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Ceremonies - Marriages

Creating the "right" wedding ceremony is a time-consuming undertaking. It needs careful planning and energy and it's going to need a celebrant that you feel comfortable and confident with, who can guide you through the maze of options available.

Congratulations!! You’re in the care of Jan Littlejohn, one of Australia’s most respected Celebrants.

You and your partner have decided to get married. It's a wonderful decision and your wedding day should be an occasion you will remember for the rest of your life. 

With a little planning, you will remember it as a day filled with joy, love and laughter BUT you will also want to remember a wedding ceremony which was yours, that reflected your own values, feelings and beliefs and not someone else's.  This is what Jan Littlejohn at “Ceremonies with StyleTM” will help you achieve!

Sounds simple doesn't it?

Think about it for a moment. You're going to have friends and family come and see you marry the love of your life and the most important part is that few minutes when everything goes quiet, you look into each others eyes and declare your love for each other in front of them all. You hold hands and make those vows - maybe there's a little moistness around the eye - and you hear the celebrant declare that you are husband and wife and ... you're married.
 

We can't thank you enough for being part of our wedding. You performed the most fantastic ceremony. Every guest commented on your work and said that it was by far, the best wedding ceremony they had been to. Thankyou once again for your amazing job and for all the help you gave us."
Vanessa and Matt

Marriage is a huge step for anyone.  It's the joining together, physically and emotionally of two individuals who have different backgrounds and histories, but whose desire to spend the rest of their lives in each other's company means it's time to take the next big step. So, you agree on a date, you agree on a place, you agree on a time and then you agree on a celebrant. If you have a religion you'll obviously get married in a church or temple or maybe a stone circle, but the chances are high you'll be looking for a civil celebrant.

As part of my service to you. I can provide an application form for your original certificate from Births Deaths and Marriages. I will submit the form on your behalf a the time I lodge your marriage documents. Current fee for a standard certificate is $42 (incl secure post)
 

Special Wedding Dates

CHRISTMAS…
NEW YEAR…
EASTER…
SPECIAL DAY 9/9/09…
VALENTINE'S DAY


The Celebrant

The chances are that your celebrant may have quite an influence on what you say and do during the ceremony. If you feel completely uninformed about what your options are before you talked to a celebrant, be that a civil celebrant or a religious one, you're in the company of hundreds of other couples facing the dilemma of Getting It Right On the Day!! Different couples have different and sometimes definite ideas about what they want on their wedding day, but some have no views at all and may know what they don't want rather than what they do.

There are only two elements essential to a legally binding wedding - Statement of the Marriage Act, the vows or promises you make to one another and the proclamation by the celebrant that you are now legally married. All the other elements are optional. You are only limited by your imagination and that of your celebrant!!!

There are very few items or services you would purchase or engage sight unseen, even in this e-age, so you have a right to ask your prospective celebrants to spend some time explaining their style and approach and, finally, their costs. There are a number of pricing arrangements, so Jan will help you understand the options and the exact costs for all of her services.

In summary then, you and your partner should:

§  Decide what kind of a wedding ceremony you want - traditional, fun, serious, informal or formal.

§  Decide what kind of atmosphere you want.

§  Shop around for a celebrant who you feel comfortable with and doesn't try to impose his or her tastes on you.

§  Be prepared to invest a little time planning what you want to say in your ceremony to each other and to your guests and what degree of participation you want from your celebrant.

And most importantly ... relax and enjoy your most special day!!!!!

We would like to thank you so much for making our wedding day so special, even with the rain moving us inside, your kind words made the ceremony amazing.   We are so happy that you could be part of our wedding day and you will always be in our hearts.
Paris and Geoff


Jan can help you with all of the advice and guidance with many aspects of your marriage ceremony, including:

§  Exactly what the Celebrant does
§  All legal paperwork and requirements
§  Readings and Poems
§  Vows
§  Music
§  Being “Given Away”
§  Rings
§  Your arrival
§  Witnesses
§  Weekday or Weekend weddings
§  Weddings for couples from Overseas (including Fiancé Visa Assistance)

Please note: Sydney city interviews are now available

Any questions?

Contact Jan with any questions you may have at any time.  For a large amount of Free Resources on getting married please visit the resources section or click here.

Thank you for being part of our day and for making the ceremony so beautiful. Everyone commented on how touching and genuine they thought the ceremony was. It was the perfect ceremony for us and you made us feel very calm and comfortable. You truly do love your job and it shows.  
Fiona and David


Renewal of Marriage Vows and Re-Affirmation Ceremonies


The years have gone by and you would like your husband or wife to know that your marriage is so special to you and take the time to reaffirm the vows you made on your wedding day.
You can follow the format of your original wedding, or create a service that suits the life you have had together, reflecting your family and the future.

Something Special for Your Photos

When conducting weddings on a boat or an Island …..I arrive in a beautiful fishing trawler…with a wedding ribbon draped across the front of the boat …..just to give it that extra special touch


Costs

Preparation and Presentation of Ceremony

$400

Lodgment of documents / Booking Fee
(to secure your desired date and time)

$300

Onsite Rehearsal by appointment only  
Simple budget ceremony for less than 12 guests  
Ask about special offer for weekday
(Monday - Thursday) weddings.

Fees can be paid by cash, cheque or direct debit. Water taxis or parking at Opera House.  A surcharge of $20.00 for inner City travel/parking.  

