South East Queensland Brides, there are so many amazing celebrants that I’ve worked with this year and I just wanted to share them with you. (I’ve also worked with Pastors and Priests and I’ll include them in here too). And Please note these celebrants generally travel from Northern NSW to the Sunshine Coast and out to Toowoomba and anywhere in between, just like I do with my weddings.
But firstly, what makes a good celebrant?
As a wedding photographer working with celebrants, your celebrant needs to be approachable. And this is exactly what I found with these wonderful celebrants – especially if they’re at the ceremony early before I arrive. They approach me, we chat about general things firstly (have a few laughts) and then discuss about how the ceremony is going to run. I’ll ask questions about where they are happy for me to stand or move around (sometimes in churches this isn’t always the case, as the church has certain rules about where you can stand to take photos – make sure you ask your priest / pastor about this). And they will advise when the first kiss is going to be. Some couples kiss before they’ve signed the legal documents, others kiss afterwards, please check this with your celebrant too!
Here are my wonderful celebrants I’ve worked with for 2019
Leanne Booker – “Unique and personal ceremonies – that’s my promise to you” https://www.leannebookercelebrant.com/
I had the pleasure of working with the lovely Leanne twice this year. Leanne actually knew both of my brides previously before their weddings, so both of my couples were super relaxed with knowing Leanne was was right beside them).
Natalie Enlund – The Celebrant Co – Modern & Unique Ceremonies – https://www.thecelebrantco.com/
This was the first time I had met Natalie and she was so sweet and friendly. Due to the room set up, Natalie advised she would be standing at the side of the room, so the bridal party had enough space and we would have lighting through the window- which was really lovely of her to do.
Ben Breitenstein – https://www.bb-mc.com.au/
Ben and I first met in 2014 at another Brisbane wedding, so it’s always nice to catch up with a familiar face. Ben was the perfect celebrant for N&F’s wedding.
Michael Breikreutz – Elite Celebrant – “The face of modern Marriage Celebrancy” – https://www.elitecelebrant.com/
Michael is definitely the entertainer (thanks to his amazing entertainment industry background) and conducted this wonderful elopement at Versace. Very fun and outgoing and proudly supports the LGTBQIS community.
Janet Granzien – Unicorm Celebrations – https://www.facebook.com/RamsRoxyRosco/
Janet is such a kind soul, she will do anything to make sure your ceremony is perfect.
Father Geoffrey (Parish Priest) Petrie Catholic Parish – but did this ceremony at Dayboro for K&M’s wedding.
What a lovely and friendly Priest! Father Geoffrey welcomed everyone with open arms.
Suzanne Sabolec – Celebrant Suzanne – “Your Ceremony, Your Way: http://www.celebrantsuzanne.com.au/
Sue is such a lovely lady – we had some windy weather to contend with, but Sue didn’t miss a beat! Sue is based on the Gold Coast.
Alana Salm – Marriage Celebrant, Professional Party Starter – https://alanasalmweddings.com.au/
Alana, the party starter! Yes she is! She’s fun, authentic and you won’t get bored at her ceremonies!
Angela Galantai – No Fuss Marriages – http://nofussmarriages.com.au/
Angela is another beautiful Brisbane celebrant, based at Bardon, who I’ve had the pleasure of working with before (back in 2015). Professional, kind and caring, it’s always lovely working with Angela.
Pastor Mark, Henzells Church Mt Pleasant
Jacki Derrick, Married by Jacki – https://www.marriedbyjacki.com/
From the moment I met Jacki, I knew this was going to be a fun ceremony! Jacki is so open and friendly, she will settle anyone’s nerves!! And did you know Jacki used to be a trivia host – she she knows how to work a room!
Lizzie Maynard – https://mycelebrant.net.au/
Lizzie officiates ceremonies differently and tells it like it is. Such a lovely lady who is so easy going and friendly.
Kathy, Sunshine Coast Celebrant
Kathy has known the bride since she was born – how special is that! Unfortunately I don’t have any details for Kathy, but I’ll try get them to add. She’s a very professional and friendly lady, and will also help calms those nerves.
Renee Wilkins Civil Celebrant – https://reneewilkins.com.au
Now in the 10 years I’ve been a wedding photographer, and the 11 years Renee has been working as a celebrant, we’ve actually never worked on a wedding together (we’re working on that aren’t we Renee!) But I did do a personal branding photoshoot of Renee a little while back, and she is professional, super organised, fun and friendly! So I wanted to add Renee to my list of amazing wedding celebrants that I’ve worked with this year!
What else do Celebrants do?
It shows when the celebrant has really gotten to know their couple, and when the bride and groom know they’ve chosen the right Celebrant! They’re punctual, have their PA system set up and have organised a table and chairs for the signing of your certificates, have a fantastic personality (and this doesn’t mean loud and out there, it can mean communicating well with with your guests and set the right ambience for your ceremony).
These amazing celebrants will also help to calm the groom and groomsmen’s nerves and await for you to arrive. They will generally have a beaming smile when you walk down the aisle, which also calms your nerves, but of course seeing your groom does that too!
A great celebrant affords you the luxury of being able to relax and enjoy your ceremony – which makes your guests have a good time too.
Not only should your wedding celebrant be there to support and celebrate with you, there are also many hours of behind-the-scenes planning and paperwork involved before the ceremony. This means your chosen celebrant will need to be highly organised, confident, knowledgeable and detail-oriented.
Choosing a wedding celebrant is a highly personal decision, and not one to be taken lightly. Every celebrant will have their own unique personality and perspective on marriage, so take your time to find the celebrant that best identifies with you and how you imagine the day unfolding.
And my best tip: go with your gut, if it feels right, it probably is!