tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60052217706332166802024-03-08T23:44:51.571+11:00Michele the Celebrant Canberra. Experienced, flexible, friendly. Simple weddings any size any time. There are no Registry Office weddings in ACT. I specialise in 'beautifully simple, simply beautiful’ weddings, any size, at any time, any day, any venue in ACT/Q'beyan area. $700 is my all-inclusive fee. (Will travel further) Would you like to marry in my beautiful peaceful private Heart Garden, at no extra fee? Max 12 adult guests. All children welcome. Elopements? Yes! Experienced..flexible..friendly – that’s me. My congratulations to you both! Phone 9am to 9pm 0406 376 375. Text anytime.Michele the Celebrant - Michele Bolithohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11497814289373880730noreply@blogger.comBlogger86125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6005221770633216680.post-66751392395347351242023-12-05T23:09:00.004+11:002023-12-06T18:16:30.977+11:00Let's make contact! Open this post for lots of information.<p> <span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14pt;">You're getting married . . .</span></p>
<p align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: 36.0pt; text-align: left;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #636363; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">How wonderful!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: 36.0pt; text-align: left;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #636363; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Will I be the celebrant who’ll have
the privilege and pleasure of officiating at your wedding?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: 36.0pt; text-align: left;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #636363; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">I'd love that!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: 36.0pt; text-align: left;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #636363; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">My congratulations to you both.
Please phone me between 9 and 9 on any day, or text anytime. Or use my <a href="https://celebrantcanberra.blogspot.com/p/email-contact-form.html" target="_blank">Contact form</a> that’s on this blog. I specialise in simple weddings and you’ll find
lots more information <a href="http://celebrantcanberra.blogspot.com.au/p/simple-service-registry-office-wedding.html" target="_blank">here</a>. I also have a <a href="https://michele-the-celebrant-canberra.business.site/#summary" target="_blank">Google Business Page</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: 36.0pt; text-align: left;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #636363; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">I only have meetings with couples who
have booked me as their celebrant, but we can have a chat together on Zoom, if
you are still making your celebrant choice.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: 36.0pt; text-align: left;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #636363; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">At our one-hour meeting together, you
would personalise the ceremony I’ve put together, with every option the
Attorney-General will allow. There are other choices you can make as well. I’ll
then prepare your ceremony for your wedding and it will probably fit on one A4 page!
I’ll print it on parchment paper in the font of your choice – to match the font
you choose for your certificate.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: 36.0pt; text-align: left;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #636363; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Of course, feel free to bring your
personal vows for each other to your wedding, and you’ll share those vows with one
another, before your vows of marriage.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: 36.0pt; text-align: left;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #636363; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Many of the weddings I attend as
celebrant are small and private, especially weddings in my Heart Garden, so I
don’t put any images online. I enjoy taking Just Married photos and you’ll find
them on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/michelethecelebrantcanberra/" target="_blank">Instagram</a>.
I also post on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Michele.the.Celebrant.Canberra/" target="_blank">Facebook</a>
with new photos and videos. My most recent photos are on my Facebook <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In these <span style="color: blue;">YouTube videos</span> (which are rather out of date) you
can see how I look and hear how I sound, and I believe that my personal style
comes across in my blog posts. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: 36.0pt; text-align: left;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #636363; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">I’ve recorded a relaxation audio, so
you may like to listen to that on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlKpZCbjCE4&t=446s" target="_blank">YouTube</a> to
hear how I sound. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: 36.0pt; text-align: left;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #636363; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">You may also access month-by-month
image boards on my <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/mbolithocc/month-by-month-in-the-heart-garden/"><span style="color: blue;">Heart Garden Pinterest page</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: 36.0pt; text-align: left;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #636363; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">I’m a very experienced celebrant. I've officiated at over 1400 weddings in my 30-year celebrant career. Click
on <a href="http://celebrantcanberra.blogspot.com.au/p/michele-as-your-celebrant.html"><span style="color: blue;">'12 Good Reasons'</span></a> and you'll see more
details about me and what I offer you.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: 36.0pt; text-align: left;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #636363; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">I've streamlined all we need to do
together into a one-hour meeting (and a bit longer if you're to marry in my Heart Garden, because we'll have a look around). </span></p><p align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: 36.0pt; text-align: left;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #636363; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">If you wish to marry ASAP, you'll still need
to wait the statutory one month from the date of lodgment. I can help you lodge
your <a href="https://www.ag.gov.au/families-and-marriage/publications/notice-intended-marriage" target="_blank">Notice of Intended Marriage</a> with me on the day you contact me – you can lodge by
email or MMS anytime up to midnight. You can then marry in one month's time.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: 36.0pt; text-align: left;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #636363; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">I offer you what I call a <i>beautifully
simple, simply beautiful</i> service on any day, at any time, in any
location, with any number of guests. My fee includes travel in the local area of Canberra and Queanbeyan. I'm happy to travel further for your wedding and there's an extra fee for this,</span></p><p align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: 36.0pt; text-align: left;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #636363; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">There's more information <a href="http://celebrantcanberra.blogspot.com.au/p/simple-service-registry-office-wedding.html"><span style="color: blue;">here.</span></a> If you'd like to marry in my lovely
romantic Heart Garden, it would be an intimate wedding with a small number of
guests. Up to a dozen adult guests + the two of you. All children welcome. A Heart Garden wedding usually takes about an hour and a half. This allows time for a short celebration. If you choose to bring a special sparkling drink, I'll put out the crystal flutes. But the wedding can be shorter and simpler than this.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: 36.0pt; text-align: left;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #636363; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">The Heart Garden has <a href="http://www.cometomyheartgarden.com/"><span style="color: blue;">its own
site</span></a>. It’s out-of-date but I keep it online because it’s got some lovely
photos of the garden, and newlyweds.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: 36.0pt; text-align: left;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #636363; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Thank you so much for visiting
Michele the Celebrant. I look forward to more contact with you about your
happy plan, and my congratulations once again!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: 36.0pt; text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-pS06y4FIM2zFU4N4WXWnfOau9HfpZ4Ys9aOUrUIj2t5adTABHGMqQ9yAzu3PqMLD6aYbrQF8xm2ZglgyJ6EEkb0nrtUFrHGvEbRhE8F6SqOk8vlhgZPp7JbhTNFp9uw86uCnK7H0K0QCEvbAmrXWBp4IHwsXbG8-IAV1OCooBgc164q5-1HjsGKWlRY/s1080/Rochelle%20and%20Jason%20certificate%20with%20MB%2028-10-2017%2013-40-26.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="719" data-original-width="1080" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-pS06y4FIM2zFU4N4WXWnfOau9HfpZ4Ys9aOUrUIj2t5adTABHGMqQ9yAzu3PqMLD6aYbrQF8xm2ZglgyJ6EEkb0nrtUFrHGvEbRhE8F6SqOk8vlhgZPp7JbhTNFp9uw86uCnK7H0K0QCEvbAmrXWBp4IHwsXbG8-IAV1OCooBgc164q5-1HjsGKWlRY/w640-h426/Rochelle%20and%20Jason%20certificate%20with%20MB%2028-10-2017%2013-40-26.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #636363; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">ca-pub-8935539357975972</div>Michele the Celebrant - Michele Bolithohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11497814289373880730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6005221770633216680.post-11322598996401655582023-12-03T20:33:00.002+11:002023-12-03T22:27:19.646+11:00Quick quiz: When does your married life together actually begin?<p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal">Your big day has arrived! You’ve chosen to be married by an
authorised Civil Marriage Celebrant. All your special people have gathered
together for your ceremony and the happy celebrations to follow.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>Your ceremony has begun.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>But - when does your marriage actually start?</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">What is decreed by the Australian Marriage Act of 1961,
that’s still in effect in 2023, as the lawful beginning of your marriage?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>When does your marriage come into legal effect?</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When are you committed to the <b>voluntary</b> choice of
your partner, as your partner in marriage <b>for life</b>?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When are you legally committed to your partner as your <b>exclusive</b>
partner in marriage <b>for life</b>?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>When does your married life start?</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>Here are five possible answers:</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p><b>A</b> <i>When you say
‘I do’?</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b><b>B </b><i>When your celebrant pronounces you ‘husband and wife’?</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><span> </span>Or announces something like:
‘Congratulations, you are married!’?<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b><b>C</b> <i>When you
sign your certificates?</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b><b>D</b> <i>When your
marriage is registered with the Registrar?</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b><b>E</b><i> None of the
above.</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>The most popular answer is probably C <i>When
you sign your certificates</i>.</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p> </o:p></span>This isn’t correct however.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p> </o:p></span>Your three certificates of marriage
will state that a legal marriage has already been solemnised <i>aka</i>
legalised). The certificate you’ll take home with you on the day – and if I’m
your celebrant, your certificate will be printed in the font of your choice –
will have these words:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">I (</span></i><span style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">legal name of
celebrant<i>) having authority under the Marriage Act 1961 to solemnise
marriages, hereby certify that <b>I have this day at</b> </i>(your location<i>) <b>duly
solemnised marriage</b> in accordance with the provisions of that Act
between </i>(names of parties to the marriage<i>) in the presence of the
undersigned witnesses.</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p> </o:p></span>So, the answer <i>When you sign the
certificates</i> isn’t correct. </p><p class="MsoNormal">Another popular answer is <b>A</b> <i>When
you say ‘I do’</i>.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This answer is correct but it’s not
always possible. It can be correct in a particular circumstance.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p> </o:p></span>I’ll explain:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">In Australia, you can only use classic
‘I do’ vows of marriage in church, or other religious setting.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Your religious celebrant can ask you: <i>‘Do
you take (name of your partner) to be your husband/wife/partner for life?’</i>
And you can say ‘I do’. When you’ve both made a vow of marriage, then you are
legally married. If you get married by a civil marriage celebrant however, this
is not possible.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b><b>The Australian government does not
allow ‘I do’ marriage vows in civil ceremonies.</b> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Personally, as a celebrant from way
back when ‘I do’ vows were possible, I’m sad about this. Many couples would
still love to have these classic vows.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In a civil marriage ceremony nowadays,
you must state your own name in your marriage vow and your celebrant can’t do
this for you (with both of you just saying: <i>I do</i>).</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Your civil celebrant can say your name
in a vow which they’ll prompt you to repeat, but you must state your name in
your vow yourself to make your marriage legal.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In the Marriage Act, this is written as
<i>I AB take you CD</i>, etc</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You can take each other as <i>lawfully
wedded wife/husband/spouse.</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Or <i>lawful wedded
wife/husband/spouse.</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Or <i>lawful wife or lawful husband/spouse.</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Or <i>wedded wife or wedded husband</i>,
but not just simply, <i>husband and wife</i> (I’m not sure if this legal
requirement applies in church or not.)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Or you can say <i>partner in
marriage</i> and this is a popular option with many couples.</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You may choose to have ‘I do’ vows
somewhere else in your ceremony where you make other pledges to each other but
these vows cannot legally be your vows of marriage.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>When does your married life together actually start?</b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Let’s look at another popular belief:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">B </span></b><i><span style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">When your celebrant pronounces you ‘husband and wife’?<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Or says something like: ‘Congratulations,
you are married’?<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>B </b>is not the right answer because you’re already legally married by this
time. This pronouncement is an exciting moment however, because it confirms
that you are married. And it’s your big opportunity to kiss!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">At the end of your ceremony, you may
choose to have your celebrant pronounce that you are ‘now husband and wife’ –
or not.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Your celebrant may actually say ‘with
the power vested in me’ to make it sound like the pronouncement of <i>husband and
wife or wife and husband, or husband and husband, or wife and wife</i> – or other variation which you choose together as a couple – is the big
moment that your marriage begins. But these words you see in movies, would just be theatre. Likewise, if you have both signed your Declarations before your ceremony, as the law requires you must, then no-one else can object, like in 'Speak now or forever hold your peace!' Any call for objections would just be for show.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There’s no legal requirement to have a
pronouncement of your new status before your first kiss as married partners.
The choice is yours. And you may or may not wish to publicly kiss.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>So - when your celebrant pronounces you
‘husband and wife’, your marriage is already in legal effect.</b> You’ll then sign three certificates which certify this fact. Your
celebrant signs these three certificates and so do both of you, and your two
adult witnesses.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Note here that your witnesses can be
any adults with a good command of English.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>If your witnesses are related to you,
that’s not a problem.</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Also note here that I specialise in
simple weddings, and simple weddings are sometimes elopements. If a couple
wishes to keep their marriage to themselves, then I find two witnesses for
them, usually from my family or neighbours. You’ll notice from this that <b>your
witnesses don’t need to be people you know.</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">After your wedding, your celebrant has
14 days to send your papers to the Registrar in the state or territory in which
you were married. If something terrible happened to your paperwork, <b>this
would not effect the legality of your marriage</b>, OK?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal">If not <b>A, B</b> or <b>C</b>, then
what about <b>D?</b></p><p class="MsoNormal">Does your marriage legally begin <i>When you marriage is
registered with the Registrar?</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It’s another popular belief that your
marriage is legalised by the Registrar but again, it’s not accurate. Your
marriage is already in legal effect when your celebrant sends your documentation
to the Registrar in the territory of state in which you were married.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Registrar will allocate a
registration number and put your marriage on the public record. It’s wise to
then, to buy a full certificate from the Registrar for your records as it will
have a registration number on it.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The simple attractive Certificate of
Marriage which you receive after your ceremony is your personal one. You can’t
use it for any legal purpose, such as applying for a driver’s licence in your
married name.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Your documentation, sent to the
Registrar, will be:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">A copy of your full marriage
certificate, signed by both of you, your one witness each, and your celebrant.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">The Notice of Intended Marriage which
you lodged with your celebrant a minimum of one month before your wedding.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So, when <i>When do you think your
marriage actually and legally comes into effect?</i> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The only answer that we’re left with is
<b>E</b> <i>None of the above</i>.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If you’ve chosen to have a civil
marriage celebrant rather than a religious one, to perform your marriage
ceremony, then <b>E</b> is the only answer that applies.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Here’s the final answer</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Your marriage actually and legally
comes into effect when you’ve made vows of marriage to one another.</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Your vows of marriage, to be legal and
binding, whether in a church, a garden or anywhere else, must come after what’s
called the <i>monitum</i>.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This is when your celebrant declares to
both of you and all your guests, the present nature of marriage in Australia.
That is - it’s voluntary, exclusive and permanent between two people.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The two people must be of marriageable
age, not closely related or married to anyone else. Each party to the marriage
must sign a Declaration of No Legal Impediment to Marriage before the marriage
ceremony can take place.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Before you make your vows of marriage
during your wedding ceremony, your celebrant must also state their own legal
name and their role, in front of at least two adult witnesses. As well, they
must declare that they’re authorised (or legalised) to perform your marriage
ceremony. You can have an option here for your celebrant to say ‘authorise’ or
‘legalise’. (I always give this option.)</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Plus I give other legal options that
the Attorney-General allows. Many celebrants don’t do this. You can for
instance, instead of saying <i>all persons here present</i> in the set marriage
vow, say <i>all people here present</i> or <i>everybody here</i> or <i>everyone
here.</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>There are several other approved
variations in the legal marriage ceremony.</b></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgECqj0zdaJ5krimj3w55fr_b-_QFBedeJiQD6Iaa7D24Fb9UtG0MuO_eC5tVJ5H5h6LJX4ZqM_E0OATGQpAcWVQbQUywGu9Ej8UQDXvfqeIakkg-CVEmEiMGcYcHP4Mjt3w0N6k_6lRZIvJGZXCyCnnizEMc4Ha0ofY03AxrTX0smTWRkhQu3VpqPHI7Y/s4032/20231127_120436.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1816" data-original-width="4032" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgECqj0zdaJ5krimj3w55fr_b-_QFBedeJiQD6Iaa7D24Fb9UtG0MuO_eC5tVJ5H5h6LJX4ZqM_E0OATGQpAcWVQbQUywGu9Ej8UQDXvfqeIakkg-CVEmEiMGcYcHP4Mjt3w0N6k_6lRZIvJGZXCyCnnizEMc4Ha0ofY03AxrTX0smTWRkhQu3VpqPHI7Y/w640-h288/20231127_120436.jpg" title="Sharing the joy, with newlyweds Zoe and James" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sharing the joy, with newlyweds Zoe and James</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Heart Garden 27 November 2023</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Can you see the heart-shaped garden bed?)</span></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In conclusion then</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If you’re in church, the magical
moments which begin your marriage to each other may be when you each say ‘I
do’. If you’re not in church, you legally marry with your vows of marriage to
each other, as prescribed by the Australian Marriage Act of 1961.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Marriage in Australia is an oral contract.
