility and Adaptability: The logistics of a hot air balloon wedding highlight the need for celebrants to be flexible and adaptable, capable of managing and excelling in unconventional settings. This adaptability can be a selling point, showcasing the celebrant’s capability to handle diverse and challenging environments.
  4. Marketing Unique Experiences: Use social media and your website to showcase unique weddings you’ve officiated, like Charissa and Scott’s. Real stories resonate with potential clients and illustrate your versatility and creativity as a celebrant. Highlighting such experiences can attract couples looking for something beyond the traditional.
  5. Strengthen Online Presence with Testimonials: Encourage clients to share their experiences and testimonials, particularly those involving unique ceremonies. Positive reviews and stories from couples about how you contributed to making their day special can significantly enhance your online presence and credibility.
  6. Personal Branding Through Storytelling: Share stories and experiences from weddings you’ve officiated in your marketing materials and on social media. This storytelling approach not only showcases your services but also builds a brand that embodies uniqueness, creativity, and personal connection.
  7. Their Celebrant: The decision to engage Graham Snow as their celebrant was based on his reputation for creating personalised and meaningful ceremonies. The couple emphasised the importance of having a celebrant who could understand and reflect their story and values. Graham’s ability to connect with them on a personal level and his flexibility to accommodate their unique ceremony location were crucial factors.

Josh’s summary

Listeners to the episode will no doubt be surprised how much this couple used Easy Weddings for their wedding planning. Maybe it’s not the worst thing getting around?

Take payments directly on your phone – no card reader!

Take payments directly on your phone – no card reader!

A Celebrant Institute member was asking a question of us this week and mentioned taking payment in person. Sarah offered the correct advice that she might want to consider getting a Square card reader that you connect to your phone over Bluetooth so you can take credit card or debit card payments in person.

Which was great advice before May 2023, and I’d neglected to tell Celebrant Institute readers only because no-one asked and I do all my payments online using Stripe/Xero.

So here’s the news: As of last year you can accept “Tap To Pay” payments directly on your iPhone.

From the Apple press release:

New capability empowers local businesses to seamlessly and securely accept contactless payments, using only an iPhone and a partner-enabled iOS app.

Apple today introduced Tap to Pay on iPhone in Australia, empowering local businesses of any size to accept in-person contactless payments on iPhone. From small to medium-sized businesses — including tradies and market stall holders — to large retailers and hospitality groups, merchants in Australia can now use their iPhone to seamlessly and securely accept Apple Pay, contactless credit and debit cards,1 and other digital wallets using their iPhone and a partner-enabled iOS app — no additional hardware or payment terminal needed.

In Australia, contactless payments are ubiquitous. Now, with the introduction of Tap to Pay on iPhone, Australian businesses can accept contactless payments from wherever they do business. Merchants can enable Tap to Pay on iPhone through a supporting iOS app on an iPhone Xs or later device running iOS 16.4 or later. Once enabled, merchants will simply prompt customers to hold their iPhone or Apple Watch to pay with Apple Pay, their contactless credit or debit card, or other digital wallet near the merchant’s iPhone, and the payment will be securely completed using NFC technology. Tap to Pay on iPhone also supports PIN entry, which includes accessibility options.

And not to leave our Android friends out, the same technology exists for them as well.

So the short of it is:

  • You need a new-enough phone
  • With the latest software updates
  • and finally, a merchant app like Square’s, Westpac, NAB, or ANZ’s … and probably more to come as well.

The easiest way to access the technology is by installing the Square app on your phone – search in your app store – and if you sign up for Square using this referral link you get $1000 of transactions fee-free.

Once you’re installed and set up you can now transact using the technology built-in to your phone instead needing a separate card reader.

For more information:

 

Madelin and Jeremy’s Frogmore Creek wedding

Madelin and Jeremy’s Frogmore Creek wedding

Madelin and Jeremy had no idea how much Sue would cost but they were prepared to pay whatever Sue would cost because they were set on her without even knowing her fee.

In this Insights podcast interview, Madelin shares her journey towards marriage with Jeremy, from their engagement amidst the tumultuous times of 2021 to setting a wedding date for March 2025. We delve into the intricacies of their wedding planning, from venue selection to vendor choices, and how they chose Sue as their celebrant.

Listen to the podcast here.

