Attention Australian Celebrants

Australian celebrants do not miss this opportunity to do you Ongoing Professional Development with our very own Susan Gallina and The Gordon TAFE.

OPD can be a task that every busy Celebrant dreads for the simple fact that we are all so time poor, but if it's a great topic and something that will help you reach potential clients, then it's definitely worth the time.

Don't miss getting in early for Susan's 3 hour session on 'Creating and Maintaining a Social Media Presence' (And also includes a further compulsory 2 hour unit.)

If you've ever wanted to master social media and learn how to do it efficiently and effectively, then this is the course for you.

Check out the dates below and register by emailing COURINFO@gordontafe.edu.au.

You will be contacted within the next two business days to confirm the enrolment and payment process. 

Or call (03) 5225 0800 for enrolment enquiries.

Sydney, CBD	Package 9 Compulsory activity 2014 (compulsory legal module) • Creating and maintaining a social media presence	Sun 27/07/2014 10am - 3.30pm
Adelaide, Novar Gardens	Package 9	Thurs 19/6/2014   4pm – 9:30pm
Perth, Northbridge	Package 9	Sun 14/09/2014 10am - 3.30pm
Gold Coast, Currumbin	Package 9	Sun 2/11/2014 10am - 3.30pm
Adelaide, CBD	Package 13 Compulsory activity 2014 (compulsory legal module) • Presentation skills • Evaluating your service	Sun 7/12/2014 10am - 3.30pm

Lynton & Yoli's Wedding

Gorgeous couple Lynton and Yoli were picture perfect in their amazing wedding photos that spanned two countries. 

Although getting married in Australia they decided to jet off to the Philippines (Yoli's home country) to have some professional photos done in advance. Choosing numerous styles and locations they were captured in a range of stunning shots.  

Pre - Wedding Photos (Philippines) :

Wedding Day (Adelaide, Australia):

Upon their return, the planning for their wedding ceremony in Australia was in full swing.  They chose a small garden situated just outside the city of Adelaide and exchanged their vows in an intimate gathering of their family and close friends.

Adelaide Photos by Imagine Photography

Creative ways to Remember a Loved One at your Wedding

Many couples about to wed have a mother, father, grandmother, grandfather, brother or sister who have passed and cannot be there to celebrate with them on their special day. It can be very important to a lot of couples to remember these people by adding a special gesture somewhere throughout their day. We stress the importance of keeping it light and simple so as not to over-upset the couple or the guests.  

We have compiled a list of ideas, if you have an idea to add to this list please feel free to share it as a comment below:

1. Have a special table set in memory of your loved one with a photo, fresh flowers and candles set aside the alter at your church or next to your bridal table at the reception. 

2. If your loved one had a favourite song have your musician sing it in honor of them.

3. After your ceremony you may like to release some white balloons. We like the idea of having your loved one/s names written on the balloon or on a tag attached to the balloon. A chosen member of your family may like to say a few words before the bride and groom release the balloons into the heavens above. 

4. Set aside a chair at the ceremony where they would have sat. The bride might like to carry a single white rose down the aisle and take a moment to set the rose on the chair. You could place a tag on the rose stating "In loving memory of -insert name-"

5. The bride and groom may like to light a unity candle during their ceremony in memory of their loved one. 

6. Wearing a piece of your loved ones clothing or jewelry is a great way to remember them whist keeping them near. If your grandmother wore a particular piece of jewelry on her wedding day it is lovely for the bride to do the same and maybe one day pass it on to her child too. 

7. If your loved one was buried at a cemetery close by you may like to visit them. My husband and his groomsmen stopped to visit his father on the morning of our wedding and left a buttonhole on his gravestone to have him included in our day. 

8. You may like to set aside a page in your ceremony booklet with a poem or verse that represents your loved one. Alternatively you may like to write "Today we honor the memories of those who could not join us here (list of names)."

