So, you have decided to change your name after marriage!
As your professional Marriage Celebrant, I choose to make this process easy for you. (Note: many Marriage Celebrants do not offer to help with this process, but I do - because I am a premium Marriage Celebrant offering full service in NSW.) Here is a simple summary:
(It is not included in my fees - because this money does not come to me - it goes directly to the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages.)
To apply for your NSW Marriage Certificate yourself. Here is the link: https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/apply-marriage-certificate When you receive your NSW Registry-issued Marriage Certificate via Registered Post, take that Official Marriage Certificate document (which will look more like a birth certificate than the decorative Marriage Certificate that I give to you at the time of your marriage) - take that to Australia Post to change your Australian Passport, and to Services NSW to change your Australian Driver's License. Do the above with Australia Post and Services NSW within the 12 months after your marriage date and it is FREE!!! If you wait 12 months and 1 day... you will need to pay $$$ to change these ID documents. KATIE, YOUR MARRIAGE CELEBRANT - ALWAYS HERE TO HELP YOU WHERE I CAN!
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Useful insights from premium Celebrant and Wedding MC - Katie Blanchflower, in the current global environment of coronavirus lockdowns and associated delays. It's not exactly 'business as usual' at the moment.
Some couples have had to shift their whole entire wedding plans and dates numerous times... unfortunately sometimes losing significant deposits to other wedding suppliers like the venue, photographer/videographer etc. (Shifting from April 2020, to July 2020, to October 2020, to March 2021, August 2021 or 2022 even.) I only have warm wishes to every couple inconvenienced. My aim is to be accommodating, reasonable and flexible where possible. For all except one couple I have been able to shift dates easily until now. The Public Health Orders have been frustrating for many couples. Trying to plan a wedding during and around these lockdowns and restrictions. It's planning a big wedding that is problematic. As a Registered Marriage Celebrant, I have performed over 20 legal marriages since March 2020, so couples have been enjoying sharing in their marriage vows and celebrating each in their own way. Certainly, a massive drop in numbers of weddings, there have been many truly wonderful, memorable and joy-filled marriages during 2020. I am an experienced Celebrant and Wedding MC. I kindly offer the suggestion to (ideally)… (1) plan a wedding with less than 60 people. Or, even... (2) consider less than 20 people now (you are most likely to have your gathering of 20 people go ahead - you could plan this at many wonderful wedding venues - ask Katie). ... and an even bigger celebration in 2022! Host your own brilliant 'one year wedding anniversary party' as a renewal of vows. Discuss all your many options with: Katie Blanchflower, Your Registered Marriage Celebrant and Wedding MC e: [email protected] Click on the 'Contact' page link. Intimate ceremonies are wonderful and memorable! You can still have a wedding reception party with your extended family and friends... just later!  Are you a little tentative about planning your marriage and a wedding in 2021...?
Understandable. I am a COVID-Safe Business! I help you to have a great wedding day! Helping you and your guests feel at ease. Here are some tips that can help you:
Yes, you and your guests can enjoy a wedding in 2021. Ask me how, let's discuss! Email: [email protected] Facebook: @KatieCelebrant Instagram: @katie_theCelebrant Please note: ALL FEES PAID TO ME ARE NON-REFUNDABLE. You can transfer to an alternative available date anytime within the next 3 years. If your alternative date is not available with me - then sorry that I cannot help you and there is no refund - you will need to choose another date available with me, or choose to pay another Celebrant. This is a summer special to bring some love to the end of 2020!
COVID-19 has changed the marriage and wedding plans of many couples. Brides and Grooms are making different plans because Public Health Orders have restricted the options for weddings. Many marrying couples are only seeking a simple legal marriage service, so I am now offering a Registry-like service here on the Central Coast for Monday to Thursday. That's right... you can now be legally married on the Central Coast for only $550 - with all marriage certificates included! Available Monday to Thursdays only, near the Gosford / Terrigal area. A private ceremony with only a handful of witnesses. ____________________________________________________ The process is simple:
_____________________________________________________ Available Monday to Thursday between now and March 2021! This legal marriage service offered on the Central Coast should mean that you do not need to visit the Registry Office. Katie will prepare a COVID-Safe plan. Katie operates a COVID-Safe Business! What an interesting and challenging year 2020 has already been.