Here’s some food for thought on Madelin’s feedback.

Enhance Online Visibility and Engagement

  • Utilise Instagram Effectively: Given Madelin’s extensive use of Instagram to research and select vendors, having a strong, engaging presence on this platform is crucial. Share images and stories that showcase your unique approach to ceremonies and personality.
  • Video Content: Incorporate videos that demonstrate how you conduct ceremonies, as this was a key factor in Madelin’s decision-making. Hearing and seeing a celebrant in action can significantly influence a couple’s choice.

Personalisation and Relationship Building

  • Tailored Ceremonies: Emphasise your ability to customise ceremonies. Madelin valued a celebrant who tailors ceremonies to the couple, indicating a strong demand for personalized services.
  • Warm and Inviting Personality: Project a warm, loving, and approachable image in all your communications and marketing materials. The personality of the celebrant played a big role in their selection process.

Strategic Collaborations and Recommendations

  • Vendor Lists and Recommendations: Being listed as a recommended celebrant by venues or other vendors can significantly increase your exposure. Seek opportunities for collaborations and cross-promotions.

Transparent and Competitive Pricing

  • Clear Pricing Information: Provide clear, transparent pricing information on your website and social media. Madelin was unaware of the typical costs for celebrant services, indicating that upfront pricing could help couples in their decision-making process.
  • Competitive Pricing Strategy: Offer competitive pricing while highlighting the value you bring to a wedding ceremony. The decision to choose a celebrant was influenced by a combination of cost, personality, and the ability to personalize the service.

Positive Online Reviews and Testimonials

  • Showcase Testimonials and Reviews: Actively collect and showcase positive testimonials from couples. Madelin did her research by looking at what other couples had to say about their celebrants on social media and Google.

Professional Branding and Presentation

  • Invest in Professional Branding: Your online and offline branding should reflect the quality and style of your services. The celebrant’s vibrant dressing and modern branding were appealing and memorable to Madelin.

Comprehensive Online Content

  • Content Diversity: Offer a mix of content that includes not just photos but also videos and testimonials on your website and social media. Madelin’s decision was heavily influenced by being able to see and hear the celebrant in action through video content.

Active Engagement in the Wedding Community

  • Community Engagement: Engage with the wedding community both online and offline. Madelin valued recommendations from the venue and the ability to see the celebrant in action at other weddings.

Implementing these strategies, directly informed by Madelin and Jeremy’s wedding planning experience, can help Australian marriage celebrants connect more effectively with potential clients, showcasing the unique value they offer to the wedding experience.

What return did I see from a $20k advertising investment last year?

What return did I see from a $20k advertising investment last year?

Last year I had to start again after taking a year off. After 15 years of making weddings I took a break. Covid’s affects on our businesses had ripped my heart out, parenting never takes a day off, being a husband is my most important work, and no-one was getting the best of me. I was dropping the ball in all areas of life, so I refunded a bunch of weddings, asked many of you to cover for me for others, and Britt and I packed up the family and went to Mexico, then the USA, hopped-skipped-jumped through Austria, France, Liechtenstein, England, Italy, and Singapore to eventually come home to the Gold Coast, and now Hobart.

I think its important to evaluate, and re-evaluate, all elements of life on a regular basis so basically putting my entire celebrancy practice on ice was a pretty harsh way of finding out I still loved the art of celebrancy, I just had a really rough 2020-2022 and my therapist is impressed I’m still smiling – he does think I have a self-deprecating sense of humour though.

2012’s marketing efforts

I say all that to say that my marketing efforts when I started the business had changed from when I really put my foot on the gas in 2012 to 2022 when I put the whole thing in the freezer. In 2012 I was on Easy Weddings and blogging like a madman, plus the field of celebrants was different to now. I left Easy Weddings when I didn’t need to pay for their service in 2015 because my brand had grown significantly over that year and by pure momentum and brand awareness I made enough bookings. Knowing that you can only milk a cow for so long I continued marketing efforts, they evolved to a longer-term branding effort, not necessarily a “please book me now, I’d like to make money today” kind of marketing.

Fast forward to 2023 and reach from branding was lovely, but I needed to push-start this car from the zero kilometres per hour it was going in the freezer.