9. Create an arrangement of photos of your loved ones.

10. Attach photo lockets to your bouquet or buttonhole.

Yasmin xx 

A family unity ritual - Exchanging Rings

With so many couples finding love later in life or when they already have children, Family Unity Rituals are fast becoming not only popular, but important in bringing a sense of commitment, readiness and togetherness to the wedding ceremony and to each member who is trying to find their places in the new family structure. This example is a simple way of including the children in making the commitment and leaving each member of the family with a lasting reminder of their inclusion. At the point in the ceremony where the couple have exchanged their rings the celebrant will say:   "Could I now ask Jasmine and Sarah to please come forward. Jake, can we please have the rings."   (The children can either know about this or it can be a surprise for them. For a boy who would prefer not to wear a ring,  he may be given the ring on a chain to wear around his neck or something else appropriate.)   "Jasmine and Sarah, today your parents are making a life-long commitment to share the rest of their lives with each other as a couple, but they could not make those promises wholeheartedly without including the two of you. Not only are they making their vows to each other, but also to both of you to live the rest of each of your lives connected to one another always. (Mum & dad to place the rings on the girl’s fingers)     The relationship that you each have with the other members of this family are symbolized with the rings that you each now wear. Each one is perfectly round with no beginning or end and is made of the strongest metal. Today they represent everything that your parents hope for this family. For there to be no end and for this family to be made of the strength, love and commitment that each of you bring to it today.   May this togetherness never be broken and may your lives always be blended and intertwined with each other’s in happiness, hope and prosperity."

Ceremony Introduction Alternatives

Since posting different ceremony formats, complete wording for a full ceremony and lots of rituals and traitions we have had so many emails and comments from all of you asking for variations, other ideas and helpful hints. SO, we've put pen to paper and written a couple of introduction variations and a giving of the bride that you may want to use as a base when thinking about your wedding ceremony wording.

Let us know what you think!

Introduction 1

Welcome everyone; we are here to today to bear witness to the marriage of John and Leanne. They are grateful for your attendance and honoured to have you as their guest as they pledge their commitment to one another.

The ‘wedding’ is not over once the dress makes its way back into the box and the last remnants of the cake are eaten. The ‘wedding’ continues, it flows on into the marriage; the day to day experiences that become the life long memories for this couple. The happiness, the strength, the mutual love and sometimes the struggle.

‘Marriage’ becomes a bond as strong as the gold used to fashion the rings that each will today place on the others finger. As sure as the sun will rise each morning and set every evening without exception, so will your marriage partner be as constant.

The vows that are taken during a wedding ceremony are often no longer confined to or concern themselves with who objects or whether our marriage partner will obey. They simply ask the two individuals present to declare that when they come together on this day, with the one they have chosen to remain with for life, that it be just as sure as that sun rising and they remain just as constant and full of love as they could possibly ever imagine being.

Marriage is not a guarantee that everlasting happiness will ensue. It is not a signed contract that your marriage partner will never again make your heart ache or that you will never feel alone or worried, but……. It is an absolute declaration from you John, to Leanne and from you Leanne to John, as you stand before us today, that you are willing to risk it all to be for the other, that ever constant rising sun.

 Introduction 2

On behalf of Matthew and Sarah, I would like to welcome you here today. I’d also like to thank you for taking the time out from your busy lives to share in a moment that is special and life altering for the couple who stand before you today.

Among the noise and clutter of every day life, the ringing of phones, the shuffling of papers , the hurrying from place to place, love butts in. It makes us stop, if only for a few moments, we stop and take a breath and have the opportunity to remind ourselves of the things that really matter in life. We get to be a part of something that will be captured in time for ever.

As Matthew and Sarah stand apart from the rest of you today, they have invited you to share in their moment. To see them make their vows to love and care for one another for the rest of their lives and take the next step in their journey together as a married couple.

As their family and friends, you will make wishes for them as you look on; wishes of good luck and good fortune, happiness in whichever form it may come and as you, Matthew and Sarah, stand here today, in front of all of those who have a special place in your life, may you feel those good wishes and know that you are truly loved and supported.

Marriage is a road not taken lightly, but it is a journey made easier when you are surrounded by love and support.

On this day, the day of your marriage, we wish for you only good things and hope that those good things will be found in a life that is spent together.

Giving of the bride option 1

Celebrant: Maria arrived today accompanied by her two sons Ryan and Brett. (add in person eg. Brother, both parents etc)

As a woman of her own mind and control over her own choices, I need not ask in the traditional sense, ‘who gives this woman’ as she belongs to no one but herself and therefore cannot be ‘given’ or ‘taken’ . I ask her simply “Maria, have you come of your own free will, with love in your heart?”

Maria: “Yes, I have”

To her escort/s “And on behalf of her family and friends, do you bring with you their blessings?”

Escort/s: ‘Yes I/we come with her family’s blessings”

Celebrant: “Thank you.” (Escort/s join the other guests)