Some couples who book Cherish Ceremonies to be their wedding celebrant want the full formal, traditional or elaborate wedding, while others, for many reasons prefer the idea of doing what’s legally required and moving on as a happily married couple. So if you are after the simplicity and affordability of a “Kiss and Go” type wedding this is what’s required.

Firstly you have to get a “Notice of Intended Marriage” or “NOIM” form signed with your celebrant. To complete this form your marriage celebrant will need to see your original birth certificate or passport and a form of photo ID like a drivers license. If you have been previously married, then you will also need to show the court document confirming dissolution. If you have changed your name, you need evidence of this. You can also complete the statutory declaration of no legal impediment when you sign your “NOIM”. Don’t worry your celebrant will have all the documents and how to complete them and will complete the necessary legal paperwork for you. You just have to sign in the appropriate locations to make it all official.

Then you wait…….. 31 days and then you can be married. YAY!

On your “wedding day”, you meet with your celebrant and 2 witnesses (over 18 years old – can be anyone at all) at any location within Australia. A “Kiss & Go” wedding is usually performed at the celebrant’s home or office. Then the legally required words must be said.

The celebrant must say:

“I am duly authorised by law to solemnize marriages according to law.

Before you are joined in marriage in my presence and in the presence of these witnesses, I am to remind you of the solemn/serious and binding nature of the relationship into which you are now about to enter.

Marriage according to law in Australia, is the union of a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life.”

then….

Both the bride and the groom must say the legal vow line. You can add more too this line if you like, however, the minimum legally required words are:

“I call upon the people here present to witness that I [legal first name, and middle name &/or surname], take you [legal first name, and middle name &/or surname], to be my lawfully wedded wife/husband.”

and then the celebrant must “declare you married” or “declare you husband & wife”.

After these legally required words are spoken by each of the parties, we need to sign the legal paperwork. For this we need the bridegroom, the bride, the two witnesses (anyone who is over 18 years old and who witnessed the words spoken and signatures of the bride and groom) and the celebrant. So their are three documents at this stage that need to be signed by all 5 people:

1. The Marriage Register (Big red book that belongs to the celebrant with all of their weddings in it)
2.  The Official Certificate of Marriage (form that gets submitted by the celebrant to Births, Deaths & Marriages)
3. The Certificate of Marriage (pretty certificate that the couple get to keep on the day of the wedding)

Once the above documents have been signed and witnessed you are married! It really is that quick and easy! If you decide to have the kiss and go style wedding you will find the signing of the documents takes longer than the actual wedding. This option is a fantastic idea for anyone who wants to take all of the stress and additional expense away from getting married in Australia. Imagine how much money you would save by not having an expensive formal gown, multiple bouquets of flowers, a wedding cake, fancy transport to the wedding, an expensive venue hire cost, bonbonniere, DJ/ musician, MC and reception.

If you would like to arrange a minimum legally required wedding in the style of “Kiss and Go” in South East Queensland, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Logan or surrounding areas, then give us at Cherish Ceremonies a call, text, email or whatever suits you and we can make this easy wedding happen for you and your fiance. In just 31 days and with no fuss and just the celebrant costs to pay, you will have arranged the cheapest, easiest wedding you can have!

Contact Us

[email protected]

Phone: 07 38073025 or 0403582667

Cherish Ceremonies

Creating Memories to Cherish Forever! 

The soundtrack to your wedding is one of the most important factors other than the wording and presentation of the ceremony, that creates a mood, evokes emotion and memories and excites the soul. Music speaks to everyone and can say a lot about the couple getting married, how they feel about each other and sometimes tell a story about the relationship and the unique journey the couple are on together.

Shakespeare wrote, “If music be the food of love, play on”.

The right choice of soundtrack can add so much to your special day as it creates the feeling and atmosphere for your ceremony and celebration. The same goes with having the wrong music at your wedding. I once went to a wedding where some of the music was really inappropriate with themes about breaking up and having affairs…. eeeeek it was awkward!

There’s so much music out there so Cherish Ceremonies have prepared this handy list of wedding appropriate songs and music to inspire you. We have arranged them by genre or type to make your choices easier for you. There is music listed from Classical to Jazz, Modern Pop Songs, Old School Love Ballads, Rock and R&B, Boy Bands to Alternative. Sometimes people choose ‘their” song, but if you don’t have one, or it’s not appropriate for your wedding song, here is a magnificent list to suit all tastes. Most are available to listen to on You Tube. www.youtube.com

So here’s what you are looking for:

For a standard wedding, commitment or renewal of vows you will generally need to have about 4 special songs. One song  for the walking in (Bridal Processional), two songs for the signing of the certificates and one song for walking out (Bridal Recessional) or the end of the ceremony. You will also want to think about pre-ceremony music (usually about 30-45minutes) and music for the reception or celebration after the ceremony.