2023’s marketing efforts

I knew that the industry had changed, the celebrant population had changed, and the couples booking weddings were not just different but they had different means and ways of identifying which celebrant was the best for them.

Trust the experts

Sitting in our beachside casa in Mexico’s Baja California Sur in March 2023, the week that we booked flights home for August that year, I decided to trust the experts. Particularly because I was physically and brand-wise absent from the market they were promising to sell into.

Which experts?

Ask anyone in the wedding industry and they’ll have a strong opinion – for or against – the blogs, directories, and magazines, that all want to send you an invoice for marketing.

But so few of us actually have skin in that game, so few of us have bitten the bullet, put our best foot forward, and run a campaign with Easy Weddings, Hello May, Celebrante, etc, so I thought I would.

Common wisdom in business says to market on Facebook, Instagram, and Google search ads. In March 2023 at least, I felt that entering a crowded room meant I was trying to access to last few breaths of oxygen in a room where the air was already thin, like advertising in Times Square, does anyone actually see you there?

Plus these wedding advertising companies are all making great promises in aid of our business goals:

  • Easy Weddings asks “are you looking to book more weddings?” with an invitation to inquire with them.
  • Hello May writes “should you choose to spend your carefully saved, (and hard-earned), advertising dollars with us you’ll know you will always be in good company” promising that you’ll be in the right lineup for the right crime.
  • Together Journal presents that in their magazine, “now is a great time to come on board and get your brand out there in front of couples for future wedding bookings.
  • Nouba says it’s “a valuable resource for couples to discover unique wedding vendors who they’ll truly love working with.
  • Wedding Diaries will help you “gain the confidence of Australian couples planning their wedding.
  • Wedlockers will “get (you) more recognition” while One Fine Day says it’s expos can make “magic happen.
  • Wedding Qld emailed me this week promising that their “team are experts in wedding advertising in Queensland and will work with you to tell engaged couples how amazing your business is!
  • Even the self-professed awarder of all the best awards in the country, ABIA, says that spending with them will help you “close more sales” because they “connect your business to thousands of newlyweds.
  • Celebrante is also willing to throw you some leads at $40 a pop!

There are a lot of tubes of toothpaste but as Colgate used to say do they do “exactly what it says on the tube”? Do these companies do what they say on the tin?

Return on investment

In the marketing world you talk in terms of ROI, return on investment. A 5:1 return on investment is an average, normal, expected ROI. 10:1 is great, 2:1 is bad.

So if you spend $10,000 on marketing, you might expect $50,000 of sales as a direct result of that effort.

I spent a lot of money, did I get the return on investment?

What did I do and why?

  • Easy Weddings – they look to be the big mama of the wedding marketing industry. I started with a lightweight listing, then I stepped things up and chose the highest package listed across all states – $1,650 a month for six months, in total, $12,988 for the past year.
  • Wedding Diaries – I’d never heard of them but they ranked well on Google (and after some communication, seem to be run by lovely people) – $500 a year.
  • thecelebrantdirectory.com – some listings are just good for SEO, that’s what I hoped this UK-based directory listing would bring. – $30 AUD a month
  • WedShed – I love the team there, they’re genuinely lovely people who make a good product filled with passion – $80 a month
  • Polka Dot Wedding – they’ve been doing the good work of writing about meaningful and awesome weddings since before I started and they’re also lovely humans – $90 a month
  • Junebug Weddings – another SEO play plus a hope to reach a broader international market and higher end market – $35 a month
  • Isle Weddings – coming home to Australia we knew we wanted to eventually move to Tasmania and my friend Nina runs this magazine and website – $135.
  • Together Journal – it’s a good looking magazine promising a high end of town that likes to fly to other places to get wed – $850 for the year.
  • The Bridal Journey – a friend recommended this website because it was delivering a good ROI for him as a wedding photographer and at the time they had zero celebrants – $3200 a year.
  • Three Best Rated – these guys run a simple website that seems to be a pure SEO play, at no cost, but you can spend $90 to say thank you and get a certificate. I’m a believer in putting my money where my mouth is so I spent the $90 and said thank you – $90.

I stopped advertising with a few sites before the 12 months was up, so let’s say it’s a $20,000 spend.

What were the results

Did I see $100,000 of revenue from that?

That’s a big simple no.