Weekend Ceremony (Friday - Sunday)

· Ceremony guide with extensive choice of vows, readings & music
· Unlimited Consultations
· Stationery costs and legal paperwork
· Telephone, mailing and faxing costs (within Australia)
· Time and travelling on your wedding day (unless exceeds 70km)
· Public Address (PA) & CD player with music of your choice
· Presentation copy of the marriage certificate
· Keepsake copy of your ceremony
· Name change kit
· Will kit

Fiancée Visa Letters & Overseas couples

For couples travelling for a Sydney wedding, I can arrange all or part of your wedding.
Including the registered copy of your marriage certificate and the stamp
enabling you to have your marriage registered in your home country
(not required by Commonwealth counties).
For fiancée (spouse) visas, I can assist in letters in preparation
for the Embassy application.
To call from outside Australia: Phone: 61 2 9999 1404 Mobile: 61 425 284 330
 

Ask about the

The Midweek Special (Monday -Thursday) Or
The Simple Budget (12 guests or less)


Celebrant's Fees Explained

I happy to  provide that "basic" type of ceremony, some couples perhaps if they're eloping this maybe all they are wanting. As you will both be caught up in the emotion of the day, may not remember much of the details afterwards, however your guests will.   

We can work together to really make the ceremony as unique and special as you are.

Being a full time professional celebrant Annual expenses incurred include -  running a home office, stationary, computer/software maintenance, updating my website, phone and mobile, car, advertising, membership of Professional Associations, professional indemnity insurance, compulsory legal paperwork and more

Each year every registered Celebrant is required to attend Ongoing Professional development lectures enabling you to keep up-to-date with professional performance and legal changes. To continually gain as much knowledge as possible I attend at least one Celebrant conference along with other OPD training or extra training I choose to do independently such as profession voice training and presentation skills.

As a professional celebrant the service I offer couples includes:

ü Being available to you between the first booking and the wedding (and afterwards if need be). There’s no such thing as a silly question. See if you can beat the record of 89 emails from a Bride!

ü If you live locally, meeting with you at least twice (if not more) to not only make sure your legal paperwork is completed properly, but to get an idea of what you want for your ceremony. If you're from out of town, we organise phone calls then meet a day or two before the wedding.

ü Providing you with a Ceremony tailored specially for you that you’re happy with. This includes composing your unique personal journey into an enjoyable ceremony, and takes time to collate and perfect.

ü Getting to know you a little - be it in person or by phone or email. We can then work together to co-create a Ceremony that reflects your personalities, be it after draft 2 or more.

ü Research into special requirements.

ü A rehearsal with the entire bridal party the week or day before the wedding (if requested), by appointment only.

ü Offering an extensive range of poetry, prose, ideas for those magic ceremony touches, and music which reflect you.

ü A good quality battery operated PA system complete with CD player, head microphone (recommended where there is over 25 guests), and free standing microphone for readers.
Your music for the processional (entering 2.5MIN), signing (6 minutes), and recessional (leaving). The music sets the theme, and its organisation and timing is very important.
Careful selection of my attire to fit in with both your colour theme and style.

ü Travelling to and from the wedding venue.

ü Arriving at least 20 minutes before the Ceremony to ensure chairs, tables flowers etc are in place, set up the PA in the best position, liaise with venue staff/musicians, etc.

ü Ensuring all official paperwork is in order and sent promptly to the appropriate Registry office.

ü Being covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance.

On average I would spend between 7 - 12 hours on each wedding.

You will also get a celebrant who spends a lot of time making sure you get everything right.
 

There are no short cuts to well prepared successful ceremonies.

A non refundable (if you cancel) deposit of $300 is required within 14 days of lodgement of your Notice of Intent in order to confirm and secure your desired date and time.
Most of the Celebrants in this area support each other, so should I be unavailable on your selected day through some unforseen emergency I'd be happy to try to find you an alternative Celebrant.

Please contact me to discuss your specific requirements.
 

Wedding Pamphlet

This small pamphlet titled "Happily Ever ... Before and After" is a compulsory handout to all couples intending to marry within Australia.

 

Changing Your Name

Some women who marry choose to change their surname to their husband's surname. This is done as a matter of custom and not of law.
A formal Change of Name conducted at the Registry is not required if you wish to take your husband's name. A Standard Marriage Certificate is usually sufficient evidence to have personal documentation, such as your driver's licence and passport changed to your married surname.

Some women however do wish to formally change their name with the Registry. It's simply a matter of choice.

If you decide to change your surname to your husband's name the Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) and the Passport Office need to view your official Standard Marriage Certificate issued by the Registry of Births Deaths & Marriages.

The RTA and Passports Office will not accept the Certificate of Marriage issued by the marriage celebrant on the day of the marriage, as it does not contain security features and can be easily reproduced. It also does not contain the full details of the parties to the marriage such as parents' names and dates of birth.

This policy, set by the RTA and the Passports Office, is to prevent the opportunity for drivers' licences and passports to be fraudulently obtained.

Please note that you should first check with the RTA Office and the Passports Office to determine their specific requirements.
 

 

 


"Marriage is the golden ring in a chain, whose beginning is a glance and
whose ending
is eternity”

Unknown

            

© Copyright 2006 All Rights Reserved Wedding Ceremonies with StyleTM



Jan Littlejohn, Civil Celebrant
Wedding Ceremonies with Style
Tel: 02 9999 1404 - Fax: 02 9999 2425
jan@ceremonieswithstyle.com.au - www.ceremonieswithstyle.com.au

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