Your vows of marriage to one another must be witnessed (as in seen and heard) by
your celebrant and two adult witnesses. (You may call on <i>all people here
present</i> but in fact, only two of your guests need to see you make your
vows, and hear them.)</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A pronouncement by your celebrant at
the end of your ceremony of <i>husband and wife</i>, or any other variation on
this theme (such as declaring your new legal names) will confirm that a legal
marriage <b>is already in effect</b>.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Your three certificates of marriage
with their five signatures will also provide evidence that a legal marriage has
happened.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So will the official marriage certificate
which you buy from the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">(In ACT, you’ll do this online through
Canberra Connect.)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And, if you’re thinking of changing
your name with marriage, this other significant change in your life also comes
into legal effect when you’re looking into each other’s eyes and making your
vows of marriage.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>You don’t
need authorisation from the Registrar</b> after your marriage to change your legal name. You may however, need <b>evidence</b> of
legal marriage from the Registrar for your work records, driver’s licence or
passport application, and so on.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Well, I think I’ve covered everything
to inform you about when, if you choose to marry in Australia, your marriage
legally begins.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And any person 18 or over from anywhere
in the world can marry in Australia if they’re not already married.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I’ve actually had three couples fly to
Australia from Hong Kong, China (with permission from the Chinese government)
and Sardinia (part of Italy) to marry in my Heart Garden, before heading back
home. How amazing it that?! The couple from Hong Kong only flew in for the
weekend! I felt very honoured to have them marry in my beautiful Heart Garden.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: black;">Choosing your celebrant</span></b><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If you’d like me to be your
celebrant, I’d be delighted to be there for you at this most significant event
in the life you share together.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">By law, you’d need to give me at
least one month’s notice by lodging a Notice of Intended Marriage. Like all
authorised celebrants I’m a lodging authority. We have no contact with the
Registrar in this process – it’s all very simple.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If you wish to marry in the
shortest time possible (which is one month) you can do the lodging in person,
by email with scan attached, or by MMS. When you contact me, I’ll explain how
to make your wedding happen ASAP.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If, as in most instances, there’s
no hurry, we’ll have a one-hour meeting together (in Weston) on a Monday or
Wednesday evening and you’ll lodge your Notice with me then. Your Notice will
have a ‘shelf life’ of eighteen months from the time you fill it in. It’s
helpful to know this, if your marriage gets delayed.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">BTW:</p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>One party to the marriage can
lodge the Notice if both are not available.</b></p><p class="MsoNormal">And</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: black;">You don’t need divorce
finalised when you lodge your Notice but divorce must be finalised </span></b><span style="color: black;">(and your celebrant must see evidence of this)<b> before
your marriage can take place.<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Please fill in the form on my
<a href="http://celebrantcanberra.blogspot.com.au/p/email-contact-form.html" target="_blank">Contact Page</a>, or contact me by phone or text on 0406 376 375. </p><p class="MsoNormal">Phone any day,
9am to 9pm. Text anytime.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If you have questions, please feel
free to ask. We can arrange a quick Zoom meeting if you wish, with or without
video. (There’s be no obligation implied at this time to choose me as your
celebrant.)</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Please note:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: black;">I only have meetings with
couples who have booked me as their marriage celebrant.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My Simple Service is a lovely
alternative to a registry office wedding. I call it <i>‘simply beautiful and
beautifully simple’</i>. My Simple Service is for any day at any time, any
place, with any number of guests.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If you wish to marry in my <b>Heart
Garden</b>, then the maximum number of adult guests is twelve. (Couple not
included.) All children are always welcome. Bring a bottle of special bubbly if
you wish and I’ll put out the crystal flutes to we can toast you both as
newlyweds. And bring your special music too. Here’s a link for my <a href="http://celebrantcanberra.blogspot.com.au/p/simple-service-registry-office-wedding.html">Simple Service</a>.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If you’re planning to get married,
my congratulations to you both!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;">I hope we’ll stay in touch.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sincerely</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;">Michele the Celebrant<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd7i4w6xoSCu7SPhJ1jIZtqAl4_rECjOGIGNZSWdHFB5TWCmJnOOv9an7xzo-WCiXkQ9hSG3SU09c2FaL9d1_-DRzkPiTGs-5DedGkg2ffz9s71beUhridaTXVzk74QWHzcYNkxKhfpjRtG9pNGIgnRopcTgzgEUTYwLg7ivLaWZOPTeKA2MiE9A4qrdI/s266/MB%20heart%20signature%20Nov%2023.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="266" data-original-width="266" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd7i4w6xoSCu7SPhJ1jIZtqAl4_rECjOGIGNZSWdHFB5TWCmJnOOv9an7xzo-WCiXkQ9hSG3SU09c2FaL9d1_-DRzkPiTGs-5DedGkg2ffz9s71beUhridaTXVzk74QWHzcYNkxKhfpjRtG9pNGIgnRopcTgzgEUTYwLg7ivLaWZOPTeKA2MiE9A4qrdI/w200-h200/MB%20heart%20signature%20Nov%2023.png" width="200" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: black;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></p><br /><p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">ca-pub-8935539357975972</div>Michele the Celebrant - Michele Bolithohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11497814289373880730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6005221770633216680.post-31377049941422854802023-11-13T17:37:00.000+11:002023-11-13T17:37:19.262+11:00For a simply beautiful, beautifully simple wedding, my fee is now $700.<p> FYI - At the beginning of November 2023, my fee increased to $700.</p><p>Zenaida and Peter married in the Heart Garden on a beautiful mid-Spring morning, October 2023. Such a happy day!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmeTWns2MXkrxID8LxLqFOj4GMPvl08h-zaUaLWlupu0TnOD2S2rg9Nf3wrGhOMBqeyu4TXjDLSi3NvFFYwZ4eqbv7pqnIjzlLpY1h5Y3rdlqkwVgSXJ9zrlux8wSCjTDFhrYoEtXyfBu8XMtsZSshEApr5nP8d88vdA55FAmVkrhVKl03DRQ_-BQzLaA/s4032/20231028_142813.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1816" data-original-width="4032" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmeTWns2MXkrxID8LxLqFOj4GMPvl08h-zaUaLWlupu0TnOD2S2rg9Nf3wrGhOMBqeyu4TXjDLSi3NvFFYwZ4eqbv7pqnIjzlLpY1h5Y3rdlqkwVgSXJ9zrlux8wSCjTDFhrYoEtXyfBu8XMtsZSshEApr5nP8d88vdA55FAmVkrhVKl03DRQ_-BQzLaA/s320/20231028_142813.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkawp4y9HloE1nE5J1n26qHG1prkxzCYxlg2HEMI1jMB0T77rASuwk7gyJC-DD1ytTvJwxqsbv3rqYSTimMWIyYunNzbRmktaXOGagkf07IgwvapPwD7aSt6F1aTKbUAv4UBvj2RjRUwx-k9AnbUgVL6naqumtid1EwXEsxJANzFRKuEI2isJBOMweixc/s4032/20231028_142449(0).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0gPceXEITgRUKtLrX55Bxi8BhlU59q_Z7trY8Mnj1r26w5raLDRqGsS5U-ApJiQ3gDVYnDMAQLJZq_I7YUULoCD_77fQbFVAyARqNxR456_DIfnQfp6cGY1a46WToGMrFbG3MjPQ5DSR0JT4cn0aKY9OLiEKm7SugaEgUau9AyNnIF5bYEZZ0yBYL3jQ/s320/20231026_122418.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">ca-pub-8935539357975972</div>Michele the Celebrant - Michele Bolithohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11497814289373880730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6005221770633216680.post-89237350066486463232021-11-30T19:12:00.007+11:002023-10-25T14:56:51.459+11:00<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Do you plan to legalise your marriage in Australia because
you had a beautiful magical wedding overseas? </b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Or do you plan to do
this in the future?</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4AlV86S-z0I/YaXaIlqsjSI/AAAAAAAA_H4/1hoKxapUj3AjrU56z3boy1qeENxHsA3DwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20211121_102929.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1537" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4AlV86S-z0I/YaXaIlqsjSI/AAAAAAAA_H4/1hoKxapUj3AjrU56z3boy1qeENxHsA3DwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20211121_102929.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tWVRX6Ex-JE/YaXaW8HyKwI/AAAAAAAA_H8/fuxPW2bVVFYPuWbvDyv5p6Ad-e8aetJhACLcBGAsYHQ/s2642/20211121_103412-001.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2642" data-original-width="1190" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tWVRX6Ex-JE/YaXaW8HyKwI/AAAAAAAA_H8/fuxPW2bVVFYPuWbvDyv5p6Ad-e8aetJhACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20211121_103412-001.jpg" width="144" /></a></div>Kayla and Jason married on a Bali beach. I saw their gorgeous
photos. Their wedding was their dream come true. <p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">On Sunday 21-11-21 they
legalised their marriage in a simple ceremony in the Heart Garden. They invited
two special friends to be their witnesses. After the ceremony we had some delicious
French champagne to celebrate – I provided the crystal flutes. We signed the
three certificates and the occasion was complete. More happy memories for this
so-in-love couple </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">😊</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">If your circumstance is
similar, you’d be most welcome to have a simple ceremony in my Heart Garden to
legalise your marriage – either after or before your wedding in a special place
somewhere else (including in Australia). Or perhaps you’d like a friend or
family member to marry you. If that’s the case, I’d be very happy to attend
your ceremony, just to do the legal parts.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ua6sTEt9b4s/YaXa6ax31jI/AAAAAAAA_II/wZWk7Om4iwI2x_CWOxaOMancpfjIiUVowCLcBGAsYHQ/s2643/20211121_103934-001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1189" data-original-width="2643" height="288" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ua6sTEt9b4s/YaXa6ax31jI/AAAAAAAA_II/wZWk7Om4iwI2x_CWOxaOMancpfjIiUVowCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h288/20211121_103934-001.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">See Wedding Pages in this blog for more information about a <a href="http://celebrantcanberra.blogspot.com.au/p/simple-service-registry-office-wedding.html" target="_blank">simple wedding</a>, and a <a href="https://celebrantcanberra.blogspot.com/p/email-contact-form.html" target="_blank">Contact Page</a>, so that we can arrange a one-hour meeting together to prepare for the legalisation of your marriage.</span><p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">ca-pub-8935539357975972</div>Michele the Celebrant - Michele Bolithohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11497814289373880730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6005221770633216680.post-63896879734997579242020-03-19T19:20:00.015+11:002023-04-16T23:19:32.032+10:00General info post, with some images of very happy occasions 2018 - 2020<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wVTIsDYKrhw/XbrPQ64v2MI/AAAAAAAA9Wk/CtlyAlBahEoBSZXwub-vFp8Ki25NaVTSACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Taisa%2Band%2BErnesto%2Bwith%2BMichele%2B7%2BSept%2B19.gif" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wVTIsDYKrhw/XbrPQ64v2MI/AAAAAAAA9Wk/CtlyAlBahEoBSZXwub-vFp8Ki25NaVTSACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h640/Taisa%2Band%2BErnesto%2Bwith%2BMichele%2B7%2BSept%2B19.gif" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taisa and Ernesto married in my Heart Garden<br />
in the first week of Spring - September 2019<br />
<h3 style="text-align: start;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: red;">You are most welcome to marry in my beautiful Heart Garden and, as always, there is NO EXTRA FEE for this. Adult guests: up to 12. All children welcome.</span></span></h3>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="font-size: medium;">
<span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="color: red;"><b>My all-inclusive fee is $650.</b></span></div><div style="font-size: medium;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="color: red;"><b>Phone me or text: 0406 376 375</b></span></div><div style="font-size: medium;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="color: red;"><b>any day 9am to 9pm</b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium;"><br /></div>
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<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Hello, and welcome<br />
<br />
I can't believe it's been three years since I posted on my blog! (And there's been no change to my fee.)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I guess I’ve kept my focus on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Michele.the.Celebrant.Canberra/" target="_blank">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/michelethecelebrantcanberra/" target="_blank">Instagram</a>.
Blogger and <a href="https://www.pinterest.com.au/mbolithocc/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a> have gone into the background. I plan to create a new simple website soon, using Canva, the amazing Aussie design tool.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And now it’s April 2023. Last year was a happy one for me with lots of weddings, several in my Heart Garden. This year I've been celebrant at seven wonderful weddings already. Four were in my garden.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">If you'd like me to be celebrant at your wedding - like over fourteen hundred other couples - then please contact me <a href="https://celebrantcanberra.blogspot.com/p/email-contact-form.html" target="_blank">here</a>. Or email me at contact@celebrantcanberra dotcomdotau. (Emails are my preference.) Or send me a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Michele.the.Celebrant.Canberra/" target="_blank">Message on facebook Messenger</a>. Or phone or text me on 0406 376 375 anytime from 9am to 9pm, any day. I'd love to be there for you both on your most special day.</div>
<h2>
2018</h2>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-El49pL_tJ3o/Xbq849Oy6ZI/AAAAAAAA9UA/0myaxfUOqpAUA7i_Gtc1GmZB1bMWc4nSwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Amy%2BMichelle%2Band%2BMichele%2BRedbrow%2BGarden%2B17-11-18%2B14-33-006.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-El49pL_tJ3o/Xbq849Oy6ZI/AAAAAAAA9UA/0myaxfUOqpAUA7i_Gtc1GmZB1bMWc4nSwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Amy%2BMichelle%2Band%2BMichele%2BRedbrow%2BGarden%2B17-11-18%2B14-33-006.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amy and Michelle, with Michele<br />
Redbrow Garden Murrumbateman NSW<br />
17 November 2018<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-16XigtIaw7w/XnMF4Ktl0dI/AAAAAAAA-Fo/Cpt-mQC_-coMpttofD_kFmrqOl3kdn5HwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Krystle%2Band%2BChris.gif" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-16XigtIaw7w/XnMF4Ktl0dI/AAAAAAAA-Fo/Cpt-mQC_-coMpttofD_kFmrqOl3kdn5HwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Krystle%2Band%2BChris.gif" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Krystle and Chris<br />
Old Parliament House Rose Gardens<br />
24 November</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aogTvFNyxKM/Xbq-bK9aTFI/AAAAAAAA9UU/keUYI_atQbkbc7AwHd7qCg81sfa4PO8mgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Barbara%2Band%2BMick%2B%2B24-11-18%2B16-30-027.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aogTvFNyxKM/Xbq-bK9aTFI/AAAAAAAA9UU/keUYI_atQbkbc7AwHd7qCg81sfa4PO8mgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Barbara%2Band%2BMick%2B%2B24-11-18%2B16-30-027.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Barbara and Mick<br />
The Heart Garden<br />
24 November</td></tr>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uJQcsM5VULA/Xbq_UWNb9sI/AAAAAAAA9Uc/34MeKDH4mb4nZ8XDTq1beN6c0NJKRfkYwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Barbara%2Band%2BMick%252C%2Boff%2Binto%2Bthe%2Bfuture%2B24-11-18%2B16-53-13.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="752" data-original-width="752" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uJQcsM5VULA/Xbq_UWNb9sI/AAAAAAAA9Uc/34MeKDH4mb4nZ8XDTq1beN6c0NJKRfkYwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Barbara%2Band%2BMick%252C%2Boff%2Binto%2Bthe%2Bfuture%2B24-11-18%2B16-53-13.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Mick and Barbara leave The Heart Garden </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">as newlyweds</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ms-vtk0vAIM/XbrEHZFUcSI/AAAAAAAA9Uo/Bkj05IeirkEPF5ukzlWRhPOA9UZWjk2GwCEwYBhgL/s1600/blogger%2B18%2BDec%2B18%2B8-12-18%2B11-48-48.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1598" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ms-vtk0vAIM/XbrEHZFUcSI/AAAAAAAA9Uo/Bkj05IeirkEPF5ukzlWRhPOA9UZWjk2GwCEwYBhgL/s400/blogger%2B18%2BDec%2B18%2B8-12-18%2B11-48-48.jpg" width="398" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h2 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 12.8px; font-weight: 400; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">
Kirsten and Brendan, just married!<br />
Canberra Nara Peace Park</div>
</span><span style="font-size: 12.8px; font-weight: 400; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">
8 December 2018</div>
</span></h2>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>2019</b></span><br />
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HiY71kbBYbs/XOayhrafDGI/AAAAAAAA8RA/6c_jvGnCPf07zGnVJgFEuHtUqClJxf1LACEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_20190105_163758_963.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HiY71kbBYbs/XOayhrafDGI/AAAAAAAA8RA/6c_jvGnCPf07zGnVJgFEuHtUqClJxf1LACEwYBhgL/s400/IMG_20190105_163758_963.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sandra and Thomas, newlyweds</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-serInKWIuT8/XOaxtb1B7hI/AAAAAAAA8Q4/HMZNzxOId_EQXXL_rU2QMVaeNGiMAxwDQCLcBGAs/s1600/sandra%2Band%2Bthomas%2Bjan19.gif" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="360" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-serInKWIuT8/XOaxtb1B7hI/AAAAAAAA8Q4/HMZNzxOId_EQXXL_rU2QMVaeNGiMAxwDQCLcBGAs/s640/sandra%2Band%2Bthomas%2Bjan19.gif" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oi Shan (Sandra) and Thomas<br />
National Rose Gardens, Old Parliament House<br />
5 January<br />
<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cA8NZLglJoI/XbrFeP0KhaI/AAAAAAAA9U0/Oiz4yzAN-f8wsR9mh2Idp8kimbY9JN_xwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Nouhad%2Bsigning%252C%2Bwith%2BMaew%2B13-1-19%2B17-19-37.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1081" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cA8NZLglJoI/XbrFeP0KhaI/AAAAAAAA9U0/Oiz4yzAN-f8wsR9mh2Idp8kimbY9JN_xwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Nouhad%2Bsigning%252C%2Bwith%2BMaew%2B13-1-19%2B17-19-37.JPG" width="398" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Maew and Nouhad<br />
MV Southern Cross on Lake Burley Griffin<br />
13 January<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I7IPl362a0s/XbqNMcLPz7I/AAAAAAAA9To/BJ1qKk3Jgp0WjsL_hPa-Vlj5W1TocOyfQCEwYBhgL/s1600/blogger%2BCorinne%2Band%2BAndrew%2B2-2-19%2B17-03-42.jpg" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I7IPl362a0s/XbqNMcLPz7I/AAAAAAAA9To/BJ1qKk3Jgp0WjsL_hPa-Vlj5W1TocOyfQCEwYBhgL/s400/blogger%2BCorinne%2Band%2BAndrew%2B2-2-19%2B17-03-42.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
Corinne and Andrew<br />
National Botanic Gardens<br />
2 February 19<br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F8ILwxhW0IY/XbrHKmZhLYI/AAAAAAAA9VA/IbGEPQ-00KsQMGGUo7iVFGFGQIjij5yIACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Corinne%2Band%2BAndrew%2Bfor%2Bgoogle%2Bpost%2B2-2-19%2B16-21-46.JPG" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="812" data-original-width="1080" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F8ILwxhW0IY/XbrHKmZhLYI/AAAAAAAA9VA/IbGEPQ-00KsQMGGUo7iVFGFGQIjij5yIACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Corinne%2Band%2BAndrew%2Bfor%2Bgoogle%2Bpost%2B2-2-19%2B16-21-46.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vRUKmdYbDk4/XbrHzUutMDI/AAAAAAAA9VI/AGmC6c31fIURjB5dyGu6LfQdgqc0S-GwwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Nicole%2Band%2BLuke%2Band%2BNicole%2527s%2BDad%2B6-4-19%2B14-09-47.JPG" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="674" data-original-width="1079" height="398" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vRUKmdYbDk4/XbrHzUutMDI/AAAAAAAA9VI/AGmC6c31fIURjB5dyGu6LfQdgqc0S-GwwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Nicole%2Band%2BLuke%2Band%2BNicole%2527s%2BDad%2B6-4-19%2B14-09-47.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