I have an update to share... it has been announced that after July 1st 2020 the Coronovirus-related Public Health Order restrictions are lifting here in NSW for marriage ceremonies and wedding reception celebrations. COVID-19 is not yet gone and social distancing is still very important. Here is the GOOD NEWS... After July 1st 2020, all marriages and weddings can host UNLIMITED GUEST NUMBERS!!! This is what everyone has been hoping for... a significant return to "new-normal". Ok, so international travel isn't back yet and this is still affecting many people that have hopes for a wedding celebrated with their family and friends, from overseas. However, at this time already the entire wedding industry is cheering! Yes, I'm stoked. I love being a Marriage Celebrant and I am so excited to return to all my clients! It is so important that you book dates for 2021 as soon as possible. Many 2020 dates have now been postponed to 2021... it's going to be a great year for celebrations. I do recommend you contact and BOOK ASAP! Cheers, Katie Your Marriage Celebrant YES! I'm still happily meeting and performing wedding ceremonies! Previously... people who first meet me used to quickly learn "I'm a hugger"... well - not anymore! Now... I wave and keep my distance where possible. In the past couple of days, I have received worrying calls from people getting married in the coming months. Understandably! But let's not panic. If you decide to cancel your wedding for now - I am providing a guarantee of all deposits and full payments to the future date you decide! That's right... zero penalty for cancelling... but also no refund on money paid. You can use fees already paid within the next 3 years! The health and safety of you, me, friends and family is my top priority. Any meetings or ceremonies booked at my house have immediately been rescheduled to another place (please contact me if a new location has not yet been confirmed with you). I want to keep you informed: Whilst the overall risk in Australia of contracting COVID-19 in the community currently remains low, each day brings details of new confirmed cases of infection and it would be irresponsible of me not to take caution from these incidents. With so much being reported about the evolving 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) situation, I wanted to reach out personally to discuss the actions and precautions I am taking. Here’s what I am doing... and recommending:
I've never washed my hands so much in my entire life!   - (Pictured above: Pullman Magenta Shores) Thank you to all the couples that choose me to be their Registered Marriage Celebrant! My greatest joy is being a Celebrant! I also enjoy being the MC at wedding receptions too. I am back FULL-TIME as a Celebrant in 2020! (Make sure you book me for your wedding date soon). Wow, 2019 has been an up and down year! (And that's an understatement.) - For a few months I had to downscale my wedding bookings and agree to a full-time employment role for a while. Luckily - I am back at this 7 days a week again! - I have performed some really wonderful and memorable marriage ceremonies during 2019 for some amazing couples (like the photo below of my friends Crawford and April at the Paul Landa Reserve, Pearl Beach)! Text me your marriage date & location, to see if I am available: 0404 832 403! 
Ruth and Lisa from Central Coast Bamboo Toasts work hard and creatively to setup scenic wedding ceremonies. Their services are affordable and reliable!
It had always caught my eye... this sweet little Chapel nestled among the tall palm trees at Green Point. It is the "Charlotte Chapel" at Kantara House. I was impressed to learn that it is a non-denominational place to perform a ceremony, meaning it welcomes everyone to have their ceremony. How fantastic for me as a Civil Celebrant! The Chapel is spectacularly maintained and I loved the hanging Chandeliers - such a pleasure recently to perform a ceremony inside. It was raining heavily on Grant and Monique's wedding day... but that simply did not matter because they had their ceremony inside the Charlotte Chapel! Kantara House is an open, well-designed, architectural venue for your wedding ceremony and reception. It is that all-in-one solution (including the Wedding Suite). The tropical scenery of the grounds are a great place for your on-location pictures with bridal party & close family. Karina is extremely helpful, professional and experienced at coordinating events. I highly recommend Kantara House.  As a Celebrant, here are some Central Coast wedding ceremony venues that I have recently enjoyed:
Linton Gardens, Somersby A great outdoor ceremony space. Beautiful driveway entrance. Great on location photos. Bells at Killcare Simply WOW! I encourage everyone to consider this space for their ceremony. Norah Head Lighthouse I have performed a few ceremonies here and the 360 degree views are spectacular! The Springs Golf Club, Peats Ridge Has a great archway, spectacular greenery and an experienced wedding team to support. Crown Plaza Terrigal The Lord Ashley Fireplace overlooks the very reputable Terrigal beach. This venue caters to any weather on the day and is remarkably affordable for smaller ceremonies. Have you ever considered The Pearl Beach Crommelin Native Arboretum? If you are looking for an outdoor wedding ceremony amongst the trees, this is it! Ettalong Beach Waterfront Reserve I travel all throughout the Central Coast and perform ceremonies at various beaches, outdoors parks & reserves. You are welcome to share your positive Central Coast wedding ceremony venue idea. The 7 most important things not to forget for your perfect Central Coast beach wedding...
