The most important part of getting married is having someone there to do the actual marrying, so thankfully, you've come to the right place. A minimum of one month notice is required for your Notice of Intended Marriage, which means it must be completed, signed and witnessed by an authorised witness (which is usually your celebrant) and lodged with your celebrant, in person or via email, no later than one month prior to your wedding day. As a part of this process, your celebrant will need to see evidence of your date and place of birth (a birth certificate or passport) and evidence of your identity (passport or drivers licence). If you've been married before, you'll also need to provide evidence of your previous marriage ending - this can either be a divorce certificate or death certificate, depending on your personal circumstances.

I am registered to solemnise marriages Australia-wide, and I LOVE a good adventure. I include 150 kilometres of return travel from Grafton, and mainly service Grafton, Yamba and Coffs Harbour, but I'm open to anything! I spent my first three years as a celebrant based in Inverell, travelling all over the New England, North West and North Coast, servicing Inverell, Glen Innes, Armidale, Tamworth, Moree, Pallamallawa, Goondiwindi, Grafton, Coffs Harbour and Bellingen, with a couple of destination weddings in Pokolbin and Berrima to boot! You don't know if you don't ask, so shoot me a message and let's see if we can make your destination wedding work for us both! Uluru & Kata Tjuta, Mount Kosciuszko and Tasmania are all on my marriage celebrant bucket list *hint hint*

I sure do! In fact, I have a top-of-the-line BOSE S1 Pro. I can't say I was ever much of a sound gal before becoming a celebrant, but it honestly makes or breaks a ceremony. Clear, crisp sound is not just important for you, but for your guests too.

Well, that all depends how much you like Parkrun, squash, Saturday morning coffee or a cheeky bevvie after the Bent Bridge Run on a Wednesday afternoon. I move in similar circles to many of my couples, but even if we don't bump into each other around town, we will still get to know each other very well throughout the planning process. I like to think we're legitimately friends by the time I officiate your wedding. We will chat about the booking process over FaceTime or phone call, email and message back and forth and meet in real life at least once before your big day. In the weeks leading up to your wedding, we'll catch up for a FaceTime or video chat to run through your ceremony, and I will see you both on the day of your wedding before everything kicks off. I offer unlimited contact throughout the planning process which means you are free to message, email or call anytime, and I will always get back to you.

Yes... after your wedding. Just like Shakespeare, my ceremonies are written to be performed, not read. I always give you the option of a sneak peek into how your ceremony - especially your love story - will sound when we meet up to plan your ceremony, and I will always check key details such as wedding party introductions or acknowledgement of family and friends who cannot be there on your wedding day, but I do not share full scripts prior to the day. Trust me, it's for your own enjoyment.

I can... if you are having less than 20 guests. Most weddings require me to use my microphone, and I simply do not have enough hands to run the ceremony and DJ at the same time. It is always much smoother to assign a trusted friend or family member to play your music on the day - pick someone you know will be paying attention to the ceremony, can follow instructions and can fade music in and out as required. Make sure you share your playlist and get your friend or family member to download the songs on their own device prior to the ceremony, as mobile reception can be a little sketchy at different venues. I'll introduce myself, connect them to my PA and run them through their cues on the day.

You betcha! I am an English teacher 'by trade' and absolutely FROTH helping you write your own vows. It's one of my favourite things! I provide everything you need to get started, including ideas, information, examples and writing prompts. In the month before your wedding day, we'll work closely together to craft and refine your vows with personal promises for your future together as a couple.

By law, you are required to say one single sentence - your legal vows - as a part of your ceremony. These legal vows have strict legal wording that must be followed and said, by you, in front of me and your witnesses. They are sometimes included in your personal vows, which you write for each other, but not always. If you don't want to write personal vows, we can include your legal vows as a part of your ring exchange, or we can do your legal wedding ceremony with your witnesses, completely separate from the rest of your guests. There are lots of different options, and it's my job to work with you to find the best one for you.

Kids and animals can be SO much fun to include in your ceremony. If you have little people or pets in your life, then I have lots of tried-and-tested ideas for including them in your special day. The key to working with children and animals is to be flexible - nothing will ever go to plan, and that's okay! We roll with it.

Generally speaking, no. Most couples don't need a rehearsal because everything happens exactly as it should on the day. In saying that, some couples do like to run through their ceremony with their wedding party, usually the afternoon before the wedding. This can be a great way to make sure everyone knows what to do and where to stand on the day, and it can also alleviate some of your pre-wedding jitters. I send all couples a pre-ceremony checklist of things to practice and run-through in the lead-up to your wedding day. I can also attend a rehearsal, subject to my availability, for an additional fee of $100 + travel.