Nicole arrives with her Dad for her marriage with Luke<br />
Lanyon Homestead<br />
6 April 2019<br />
Happiness all around!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y9DUJPKqQB8/XbrIRunoQlI/AAAAAAAA9VU/bvzKRBEv9OU1tzQIfaEs_JQv_9elJIIGQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Blogger%2BAmy%2Band%2BDaniel%2BApril%2B19%2B21-4-19%2B15-30-44.JPG" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="577" data-original-width="867" height="265" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y9DUJPKqQB8/XbrIRunoQlI/AAAAAAAA9VU/bvzKRBEv9OU1tzQIfaEs_JQv_9elJIIGQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Blogger%2BAmy%2Band%2BDaniel%2BApril%2B19%2B21-4-19%2B15-30-44.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
Amy and Daniel married at the<br />
National Rose Gardens Old Parliament House<br />
Sunday 21 April 19<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MGy-FwreosU/XbrIttn5aTI/AAAAAAAA9Vc/OSIftomVg8wAVTp0nt91T_QbJCkSKGl5ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/blogger%2BSourab%2Band%2BHarkamal%2BJune%2B19%2B21-6-19%2B12-09-00.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1595" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MGy-FwreosU/XbrIttn5aTI/AAAAAAAA9Vc/OSIftomVg8wAVTp0nt91T_QbJCkSKGl5ACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/blogger%2BSourab%2Band%2BHarkamal%2BJune%2B19%2B21-6-19%2B12-09-00.jpg" width="398" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Harkamal and Sourab<br />
married in The Heart Garden<br />
21 June 2019<br />
Radiating their joy :)</td></tr>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LWe3C_KDjCk/XbrJ13yZ5tI/AAAAAAAA9Vo/nKZWuEjNZCgzxGpbCXy7vsZJBZO3yWKDACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20190622_153356.jpg" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LWe3C_KDjCk/XbrJ13yZ5tI/AAAAAAAA9Vo/nKZWuEjNZCgzxGpbCXy7vsZJBZO3yWKDACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/20190622_153356.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
Bec and Terry married at their home in Queanbeyan<br />
on June 22.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mx0fzJsFKWA/XbrJ8RB6ymI/AAAAAAAA9Vs/alRPk6QZjg845yJ9YlvRBiDUxT0SHdf_gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/blogger%2BBec%2Band%2BTerry%2BJune%2B19%2B22-6-19%2B15-33-59.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mx0fzJsFKWA/XbrJ8RB6ymI/AAAAAAAA9Vs/alRPk6QZjg845yJ9YlvRBiDUxT0SHdf_gCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/blogger%2BBec%2Band%2BTerry%2BJune%2B19%2B22-6-19%2B15-33-59.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Lots of fun!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_k-Oc3WshQc/XbrKqe74zeI/AAAAAAAA9V4/ZgnrXGB6Dd8jf1KGqsGzbU9iJheMuOmOACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Lori%2Band%2BOrbs%2BJune%2B19%2B30-6-19%2B11-20-22.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="904" data-original-width="904" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_k-Oc3WshQc/XbrKqe74zeI/AAAAAAAA9V4/ZgnrXGB6Dd8jf1KGqsGzbU9iJheMuOmOACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Lori%2Band%2BOrbs%2BJune%2B19%2B30-6-19%2B11-20-22.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lori is arriving for her marriage to Craig.<br />
(Several orbs appeared in this photo)<br />
The Heart Garden<br />
30 June 2019</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8yc05VJannc/XbrK6B_IRFI/AAAAAAAA9V8/BTgBZGiRYrE5czOKor029vdawp1ODQVBgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Lori%2Band%2BCraig%2BJune%2B19%2B30-6-19%2B11-55-21.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="763" data-original-width="764" height="398" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8yc05VJannc/XbrK6B_IRFI/AAAAAAAA9V8/BTgBZGiRYrE5czOKor029vdawp1ODQVBgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Lori%2Band%2BCraig%2BJune%2B19%2B30-6-19%2B11-55-21.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunny winter's day for the wedding of Craig and Lori</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xqERGollaZQ/XbrLQeatkzI/AAAAAAAA9WI/1PFEm6_wR_0sxEJkhH_Os2SG-hOsePbRgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/blogger%2BJuly%2BFelix%2Band%2BJasmine%2B7-7-19%2B10-54-03.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" data-original-height="1078" data-original-width="1081" height="398" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xqERGollaZQ/XbrLQeatkzI/AAAAAAAA9WI/1PFEm6_wR_0sxEJkhH_Os2SG-hOsePbRgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/blogger%2BJuly%2BFelix%2Band%2BJasmine%2B7-7-19%2B10-54-03.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Felix and Jasmine</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">married in The Heart Garden.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Jasmine arrived with her father</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">7 July 19</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tSGPu5dn_P4/XbrLb1bJH_I/AAAAAAAA9WM/P7cRcWCnzLEaUGp-qUu0QPPodJybIR3aACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Blogger%2BJasmine%2Band%2BFelix%2BJuly%2B19%2B7-7-19%2B11-35-00.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1593" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tSGPu5dn_P4/XbrLb1bJH_I/AAAAAAAA9WM/P7cRcWCnzLEaUGp-qUu0QPPodJybIR3aACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Blogger%2BJasmine%2Band%2BFelix%2BJuly%2B19%2B7-7-19%2B11-35-00.jpg" width="397" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fJKMnpKkVB8/XbrLrFqBrpI/AAAAAAAA9WU/GN4Hr_nOnwAlNFazuBSkTGljS2X_6saFwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/blogger%2BMegan%2Band%2BAndrew%2BAugust%2B19%2B2-8-19%2B14-21-37.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1598" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fJKMnpKkVB8/XbrLrFqBrpI/AAAAAAAA9WU/GN4Hr_nOnwAlNFazuBSkTGljS2X_6saFwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/blogger%2BMegan%2Band%2BAndrew%2BAugust%2B19%2B2-8-19%2B14-21-37.jpg" width="398" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Megan and Andrew married in the green room,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">The Heart Garden</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">2 August 19</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XnQQ41Wt3Rg/XbrVrEAss3I/AAAAAAAA9XU/rr8eG4jNPXUq5DSf8Sw0sR9onBsN4KawwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Stephanie%2Band%2BMichael%2B26-10-19%2B11-23-33.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XnQQ41Wt3Rg/XbrVrEAss3I/AAAAAAAA9XU/rr8eG4jNPXUq5DSf8Sw0sR9onBsN4KawwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Stephanie%2Band%2BMichael%2B26-10-19%2B11-23-33.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Michael and Steph </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">married at Brassey Hotel Barton ACT</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">26 October 19</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jnokfzJBK18/XbqLMRWni4I/AAAAAAAA9TY/NRTMA8wH4PoEbdz5-JVc2adzMXGSPLZXgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/bloger%2BHolly%2Band%2BMark%2BDad%2BOctober%2B19%2B28-10-19%2B13-34-40.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="948" data-original-width="1425" height="424" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jnokfzJBK18/XbqLMRWni4I/AAAAAAAA9TY/NRTMA8wH4PoEbdz5-JVc2adzMXGSPLZXgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/bloger%2BHolly%2Band%2BMark%2BDad%2BOctober%2B19%2B28-10-19%2B13-34-40.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Holly arrived with her Dad Mark, for her marriage with Diego.<br />
The Heart Garden 28 October 2019<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CjpcvMzVkvs/XbrTCWja9TI/AAAAAAAA9XE/75neii6LWcMwhgFFi8PlcWbKed49HeglQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/blogger%2Bholly%2Band%2Bdiego%2Boctober%2B19%2B28-10-19%2B14-56-11.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1457" data-original-width="1456" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CjpcvMzVkvs/XbrTCWja9TI/AAAAAAAA9XE/75neii6LWcMwhgFFi8PlcWbKed49HeglQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/blogger%2Bholly%2Band%2Bdiego%2Boctober%2B19%2B28-10-19%2B14-56-11.JPG" width="398" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t6BOT5wCs2U/Xbr2bNXfrzI/AAAAAAAA9Xg/q1X2f-biKa8Ey-XnUnkZmYezia16pmxCQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/The%2Bheart%2Bat%2Bthe%2BHeart%2Bgarden%2Bgate%2B31-10-19%2B12-20-50.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="997" data-original-width="1600" height="248" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t6BOT5wCs2U/Xbr2bNXfrzI/AAAAAAAA9Xg/q1X2f-biKa8Ey-XnUnkZmYezia16pmxCQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/The%2Bheart%2Bat%2Bthe%2BHeart%2Bgarden%2Bgate%2B31-10-19%2B12-20-50.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Here is the heart at the Heart Garden gate.</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">If you choose to marry in this lovely, peaceful romantic garden, this is where you'll enter.</span></div>
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<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GRmuGCSs66k/XnL9FYvN88I/AAAAAAAA-Fc/j0DnqG8sClkFONgQ242CexCSrhfGdgVngCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Leanna%2Band%2BRyan%2Bfor%2BInsta%2B8-11-19%2B12-33-14.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1196" data-original-width="1600" height="298" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GRmuGCSs66k/XnL9FYvN88I/AAAAAAAA-Fc/j0DnqG8sClkFONgQ242CexCSrhfGdgVngCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Leanna%2Band%2BRyan%2Bfor%2BInsta%2B8-11-19%2B12-33-14.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leanna and Ryan married in the Heart Garden<br />
8 November 2019 </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h2>
2020</h2>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5LmUQQ8eSWs/XnMobfr-EBI/AAAAAAAA-GU/HK7PY4WgKMAW8kP5Ty04kPhuxiujhj5awCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Hope%2Band%2BCharles%2B29%2BFeb.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5LmUQQ8eSWs/XnMobfr-EBI/AAAAAAAA-GU/HK7PY4WgKMAW8kP5Ty04kPhuxiujhj5awCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Hope%2Band%2BCharles%2B29%2BFeb.JPG" width="357" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hope and Charles married at<br />
Canberra Bejing Garden<br />
on 29 February 2020</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TAIkI3HoLGk/XnMJOAiE_JI/AAAAAAAA-F8/nEt16sJJ9Ikjcz91ny_P51_4vsWkwNAzACEwYBhgL/s1600/SAM_3288.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="620" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TAIkI3HoLGk/XnMJOAiE_JI/AAAAAAAA-F8/nEt16sJJ9Ikjcz91ny_P51_4vsWkwNAzACEwYBhgL/s640/SAM_3288.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A beautiful location for setting up a wedding.<br />
Canberra Bejing Garden Yarralumla ACT</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JOoOT9a_LVA/XnMpVuihMCI/AAAAAAAA-Gc/yrEDBf88pnI5b-7rdoLxUsN1_Wyf8xj1wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/lincoln%2Band%2Bkali%2B7%2Bmarch%2B20.gif" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="800" height="248" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JOoOT9a_LVA/XnMpVuihMCI/AAAAAAAA-Gc/yrEDBf88pnI5b-7rdoLxUsN1_Wyf8xj1wCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/lincoln%2Band%2Bkali%2B7%2Bmarch%2B20.gif" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kali and Lincoln married in my Heart Garden<br />
on 7 March 2020</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-khk39bR1X6U/XnMqFJwkQ_I/AAAAAAAA-Gk/GmiLV0E1P1Y5O6N1r_ArJMQaEX0ZEJtTQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/SAM_3313.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="358" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-khk39bR1X6U/XnMqFJwkQ_I/AAAAAAAA-Gk/GmiLV0E1P1Y5O6N1r_ArJMQaEX0ZEJtTQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/SAM_3313.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ten years together, and this is their wedding day. I share their happiness.<br />
(I was celebrant for Lincoln's mother and her late husband, back in the 90's)<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">I hope all these joyful images inspire you to choose me as your celebrant for your 'beautifully simple, simply beautiful' wedding.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Sincerely</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Michele</span></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">ca-pub-8935539357975972</div>Michele the Celebrant - Michele Bolithohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11497814289373880730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6005221770633216680.post-87527929148534797772018-11-14T16:07:00.001+11:002021-10-13T17:34:14.197+11:00Your three Certificates of Marriage<br />
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Hello, and welcome<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7mUQqXCcp9M/W_OREIkqTCI/AAAAAAAA7kg/Mp8Lr5wqdcEHo_szdpiV5LZdJjvsehKwQCLcBGAs/s1600/Qian%2Band%2BMin%2B8%2B8%2B18.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7mUQqXCcp9M/W_OREIkqTCI/AAAAAAAA7kg/Mp8Lr5wqdcEHo_szdpiV5LZdJjvsehKwQCLcBGAs/s640/Qian%2Band%2BMin%2B8%2B8%2B18.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: x-small;">For Qian and Min, it was their lucky day 8-8-18<br />They married in the sunny cosy green room,<br />overlooking the wintry Heart Garden.</span></td></tr>
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You're getting married... Wonderful! Perhaps you're wondering about what happens when you sign your certificates.</div>
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<br /></div>
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On your wedding day, you’ll sign three Certificates of
Marriage. So will your celebrant and also your two witnesses. You’ll sign the
certificates with your usual signature. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AFv-oB_WLpA/W-ufuNV4-DI/AAAAAAAA7iw/trQOW088pQkCTYPB_75QpUA9yPeYiXBIgCLcBGAs/s1600/SAM_1679.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Nazia signs a certificate of marriage as her new husband Nillarn looks on The Heart Garden Weston ACT Saturday 22 September 2018" border="0" data-original-height="686" data-original-width="1090" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AFv-oB_WLpA/W-ufuNV4-DI/AAAAAAAA7iw/trQOW088pQkCTYPB_75QpUA9yPeYiXBIgCLcBGAs/s320/SAM_1679.JPG" title="" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: x-small;">Sasha signs three certificates of </span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: x-small;">marriage </span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: x-small;">as her new husband </span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: x-small;">Rohan </span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: x-small;">looks on.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: x-small;">The Green Room - </span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: x-small;">The Heart Garden Weston ACT</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: x-small;">Saturday 22 September 2018</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This can be a bit disappointing if you’ve changed your name
already and you want to try out your new signature. You can however, be announced
to your guests by your new married name at the end of your ceremony, if you
wish.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Legal change of name takes place with the making of your
vows of marriage during your wedding ceremony. This means that, by the end of
the ceremony, if you – as bride, or groom, or both - have chosen name change,
then it’s already legally in effect. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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There’s nothing more you need to do about this, but, if you
want to change things like your passport or your driver’s licence, then you
must produce evidence that your legal marriage has taken place.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B7K6i5_RZss/W-ugekfJjlI/AAAAAAAA7i8/ADtGiDOOwSwYYobCJgC6fTKRlIcEMfWKACLcBGAs/s1600/SAM_1684.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B7K6i5_RZss/W-ugekfJjlI/AAAAAAAA7i8/ADtGiDOOwSwYYobCJgC6fTKRlIcEMfWKACLcBGAs/s320/SAM_1684.JPG" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: x-small;">Sasha</span></td></tr>
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<br /></div>
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After your wedding, your celebrant has two weeks to send
your papers to the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages in the territory
or state in which you were married. <o:p></o:p></div>
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To get evidence that your legal marriage has taken place, you
must apply for your Official (or ‘full’) Certificate from the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages. Applying
online is easiest but if you married in the ACT, you can apply at any Access
Canberra shopfront. <o:p></o:p></div>
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You must include credit card payment in your application to
the Registrar.<o:p></o:p></div>
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When you apply, you must fill in the full names that appear
on your Notice of Intended Marriage. They’ll also be on the marriage
certificate you received on the day of your marriage. This means – <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">don’t use married names on your application
to the Registrar.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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If you apply straight after getting married, you’ll need to
allow time for your marriage papers to be processed by the Registrar and
officially registered. (Remember here that your marriage is already legal –
it’s just not registered yet.) <o:p></o:p></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aP5tIci7qB0/W-ui3TVZdmI/AAAAAAAA7jY/7N08vL5j4pYRyNJ3iorm7I2RLz_DcWa2gCLcBGAs/s1600/SAM_1670.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aP5tIci7qB0/W-ui3TVZdmI/AAAAAAAA7jY/7N08vL5j4pYRyNJ3iorm7I2RLz_DcWa2gCLcBGAs/s320/SAM_1670.JPG" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: x-small;">Qian</span></td></tr>
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Next, allow three to four business days for the Registrar’s
Office to process your application, then allow a couple of days as your
certificate travels to you in the mail by registered post. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Because your certificate will be sent by registered post,
there must be someone home to sign for it. If there’s no-one home, you’ll get a
card and you’ll need to sign and collect from the post office.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The current fee for an official certificate in the ACT, with
registration number on it, is $63. This includes registered postage. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Personally, I like to focus on the certificate you take home
on the day. It needs to be a beautiful momento for you, so I ask you at our
meeting to choose the font you’d like me to use when I print it. <o:p></o:p></div>
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If you have Asian names, I’ll ask you whether you want your surname
to appear before your other names. The choice is yours.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The certificate I hand to you on the day will have a unique
number and this number will be recorded, but because it doesn’t have a
registration number, you can’t use this certificate as evidence of your
marriage for any legal purpose (like a licence application or work records).<o:p></o:p></div>
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As evidence of your legal marriage, you must buy an
‘official’ certificate from the Registrar of Births Deaths and Marriages.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9u25x0v3YrU/W-uhxZZv_II/AAAAAAAA7jM/m-0ab64RU00iNbdlnn7LuXliqSbDyVvoACLcBGAs/s1600/SAM_1758-001.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="692" data-original-width="693" height="319" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9u25x0v3YrU/W-uhxZZv_II/AAAAAAAA7jM/m-0ab64RU00iNbdlnn7LuXliqSbDyVvoACLcBGAs/s320/SAM_1758-001.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: x-small;">Angela and Jon, just married, receive their </span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: x-small;">certificate </span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: x-small;">from Michele.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: x-small;">Friday 28 September 18</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: x-small;">at Lennox Gardens ACT</span></td></tr>
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You may be wondering what happens to the other certificate
that’s signed on the day. It’s in your celebrant’s register. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Some celebrants keep an electronic register but I still like
to use a large red book. By law, I have to keep my registers for six years, but
I just like to keep them. (Sometimes I press flowers in them from weddings.)