We recommend couples create a playlist (iTunes or similar) or multiple playlists. Of course you may choose to hire professional musicians to perform your special wedding songs. Cherish Ceremonies celebrants Lynette and Tamzin both have portable PA systems with internal rechargeable batteries that will play your music for you. Making it so easy for you to make your wedding playlist of songs that you would like to be the soundtrack to your wedding day!
Some couples will plan their music like this:

1. Pre Ceremony Music: 30-45 minutes of music that is subtle and enjoyable

2. Ceremony Music: Processional: 1 song – A beautiful love song or piece of music, Signing: 2 Songs – about love or just that you love, Recessional: 1 song – celebration happy song about love.

3. Reception music. Some people break this down into: Drinks music/ Bridal party entering the room or venue/ Pre meal music/ eating music/ fun dancing music/ bridal waltz

So we hope this helps you plan the soundtrack to your wedding day and all the best for the most amazing day of your life!

BTW – if you have any suggestions for songs we have missed we would love to hear from you, just email: [email protected] or comment below 🙂

Have fun listening, we did.

[Read more…]

Being a marriage celebrant is a wonderful, beautiful and love filled job. We get to witness so many moments of love, happiness and togetherness with family and friends.

There are so many reasons why we love being wedding celebrants. When I think most about my favourite moment in a wedding, I have to say it is the “look of love”! That first moment when a groom sees his bride walking down the aisle and a bride sees her groom standing there waiting for her (or of course when a bride sees her bride, or a groom sees his groom)!

Now I’m not in any way fixed on the traditional format to a wedding ceremony, I love it when couples walk down the aisle together as equals and adults coming together, already united, or any other way, I just love weddings between any two people in love.

The look of love is a magical moment; I just love the way the couple see each other for the first time for the day and they smile and at each other, their eyes filled with all the strongest emotions, love, fear and happiness. They are breathless for just that moment and their bodies are filled with adrenaline and excitement. It doesn’t matter what colour the flowers are or any of the other stuff it’s just all about the strong bond and connection between two people in love. That is the moment I always look for and makes me so excited to be performing the wedding ceremony for the couple on one of the most important days of their life.

Tell us about your “look of love” moment or any magical wedding moment. We’d love to hear from you!

Cherish Ceremonies provide personally prepared ceremonies, professionally performed, creating moments to Cherish forever.

To arrange an appointment or make a booking contact us here.

Cheers,

Celebrant Tamzin

🙂

HAIRDRESSER, MAKEUP & PHOTOGRAPHER

When arranging your appointments with wedding Hairdressers & Makeup, its a great idea to get the Bride gets done FIRST. This will enable you to be first dressed and ready for any photographs and to relax a little when the Photographer and Video Operator arrive. Also if anyone’s make up and hair has to be rushed it certainly should not be the bride’s!

Please ensure the photographer understands that the wedding commences on time, This means that you and all the Bridal party have to be ready earlier, and the photographer arrives with plenty of time to take preparation and arrival photographs.

Schedule to arrive at the venue punctually, or several minutes before. Allow extra time for the traffic if the wedding is scheduled for a Saturday morning. When arriving at the ceremony allow at least 5 minutes for photos with your limo, vintage car or horse drawn carriage! 😉 Also, organising your entry can take a few minutes too.  It is better to have ample time for photographs on arrival than be rushed. You can always ‘circle the block’ if too early! Lol

If you would like to have a Cherish Ceremonies Celebrant perform your wedding click here

www.cherishceremonies.com

Kyle and Amanda’s wedding was out of this world!

Gorgeously styled in a mix of vintage, retro, natural glamour, a subtle hint of superhero all set to the colourful and fun backdrop of Aussie World on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland.

Cherish Celebrant Tamzin performed the wedding ceremony and  here’s a few pics (thanks to Ruth Ryan Photography) from this wonderful happy wedding!

The Groom: The man of steel

The cutest flowergirls!

Proud Dad giving his daughter away! [Read more…]

It was the morning after the storm! The biggest flash flood seen in Brisbane since sometime in the 1800’s! The sun was shining, the birds were chirping and the Rotunda at New Farm Park was looking glorious!

An intimate group of family and very close friends gathered in excitement as the Groom welcomed everyone, making jokes, looking suave in Navy Blue and showing off his Batman cuff links that were given to him by his mum!

The bride also wore navy blue and looked stunning in her modern take on a vintage lace gown. Massive science and space fans their vows spoke of infinite out of this world love.
Here’s a small sample (with minor editing for privacy) from some of the most amazingly beautiful, heartfelt wedding vows I have ever heard:

” My sweetheart, my love, my reason to smile every day, my everything. I was given the impossible task of having to express my love to you. Impossible because I cannot find the right words? No. Impossible, because there is not a single adjective in any language which could even come close to explaining how I feel about you.”

…… and [Read more…]