Sales I can directly attribute to those efforts total about $30,000 with another $20,000 of sales that are not directly linked to any of those efforts, but the benefits of branding can never be totally attributed. A common old-school saying in sales was that people needed seven touch points before closing a sale, one might be a billboard, another a magazine advert, then you might call them, have a meeting, send the email, et cetera, and the sale is made.

Many of the other websites delivered an average of zero to two website referrals a month. Wedding Diaries was the only one that delivered more than single digits each month.

I’m honestly embarrassed for many of the others that have seemingly built houses on sand. I can speak personally of Wedshed, the team there are investing heavily in bucking this trend and building the platform to be something usable and meaningful in the marketplace.

In preparation for this piece many of you got in touch corroborating my personal findings. Most of you have a similar story to me, and Grace, who said that “after 5 months being listed on Easy Weddings, I’ve received a total of 26 enquiries, and only one booking. Vast majority of enquiries ghost after their first message. From the few that do respond, several have said I’m out of their price range. So far I’ve invested $1100 at $220/month and am locked in for 12 months. Can’t wait to get out there!

I met with my Easy Weddings account manager last week, and in preparation for that meeting I went through every single enquiry in “WedCRM” and compiled these numbers:

  • for the past 12 months I’ve spent $12,988 with Easy Weddings and can directly report a $8,852 return in revenue from that spend.
  • the platform reports that my listing has had 117,627 views, which had converted into 2,818 storefront views (storefront being my profile/page), which in some way contributed to 156 enquiries in my inbox
  • I’m no wiser as to how many of those enquiries actually chose me directly or they came indirectly by Easy Weddings pumping the enquiries channel by getting enquiries through other celebrant storefronts which is a practice they engage in, but apparently less than 5% of enquiries are made that way.
  • 91% of my enquiries never even replied to my emails, text messages and calls.
  • I was a part of the new wedding packages program and zero packages were enquired about and sold.

So what now?

Well, now that I know that an investment is not returning good dividends, I take my money, time, and efforts elsewhere.

  1. The only directories I’m on today are on Wedding Diaries – those guys have done the work to rank well on Google, plus they link to my website (unlike Easy Weddings) – and I’ve made more money off my $500 Wedding Diaries spend than I have from my almost $13k Easy Weddings spend – and Wedshed, because they’re building something new and I trust them.
  2. I’m investing heavily into SEO because I’m in a new market in Hobart so it’s a whole new set of work. I do my own web and SEO work – if you’d like my help in that, get in touch.
  3. I’m also doing the hard work of connecting with every single venue and wedding planner in the region, building relationship – genuine relationship – making compromises and efforts to become someone they know and might recommend to the right people.
  4. Finally, here at the Celebrant Institute we’re launching a new tier of membership and a new podcast called Premium Insights where every week I’m going to be on the phone with real couples planning their real weddings asking them how they’re making their booking, buying, purchasing decisions. How did they meet their vendors, through what channels, and how did they ascertain trust and quality in their vendors. How does each social network, directory, magazine, affect their decision-making process, and what was it about their vendors that closed the deal?

Want to hear that podcast with real couples? Become a Premium Insights member today. $25 a month or get a month free when you sign up for a year. Existing members can upgrade by logging on to members.celebrant.institute and changing their plan.

The Photographer, The Dress, and The Celebrant

The Photographer, The Dress, and The Celebrant

One of our members sent in this incredible story today. With their permission I’m sharing it with you all (a) because they’re an incredible story teller and I think you’ll all enjoy it, and (b) because there’s learnings in there for all of us. First the story, then my response.

I performed my first wedding on Saturday.  The venue was a small historic chapel that’s now a wedding venue. Very beautiful. Everything went well and I was told afterwards that I was amazing and flawless, so that was good. But the experience gave me a huge “takeaway” that I now refer to as “The Photographer, The Dress, And Me”.

So I arrive 45 minutes early, psyched and ready to go. There had been no rehearsal, but that’s okay. I’ve rehearsed by myself over and over, I can do this. The coordinator greets me and shows me to a narrow platform, one step high, running the width of the chapel, at the end of the aisle. There’s a signing table and chairs at one side. An arrangement of plinths with floral displays across the back. I’m told that the couple, best man, bridesmaid, and I will all be standing on this narrow platform.  It doesn’t seem like a lot of space for five people, plus the signing table and the flowers.