Because I’ve been celebrant at nearly fourteen hundred weddings, I have quite a
large library of registers!<o:p></o:p></div>
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I was asked at a wedding recently, why the witnesses signed
before the bride and groom. This is my preference. I like the witnesses to sign
first, then I sign, and then the newly married couple. <o:p></o:p></div>
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This plan works well for setting up the photos with just the
couple, signing at the end. Then, as the law requires, I hand the newlyweds
their certificate. (This is a nice chance for me to get a photo for my personal
collection.)<o:p></o:p></div>
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The guest who asked about the order of signing challenged me
about ‘How can they witness the signatures of the bride and groom, if they sign
before them?’ This is a common misunderstanding.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The answer is, that the witnesses certify that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">they witnessed a legal marriage take place</b>,
not that they witnessed the signing of the certificates by the groom and bride.<o:p></o:p></div>
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If you would like me to be celebrant at your wedding, I’d be
delighted to be there for you both.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I specialise in <a href="https://celebrantcanberra.blogspot.com/p/simple-service-registry-office-wedding.html" target="_blank">small simple weddings</a>, with any number of guests, on any day or night, at any time. I call them <i>beautifully simple and simply beautiful</i>. We have no registry office weddings in Canberra ACT, so I offer a perfect alternative.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sjf0kxHq0YY/W_OYbKkkYCI/AAAAAAAA7k8/OCPJukKTTxghhGPJjbgKUqXOqFK19XLRQCEwYBhgL/s1600/SAM_1716.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="740" data-original-width="740" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sjf0kxHq0YY/W_OYbKkkYCI/AAAAAAAA7k8/OCPJukKTTxghhGPJjbgKUqXOqFK19XLRQCEwYBhgL/s320/SAM_1716.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: x-small;">Micah and Marlon married at</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: x-small;">Royal Canberra Golf Club</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: x-small;">on 2 September 2018</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
If your wedding is going to be small with around 10 adult guests or less (and any number of children) you'll be most welcome to marry in my peaceful romantic Heart Garden. </div>
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<a href="https://celebrantcanberra.blogspot.com/p/my-fees-and-what-they-cover.html" target="_blank">My fee</a> for any wedding is $650. There's no extra fee for a wedding in my garden. You may like to see garden photos on <a href="https://www.pinterest.com.au/mbolithocc/" target="_blank">my Pinterest page</a>. And there are lots more on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/michelethecelebrantcanberra/?ref=badgeC:\Users\Michele\Documents\Any%20Video%20Converter" target="_blank">Instagram</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Michele.the.Celebrant.Canberra/" target="_blank">facebook</a>.</div>
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There’s an <a href="https://celebrantcanberra.blogspot.com/p/email-contact-form.html" target="_blank">email contact form here</a>. Or please phone me on 0406
376 375 any day between 9am and 9pm, or text anytime, and let's talk about your wedding. </div>
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My congratulations to you both on your very happy plan.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
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Sincerely<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Michele<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dWYyIaaywDU/W_OWZXMkWcI/AAAAAAAA7ks/WGa-ErFyfHoFyDEbSpFBsrrtZTKyDnaEQCLcBGAs/s1600/SAM_1735.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="659" data-original-width="1090" height="385" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dWYyIaaywDU/W_OWZXMkWcI/AAAAAAAA7ks/WGa-ErFyfHoFyDEbSpFBsrrtZTKyDnaEQCLcBGAs/s640/SAM_1735.JPG" title="Nazia and Nillarn married on Saturday 22 September 2018" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: x-small;">Nazia and Nillarn married at the home of Nazia's parents in Macgregor<br />on Saturday 22 September 2018</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xLYIM8b5IVU/W-uqNL6gs6I/AAAAAAAA7jw/EM2WVLSfol4dV9VlSrMt1zrRp5-OQ6HngCLcBGAs/s1600/SAM_1805.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The rustic entrance to the Heart Garden in mid-Spring 2018" border="0" data-original-height="647" data-original-width="1080" height="380" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xLYIM8b5IVU/W-uqNL6gs6I/AAAAAAAA7jw/EM2WVLSfol4dV9VlSrMt1zrRp5-OQ6HngCLcBGAs/s640/SAM_1805.JPG" title="" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: x-small;">The rustic entrance to the Heart Garden in mid-Spring 2018</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0UdMK21gG_w/W_OeapsZw-I/AAAAAAAA7lE/-Rtc6eBNyC41aQfrWJrZ08GJqZKBVJzYwCLcBGAs/s1600/SAM_1845.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1002" data-original-width="1504" height="426" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0UdMK21gG_w/W_OeapsZw-I/AAAAAAAA7lE/-Rtc6eBNyC41aQfrWJrZ08GJqZKBVJzYwCLcBGAs/s640/SAM_1845.JPG" title="Heart Garden Mid-spring 2018" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: x-small;">The Heart Garden in mid-Spring 2018. When the poppies, violas, rhododendrons and wisteria finish, the roses will come on. Masses of flowers on the large potted blueberry (mid-screen) mean a bumper crop this summer.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">ca-pub-8935539357975972</div>Michele the Celebrant - Michele Bolithohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11497814289373880730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6005221770633216680.post-71220982935940698702018-10-09T14:22:00.001+11:002018-10-09T14:22:59.023+11:00Heart Garden wedding Canberra ACT- Amanda and Scott<br /><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PKr5dZFd4Sg" width="480"></iframe><div class="blogger-post-footer">ca-pub-8935539357975972</div>Michele the Celebrant - Michele Bolithohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11497814289373880730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6005221770633216680.post-25060255768604233602018-06-29T19:35:00.002+10:002019-01-09T15:06:43.169+11:00A Canberra Registry Office wedding? What about witnesses? Will you elope? ... And a happy story, ten years on<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Hello, and welcome</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T19KyI1XoBI/WzC8TuJJtrI/AAAAAAAA6-c/-yuF-qws7CQIEglTEUP6oGI9VeJzfoi5gCLcBGAs/s1600/SAM_1329.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T19KyI1XoBI/WzC8TuJJtrI/AAAAAAAA6-c/-yuF-qws7CQIEglTEUP6oGI9VeJzfoi5gCLcBGAs/s640/SAM_1329.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">They married by the lake in a simple secret ceremony with just two special friends as witnesses, on a stormy afternoon in late autumn. Just as I said 'It's time for your first kiss as ... husband and wife!' there was a bright burst of sunlight across the lake. How magical is that?!</span></o:p></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hyOLUa3xwMI/WzXrReXQxRI/AAAAAAAA7AA/uokgwGi7i2UBhq6ztxgYIxqu2QnhyaulwCLcBGAs/s1600/SAM_1336.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="841" data-original-width="842" height="199" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hyOLUa3xwMI/WzXrReXQxRI/AAAAAAAA7AA/uokgwGi7i2UBhq6ztxgYIxqu2QnhyaulwCLcBGAs/s200/SAM_1336.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">All rugged up for the wedding<br />at Molonglo Reach<br />Lake Burley Griffin ACT<br />So much fun!</span></td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Registry Office weddings in the ACT </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Registry Office weddings in the ACT?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There are none.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In most other cities in Australia, couples who want a short simple wedding go
to the local registry office but ACT registry-office weddings finished about twenty years ago. You’ll need to find a private civil celebrant in the
ACT for your registry-office wedding alternative. I would love to be at your
service.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://celebrantcanberra.blogspot.com/p/simple-service-registry-office-wedding.html" target="_blank">Short simple weddings</a> are my specialty. I call them <i>Simply beautiful and beautifully simple.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I offer you a beautiful venue – my large private peaceful romantic Heart
Garden, or if you wish to marry during the cooler months, my green room with
its windows on three sides overlooking the garden. It's warm, cosy and intimate. From
about 2 in the afternoon, sunlight streams in and I also light candles. And of course, there'll be flowers from my garden. (Or in winter I'll buy some.)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8EEL4o9TVkQ/WztGCffQ9kI/AAAAAAAA7Cg/IaFfHCkrj_kBQIycGTMb2OlmfSHeCUTZQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Green%2Broom%2Bin%2BMay%2B11-5-18%2B13-17-33.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8EEL4o9TVkQ/WztGCffQ9kI/AAAAAAAA7Cg/IaFfHCkrj_kBQIycGTMb2OlmfSHeCUTZQCEwYBhgL/s400/Green%2Broom%2Bin%2BMay%2B11-5-18%2B13-17-33.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Here's
my green room, set up for a private wedding in mid-May 2018 <br />on a chilly autumn day. There are candles, flowers, crystal glasses <br />and a pair
of special Chinese wedding decorations <br />which a couple gave to me many years ago.
<br />The bride and groom (whose families are from China) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">will stand in the bay window.<br />
We had the ceremony and signing inside, <br />then got some beautiful photos in the
garden.</span></td></tr>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For all Heart Garden weddings, I invite you to bring a
special drink to celebrate after your ceremony. I'll provide the crystal glasses.
You can also bring your favourite music to play through my amplifier.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The maximum number of adult guests for a Heart Garden
wedding is around ten. All children are welcome. Weddings can be held on any day, between 10 and about 4.30. (Depends on the time of year.) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I wish I could show you photos from the three same-sex marriages I've hosted in my garden this year as they were wonderfully happy occasions. By request of the newlyweds, there are no photos from these weddings publically online.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Choosing your
witnesses<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You’ll need two witnesses to your marriage. Even though by
law, you have to call on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">all persons here
present</i> (or <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">everyone here</i>) to
witness your vows of marriage to one another, it's also law that only two people actually need to
be watching and listening.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Usually the witnesses are one person who’s special to the
bride plus one person special to the groom – or own person special to each
marrying partner. Your witnesses can be family. They can be friends or someone
in your community whom you especially respect and wish to honour.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Choosing your witness is often a sensitive choice. Many
witnesses, if not most, consider it a privilege to be chosen as a witness to a
marriage. For this reason, the choice you make can have consequences that it’s good to be aware of. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Choose with care. Just as
the person you ask to witness for you can feel really good about being chosen,
a person whom you <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">don’t</b> choose can
feel really bad. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Witnesses to your marriage need to be 18 or over. They must
be present in person to watch you make your vows. Because marriage in
Australian law is essentially a verbal contract, your witnesses must be close
enough to hear your vows as well. They must have a good command of English to
be able to understand all that’s being said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">After your ceremony, your witnesses (along with both of you
and your celebrant) will sign three certificates of marriage. This way they testify
that they were witnessing as your marriage was solemnised. (Or you may choose to have <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">legalised</i> in your wedding wording
instead of the traditional <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">solemnised</i>.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Are you thinking of
eloping?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BnCmQAXty2g/WzC40b1ZDEI/AAAAAAAA698/qqhe_h5jxF4re9CWz-3Z_M42bnedJL3lgCLcBGAs/s1600/20160221_084819.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BnCmQAXty2g/WzC40b1ZDEI/AAAAAAAA698/qqhe_h5jxF4re9CWz-3Z_M42bnedJL3lgCLcBGAs/s200/20160221_084819.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Are you thinking of eloping? If so, I can help. As for any legal marriage ceremony, you’ll
need two adult witnesses.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Witnesses to a marriage don’t need to know the couple
personally. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Many years ago, I was at Green Patch in <span style="background: white;">Booderee National Park, <em><span style="font-style: normal;">Jervis Bay</span></em> NSW for an elopement. </span>I had the unusual experience of asking a
father coming off the beach with his two young daughters, if he would kindly be one of the witnesses. He was very happy to do this and his two little girls
were delighted to be part of ‘a real wedding’ with a handsome groom and a
beautiful bride, dressed in lace. <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My
husband David was with me so that we could spend the weekend together in Jervis Bay. He was the other
witness.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cKGUQMUf3FQ/WzXpqS9EI4I/AAAAAAAA6_0/BMTIpIEL2yMDdi5HKHKbcm7c-QGITT-IACLcBGAs/s1600/Annie%2Band%2BKyle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1529" data-original-width="1529" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cKGUQMUf3FQ/WzXpqS9EI4I/AAAAAAAA6_0/BMTIpIEL2yMDdi5HKHKbcm7c-QGITT-IACLcBGAs/s400/Annie%2Band%2BKyle.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Nice
story, don’t you think?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Well, there’s more to it, and it’s just as happy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Annie, who was the bride, contacted me a while ago, to tell
me that she and Kyle had just celebrated their ten-year anniversary. They
dropped in from Tumburramba to say hello with their daughter. It was a
wonderful surprise!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Annie wrote me a great review on facebook, for which I
am most grateful. (But it's disappeared.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-07Hpv_SfvzE/WzC5W_TI2DI/AAAAAAAA6-E/N7_tLPcgDK4oJcF6K-t0qugFkHQ4I2p-wCLcBGAs/s1600/SAM_0552.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-07Hpv_SfvzE/WzC5W_TI2DI/AAAAAAAA6-E/N7_tLPcgDK4oJcF6K-t0qugFkHQ4I2p-wCLcBGAs/s200/SAM_0552.JPG" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Over the years there have been many happy elopements in my
Heart Garden. Witnesses have been my daughters, my daughter-in-law, my friends,
my neighbours and my husband. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It’s been really special for us to share the joy with these
couples, who for their own reasons, chose to marry quietly and keep it to themselves.
