A Personal Ceremony

The ceremony is about you, so it’s really important for me to listen to your ideas and be sensitive to the tone and style you would like to prevail on your wedding day. I also give you choices and ideas so that together we can create a ceremony you will remember with warmth and happiness. As your celebrant I will be dignified yet relaxed, so you can be confident that everything will run smoothly and calmly.I will make sure all the legal requirements of marriage are met and discuss these with you at our first meeting.The wedding celebrant should not be the centre of attention, but a facilitator – you or your friends and family can present readings, rituals, music – or I can just guide you through, giving your ceremony legality and making the proclamation of your marriage official.
Susan Artup, Marriage Celebrant from the Blue Mountains
Susan Artup, Marriage Celebrant from the Blue Mountains

An Inclusive Ceremony

It is a very exciting time to be a marriage celebrant. There have been many changes in law and in the marriage celebrant program, and indeed in the profile of the celebrant profession itself.

In December 2017 the accepted notion of marriage changed. No longer can we accept the status quo of marriage being only for heterosexual couples and a compromise ceremony for LGBTQI members of the community. Marriage Equality was secured for all Australians.

With a 45 year connection to the LGBTQI community as a straight ally, I am proud to have conducted many weddings in this arena.
A marriage ceremony is not only founded on legal implications but its function is to give formal expression to serious intent and to have this recognised and registered without compromise.

It is a very exciting time to be a marriage celebrant. There have been many changes in law and in the marriage celebrant program, and indeed in the profile of the celebrant profession itself.

Susan Artup, Marriage Celebrant from the Blue Mountains

Same-Sex Marriage Celebrant

In December 2017 the accepted notion of marriage changed. No longer can we accept the status quo of marriage being only for heterosexual couples and a compromise ceremony for LGBTQI members of the community. Marriage Equality was secured for all Australians.

LGBTI Marriage Celebrant

A marriage ceremony is not only founded on legal implications but its function is to give formal expression to serious intent and to have this recognised and registered without compromise.
Susan Artup, Marriage Celebrant from the Blue Mountains

Reaffirmation Ceremonies

A wedding ceremony is the public declaration of the private commitment that you have made and it legalises your marriage.

A reaffirmation ceremony is a beautiful way to celebrate your ongoing commitment to this relationship on a wedding anniversary. It provides a formal occasion on which you can re-state your marriage vows minus the legal trappings. By law you can only be married once, but sometimes reaffirmations can also give friends or family the chance to witness some of the ceremony they may have missed years, months or weeks earlier.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ceremony by Design a registered COVID-safe business? Yes. You can find more information in my article about Covid-Safe Weddings Can we meet with you before committing to booking you for our wedding? Absolutely – read about my Ceremony Planning Session. Do you do same sex weddings? Yes, I have probably done more same-sex than straight weddings since January 2018. Do you handle all the legal paperwork before and after the wedding? Yes, we will have 2-3 meetings to discuss your ceremony and fill out a Notice of Intended Marriage, and after your wedding I send all your documents to Births, Deaths and Marriages and register your marriage online immediately. Can you advise about immigration issues? Not specifically, but I can write a letter for you to take to the Department of Immigration as evidence of your intention to marry in Australia. Can our family and friends participate in the ceremony? Yes – I have lots of suggestions on giving them a role to play. Do we have to have counselling or marriage education before we get married? Absolutely not. Do you supply music? No, but I can make suggestions. Do you supply a microphone? If you think you need one, I will hire one on your behalf and charge you $75. Does the ceremony have to be in English? No, but it must be understood by the bride, groom, two witnesses and me. I can conduct ceremonies in French, German and Bahasa Indonesia/Melayu, but for other languages you will need a qualified interpreter. What are the basic legal requirements of marriage? You must be over the age of 18, not related to one another and not married to someone else. You must complete a Notice of Intended Marriage (provided by me) and lodged (with me) one month before the wedding date and no more than 18 months before. You must show me your passport or birth certificate and your photo ID. What are the basic legal requirements of marriage? What if one of us is under 18? You must get the permission of a parent or guardian, as well as court approval (in some cases court approval is sufficient). Under no circumstances can both of you be under 18. What if I have been married before? I must see your final divorce order or a death certificate. How long before the ceremony will you arrive? At least half an hour before. Do you hold a rehearsal? Your second meeting in my office is our opportunity to go through your ceremony in as much detail as you need. If you need me to travel to your ceremony venue, there will be a charge for that and you must give me a month’s notice and the time must be negotiated. What areas do you cover? Penrith, Blue Mountains, Northern Beaches, Inner West and Sydney CBD.

Legal Requirements

  • Be over the age of 18, not related to each other and not married to someone else
  • A completed Notice of Intended Marriage (provided by me) lodged (with me) one month before the wedding date and no more than 18 months before
  • Your passport or birth certificate
  • Your photo ID
  • If you are under 18, the permission of a parent or guardian, as well as court approval (in some cases court approval is sufficient)
  • If you have been married previously, your final divorce order or a death certificate

THE DOCUMENTS MUST BE ORIGINAL.

IF I DO NOT SIGHT THESE THE MARRIAGE CANNOT GO AHEAD BY LAW.

Same Sex Marriage with Celebrant
Same Sex couple posing with bouquet
Same Sex couple with marriage certificate
Celebrant And Couple
Susan Artup at Echoes
Elopement
Marriage at Echoes
Gary Sue Dennis
Gay Wedding
David And Ian
Sacha And Simon Palm Beach Ceremony
Susan with Groom
David And Ian
Wedding Ceremony in the Blue Mountains
Wedding Ceremony
Bride and Groom
Marriage Ceremony at a Blue Mountains lookout
Same Sex couple holding marriage certificate
Eccentric Same Sex Couple

Let's have a chat !!

As a dedicated and experienced marriage celebrant I extend to you an invitation to a free, personal ceremony planning session. We can spend 30 minutes in my office where I can show you the way a typical ceremony is planned – words, readings, symbols and dedications.

Schedule Planning Session

Obligation Free Consultation