Weddings

I may be one of Melbourne’s newest marriage celebrants, but I’m also one of its oldest writers, comedians and MCs. In fact, I’m the guy playing the Father of the Bride in an Easy Weddings TV commercial you may have seen. Great fun doing it, and I can’t wait to have even more fun designing and presenting your ceremony. And no matter what type of ceremony we’re talking about – traditional, contemporary, same-sex – I’d love to help. 

Allow me to introduce myself…

As we create your special day, you’ll benefit from everything I’ve learnt working alongside people like Gary Mehigan, Manu Feildel, Peter Allen, Paul Mercurio and Marina Prior. You’ll also gain from my experience with 5-Star venues such as Palazzo Versace, Park Hyatt, Grand Hyatt, Crown, Langham, Leonda, Sofitel, Hilton, Windsor and Werribee Mansion.

When appointing a celebrant to handle your own critically important event, it won’t hurt to choose one who ticks all the boxes when it comes to:

• Entertaining discerning, high-class audiences
• Liaising with top shelf event planners, banquet managers and photographers
• Creating fun and meaning that’s cross-cultural and inter-generational
• Managing energy and calming nerves
• Handling hassles and last minute changes
• Coaching other speakers in speech-writing or presentation skills

In my view the best weddings revolve around an engaging, creative story that explores the unique journeys of both partners, as individuals and as a couple. See my proven storytelling process in the video, ‘Love, Life, Laughter: How Happy Couples Tell Their Story’.

I have a particular interest in working with clients who are keen to extend the storytelling role of the celebrant beyond their ceremony and into their reception. In my view, the overall experience for your guests should be a seamless one. This is especially so when ceremony and reception are held at the same venue. Also, many contemporary couples feel less bound by the dated rituals often seen in traditional ceremonies and receptions.

A core team of wedding professionals (planner, venue manager, photographer, celebrant) can help create an event that, from start to finish, truly expresses who you really are. And if the celebrant’s role continues into the reception, this can avoid the disaster that often occurs when the running of the program is given to an immature DJ, loud-mouthed uncle or inebriated friend. (With a wedding, you only get one chance to get it right – don’t let it be remembered for the wrong reasons.)

My fee for creating and conducting a marriage ceremony can depend on several variables, most of which affect the amount of time I would need to devote. In general, my standard fee is $950.

My standard fee for an extended celebrancy service that encompasses both ceremony and reception is $1,950.

Please get in touch to discuss possibilities.

Now look below at the WOW-Factor ideas and inspiration shown on this selection of images from my Pinterest Boards.

Elopement and ‘Legals Only’ Ceremonies

This style of short ceremony suits couples who wish to marry with only two witnesses present. (Okay, you can bring one or two other folk as well if they’d like to have a peep.) These ceremonies also suit couples who don’t want the fuss or expense of a standard ceremony, but nor do they want to front up at the registry office.

I’m based in St Kilda, which means you could easily embed your ‘speed wedding’ within a whole day/night of fun and celebration, right on my doorstep.

I’m not available on Saturday afternoons for these ceremonies, and my standard fee is $450 for a ceremony conducted either at my home or another St Kilda venue you have organised.