I wish I could show you some of the gorgeous photos I’ve taken for them and also
kept in my own collection. But of course, I can’t show you because I
totally respect their privacy and confidentiality.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I’d be delighted to be celebrant at your wedding, large or
small, with lots of guests or only two. In any location of your choice, including
my beautiful garden or in my warm and cosy green room, overlooking the garden. There
is no extra fee for this. My fee, which covers everything is $600. (More info <a href="https://celebrantcanberra.blogspot.com/p/my-fees-and-what-they-cover.html" target="_blank">here</a>.)</span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AUmUHv-QD54/WzC7ATji7HI/AAAAAAAA6-Q/H-5hJdjJlJ017P23f1m8JH-HqlZE2OTZgCLcBGAs/s1600/20180502_141656.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AUmUHv-QD54/WzC7ATji7HI/AAAAAAAA6-Q/H-5hJdjJlJ017P23f1m8JH-HqlZE2OTZgCLcBGAs/s320/20180502_141656.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Cherie and Barjinder<br />shared their special day with their families<br />in the Rose Gardens<br />of Parliament House ACT<br />on 2 May 2018</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I’d love to be there for you both at any time you
like, on any day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There’s a contact form <a href="https://celebrantcanberra.blogspot.com/p/email-contact-form.html" target="_blank">here</a>. Or you may like to phone or text
me on 0406 376 375, any day between 9am and 9pm, or send a PM on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Michele.the.Celebrant.Canberra/" target="_blank">facebook</a>. We’ll
only need one one-hour meeting together to do all we need to do before your big
day – it’s that simple. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Are you wanting to
marry ASAP?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Marriage Act requires that you wait one month after
lodging your Notice of Intended Marriage with your celebrant. (Although you might qualify for a shortening of this time, which can only be granted by the Registrar of Births,
Deaths and Marriages if your celebrant applies on your behalf.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If you wish to marry as soon as possible, I can help you
marry exactly one month from the day you contact me. As long as you can contact me
by phone or text before about 11pm, you can lodge your <a href="https://celebrantcanberra.blogspot.com/p/notice-of-intended-marriage.html" target="_blank">Notice of Intended Marriage</a> with me that same day. We'll need to have a meeting together as well, but there's no rush for that. I’d love to share in your
excitement!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sincerely<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Michele</span><o:p></o:p><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VyP8u7QGqvM/WzXvIekNjVI/AAAAAAAA7AU/-lBJAXfBaHcg9tUtqKpRM7ga6N1JVofigCLcBGAs/s1600/Mid%2Bspring%2Bin%2Bthe%2BHeart%2BGarden%2B2017%2B28-10-17%2B13-54-30.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="1600" height="280" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VyP8u7QGqvM/WzXvIekNjVI/AAAAAAAA7AU/-lBJAXfBaHcg9tUtqKpRM7ga6N1JVofigCLcBGAs/s640/Mid%2Bspring%2Bin%2Bthe%2BHeart%2BGarden%2B2017%2B28-10-17%2B13-54-30.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Heart Garden - hosted fourteen Spring weddings in 2017.<br />Spring seems so far away as we're heading for mid-winter. If you'd like to marry in the Heart Garden next Spring, let's meet soon.</span></td></tr>
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<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">ca-pub-8935539357975972</div>Michele the Celebrant - Michele Bolithohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11497814289373880730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6005221770633216680.post-71326279427615770762018-03-19T10:16:00.000+11:002018-04-26T11:22:26.022+10:00For your beautifully simple and simply beautiful wedding<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Hello, and welcome</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zzVVWNFIKJ8/Wq7tTgixYCI/AAAAAAAA6uA/zIm9jKA5b4Ep637lIX6KIBcnIwQJHoN9gCLcBGAs/s1600/SAM_0716.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1599" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zzVVWNFIKJ8/Wq7tTgixYCI/AAAAAAAA6uA/zIm9jKA5b4Ep637lIX6KIBcnIwQJHoN9gCLcBGAs/s640/SAM_0716.JPG" width="636" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">Christina has walked along the garden path with her father,<br />to begin her married life with Steve. I think the feeling captured in </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">this image is just beautiful.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">The Heart Garden 27 December 2017</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Because there are no registry office weddings in the ACT, as a Canberra
civil marriage celebrant, I specialise in simple ceremonies. I call
them <i>beautifully simple and simply beautiful. </i>They're short
and fully legal, but they're also moving and sincere, and very memorable.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> I provide a registry-office wedding alternative in
the private, peaceful surroundings of my beautiful Heart Garden, or at any
other venue of your choice. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> I've been a celebrant for over a thousand weddings, mostly in Canberra and nearby New South Wales, so I can
recommend places that could be just perfect for your big day. (I know, for
instance, what is flowering where, and when.)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> If you choose to marry in my Heart Garden, there is
no extra fee for this. I'm also the Heart Gardener, so I'll put many hours into
making the garden look its best for you and your guests. </span><i style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Heart
Garden Weston ACT </i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">will be written on your three Certificates of
Marriage.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"> You may marry in my garden on any day. The maximum number of (adult) guests is ten. All children are welcome. If the weather's not human-friendly, your ceremony and signing can take place in my green room, with windows in three walls overlooking the garden.</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-plnr0UBpW6U/Wq7sJFL9zOI/AAAAAAAA6t0/UvD7keniRgM7loqROnMjzReDIfRUwhOxgCLcBGAs/s1600/MB%2BDecember%2B2017%2B27-12-17%2B14-24-16.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1180" data-original-width="813" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-plnr0UBpW6U/Wq7sJFL9zOI/AAAAAAAA6t0/UvD7keniRgM7loqROnMjzReDIfRUwhOxgCLcBGAs/s200/MB%2BDecember%2B2017%2B27-12-17%2B14-24-16.JPG" width="137" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">Michele, handing over a </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">Certificate of Marriage<br />at a private Heart</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">Garden wedding<br />December 2017 </span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> BYO bubbly or other celebration drink and I'll
supply the crystal flutes. Maybe bring a favourite music track for your
entrance along the garden path.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> I will travel to any venue for your wedding, on any
day (or night) with any number of guests. If you have about 30 guests or more,
I'll bring my high-quality portable PA system.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> As a celebrant, I'm experienced, friendly, flexible
and efficient. Six civil marriage celebrants </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">have chosen me as celebrant for
their own weddings. This is my favourite endorsement of the service I provide.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Preparing for your wedding</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> I have streamlined the pre-marriage process into
one one-hour meeting. This is held at least one month before your wedding day,
as required by law. You'll lodge your Notice of Intended Marriage with me at
our meeting (not the Registrar of Births, Deaths & Marriages).<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mElqThkLWvM/Wq7ixhg4PUI/AAAAAAAA6tQ/j4nlhAccY6UeqgcAamMSaSUogr4qmLxBQCLcBGAs/s1600/20180203_155233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mElqThkLWvM/Wq7ixhg4PUI/AAAAAAAA6tQ/j4nlhAccY6UeqgcAamMSaSUogr4qmLxBQCLcBGAs/s320/20180203_155233.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">Such a special day for Thao and Kirill<br />Married in the Heart Garden<br />3 February 2018</span></td></tr>
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<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">From our meeting, you'll both be confident about exactly how your wedding will go. You'll also choose your wording at our meeting. It will fit on just one A4 page. That certainly is simple, but you'll also have the opportunity to add personal vows. (About 50% of couples choose to do this I've found.)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> I usually hold wedding meetings (in Weston) on
Monday and Wednesday evenings. Please note here that <b>I only have meetings with
couples who book me as their celebrant.</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> If you wish to marry ASAP, you'll still need to
wait the legal month (unless the Registrar grants you a shortening of time in
extraordinary circumstances). When you contact me about your wedding, I'll tell
you how to lodge your Notice with me straightaway so you can marry in exactly
one month's time.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <b>Absolutely everything for your legal marriage is
included in my fee of $600. </b>(If your wedding's out of town I'll add a bit extra for
travel beyond Canberra's limits.)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> As soon as you contact me, I'll
email you a Notice of Intended Marriage and three files of information about
the pre-marriage process, including the documents you'll need to produce (such
as passports or birth certificates). I'll send full details of the service I
provide.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> When you lodge your Notice of Intended Marriage,
I'll sight your required documents. As required by law, I'll explain legal obligations
and give you information about getting married in Australia. I'll help you
choose your ceremony wording. After your wedding, I'll send your papers to the
Registrar.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Your wedding</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Your ceremony could be as short as five minutes but
with the signing, the photos and mingling with your guests, your wedding will
probably last about an hour. It's not unusual for a wedding in my garden to
last an hour and a half, maybe two. </span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-crOIaOYXWiw/Wq7k9IPNDUI/AAAAAAAA6tk/7PpAzPUpCeon5ItXNHg9VI2XckelPgnGwCLcBGAs/s1600/rex%2Bbillie%2Band%2Byessa%2B27-1-18%2B14-27-04.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-crOIaOYXWiw/Wq7k9IPNDUI/AAAAAAAA6tk/7PpAzPUpCeon5ItXNHg9VI2XckelPgnGwCLcBGAs/s320/rex%2Bbillie%2Band%2Byessa%2B27-1-18%2B14-27-04.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Yessa and Rex, joyful newlyweds<br />Nara Peace Park Canberra<br />27 January 2o18</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> In Australia you can't 'just do the paperwork'. You
must have a ceremony and that ceremony will have certain compulsory parts, eg
your legal names must be announced at some time during the ceremony. You must
be informed by your celebrant of the legal nature of marriage in Australia.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> You'll actually legally marry during your marriage
ceremony when you make vows of marriage to one another. This must be done in
the presence of your celebrant and at least two witnesses. Legal name change also takes place with the making of your verbal marriage vows, if that's your choice.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Even though you must call on 'all those here present' to witness your marriage, legally you'll only need two adults to do so. Your witnesses must be 18 or over. They can be
family if you wish. If you want to elope or keep your wedding very private, I
can help find witnesses for you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> There'll be three certificates of marriage to prove
that your marriage has taken place. I'll send one of these certificates to the
Registrar for the registration of your marriage and keep one for my
records. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> You'll take home with you, a personal marriage
certificate (in the font of your choice) along with your ceremony, printed on
parchment, also in the font of your choice. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Your ceremony will be short and simple, but it will
still be memorable and special. All legal requirements will be included but
you'll have the opportunity to add your own personal touches to make it
unique. </span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ckgSLsBSHo4/Ws1voyLUjfI/AAAAAAAA6xY/r3T5U0ZwmUI0IWa7kmBh9tSyrHPxav9ewCLcBGAs/s1600/DSC08490%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ckgSLsBSHo4/Ws1voyLUjfI/AAAAAAAA6xY/r3T5U0ZwmUI0IWa7kmBh9tSyrHPxav9ewCLcBGAs/s200/DSC08490%255B1%255D.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 12.5px;">
I love brides! And I love the heartfelt</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 12.5px;">
feelings that we share </div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 12.5px;">
on their day of days.<br />
Here Lin gives me a<br />
hug of happiness,<br />
after she married Lee<br />
in the Formal Gardens of<br />
Parliament House </div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> I invite you to bring your own personal vows with you to your wedding. Or you may like to just hold hands and ad lib special messages to each other. P</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">erhaps you'll simply want to make vows of marriage.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> With your wording I'll give you all the options that are legally allowed by the Attorney-General. For instance, you've probably heard at weddings of friends and family: 'all persons here present' many times over, but you won't be limited to this. You may prefer 'all people here present'. Or you may like to keep it really simple and friendly with 'everybody here' or 'everyone here'.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Let's make contact</b></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">I love being a celebrant and I feel privileged to be an integral part of such a significant event, as two people in love begin their married life together.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Please feel free to contact me about your wedding
any day, at any time from 9am to 9pm, by phone, text, </span><a href="https://business.google.com/contact@celebrantcanberra.com.au"><span style="color: #4285f4; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">email</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> or PM on my facebook page
- </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Michele.the.Celebrant.Canberra/"><span style="color: #4285f4; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Michele the
Celebrant Canberra</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> There's an email contact form on this page, or </span><a href="http://celebrantcanberra.blogspot.com.au/p/email-contact-form.html" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">. We can
arrange to Skype if you'd like, especially if you're living overseas when you
lodge your Notice.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> I'd be delighted to be celebrant for you both on
your most special day. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> My delivery of your ceremony will be heartfelt and
sincere. My voice is clear and well-modulated. If I'm your celebrant, I won't
stand between you. I think when you see your wedding photos, you'll be really
glad of this. I'll stand to the side, dressed in a way that won't attract
attention. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> You two will be standing together, at the centre of everything, sharing the time of your life!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> And my congratulations to you both.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Sincerely</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Michele.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ul6z0zOsHMc/Wq7iP1KKlGI/AAAAAAAA6tM/evnCvKscE80NY2J1ax_8IEzVtzBnqrbHwCEwYBhgL/s1600/20180210_131803.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="214" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ul6z0zOsHMc/Wq7iP1KKlGI/AAAAAAAA6tM/evnCvKscE80NY2J1ax_8IEzVtzBnqrbHwCEwYBhgL/s320/20180210_131803.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Newlyweds
Scott and Samantha share loving looks<br style="text-align: start;" />
<span style="text-align: start;">The Heart Garden 10 February 2018</span></span></div>
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<div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ij724Jz8T0Y/Wq7kI_ZzczI/AAAAAAAA6tc/E7Q96EIJplgr36iIHQfvhqkpiQ24KSl2gCLcBGAs/s1600/SAM_0908.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ij724Jz8T0Y/Wq7kI_ZzczI/AAAAAAAA6tc/E7Q96EIJplgr36iIHQfvhqkpiQ24KSl2gCLcBGAs/s400/SAM_0908.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Samantha, Scott and Michele</span></span></td></tr>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Your day is my focus.</span></i></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">That's my promise.</span></i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">It's my pleasure.</span></i><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">ca-pub-8935539357975972</div>Michele the Celebrant - Michele Bolithohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11497814289373880730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6005221770633216680.post-74881515348365561242017-12-30T21:31:00.001+11:002018-03-19T10:17:26.997+11:00Success on the Australian Marriage scene.<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Hello and welcome</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> On the historic day of Saturday December 9 2017, I was celebrant at two weddings in which, by law, I spoke the new wording, that marriage in Australia is 'between two people'. Up until then, the law required me to say 'between a man and a woman'. (Or I was permitted to say: 'between a woman and a man'.) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> At the wedding in the morning, a few guests noticed when I said the new words for the first time. At the second wedding, later in the afternoon, there were loud cheers all-round and lots of appreciative clapping.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> In my last blogpost I mentioned my wish that marriage equality would soon become law in Australia. And it happened. And it happened very rapidly. And there's more to it than I realised. I'll tell you more in my next post ...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Here's a photo from a private wedding in my beautiful romantic Heart Garden. I always ask couples if they'd like their photos to go online or not. Here I have permission to publish this lovely photo, but not identify the couple. They were actually eloping! I helped them in this exciting endeavour by finding two witnesses for them. Here are the hands of the newlyweds and a white magnolia from my garden.</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Tyyvl9NCjAo/WkdqkBQCf9I/AAAAAAAA6jA/ZktrcB4IBuIAqmIzCD33_PjTJAlKbyY2gCLcBGAs/s1600/SAM_0552.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Tyyvl9NCjAo/WkdqkBQCf9I/AAAAAAAA6jA/ZktrcB4IBuIAqmIzCD33_PjTJAlKbyY2gCLcBGAs/s400/SAM_0552.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I wish you a truly wonderful new year, especially if it's the year of your marriage.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Please visit my </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Michele.the.Celebrant.Canberra/" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">facebook page</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> for my latest photos and news. Or look for Michele the Celebrant Canberra on </span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/michelethecelebrantcanberra/?ref=badgeC:\Users\Michele\Documents\Any%20Video%20Converter" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Instagram</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">. If you'd like to contact me about your wedding, please visit my </span><a href="http://celebrantcanberra.blogspot.com.au/p/email-contact-form.html" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Contact Page</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">. Or phone or text me on 0406 376 375 any day between 9am and 9pm. Or email me directly <a href="mailto:contact@celebrantcanberra.com.au" target="_blank">here</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Till next time</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Sincerely</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Michele</span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yYvRwqu6fAI/Wkdtzi8cREI/AAAAAAAA6jQ/6hNL7m0cxlMrhCb3Pm7B_3JjFCwXUUFPACLcBGAs/s1600/SAM_0425.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yYvRwqu6fAI/Wkdtzi8cREI/AAAAAAAA6jQ/6hNL7m0cxlMrhCb3Pm7B_3JjFCwXUUFPACLcBGAs/s640/SAM_0425.JPG" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amanda and Scott shared a wonderfully happy occasion<br />
with their family and friends <span style="font-size: 12.8px;">in late spring in the Heart Garden</span><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ahICc0ecfWU/WkdyA5vm_RI/AAAAAAAA6jc/Pjtyfb61eTUmIgVNRdbJYnsJuuuff5gDACLcBGAs/s1600/SAM_0502.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="655" data-original-width="978" height="428" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ahICc0ecfWU/WkdyA5vm_RI/AAAAAAAA6jc/Pjtyfb61eTUmIgVNRdbJYnsJuuuff5gDACLcBGAs/s640/SAM_0502.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Suwanna and Paul, leaving the Heart Garden as blissfully happy newlyweds.</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<h4>
FAREWELL TO 2017</h4>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">ca-pub-8935539357975972</div>Michele the Celebrant - Michele Bolithohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11497814289373880730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6005221770633216680.post-37073284594896267872017-09-28T20:45:00.000+10:002018-04-26T13:06:12.233+10:00Change is coming soon (I hope)<div class="MsoNormal">
Hello, and welcome.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Yj4Gl-hGGvY/WcxDWzNZQII/AAAAAAAA56s/NzKeEhXJgwIs-kUCKwo8YGBmSdCjz46rQCLcBGAs/s1600/SAM_0004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1596" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Yj4Gl-hGGvY/WcxDWzNZQII/AAAAAAAA56s/NzKeEhXJgwIs-kUCKwo8YGBmSdCjz46rQCLcBGAs/s640/SAM_0004.JPG" width="636" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Luisa and Alex married in the green room, overlooking<br />
The Heart Garden on a sunny winter day.<br />
11 August 2017</td></tr>
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I remember years ago, being celebrant for a couple – it was
last millennium in fact. But they weren’t actually marrying each other.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pq7yJQEFaco/WcxCrvIkmWI/AAAAAAAA56k/qO1TYhZGAcothUNPsoPuJ_ZFxyA6IFT_ACEwYBhgL/s1600/SAM_0012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pq7yJQEFaco/WcxCrvIkmWI/AAAAAAAA56k/qO1TYhZGAcothUNPsoPuJ_ZFxyA6IFT_ACEwYBhgL/s200/SAM_0012.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ashleigh and Manoj<br />
married in early Spring<br />
in The Heart Garden<br />
16 September 2017</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
They were divorced. Their separation was amicable. They
still owned a business together, where they both worked. The wife had fallen in
love with a woman who came to work for them. The husband had also found new
love.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Each ex-married partner asked me to be their celebrant when
they each made a voluntary, exclusive, lifelong commitment to their new female
partners.</div>
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For him and his betrothed, it was traditional legal marriage,
according to the Australian Marriage Act of 1961. For her and her partner, it
was to be a Ceremony of Commitment.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v_AL_7WbpNQ/WcxCK6HaTjI/AAAAAAAA56c/5QhwWDrkuXYLCA_2l4pSXMdwicRabOMQwCLcBGAs/s1600/SAM_0027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v_AL_7WbpNQ/WcxCK6HaTjI/AAAAAAAA56c/5QhwWDrkuXYLCA_2l4pSXMdwicRabOMQwCLcBGAs/s200/SAM_0027.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ness and Aaron<br />
married at home in Yass,<br />
overlooking the river.<br />
16 August 2017</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
At my meetings with the two women, we put together a
ceremony that was sincere and deeply moving. Of course, it ended with a kiss. I
enjoyed putting my artistic endeavour into creating a Certificate of Commitment
to commemorate their most special event.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Their wedding was a big happy success.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8-0yEvKAVQk/WcxDAIo7-hI/AAAAAAAA56o/BOETIJJXeQoCexzp-ZDYv3Ln3NQ3PBjBgCEwYBhgL/s200/20170917_115912%255B1%255D.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="150" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jessica and Ian<br />
married at The Rock Lawn<br />
National Botanic Gardens<br />
11 September 2017</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8-0yEvKAVQk/WcxDAIo7-hI/AAAAAAAA56o/BOETIJJXeQoCexzp-ZDYv3Ln3NQ3PBjBgCEwYBhgL/s1600/20170917_115912%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"> </a> Likewise the traditional ceremony between the ex-husband and
his new bride. It was held on a lovely day at Lennox Gardens, just near the
lake. I remember that only one actual ring was given – from husband to wife.