Time of Day - Where's the Sun? You are outside. Sometimes it is ridiculously hot. You have to consider guest comfort, sun in the eyes, photography needs, frail and elderly concerns and hydrating your guests. You need to consider the local weather when planning any outdoor ceremony. Have you considered the softness of the ground? Sand, grass, rocks, mud, wet/dry all of these play a role in the safety and confidence your guests have moving around the ceremony venue. Think it through from the perspective of your guests, safety concerns and weather. Do you have all the equipment you need? Have you ever gone to a beautiful headland and realised there is no where to sit. You need to plan to have enough furniture and structure (e.g. Shade or Wedding Arch?).. Access to power and lighting? As an outdoor-ready Celebrant, I always come with my Battery-powered PA system. Planning for emergency weather. Always have a plan for what to do if the skies open expectantly Finding the ceremony venue on the day. Make sure you provide guests with a map and instructions to the ceremony location.. Be flexible. Outdoor weddings are by definition held in uncontrolled, often wild environments. The most important thing you can be is flexible and resilient in the face of whatever happens. In my experience, it is the quirks that make each wedding unique and special! According to the Marriage Act 1961 of Australia, before a marriage is solemnised by or in the presence of an authorised celebrant:
The Celebrant must state: “We are gathered here today to witness as I join... [Groom full legal name] and [Bride full legal name]… in marriage.” “I am duly authorised by law to solemnise marriages according to law. “Before you are joined in marriage in my presence and in the presence of these witnesses, I am to remind you of the solemn and binding nature of the relationship into which you are now about to enter. “Marriage, according to law in Australia, is the union of a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life.” The parties to be married must state: “I call upon the persons here present to witness that I, ____________ (full name), take thee, ___________ (full name), to be my lawful wedded wife (or husband)” Now... I am very fortunate to have been present for the wedding ceremony of two very dear friends of mine (a few years back) in Hawaii. Approx 80 guests travelled from Australia to Hawaii to attend their legally recognised same-sex wedding ceremony. It was a *fabulous* party to celebrate a great relationship. This married couple now have the most adorable twins! A truly modern family that ought to be celebrated! I strongly believe that the legal wording for marriage ceremony should be changed to allow same-sex couples to marry. I seek MARRIAGE EQUALITY for all people! Check out THIS LINK for some ideas Before agreeing to meet my new clients, we must first determine - via a phone conversation or email exchange - if I am the right Celebrant match.
This is important. Here are some key points to clarify: AVAILABILITY Am I free for the time, date and location of your wedding ceremony? We can certainly chat about the wedding and the possibility that I may be your Celebrant, but until the date is secured there is no real point meeting. We must first ensure that I am available for the wedding date and time. DETAILS OF CEREMONY Are having a bridal party (?), an orchestra (?) or is your ceremony 'less formality'. You are the best person to communicate what type of ceremony you hope for, so discuss this upfront. A ceremony for 20 guests will be delivered differently to that of a ceremony for 200 guests. One is small, intimate and may not even require the PA system, the other is likely to have more formality within the proceedings of the ceremony. DOCUMENTS REQUIRED Marriage requires legal paperwork and valid documents be sighted for identification purposes. I discuss the identification documents that you must bring to our first meeting. If all documents are available then we are able to complete the Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM) form together. COMMUNICATION Vital characteristics for a Celebrant would be 'confidence' and 'excellent articulation'. Every time I communicate with my new clients I have the opportunity to demonstrate (through my articulation and being informative) that I have excellent communication abilities, which guests find confidence-inspiring. FEES Every Celebrant sets their own suitable fee for service. The more you pay for Celebrant services expect plenty of prior experience and a fully-inclusive service offering. I offer two fee rates to all my clients: 1. Standard fee - including one hour rehearsal at the wedding venue. 2. Basic Ceremony fee - no rehearsal at the wedding venue* * This suits couples that are having small intimate ceremonies with no bridal party, only a small number of witnesses. Find out what the cost is, then find out what is included in the fee and what may be extra cost. DID WE 'CLICK' You must feel a sense of rapport with your Celebrant. Did you feel 'heard' and responded to when discussing your ideas and feelings about the ceremony? Together, do you feel with me as your Officiant that your marriage ceremony will be the joyous celebration you desire? So finally, WHERE SHALL WE MEET? You are encouraged to POST YOUR OWN COMMENTS below! Summer is here!!!
A truly GREAT location to have your wedding ceremony is at one of the Central Coast's great beach wedding locations or venues. The great places you can peruse on the Central Coast allow you to dream about your ideal wedding ceremony. Here's one example - Visit the friendly team at Horizon's Cafe at Killcare SLSC. Their function room hosts great wedding receptions with phenomenal beach and ocean views. Some people have great relationships with their families, unfortunately some don't.
I once performed a ceremony with 28 people in the bridal party and they were ALL family members of various ages (children and grand-children). Another wedding ceremony I performed had a security-detail to prevent the 'crazy' family members from crashing the occasion. It had happened before at another wedding, so wow. Some couples getting married have family members that have passed away. Pausing at the beginning of the ceremony to light a candle (or similar ritual) is a nice inclusion to remember loved ones lost, but never forgotten. You may have a distant relationship with your family. A beach wedding ceremony I performed sometime ago was streaming live overseas to family and friends in Hungary. Some people believe that when getting married 'young' - that children are expected of the married relationship. I am very happily married but we have chosen to have no children. They are just not for the journey we have chosen in our married life. When it comes to families... Each to their own. |
Katie Blanchflower
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