It's completely normal to be nervous in the lead-up to your wedding day, which is why it is so important to choose vendors that you know, love and trust. In particular, having a celebrant up there with you who feels like a friend, is the best thing you could do to ease your wedding day jitters. Aside from a rehearsal, I'd also suggest thinking about including a First Look in your wedding day timeline. It can really help to have a quiet moment with your partner for some photos together before the flurry of emotions that come with your ceremony. Vows are often the most emotional part of the ceremony, and the best way to prepare for those is to practise - read them before bed, practise in front of a mirror or record them as a voice memo on your phone. The more you say and hear them, the better you'll keep it together on the day - trust me!

One of my favourite weddings was a full-day wedding festival in which the couple's two closest friends delivered their love story and I was just there for 'the legal bits'. The ceremony flowed straight into lunch with flowed into afternoon tea which flowed into cocktail hour which flowed into dinner which flowed into dancing... you get the picture. They had a clear vision for something fun and unconventional, right from the very start, and I worked with them and their friends to deliver a memorable ceremony that everyone loved. Another idea that I really loved was when one of my couples not only did a First Look, but also got all of their bridal party photos taken prior to the ceremony, so the newlyweds could maximise their time celebrating with their family and friends. They snuck off for some bridal portraits at sunset, but their wedding party got to stay and enjoy drinks and nibbles with their partners and friends, and the newlyweds got to enjoy some quiet alone time to enjoy that just married feeling.

Aside from your evidence of date and place of birth and photo ID, I also get you to complete a Once in a Lifetime questionnaire six months prior to your wedding, so I can learn a little bit more about you and your story. As the name suggests, it's a once in a lifetime experience in itself - carve out some time, sit down with a cup of tea or a beer and reminisce on your time together. It makes for a perfect date night activity!

Nope, I am all good. Everything I need on the day is battery operated, and I come with my speaker, microphone and iPad all fully charged.

If everyone arrives on time, ceremonies usually go for 15-20 minutes, though I always say to allow at least half an hour. It is easy to get caught in the moment, and it is all over SO quickly - I am there to remind you to slow down and take it all in.

Nothing but good vibes, friends! I will have your Declaration of No Legal Impediment to Marriage, Official Marriage Certificates, vows and any readings all printed and ready to go. It's all sorted!

I usually stop in and visit one of you while you're getting ready (1.5 hours before the ceremony) and meet the other at the venue (1 hour before the ceremony). Once I arrive on site, I set up my PA and play some pre-ceremony tunes for when your guests arrive. If you have asked someone to play your music for you, I will introduce myself and get them connected to my sound system via Bluetooth and run them through my cues. Likewise, if you are having a friend or family member deliver a reading, I will make sure they have a printed copy and let them know when it will be their turn to speak.

Easy, I'm there to guide you. I'll direct your wedding party down the aisle and show them where to stand. Once you have both arrived and are ready to get married, I make sure you are centred under your arbour (if you have one) and will even help fluff your dress, so your ceremony doesn't just sound great - it looks great too. Throughout the ceremony, I will move in and out of your little love bubble and talk to you off-mic through every transition - I'll tell you what to do, where I'm going and what's going to come next. For example: "I'm going to take your toddler and move to the side of your bridesmaids to pronounce you husband and wife, and you're going to have the longest, hottest kiss of your life." There are no awkward moments or 'what next?' with me. I'm with you every step of the way!

You'll need your marriage certificate from Births, Deaths and Marriages for that. It will arrive via Registered Post, usually the week after the wedding.

In short, yes! You can take your partner's last name or hyphenate your last names at Service NSW using your legal marriage certificate from Births, Deaths and Marriages. If you would like to change your last name to something different or add your maiden name as a middle name, then you will need to apply for a legal change of name through Births, Deaths and Marriages - ask at your local Service NSW office.

Tell your friends - and tell the world! The best way to help other couples find me is to leave a detailed Google and Facebook review outlining your experience. I always love reliving your wedding day, so sending me photos or galleries that you're happy for me to share on my website and socials is always appreciated too! Beyond that, tell your family, friends, colleagues, neighbours, butcher and hairdresser - word of mouth is a powerful tool! If you follow me on Facebook or Instagram, liking, sharing or commenting on my posts helps other couples just like you find me as well.