The groom, who worked in an industry where rings could be hazardous, chose to
have a ring tatoo instead.<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Both of these weddings took place before civil unions became
legal in the ACT. Since then I haven’t been celebrant for any same-sex couples.
This is simply because I have plenty of work as a celebrant at traditional
marriages. Because the authorisation process for Civil Union Celebrants is a
complex one and rego must be paid each year (as it must for Civil Marriage Celebrants)
I decided not to apply.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I look forward to the time when once again, I can join
same-sex couples as their celebrant, as they celebrate their love and
commitment to each other in the presence of their families and friends. I look
forward to being their marriage celebrant according to the revised Australian
Marriage Act.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4fNlGVBePMQ/WcxBVQ3G6FI/AAAAAAAA56Q/OTUVCT_if7sk40brQy1IPdJFC4lhHs32ACLcBGAs/s1600/SAM_0005-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4fNlGVBePMQ/WcxBVQ3G6FI/AAAAAAAA56Q/OTUVCT_if7sk40brQy1IPdJFC4lhHs32ACLcBGAs/s400/SAM_0005-001.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kubra and Youssef married at the National Library of Australia<br />
13 August 2017</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Meelo, JM and Snippet</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here’s a fun collage I put together to show my family. It
features my husband’s little Cairn Terrier, Snippet. Snippet is usually in the
house when there’s a wedding in the garden, but this time she was specifically
invited to attend by Meelo and JM. They married in The Heart Garden on Sunday 10 September.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3Ol9MAvLNXE/Wcw-kq88pyI/AAAAAAAA554/PVr1AqcSyHYUhluT5k0bqfAvwjXY90CQQCLcBGAs/s1600/snippet%2Bas%2Bthe%2Bbridesmaid%2B12-9-17%2B14-07-09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3Ol9MAvLNXE/Wcw-kq88pyI/AAAAAAAA554/PVr1AqcSyHYUhluT5k0bqfAvwjXY90CQQCLcBGAs/s400/snippet%2Bas%2Bthe%2Bbridesmaid%2B12-9-17%2B14-07-09.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
It was Snippet herself who decided to take on the role of
the bridesmaid. JM’s father had come from the Philippines for his son’s
wedding. JM and his father walked through the garden together to JM’s bride
Meelo. Totally spontaneously, Snippet walked in front, just like a regular
bridesmaid.<br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then, when we were signing the certificates, Snippet chose
to sit on the grass near the signing table. Thanks JM and Meelo for treating Snippet
as your guest. She obviously felt quite at home and had a wonderful time.</div>
<b><o:p></o:p></b><br />
<b></b>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>If you would like me to be your celebrant ...</b><br />
If you would like me to be your celebrant, I'd be delighted. These days I specialise in simple wedding ceremonies. They're an alternative to Registry Office weddings, as <b>we have no registry office weddings in the ACT. </b>But then, a lot of couples are looking for a celebrant who will keep their wedding simple, but still make it feel very special. I'd love to help this happen for you both.<br />
I've created a ceremony that covers all legal requirements, and I've been through the Marriage Act to find all the options the Attorney-General allows. As well, I always invite you to add your own personal vows. Even though your ceremony will be one simple A4 page, it's still going to sound very personal and wonderful on the day.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yzI1d3F_Z3I/Wcw_li1CHPI/AAAAAAAA56A/ATvL28xC8945TmGCxto4YJ-BgHsZaUSeQCLcBGAs/s1600/SAM_0021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1600" height="248" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yzI1d3F_Z3I/Wcw_li1CHPI/AAAAAAAA56A/ATvL28xC8945TmGCxto4YJ-BgHsZaUSeQCLcBGAs/s400/SAM_0021.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was a sparkling day on Monday 25 September in Commonwealth Park East<br />
when Ben and Mel married, but soooooo windy!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Your simple wedding can be any size, at any time, on any day (or evening) in any location of your choice. If you'd like to have a small wedding in my Heart Garden, the maximum number of guests is around ten. Heart Garden weddings are held on any day - weekday or weekend. The earliest is 10.30 in the morning. 4.30 in the afternoon is the latest. Allow at least 'a good hour' for your Heart Garden wedding, but of course, stay longer if you wish. You may like to linger for photos. If you bring a special drink to celebrate with, I'll supply the crystal champagne flutes. And feel free to bring music - I have the amplifier and cable to attach to your phone.<br />
Please contact me using this <a href="http://celebrantcanberra.blogspot.com.au/p/email-contact-form.html" target="_blank">contact form</a>. Or <a href="mailto:contact@celebrantcanberra.com.au" target="_blank">email me</a>. Or phone or text me, any day between 9am and 9pm on 0406 376 375. I'm happy to answer any questions you may have about getting married in Australia, whether you choose me as your celebrant or not. We can arrange a Skype chat if you wish.<br />
If you plan to marry as soon as possible, I<b> can help you marry exactly one month from the day of our first contact.</b> There's more information <a href="http://celebrantcanberra.blogspot.com.au/p/simple-service-registry-office-wedding.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aiCt3uxLCYg/WczTxjraXiI/AAAAAAAA57c/6koAPL33AyoKx1oLf4rGjhbjDPiho5L4ACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_0943.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="999" data-original-width="1600" height="248" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aiCt3uxLCYg/WczTxjraXiI/AAAAAAAA57c/6koAPL33AyoKx1oLf4rGjhbjDPiho5L4ACLcBGAs/s400/IMG_0943.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You'd be so welcome to marry in my beautiful romantic Summer garden.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Please note that I only have wedding meetings with couples who have booked me as their celebrant. Thanks for visiting my blog. I hope we'll stay in touch.<br />
<br />
Sincerely<br />
Michele<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">ca-pub-8935539357975972</div>Michele the Celebrant - Michele Bolithohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11497814289373880730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6005221770633216680.post-1186461744546673662017-06-28T00:27:00.000+10:002018-04-26T13:06:28.596+10:00I'll never come between youHello, and welcome<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X2qsFJcZr0I/WVKwqBMUs4I/AAAAAAAA5wU/9QYN2k0pIScJq14O0HLCD22nuWlyVW4LwCLcBGAs/s1600/celia%2Bpete%2Bring%2B29-3-17%2B13-24-01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Celia and Peter exchange wedding rings" border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X2qsFJcZr0I/WVKwqBMUs4I/AAAAAAAA5wU/9QYN2k0pIScJq14O0HLCD22nuWlyVW4LwCLcBGAs/s400/celia%2Bpete%2Bring%2B29-3-17%2B13-24-01.JPG" title="Celia and Peter exchange wedding rings" width="600" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Celia and Peter exchange wedding rings,</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">attended by their friends Lucy and Morris</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Canberra Southern Cross Club Yacht Club Yarralumla</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">29 March 2017</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h4>
Choosing your position</h4>
Standing between the bride and groom is the traditional
place for a celebrant to stand. But somehow it’s never felt right for me.<br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QeNFn6XEw7Q/WVIWK_KmDiI/AAAAAAAA5tU/ix-gYp1eyLAU-ZSWt2FPqJj89yEspTvtwCLcBGAs/s1600/celebrant%2Bin%2Bthe%2Bmiddle%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="658" data-original-width="658" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QeNFn6XEw7Q/WVIWK_KmDiI/AAAAAAAA5tU/ix-gYp1eyLAU-ZSWt2FPqJj89yEspTvtwCLcBGAs/s200/celebrant%2Bin%2Bthe%2Bmiddle%2B2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bride, celebrant and groom,<br />
all close, all three</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
A couple of times over the years, I have stood in the centre at the
request of the marrying couple. In my role as their celebrant, I didn't feel as relaxed and comfortable as I usually do.</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
The energy in the space felt so intimate to me, I seemed to
be intruding. The emotions are so powerful when two people in love are making a lifelong commitment to each other.<br />
<br />
Besides, when I stood in the middle, I couldn’t make eye contact with the guests and that’s
something I really like to do. These days, if a couple asked me to stand in
that traditional position for their ceremony, I think I’d actually ask that they find
another celebrant.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Wuwo600eNSs/WVIZd0PWDZI/AAAAAAAA5to/2sbhHAYzHiISL-QjqHFFnyM0FyliEbBxwCLcBGAs/s1600/celebrant%2Bin%2Bthe%2Bmiddle%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="331" data-original-width="331" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Wuwo600eNSs/WVIZd0PWDZI/AAAAAAAA5to/2sbhHAYzHiISL-QjqHFFnyM0FyliEbBxwCLcBGAs/s200/celebrant%2Bin%2Bthe%2Bmiddle%2B3.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bride and groom, almost at arm's length<br />
Celebrant in the centre<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Lots of couples - if not most - will be fine with the traditional setup. In the images I've found online as examples, even though I've changed these images a fair bit to to avoid showing identities, the happy feelings still come through.<br />
<br />
I'm offering you an alternative. You may find you prefer it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DUAiifOyP0c/WVIWUBHDJgI/AAAAAAAA5tY/EWUQYp5DvIoTEjwtD_ucB7IoffPgjJdfgCLcBGAs/s1600/celebrant%2Bin%2Bthe%2Bmiddle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="439" data-original-width="439" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DUAiifOyP0c/WVIWUBHDJgI/AAAAAAAA5tY/EWUQYp5DvIoTEjwtD_ucB7IoffPgjJdfgCLcBGAs/s200/celebrant%2Bin%2Bthe%2Bmiddle.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Groom and bride, wide apart<br />
Celebrant is central</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
When I stand to the side and the guests are either standing or seated in an arc shape, rather than seated in straight lines, a warm inviting atmosphere is instantly created. Everyone gets a nice sense of inclusion.<br />
<br />
When the ceremony begins, the bride and the groom are together, centre stage, in their own special space, facing towards their guests. They turn to face each other to make their vows. Close together, face-to-face, with no-one in-between them, they make their deep personal commitment to live their lives together in marriage.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">All the guests have a good view as the marrying couple share their vows, exchange rings and seal their marriage with a kiss. Photos taken during the ceremony will feature the couple.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7omrYkunjLI/WVK0XNx7dpI/AAAAAAAA5wg/RrPDVDkgFhE61Ts1dW_k-tV_gjqD177-gCLcBGAs/s1600/15-Belle%2Bmakes%2Bher%2Bvow%2Bto%2BMino%2B19%2BNov%2B16.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Mino and Belle share intimate space" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7omrYkunjLI/WVK0XNx7dpI/AAAAAAAA5wg/RrPDVDkgFhE61Ts1dW_k-tV_gjqD177-gCLcBGAs/s400/15-Belle%2Bmakes%2Bher%2Bvow%2Bto%2BMino%2B19%2BNov%2B16.JPG" title="Mino and Belle share intimate space" width="398" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>This is how intimate it can be for a marrying couple</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>when no celebrant is standing between them.</b></span><br />
Belle stands close to Mino, making her personal vow to him,<br />
as they stand together in their own intimate space - no celebrant is sight.<br />
The Heart Garden <span style="font-size: 12.8px;">19 November 2017</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Where would you prefer your celebrant to stand? This is just one of the small choices you can make as a couple that could have a bigger effect on the the atmosphere of your wedding than you may realise.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ANf_GmVknqE/WVIey3BBO6I/AAAAAAAA5uI/Q22AdXAgpLYLsuWwbZd09n6j8TLmkpJmACLcBGAs/s1600/Vincci%2BRussell%2Band%2BMichele%2B17-4-17%2B11-15-26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ANf_GmVknqE/WVIey3BBO6I/AAAAAAAA5uI/Q22AdXAgpLYLsuWwbZd09n6j8TLmkpJmACLcBGAs/s400/Vincci%2BRussell%2Band%2BMichele%2B17-4-17%2B11-15-26.jpg" width="550" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sometimes I show up in other photos.<br />
Here I am with happy newlyweds Vincci and Russell, <br />
at the signing table in my Heart Garden<br />
17 April 2017</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
The law requires a celebrant to hand the personal Certificate
of Marriage to the newlywed couple. This is a favourite time of mine. I like to
get a photo of the three of us together then, for my own collection. Otherwise,
I stay out of the picture. (And photos I put online, always with permission, don't show personal details on the certificate.)<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XWS0fhvRbTY/WVXA5ENhfjI/AAAAAAAA5xM/bx5khfnplGEBvPGm3mJLiIQh4e4B99e9wCLcBGAs/s1600/Belle%2BMino%2Band%2BMichele.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Mino and Belle receive their certificate of marriage" border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XWS0fhvRbTY/WVXA5ENhfjI/AAAAAAAA5xM/bx5khfnplGEBvPGm3mJLiIQh4e4B99e9wCLcBGAs/s320/Belle%2BMino%2Band%2BMichele.jpg" title="Mino and Belle receive their certificate of marriage" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mino and Belle receive their certificate from Michele</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
If you choose me as your celebrant, all photos of the two of you making your vows of marriage to one another and exchanging wedding rings will
not have me in the middle. I think you’ll probably be glad of that when you
look back on your most special day.<br />
<br />
My fee for a 'beautifully simple, simply beautiful' wedding is $600, all included. (Except travel beyond the Canberra/Queanbeyan area). I specialise in simple weddings as there are no Registry Office weddings in the ACT.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-agVY7CGkcZ4/WVInPkRk4FI/AAAAAAAA5uc/uOADxXohGfg7h_q1L1mNL24LF6drilV-QCEwYBhgL/s1600/20170616_131008-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A gang-gang visits the Heart Garden" border="0" data-original-height="1555" data-original-width="1128" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-agVY7CGkcZ4/WVInPkRk4FI/AAAAAAAA5uc/uOADxXohGfg7h_q1L1mNL24LF6drilV-QCEwYBhgL/s200/20170616_131008-001.jpg" title="A gang-gang visits the Heart Garden" width="145" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A gang-gang visits the Heart Garden<br />
for a winter feed.<br />
June 2017</td></tr>
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There's a lot more information <a href="http://celebrantcanberra.blogspot.com.au/p/simple-service-registry-office-wedding.html" target="_blank">here</a>. Please feel free to contact me with any questions. Obligation-free, of course. You'll also find recent photos on my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Michele.the.Celebrant/" target="_blank">facebook</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/michelethecelebrantcanberra/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> pages. On <a href="https://au.pinterest.com/mbolithocc/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a>, you can see photos of my Heart Garden, each month of the year.<br />
<br />
You'd be so welcome to hold your small intimate wedding in my large romantic garden, any day from 10.30am, with up to eight or so guests. There's no extra fee for this. For a larger wedding, from my vast experience as a celebrant, I can recommend lots of other lovely places.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oz6LY5bw7fc/WVIwP_Wx3iI/AAAAAAAA5u0/TDrM0HjaE5kc99_3IOD9INwpgswNx6h9gCLcBGAs/s1600/20170605_112340.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oz6LY5bw7fc/WVIwP_Wx3iI/AAAAAAAA5u0/TDrM0HjaE5kc99_3IOD9INwpgswNx6h9gCLcBGAs/s400/20170605_112340.jpg" title="The Heart Garden in June" width="550" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's a photo from a private wedding in the Heart Garden<br />
on 6 June 17. I love the way this shot has actually preserved the identity of the bride <br />
and groom as they walk through the garden together for their ceremony.</td></tr>
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<br />
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mTQ6TqlWgCA/WVKrzPDLqlI/AAAAAAAA5wE/lvc85AiMZpwVHQIcueAXOlzJVRhJUbVlQCLcBGAs/s1600/ben%2Band%2Bteresa%2Bbacklit%2Band%2Bwhite%2Bframe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Ben and Teresa share a private moment" border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mTQ6TqlWgCA/WVKrzPDLqlI/AAAAAAAA5wE/lvc85AiMZpwVHQIcueAXOlzJVRhJUbVlQCLcBGAs/s400/ben%2Band%2Bteresa%2Bbacklit%2Band%2Bwhite%2Bframe.jpg" title="Ben and Teresa share a private moment" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Teresa and Ben, just married, sharing a special moment, just for them.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Margaret Whitlam Pavilion National Arboretum ACT</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">19 March 2017</span></div>
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<b>If you'd like me to be your celebrant</b><br />
<b></b><br />
<b></b>
If you'd like me to be your celebrant, I'd be delighted. Your day will be my focus - that's my promise - it's my pleasure. 😊And my congratulations to you both.<br />
<br />
Please contact me through this <a href="http://celebrantcanberra.blogspot.com.au/p/email-contact-form.html" target="_blank">email contact form</a>, or <a href="mailto:contact@celebrantcanberra.com.au" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><u>email me directly</u></span></a>. Or phone me on 0406 376 375, any day between 9am and 9pm. Or text anytime. Or send me a message on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Michele.the.Celebrant/" target="_blank">facebook</a>.<br />
<br />
Please note that I only have meetings with couples who have chosen me as their celebrant for their wedding but, if you're still at the selection stage, I'd be very happy to share a chat with you by Skype.<br />
<br />
Sincerely<br />