Stretching across the back of  the narrow platform is another step leading to a larger space that spreads out beneath the stained glass window and which would hold all of us very comfortably. But that space is empty. I suppose it would be putting too much distance between the couple and their guests if it was used. Fair enough. Not to worry. All will be fine on the narrow platform.

Then the photographer approaches and asks if I would please stand to the side for the duration of the ceremony, so the focus is all on the couple. He doesn’t want a third wheel in his pictures. I see his point, so I agree. But I let him know that I’ll have to move into the couple’s space at a few points during the ceremony so they can speak into the microphone.  Yep, that’s fine, all good. So I decide to stand on the side that does not have the signing table. That way I’ll have more room. It’ll look more balanced. Everyone’s happy.

So I’m standing there, just a little to the side, as the music starts and the doors open. The bride comes in and wow! What a dress! It’s stunning. And it’s BIG.

Like, she-can’t-properly-get-through-the-chapel-doors-with-her-father, BIG. And it has a train. At first I’m struck by what a vision she is. But then as she comes closer, I’m struck by something else.

Logistics.

Will there be enough room on the narrow platform for The Dress?

The bride is helped up the step by her groom. They stand facing each other as the bridesmaid arranges The Dress and its train so it spreads out across the narrow platform. Right where I’m standing. I keep taking steps back but swathes of shimmering white are advancing like an incoming tide. I take more steps, trying to make more room. But there are plinths, and a wall, and a bridesmaid, and now I’m stuck in a corner, trapped by yards of silk chiffon.

What am I going to do?  Can people still see me? Do I look ridiculous wedged against the wall? I take a breath, move forward a couple of steps, and yes, everyone can see me. I’m a bit further back than I’d planned, but it’s going to be okay. I start speaking. All is going well. But now the couple are looking back at me, not at each other; the bride twisting her head over her shoulder so she can see me. With subtle eye movements I try to tell them to gaze into each other’s eyes, not mine.  At least, I think they’re subtle movements and hopefully I don’t look like one of those beannie toys with the googly eyes rolling around.

They eventually get the message, and look at each other, but now I’m starting to wish I wasn’t standing here. And as it approaches vow time, with the necessity for me to move into their space, the full impact of The Dress becomes clear.

I really am trapped. How do I get across to the bride and groom without stepping on The Dress? Do I climb up the next step and walk across the larger area at the back, and then climb back down again, pushing my way through the floral arrangements like I’m hacking through the jungle with a microphone? No. Instead I do a sort of sideways shuffle, squeezing between the plinths and the dress like an elegant crab, smiling warmly with every step. And there’s a ripple of soft laughter from the guests. Okay, good. They understand my predicament. They get it.

When the vows are finished, I decide to move to the other side of the narrow platform, and stand with the signing table and the best man while I finish the ceremony. Here I can breathe. Here I have space. But as I wind things up, my mind is racing. Did I look ridiculous? Was it awkward and clumsy? Have I spoilt everything? And…why did I not move as soon as I realised what was happening? Why did I still follow the photographer’s request when it became obvious that it would be problematic? I should have owned the situation more. Why didn’t I express my concerns to the coordinator when I arrived? Because I’m new and inexperienced, I know.

But also, because no-one could have anticipated The Dress.

So now I have learned three things from my first wedding which I will always remember:

Firstly, always ask about the size of the actual ceremony space – don’t assume just because I’ve seen a venue ahead of time that the space I’m shown is the space that will be used.

Secondly, listen to the photographer and coordinator but don’t let them dictate where I stand if I don’t think it will work. Speak up if I have concerns or questions.

And thirdly, and perhaps most importantly, always, always, ask about the size of The Dress.

Next wedding is in April.  You can be sure I’ll be asking all these questions in advance.

What a rollercoaster!

Here’s a few things I came up with that might help this celebrant in the future (other than those they’d already identified!)

I ran a lot of rehearsals in my early years, particularly in venues I’d never worked in before. It saved my bacon once in my first year when, like this celebrant, I discovered a tiny little stage that was definitely not going to fit the 2 groomsmen and 2 bridesmaids on either side of the couple as is tradition – one side was completely taken up with the signing table. We ended up with them all on one side, girls in front of boys, sort of staggered so the boys could be seen, and I stood in front of the table. I was much relieved to have discovered that at rehearsal where we could troubleshoot it and end up with the best solution, rather than discovering it on the day!

