Q: How do we get married?

A: To get married in Australia, you and your partner need to be over the age of 18 (or have a court order allowing you to marry if you’re 16 to 18 years old) and you cannot be related to each other. You will need to lodge a Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM) form with me at least one month before the wedding and no earlier than 18 months to your ceremony date. I will guide you through the process, including legal requirements and necessary documents and then we can move on to the fun part – planning your ceremony.

Q: Do I need a celebrant?

A: Yes, by law in accordance with the Commonwealth Marriage Act 1961, the authorised marriage celebrant must be present to conduct the marriage ceremony where vows are exchanged. This needs to be done in the presence of two witnesses over the age of 18 years.

Q: Do you help with our personal vows?

A: Absolutely. Coming up with something to say to your partner in front of a crowd isn’t always easy. Writing your thoughts on paper doesn’t always come naturally. I will guide you every step of the way and you’ll have plenty of tips and inspo to get you started. I always ask my couples to share their vows with me at least four weeks before the wedding. I can ensure it flows with the ceremony script and it is seamless.

Q: Do you offer a rehearsal?

A: Yes. Not all celebrants do this but I am all for them, if you are. It helps to know exactly how things will work, timing and any kinks we need to iron out. It can be just you, your other half and anyone else that will have a role to play in your ceremony. I recommend doing this in the week leading up to the big event.

Q: Do you provide a PA system?

A: Yes and it’s the best of the best. You are also welcome to use it for your ceremony to play music. My PA system will play with any device with a jack input (phone or iPad).

Q: How much do you charge?

A: Like love, each couple and their ceremony is different with many variables. I prefer to provide a quote for each ceremony after having a chat about what you’re after. That said, having an idea is important and my prices are somewhere in the middle. I would charge between $550 to $850 and you can see the various options here.

Q: How can we book you?

A: You can get in touch via my contact form or send me an email – Mahesha.desilva80@gmail.com We can arrange a time to meet up for a coffee where we can vibe. If you’d like to go ahead, you pay a deposit (50% of the ceremony fee) to lock me in. Once that is done, your date is locked in and the magic begins.