Question 1

What is a celebrant, and what do you do?

Accepted Answer

As a celebrant, my job is to create and officiate meaningful ceremonies for all of life’s milestones—whether it’s a wedding, vow renewal, baby naming, or a commitment ceremony. I work with you to design a personalised, heartfelt ceremony that reflects your unique story and beliefs.

Question 2

You say that you are a wedding celebrant - what is the significance of that?

Accepted Answer

For your marriage to be legally solemnized and registered in Australia, your wedding needs to be conducted by an authorised wedding celebrant. 
I am a Commonwealth registered civil marriage celebrant, so I am legally registered to officiate and ensure your ceremony complies with Australian law. 
You can confirm the registration of any marriage celebrant here.(https://marriage.ag.gov.au/commonwealthcelebrants/all)

Question 3

Why should I choose you as my celebrant?

Accepted Answer

Most importantly for couples who are planning  a wedding, I am a commonwealth registered civil marriage celebrant, so I am legally able to solemnize marriages in Australia.

No matter what type of ceremony you are planning, choosing me means you’ll have a a completely personalized ceremony, free from the constraints of religious or traditional practices (unless you choose otherwise). You’ll have the freedom to tailor the ceremony to your personality, values, and style.

Question 4

What types of ceremonies do you officiate?

Accepted Answer

I officiate a wide range of ceremonies, including:

• Weddings 
 • Vow renewals/Commitment ceremonies
 • Baby naming ceremonies
 • Other significant life events

You can see further details of all of the ceremonies that I offer under the "Ceremonies" menu.

If you have a special ceremony idea in mind, don’t hesitate to ask! I’m happy to work with you to create something unique.

Question 5

What if I want a ceremony in a special location?

Accepted Answer

I’m happy to officiate ceremonies at the location of your choice—whether it’s at a beach, park, your home, or even a unique venue. We’ll make sure the space is appropriate for the ceremony and discuss any legal requirements.

**Please note that travel costs will be added for locations that are outside a 50km radius from Sydney's inner west. These will be incorporated into the fee and included in the service agreement once the location is advised.

Question 6

Do you offer custom ceremonies?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely! I believe that your ceremony should reflect who you are as individuals or as a couple. Whether you want something intimate, fun, spiritual, or humorous, I’m here to craft a ceremony that truly represents your values, story, and vision.

Question 7

Can I book you online?

Accepted Answer

Because ceremonies are such a personal thing, I prefer to have a chat and have a short face to face introductory meeting before a booking is made.
Just get in touch with me via my contact form, email, or phone to see if I am available on the date of your event.
From there, we’ll arrange a time to meet and discuss your ceremony vision - it is important that you feel that we are the right fit and are comfortable with me before you make your decision.

**Following our introductory meeting, I will keep the date of your event free for 2 weeks to give you time to make your decision.

Question 8

When do I need to book a celebrant?

Accepted Answer

This depends on the type of ceremony you are planning and whether you are after a completely custom made ceremony.

Ideally, as soon a you have locked in the date and secured the venue, you should be booking your celebrant.

Important Note:
For weddings, you are legally required to complete a Notice of Intended Marriage at least 30 days before your wedding (see more in Legal Requirements).

Question 9

What do I need to do before the ceremony?

Accepted Answer

For weddings, you’ll need to complete a Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM) form at least one month before your ceremony. I can guide you through the process and help you get everything in order. For other ceremonies, we’ll discuss what paperwork or preparations might be needed based on your event.

Question 10

How long will the ceremony be?

Accepted Answer

This depends on the type of ceremony you are planning and how much of your story you want to include.

Aside from the legal requirements within a wedding ceremony, all other types of ceremonies can be as long or as short as you want them to be!

Weddings usually range from 20-30 minutes, but this is all dependent on what inclusions you would like (ie special rituals, extra readings).

The beauty of having a custom ceremony created for you is that you can choose how long you would like it to be!

Question 11

Can we personalise the ceremony?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely! Personalisation is one of my favourite parts of the job. From custom vows to special readings, rituals, and music, I’ll work with you to make your ceremony truly unique. We’ll chat about your preferences, and I’ll incorporate your ideas into the script.

Question 12

Can we include family and friends in the ceremony?

Accepted Answer

Of course! Many people want to involve their loved ones in the ceremony, and I encourage it. Whether you want family members to give readings, perform a special ritual, or simply share in the moment, I’ll help incorporate them in a way that feels comfortable and meaningful.

Question 13

What if we have a specific theme or idea in mind?

Accepted Answer

I love hearing about creative themes and unique ideas! Whether you want a themed ceremony, a surprise element, or an unconventional twist, I’m happy to bring your vision to life. Let’s chat about what you’re imagining!

Question 14

Do I need to do a rehearsal?

Accepted Answer

Rehearsals are a great way to ease any nerves and ensure everything runs smoothly. While they’re not always necessary, I recommend a rehearsal for weddings and larger ceremonies. I can guide you through the process, and we can schedule it at a convenient time before your big day.

Question 15

How do you make sure the ceremony is legal?

Accepted Answer

For weddings, I’ll take care of all the legal requirements. This includes lodging the Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM) form, ensuring everything is in order for your legal marriage, and submitting your marriage certificate after the ceremony. For other ceremonies, there’s no legal paperwork involved unless you choose to make it so.

Question 16

What happens after the ceremony?

Accepted Answer

After the ceremony, I’ll handle all the official paperwork, especially for weddings, to ensure your marriage is registered correctly. You’ll receive a decorative marriage certificate from me after the ceremony and I will also provide you with the details of how to request your official Marriage Certificate from Births, Deaths and Marriages (I don't order these documents for you as it is best that you request the official documents once you are back from any honeymoon to ensure you are there for delivery).

For other ceremonies, I’ll provide a decorative certificate of your special occasion (if requested) and make sure you have any necessary follow-up materials that have been agreed upon. There are not usually any legal documents that are required for other ceremony types.

JK CEREMONIES

SYDNEY BASED CELEBRANCY SERVICE

Frequently Asked Questions