I would have asked the coordinator why the back space wasn’t being used – there may have been a reason, or it might simply be something nobody had thought of before. Sometimes in a space like that the couple will actually stand up on the back/top space with everyone else on the step, allowing a bit more room for the dress. At the very least, could the plinths with flowers and/or the table be shifted to the back space? Always feel free to challenge and ask questions about why something has been set up the way it has. Never worry about things like distance between couple and guests – that’s really not a drama.

It’s not okay for the photographer to dictate where we stand. It’s totally fine for them to ask us to be out of the way for the kiss, but everything else is up to us and the couple, and I know this celebrant will definitely build the confidence to stand their ground on that one. The wedding goes for, what, six hours? There’s plenty of time for the photographer to get photos just of the couple without anyone else in them. The half hour of the ceremony is ours to choreograph.

Now where the celebrant stands is an important discussion to have with your couple, especially if you’re not holding a rehearsal. Many celebrants offer their couples a choice, but I tend to tell them what I do and I’ve rarely had an argument. This article explains it all: https://celebrant.institute/ceremony/where-i-stand-during-the-ceremony-sarahs-view/

In terms of the bride craning over her shoulder to look at the celebrant, as you’ll see in that article I like the couple to face their guests for the first part of the ceremony. They can see everyone’s reactions, and they can see the celebrant more easily if they’re standing at the side. Plus staring at each other for 30 minutes is weird and awkward 🙂

Feel free to not be subtle when you’re telling the couple what to do during the ceremony. During my paragraph just before I pronounce them married, they’re facing each other holding hands and one or both of them will often try to look at me and I will literally say out loud “look at her, not at me!” It always gets a laugh, and works perfectly. I give my couples choreography instructions out loud all through the ceremony, and at the beginning when I’m making sure they’re in the middle of the aisle etc I’ll often say “yes, I’m very bossy!” which also gets a good laugh and breaks the ice a bit.

Above all, I suggested that this celebrant not beat themselves up. They were put in an untenable position by other vendors who frankly should know better. They didn’t own the situation more because it was their first wedding and they assumed the other vendors knew what they were talking about! It takes time to build the confidence to stand up to more experienced vendors, and I promise it will come with time.

I thought in all, the celebrant should be really pleased with themselves. They’re absolutely winning here – they got amazing feedback, and they’ve reflected and learned some great lessons. It’s all upwards from here!

Do you have any advice for this celebrant or others reading this?

Interstate online BDM systems

Interstate online BDM systems

Sutha asks:

I am registered in NSW, but will be getting a close friend married in Melbourne. Can I get access to BDM RIO? or is it limited to Victorian celebrants? A blog post about all the different electronic lodgement systems and who can have access to it will be very helpful to newbies like me.

Great question mainly because it’s simpler than it seems but some registry’s get weird about it.

As celebrants we have a federal authority to marry, that works across all state borders, and the Births, Deaths, and Marriages registries don’t get to choose which celebrants come into their state to marry, we’re allowed to and the BDM merely must receive and register the marriage.

I perform marriage ceremonies in all the states and I’m registered in all the online BDM systems where there is one, and the only two BDMs that raised an eye were Tasmania and Western Australia. Tasmania questioned me simply because I wasn’t on their register of celebrants so I pointed them to the AGD website. Western Australia said their system was for locals only, I replied with a friendly WTF, and they replied with an invitation to register for their online system.

So as of February 2024 here’s how you register marriages in each state and territory:

On paying for a NSW Official Certificate of Marriage

On paying for a NSW Official Certificate of Marriage

Sutha asks:

I used the electronic system LifeLink to complete all the forms and lodge the marriage. I received an email with the registration number. Is there anything else I need to do? Are there any payments that need to be made for the lodgement of the ceremony? I am not sure how useful this would be as a post idea, but I tried to look this up and couldn’t find any information about it. Even with my course, it had detailed everything up until lodging the marriage, but no information about the email receipt etc.

Each state BDM has its own way of dealing with ordering marriage certificates after marriage registration.