Michele<br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">ca-pub-8935539357975972</div>Michele the Celebrant - Michele Bolithohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11497814289373880730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6005221770633216680.post-10366686340383367962017-05-16T03:44:00.003+10:002017-05-18T01:15:46.668+10:00New post coming soonHello, and welcome<br />
Here's a happy little video collage to enjoy before my next post is published. It takes about a minute.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yuSKU0pDn14?rel=0" width="560"></iframe><div class="blogger-post-footer">ca-pub-8935539357975972</div>Michele the Celebrant - Michele Bolithohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11497814289373880730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6005221770633216680.post-27540264033540943602017-03-27T14:01:00.000+11:002019-01-09T15:10:26.257+11:00Three little-known facts about name change with marriage in AustraliaHello, and welcome<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Here's the perfect venue for a vintage-style wedding</b><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BaI0hevAHr8/WNhvXYDoWlI/AAAAAAAA5ds/K4sRRXhU0ywtzpMkrZht-60I833Kt-8ewCLcB/s1600/IMG_1330.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BaI0hevAHr8/WNhvXYDoWlI/AAAAAAAA5ds/K4sRRXhU0ywtzpMkrZht-60I833Kt-8ewCLcB/s640/IMG_1330.JPG" width="356" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UrdAnhiVqS0/WNhpj40R7OI/AAAAAAAA5dY/g_mKPkVRN_8xLHKCH-dFqLSg38QBMagnACLcB/s1600/20170311_164026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UrdAnhiVqS0/WNhpj40R7OI/AAAAAAAA5dY/g_mKPkVRN_8xLHKCH-dFqLSg38QBMagnACLcB/s200/20170311_164026.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brooke and Aidan married<br />
at Albert Hall Yarralumla ACT<br />
11 March 2017</td></tr>
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<br />
My friends Brooke and Aidan were married this month at the <a href="http://ouralberthall.com/booking-albert-hall/" target="_blank">Albert Hall</a>. Brooke looked so beautiful in a vintage-style wedding frock and Aidan looked very fine. The Albert Hall is an excellent venue for setting up your own reception and providing your own catering.<br />
(I also recommend <a href="http://www.gnh.org.au/" target="_blank">Griffith Neighbourhood Centre</a>.)<br />
<br />
I can tell you from personal experience that our grand old Albert Hall has an excellent floor for dancing!<br />
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<b>Here are three little known facts about name change with marriage in Australia</b><br />
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<i><b>Fact One</b> </i><br />
<i>Name change for bride or groom, or neither - the choice is yours</i><br />
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Did you know that the Australian marriage Act, even though it goes back to the very conservative time of 1961, has never been gender-specific about name change? It's been traditional in Australian society for a bride to change her family name with marriage, to that of her new husband. The leaflet your celebrant gives you called 'Happily ever before and after' has recently been modified to make it clear to couples that the groom can change his family name with marriage, if he wishes. It's actually been that way since 1961.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zphKGtXK-yU/WNhwX8UAjGI/AAAAAAAA5d0/6hDqOLOD1xg68Y04IGGZkmccMIgC2CycwCLcB/s1600/20170306_121818.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zphKGtXK-yU/WNhwX8UAjGI/AAAAAAAA5d0/6hDqOLOD1xg68Y04IGGZkmccMIgC2CycwCLcB/s200/20170306_121818.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lyn and Mat married in<br />
The Heart Garden<br />
6 March 2017</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
No one is obliged by law in Australia to change their name with marriage. The bride may choose to take a married name. She may then choose to use either her birth name or her married name, according to the situation. For example, she may use her birth name at work and her married name at her child's school. Likewise for the groom. He may take the bride's surname if he wishes and use it in <br />
circumstances of his choice. In my experience as a celebrant, three husbands have chosen to take their wife's family name as their own.<br />
<br />
Bride and groom may decide to join their surnames together to make a composite married name, for example Belle Smith may marry Henry Chan. They may become Mr and Mrs Chan Smith, or maybe Belle and Henry Smith-Chan.<br />
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<i><b>Fact Two</b></i><br />
<i>Name change takes place when you make your vows of marriage</i><br />
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Name change takes place when you make your vows of marriage, which is, of course, during your wedding ceremony.<br />
<br />
When you make legal marriage vows, this is also the time when your marriage legally comes into effect. In ceremonies I conduct, I always draw this fact to the attention of the bride and groom before their ceremony. I then suggest they focus only on each other when they make their pledges of exclusive and lifelong commitment to each other in marriage.<br />
<br />
You'll sign three certificates during or after your ceremony. Your certificates will state that a marriage has already taken place.<br />
<br />
When you sign your three certificates, because you will already be legally married, you may already have taken your new married name. All marriage documents however must be signed with <b>your usual signature</b> – not your new one.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5f5SiloBULo/WNhxD_h8lKI/AAAAAAAA5d8/Z69t6VDvdOEOV4qfpm-8jErkB3H_x0zXgCLcB/s1600/Cathy%2B17-2-17%2B15-38-46.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5f5SiloBULo/WNhxD_h8lKI/AAAAAAAA5d8/Z69t6VDvdOEOV4qfpm-8jErkB3H_x0zXgCLcB/s400/Cathy%2B17-2-17%2B15-38-46.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cathy married Matt at Pialligo Estate ACT<br />
The rain stopped, the sun shone and the wind blew.<br />
18 February 2017</td></tr>
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The marriage documents include your Notice of Intended Marriage and the Declarations you must sign before your ceremony to declare that there's no legal impediment to your marriage with each other (such as being married to someone else, or being too young to legally marry).<br />
<br />
Plus, there are three Certificates of Marriage which you'll sign, either during or after your wedding ceremony. Your celebrant keeps one of these, you take one, and one is sent to the Registrar of Births Deaths and Marriages by your celebrant for the registration of your legal marriage. You can then purchase a copy of this certificate from the Registrar.<br />
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<i><b>Fact Three</b></i><br />
<i>There are no government forms to fill in for changing your name by way of marriage</i><br />
<br />
If in ordinary circumstances, a person chose to formally change their name, they'd need to apply for a Change of Name Certificate and pay a fee to the Registrar in the state or territory they were born in. (If born overseas, they may also have this option in Australia.) If a person changed their name by way of marriage though, they wouldn't need to do this.<br />
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You can begin using your new name straight after your wedding ceremony. Sometimes I call my Heart Garden 'a magic garden'. A bride (or groom, or both) can arrive with one name and leave with another!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WTzCtEwiIN0/WNh4FqWcVAI/AAAAAAAA5es/8Nx3JL2rVjYm3I5lwfFUKtbLOFckE7aHwCLcB/s1600/Jack%2BJordan%2BMichele%2B17-3-17%2B12-48-40.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WTzCtEwiIN0/WNh4FqWcVAI/AAAAAAAA5es/8Nx3JL2rVjYm3I5lwfFUKtbLOFckE7aHwCLcB/s320/Jack%2BJordan%2BMichele%2B17-3-17%2B12-48-40.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">Jack and Jordan receive their Certificate of Marriage<br />
The Heart Garden Weston ACT 18 March 2017</td></tr>
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If you wish to use your married name for an official purpose, you'll need <b>proof of legal name change</b>. You may want to change your name on your licence for instance, or get a new passport. For any purpose like this, you'll need official evidence that you've changed your name with marriage. <a href="https://www.passports.gov.au/Pages/brochure-%20have-you-changed-your-name.aspx" target="_blank">Here's a link</a> about getting a new passport, which may be cost-free.<br />
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From your wedding, you'll take with you, an attractive Certificate of Marriage.<br />
<br />
If I'm your celebrant, your certificate will be filled in with the font of your choice. I'll also give you the wording of your ceremony, printed in the same font, on parchment to match your Certificate. They'll both be in a plastic wallet for safe-keeping.<br />
<br />
This certificate will be your <b>personal certificate</b>. Even though it's a legal document, you can't use it for official purposes.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ft05A1c06C0/WNh2uxUi-kI/AAAAAAAA5eg/aQIMk9nbCT0qdnNtfTxbB-kqJe0LONWoACLcB/s1600/Martin%2BPia%2Band%2BMichele.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ft05A1c06C0/WNh2uxUi-kI/AAAAAAAA5eg/aQIMk9nbCT0qdnNtfTxbB-kqJe0LONWoACLcB/s640/Martin%2BPia%2Band%2BMichele.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michele presents Martin and Pia with their personal Marriage Certificate<br />
Dickson ACT 25 March 2017</td></tr>
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For an <b>Official Certificate of Marriage, y</b>ou must apply to the Registrar in the state or territory in which you were married. Your official certificate will have a registration number on it. You'll pay a fee to the Registrar. (Currently it's $58 in the ACT.)<br />
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You'll probably apply online, or you can apply at a local ACT Access shopfront. They're in Belconnen, Tuggeranong, Gungahlin and Woden. Note here that the Births, Deaths and Marriages shopfront in Fyshwick has recently closed.<br />
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You can arrange to collect your certificate from Access, or pay an extra eight dollars to have it sent to you by registered post. You'll need to sign for it when it arrives, or sign for it at your local post office.<br />
<br />
You can apply for an Official Certificate of Marriage straight after your wedding, or any time after that. The timing is your choice.<br />
<br />
Thanks for reading this blogpost. Now you're well-informed about three little-known facts about changing your name with marriage in Australia.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>If you'd like me to be celebrant at your own wedding</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
If you'd like me to be celebrant at your own wedding, I thank you for this privilege. <a href="http://celebrantcanberra.blogspot.com.au/p/simple-service-registry-office-wedding.html" target="_blank">Simple weddings</a> are now my specialty. 'Beautifully simple and simply beautiful'. We have no registry office weddings in the ACT, so marrying couples must choose a private civil celebrant, or a church. (The last Registry Office weddings in Canberra were held about twenty years ago.)<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6UE5B01g1yA/WNh-IMMJoBI/AAAAAAAA5fI/W0tPCZGyuEw32NVo1FQXubtoH8931B-HQCLcB/s1600/Gold%2Bheart%2Bcropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6UE5B01g1yA/WNh-IMMJoBI/AAAAAAAA5fI/W0tPCZGyuEw32NVo1FQXubtoH8931B-HQCLcB/s200/Gold%2Bheart%2Bcropped.jpg" width="198" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Autumn colours will soon be happening <br />
in The Heart Garden</td></tr>
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Your simple wedding can be any size, at any time, on any day (or evening) in any location of your choice. If you'd like to have a small wedding in my Heart Garden, the maximum number of guests is around ten. Heart Garden weddings are held on weekdays only, beginning at 10.30 in the morning. 4.30 in the afternoon is the latest, probably 3.30 when Daylight Saving ends on Sunday 2 April.<br />
<br />
Please contact me using this <a href="http://celebrantcanberra.blogspot.com.au/p/email-contact-form.html" target="_blank">contact form</a>. Or <a href="mailto:contact@celebrantcanberra.com.au" target="_blank">email me</a>. Or phone or text me, any day between 9am and 9pm on 0406 376 375. I'm happy to answer any questions you may have about getting married in Australia, whether you choose me as your celebrant or not. We can arrange a Skype chat if you wish.<br />
<br />
If you' like plan to marry as soon as possible, I can help you marry exactly one month from the day of our first contact. There's more information <a href="http://celebrantcanberra.blogspot.com.au/p/simple-service-registry-office-wedding.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
<br />
Please note that I only have wedding meetings with couples who have booked me as their celebrant.<br />
If you're planning to marry, I'd be delighted to be there for you both as your celebrant at your simple, but still very special and most memorable, wedding.<br />
<br />
Sincerely<br />
Michele<br />
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<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">ca-pub-8935539357975972</div>Michele the Celebrant - Michele Bolithohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11497814289373880730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6005221770633216680.post-39469584621313207222016-12-31T16:43:00.001+11:002017-05-16T03:10:16.200+10:00Fathers and daughters, families and friends<div class="MsoNormal">
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In my last blogpost for the year, I usually choose a very special photo. This year it’s an image of my grand-niece Emily who married Matt at
the family farm in Green Pigeon (near Kyogle) on September 10 this year. She's standing with stallion, Karnak.<o:p></o:p><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TXjS_Cv6N0U/WGeOIFFNpAI/AAAAAAAA5Oo/mp__v6jJ3DcDJsOJ4ao-xvzYBg_fYqdMQCLcB/s1600/Emily%2Bwith%2BKarnak.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TXjS_Cv6N0U/WGeOIFFNpAI/AAAAAAAA5Oo/mp__v6jJ3DcDJsOJ4ao-xvzYBg_fYqdMQCLcB/s400/Emily%2Bwith%2BKarnak.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emily with Karnak</td></tr>
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I love this photo because it looks like it came from a fairy
tale. Emily and Mat’s wedding was a wonderful country-style celebration, held
on a perfect day in a setting that had taken my nephew Damien over a year to
prepare. It all came together on the day in a spectacularly successful way.</div>
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<b>Here’s to the fathers </b><o:p></o:p></div>
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One of my most favourite things at weddings is to watch the
face of a father as he accompanies his daughter to her wedding. These days,
both parents may walk in with the bride, or perhaps another person who is
special to the bride. My favourites though are still the fathers, so much so,
that when our elder daughter Lucy was being married and she asked if I may
like to ‘walk down the aisle’ with her and her Dad in the Rose Gardens at Old Parliament House, I
thanked her for the loving thought, but chose to watch the two of them instead.
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Here’s a photo of Damien, as he walks in with his Emily. Their
photographer Chaddy, has captured exactly the look that I so love to see.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3WqUkZn4Whw/WGc74cOqxTI/AAAAAAAA5Nw/gRJd4lbYFxUPcEG8Z6FK_XSq0m2wYPiPwCLcB/s1600/Emily%2Band%2BDamien.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3WqUkZn4Whw/WGc74cOqxTI/AAAAAAAA5Nw/gRJd4lbYFxUPcEG8Z6FK_XSq0m2wYPiPwCLcB/s400/Emily%2Band%2BDamien.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emily walks along the aisle with her father, Damien<br />
Green Pigeon NSW 10 September 2016</td></tr>
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<b>The service I provide</b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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My Simple Service serves a growing need for short simple
wedding ceremonies, which I refer to as ‘beautifully simple and simply
beautiful’. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-grPVBp5myVo/WGc9mHCiHdI/AAAAAAAA5N8/3ni3Gq5KRzkulznL8ezIqzbTZNSrserEQCLcB/s1600/not%2Bin%2Bfolder%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-grPVBp5myVo/WGc9mHCiHdI/AAAAAAAA5N8/3ni3Gq5KRzkulznL8ezIqzbTZNSrserEQCLcB/s400/not%2Bin%2Bfolder%2B2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emily and Matt make their vows of marriage<br />
in a simple, heart-felt ceremony</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Many couples have always wanted a short simple wedding
ceremony. Many others, as I hear these days, have watched friends of theirs as
they prepare for a big traditional wedding. Seeing all the stress and drama
involved makes their own choice easy. They want their own wedding to be small
and simple. That’s where I come in.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>There are no Registry Office weddings in the ACT.</b> Many
registry-style weddings are held in my garden. It's available on any weekdays, for up to a dozen guests max. You’d be so welcome to hold your small
wedding in my tranquil romantic Heart Garden.</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PEQA4gd2Kl8/WGeUN2t5hEI/AAAAAAAA5O4/-DQj9_i6FYEX3qVGvFlwZJLK4_ugIYC2wCLcB/s1600/DB%2Band%2BMB.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PEQA4gd2Kl8/WGeUN2t5hEI/AAAAAAAA5O4/-DQj9_i6FYEX3qVGvFlwZJLK4_ugIYC2wCLcB/s320/DB%2Band%2BMB.JPG" width="145" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Celebrant and Grand Aunt<br />
Michele with Grand Uncle David<br />
at Matt and Emily's wedding.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
<b>I’m available as
celebrant for simple weddings, of any size, at any time (day or night) on any day (weekday, weekend or public holiday) in any other location you choose.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
As from the end of this year, I will no
longer offer the full service, in which I help couples craft a totally unique
wedding ceremony. My writing career is building up and I want to put more of my
time and energy into that. I’m sad to be leaving my full service behind as it’s
brought me lots of pleasure and satisfaction over many years.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Another ending</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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There’s been another ending that I had no hand in. Since I
began this blog in 2009, I’ve always had a slideshow of great wedding images.