NSW’s online system, Lifelink, gives celebrants registering a marriage the opportunity to order a marriage certificate for the couple being married before the marriage is submitted, and for a short number of weeks after, you can order and pay for the certificate.

Is the registration ok?

Lifelink was a controversial project, first proposed in 2002, it cost almost $50 million to bring it to life, but one of the small blessings it brought was surety to celebrants that the marriage was registered properly, and then we could order certificates for our couples.

If you’ve received that confirmation email with the registration number and it says it’s fine, then it’s fine, they’ll let you know if it’s not.

Who pays for the certificate?

The text I’ve always been looking for is who is “allowed” to order a marriage certificate for the couple, like in Queensland for example the BDM is asking the couple to order and pay for their certificate, however in NSW and Victoria (sharing similar system code) the celebrant can order the certificate and then pay for it.

New South Wales Births, Deaths, and Marriages saysit’s much quicker for marriages registered online by your marriage celebrant. Check with your celebrant if they can apply for a marriage certificate for you.” Further on the website they continue their vague messaging with a “Celebrants may apply for certificates on behalf of the couple after they perform the ceremony. To apply for a marriage certificate order online when using eRegistry’s online portal, or mail the application form and fee to the Registry along with marriage paperwork to be lodged for registration.

In a December 2015 email the NSW BDM says of Lifelink: “You can order a registered marriage certificate online for your couples, which will be posted the next business day after registration.

So to read between the lines here the BDM in NSW is

  • fine with us ordering it and paying for it, and
  • they don’t say we can’t, so I charge my clients to cover the fee.
  • You also do not have to order your couple’s Official Certificate of Marriage, and there’s no advantage to shit-talking other celebrants that do or don’t order the OCM for people, and do or don’t charge, in case you were wondering 🙂
When can a celebrant marry a couple overseas and without a NOIM?

When can a celebrant marry a couple overseas and without a NOIM?

Did you know that in a very specific circumstance a certain kind of celebrant can marry a certain kind of couple in a country that isn’t Australia – and it’s all allowed by Australian law, plus it’s a valid Australian marriage?

Out of the current (2021) Guidelines on the Marriage Act 1961 for authorised celebrants you’ll find the answer on page 100:

The Marriage Act allows marriages to be solemnised overseas by, or in the presence of a, Defence Force chaplain (chaplain) or a Defence Force officer authorised by the Chief of the Defence Force (officer), in limited circumstances.

One party to the intended marriage must be a member of the Australian Defence Force. Part V of the Marriage Act only concerns marriages of members of the Defence Force overseas. (Previous provisions in Part V of the Marriage Act that enabled Australian consular officials to solemnise marriages were revoked on 1 January 1993.)

Defence Force chaplains and officers are authorised, under Part V of the Marriage Act, to solemnise marriages in overseas countries where at least one party is a member of the Defence Force. Part V of the Marriage Regulations deals with the solemnisation of marriages overseas.

For the purpose of Part V, an ‘overseas country’ means a country or place other than a part of the Queen’s dominions, and includes a vessel which is for the time being in the territorial waters of such a country or place. In time of war, ‘overseas country’ may be given an extended meaning to include a part of the Queen’s dominion that is occupied by a State at war with the Commonwealth.

An authorised celebrant cannot solemnise marriages outside Australia under the Marriage Act unless they are a chaplain or officer in the Defence Force (and one of the parties to the marriage is a member of the Defence Force).

No NOIM is required for a marriage solemnised by a chaplain or officer. The form of declaration as to conjugal status to be made by the parties is the same as that approved for marriages in Australia. The forms of marriage certificates are the same as those used for marriages in Australia. The provisions of Part Il (marriageable age and marriage of minors) of the Marriage Act do apply to marriages solemnised overseas by chaplains or officers.

For the rest of us wanting to do weddings overseas, we’ll do it like I do, legal paperwork in Australia before the trip, and a commitment/wedding-like ceremony overseas where we have no authority and the Marriage Act regulations don’t apply to us.

New “stuff” to include in your wedding ceremonies

New “stuff” to include in your wedding ceremonies

Karen asks:

I would like “new stuff” to include in my ceremonies. I am constantly trying to energise/refresh my writing and always focusing on making them better/different; I don’t want to be a Celebrant that just regurgitates the same old stuff and changes the couples names. That’s not my style from the moment I became a Celebrant. I d