It’s now gone. Google simply dispensed with all slideshows in Blogger blogs a
few months ago. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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If you’re doing a search from my Search Box, you may find
earlier blogposts with references to the slideshow that I used to love adding
to, every time I published a new post. In the new year, I plan to find another
way to put a slideshow back in. After all these years, I may make a move to
Wordpress.<o:p></o:p><br />
<u>Update</u>: I've just found the archive of my blog album on Google photos. If you love looking at wedding photos (as I do) <a href="https://photos.google.com/album/AF1QipPXnYLzXfyZnVVTyH6sGMkvTGXExxSKTZVAvDFc" target="_blank">here's the link</a>. I took most of the photos in my garden.</div>
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<b>Weddings in my Heart
Garden<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2AQcYawOBWU/WH9FBH9bJMI/AAAAAAAA5U0/kmGcTEZWAgUp53Rcd9V0i0j30qATwYuygCLcB/s1600/helen%2Band%2Bcarson.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2AQcYawOBWU/WH9FBH9bJMI/AAAAAAAA5U0/kmGcTEZWAgUp53Rcd9V0i0j30qATwYuygCLcB/s400/helen%2Band%2Bcarson.JPG" width="223" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Helen and Carson married in<br />
The Heart Garden<br />
on 8 December 2016</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
My beautiful Heart Garden has hosted twenty-six wonderful weddings
this year. I already have several booked for 2017 and every year, the garden
just grows lovelier and lovelier.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<br /></div>
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As always, so much of my celebrant income goes into new
plantings and maintenance, keeping the garden well-fed and cared for. The
garden responds so generously to all my TLC. I think you’ll feel this when you
visit. By the way, it’s often the special feel of the garden that visitors
mention to me, along with their kind comments on its beauty.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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As I finish blogging for the year, I send you my best wishes
for a very happy holiday season, leading into a marvellous 2017 for us all. If
2017 is the year you choose to marry, I’d love to be there for you both, at that
most significant and memorable occasion in your life together.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Please visit <a href="http://celebrantcanberra.blogspot.com.au/p/email-contact-form.html" target="_blank">my enquiry page</a> to send me an email.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Or phone me any day 9am to 9pm on 0406 376 375.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Or send me a text.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Or message me on my Michele the Celebrant <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Michele.the.Celebrant/" target="_blank">facebook page</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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We can arrange a Skype meet if you wish.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
Amidst lots of fun and laughter, following the wedding of Alicia and Dave at the National Rose Gardens at Old Parliament House on Thursday 29 December, the newlyweds kindly made me a testimonial. I've put together a short story of their wedding, including their testimonial, on YouTube.<br />
(Wasn't their wedding car was fabulous?!)<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oBFvwhp-NIg?rel=0" width="560"></iframe>
<br />
Thanks Dave and Alicia, for ending 2016 on such a high and happy note!<br />
<br />
Sincerely<br />
Michele</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">ca-pub-8935539357975972</div>Michele the Celebrant - Michele Bolithohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11497814289373880730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6005221770633216680.post-66093944089222822762016-11-09T23:30:00.002+11:002017-08-30T22:17:51.571+10:00When are the magic moments of marriage?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Hello, and welcome<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LnBodLJ49jU/WCMB6YbpgRI/AAAAAAAA5C0/xf4mWBg5yEw79I69Zvn7WAAxlZqp6R4KwCLcB/s1600/Kara%2Band%2BPaul%2B15%2BOct%2B14-10-16%2B13-48-47.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LnBodLJ49jU/WCMB6YbpgRI/AAAAAAAA5C0/xf4mWBg5yEw79I69Zvn7WAAxlZqp6R4KwCLcB/s640/Kara%2Band%2BPaul%2B15%2BOct%2B14-10-16%2B13-48-47.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;">Paul and Kara married on a warm spring day at <a href="http://www.rosecottagecanberra.com/functions.php" target="_blank">Rose Cottage,</a> Tuggeranong</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;">Saturday 15 October 2016</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Of course marriage has many magic moments, especially in the
early days. That’s between the two of you.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> What I’m referring to
here are the magical, life-changing moments that your marriage actually and
legally comes into effect. (Even if you want a really ‘low key’ wedding, there’ll still be a significant change in status.)</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When do you think that time is? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>A</b> When you say ‘I do’? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>B </b>When your celebrant pronounces you ‘husband
and wife’? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>C</b> When you sign
your certificates? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>D</b> When you marriage
is registered with the Registrar? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>E</b> None of the above.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The most popular answer is probably <b>C</b> <i>When you sign your
certificates</i>, but this isn’t right. Your three certificates of marriage
will state that a legal marriage has already been solemnised. The certificate
you’ll take home with you on the day (which, if I’m your celebrant, I’ll prepare in the
font of your choice) states:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I (</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">celebrant</span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">) having authority under the Marriage Act
1961 to solemnise marriages, hereby certify that <b>I have this day at</b> </i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">(</span><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">location</b><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">) <b>duly
solemnised marriage</b> in accordance with the provisions of that Act between </i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">(bride
and groom</span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">) in the presence of the
undersigned witnesses.</i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cg1FV76xftk/WCMC3ickUUI/AAAAAAAA5C8/ooePM5RDoJ4gvIplKrBUrYZh170xMfRKQCLcB/s1600/Vicki.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cg1FV76xftk/WCMC3ickUUI/AAAAAAAA5C8/ooePM5RDoJ4gvIplKrBUrYZh170xMfRKQCLcB/s320/Vicki.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;">Vicki married Quintin</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;">in the <a href="http://www.cometomyheartgarden.com/" target="_blank">Heart Garden</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;">Friday 14 October 2016</span></td></tr>
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</blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A</b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> is a popular
answer as well. </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When you say ‘I do’</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">. This
is correct but it’s not always possible.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I’ll explain: In Australia, you can only use classic ‘I do’ vows
of marriage in church (or other religious setting). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Your religious celebrant can ask you: ‘Do you take this
person to be your husband/wife?’ And you can say ‘I do’. Then you are legally
married. If you get married by a civil celebrant however, this is not possible.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>The Australian government
does not allow ‘I do’ marriage vows in civil ceremonies.</b> You must state
your legal name in your marriage vow and your celebrant can’t do this for you.
(They can say your name in a vow for you to repeat, but you must state your
name yourself to make your marriage legal.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The most applicable answer then, to <i>When do you think your marriage actually and legally comes into effect?</i>
would be <b>E</b> <i>None of the above</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Your vows of marriage, to be legal and binding, whether in a
church, a garden or anywhere else, must come after what’s called the <i>monitum</i>. This is when your celebrant
declares the present nature of marriage in Australia. That is - it’s voluntary,
exclusive and permanent between a man and a woman. Or between a woman and a
man, if you both want this option instead. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Before you make your vows of marriage, your celebrant must
also state their legal name and role in front of at least two adult witnesses.
As well, they must declare that they’re authorised (or legalised) to perform
your marriage ceremony. Again, you can have an option here for your celebrant
to say ‘authorise’ or ‘legalise’.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">At the end of your ceremony, you may choose to have your
celebrant pronounce that you are now husband and wife. Even though your
celebrant may imply that ‘with the power vested in me’ they’re making your
marriage happen, this pronouncement is completely optional. It’s not a legal
requirement.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>When your celebrant
pronounces you ‘husband and wife’, your marriage is already in legal effect.</b>
Then you sign three certificates which certify this fact. Your celebrant signs
these three certificates and so do both of you, and your two adult witnesses.
Note here that your witnesses can be any adults with a good command of English.
If they’re related to you, that’s not a problem.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">After your wedding, your celebrant has 14 days to send your
papers to the Registrar in the state or territory in which you were married. If
something terrible happened to your paperwork, this would not effect the
legality of your marriage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D5obSWFHFO8/WCMDO6jnjMI/AAAAAAAA5DA/gQXcIBH6sX46ZyMUjxKCv1Y59cEE9-q5ACLcB/s1600/Amy%2Bwith%2BMichele%2B%2B22-10-16%2B16-33-25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D5obSWFHFO8/WCMDO6jnjMI/AAAAAAAA5DA/gQXcIBH6sX46ZyMUjxKCv1Y59cEE9-q5ACLcB/s320/Amy%2Bwith%2BMichele%2B%2B22-10-16%2B16-33-25.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;">Michele, with Amy after her marriage to Tim<br />at the Canberra Southern Cross Club Yatch Club<br />22 October 2016</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You can apply for an
official certificate of marriage from the Registrar as soon as you are wed.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When your paperwork has been processed at the Registrar’s Office
you can buy your certificate. Again this will say that a marriage was
solemnised (<i>aka </i>legalised) on a
certain date at a certain place. You will need this certificate for all
official purposes, such as changing your driver’s licence, for work records, or
for getting a new passport. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>The certificate you
receive at your wedding is your personal certificate only.</b> But just because
you can’t use your personal certificate for official purposes, this doesn’t
mean that it’s not a totally legal document. Your personal certificate will
have a unique number on the back and that number will be on the record with the
Attorney-General.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OEWZbMb2uAI/WCMEMstPwdI/AAAAAAAA5DE/nAfKV0GN_6wJHdDidOg-RnKCherq5JO7gCLcB/s1600/Michelle%2Band%2BSteve.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OEWZbMb2uAI/WCMEMstPwdI/AAAAAAAA5DE/nAfKV0GN_6wJHdDidOg-RnKCherq5JO7gCLcB/s640/Michelle%2Band%2BSteve.jpg" width="636" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;">When Steve and Michelle were married in the <a href="http://www.cometomyheartgarden.com/" target="_blank">Heart Garden</a>, Steve just couldn't stop smiling!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;">Friday 4 Novermber 2016</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So when are the magical moments of marriage?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Only you two know the intimate answer to this. But when
we’re talking about the precise time that your legal marriage takes place, here
is the final answer:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>It’s when you make
your vows of marriage to one another.</b> If you’re in church, the magical
moments may be when you each say ‘I do’. If you’re not in church, you legally
marry with your vows of marriage to each other, as prescribed by the Australian
Marriage Act of 1961. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The pronouncement by your celebrant at the end of your
ceremony of ‘husband and wife’ (if you choose to have this) confirms that a
legal marriage is already in effect. So do your three certificates of marriage
with their five signatures. So does the official certificate you buy from the Registrar
of Births, Deaths and Marriages.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N2a6m5kIHLc/WCMGS-IjyWI/AAAAAAAA5DM/zPDofI2fnWoYL84_Dd9_7MEnolC_c7GYgCLcB/s1600/Lis%2Band%2BChris.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N2a6m5kIHLc/WCMGS-IjyWI/AAAAAAAA5DM/zPDofI2fnWoYL84_Dd9_7MEnolC_c7GYgCLcB/s320/Lis%2Band%2BChris.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;">Chris and Lis had a small quiet family wedding</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;">in the <a href="http://www.cometomyheartgarden.com/" target="_blank">Heart Garden</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;">Monday 10 October 2016</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">By the way, if you’re thinking of changing your name with
marriage, this other significant change in your life also comes into legal effect
when you’re looking into each other’s eyes and making your vows of marriage. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You don’t need <b>authorisation</b>
from the Registrar after your marriage to change your legal name. You may however,
need this official <b>evidence</b> from the
Registrar for work records, driver’s licence, passport and so on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Choosing your
celebrant</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If you’d like me to be your celebrant, I’d be delighted to
be there for you at this most significant event in your life together. By law,
you’d need to give me at least one month’s notice. You can do this in person,
by email, or by text. When you contact me, I’ll explain how to make your
wedding happen ASAP. If there’s no hurry, we can have a one-hour meeting
together (in Weston) on a Monday or Wednesday evening.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Please <a href="http://celebrantcanberra.blogspot.com.au/p/email-contact-form.html" target="_blank">contact me by email</a>, or by phone or text on 0406 376
375. If you have questions, please feel free to ask. We can arrange a Skype
meet if you wish, with or without video. (No obligation implied here to choose
me to be your celebrant.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5drdJQ6Lpu8/WCMKQ5srvsI/AAAAAAAA5DY/A7yqnIsW51Y0LSbn0dm4IrHPaMIFS0ErACLcB/s1600/Michele%252C%2BVicki%2Band%2BQuintin.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5drdJQ6Lpu8/WCMKQ5srvsI/AAAAAAAA5DY/A7yqnIsW51Y0LSbn0dm4IrHPaMIFS0ErACLcB/s640/Michele%252C%2BVicki%2Band%2BQuintin.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;">Vicki, Quintin and Michele</span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W7Z-BoELJCo/WCMSN3QRzmI/AAAAAAAA5Do/VEOCQy2-nRA8Uvtg7ouKEQee3bhyuulPACLcB/s1600/Vicki%2Band%2BQuintin.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W7Z-BoELJCo/WCMSN3QRzmI/AAAAAAAA5Do/VEOCQy2-nRA8Uvtg7ouKEQee3bhyuulPACLcB/s200/Vicki%2Band%2BQuintin.JPG" width="133" /></a><o:p><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">At
the end of this year, my full service, in which I give lots of help to craft a
longer, more individualised ceremony, will come to an end. My simple service
that’s a lovely alternative to a registry office wedding, will continue to be
available. On my <a href="http://celebrantcanberra.blogspot.com.au/p/my-fees-and-what-they-cover.html" target="_blank">Fee page</a>, you’ll find info on what’s included in the <a href="http://celebrantcanberra.blogspot.com.au/p/simple-service-registry-office-wedding.html" target="_blank">Simple (but still special) Service</a>, and my <a href="http://celebrantcanberra.blogspot.com.au/p/wedding-tips_20.html" target="_blank">Full Service</a> as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sincerely<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Michele</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">ca-pub-8935539357975972</div>Michele the Celebrant - Michele Bolithohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11497814289373880730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6005221770633216680.post-40107928904300992132016-08-25T21:52:00.001+10:002019-01-09T15:06:43.176+11:00How to add warmth and friendliness to your legal vows of marriage<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Hello, and welcome.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-miBphtbTRww/V765runbbpI/AAAAAAAA40I/aT9j-ey2zyMoHuRkTNqJ57b2AvxWVcuDACPcB/s1600/IMG_0050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-miBphtbTRww/V765runbbpI/AAAAAAAA40I/aT9j-ey2zyMoHuRkTNqJ57b2AvxWVcuDACPcB/s400/IMG_0050.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jia and Ben married in the autumn Heart Garden 6 May 16</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This blogpost is about:</span></div>
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<ul>
<li><b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Your legal marriage vows</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When does marriage legally come into effect?</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Legal name change</span></b></li>
</ul>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GPCVUjhkp3g/V77SiAqid8I/AAAAAAAA41s/6JwRG_p99n4yQ-gRgVdSinTKlL55UaxTgCPcB/s1600/winter%2Bwedding%2Bgreen%2Broom%2Bset%2Bup.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="137" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GPCVUjhkp3g/V77SiAqid8I/AAAAAAAA41s/6JwRG_p99n4yQ-gRgVdSinTKlL55UaxTgCPcB/s400/winter%2Bwedding%2Bgreen%2Broom%2Bset%2Bup.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The green room, set up for a small private winter wedding. Bride and groom will stand in the bay window.</td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Your legal marriage vows</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As you may or may not know, we have no registry office weddings in the ACT. Couples who are looking for a registry-style wedding often want the shortest, simplest ceremony possible. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I’ve been celebrant at hundreds of short simple weddings so I know it’s a popular choice.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If a <a href="http://celebrantcanberra.blogspot.com.au/p/simple-service-registry-office-wedding.html" target="_blank">short and simple ceremony</a> is what you both choose,
then you’ll probably only want to make legal vows of marriage, rather than
adding personal pledges to each other as well.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If you opt for legal vows only, you will probably want them
to sound warm and heartfelt, rather than the cool, compulsory wording of a legal
contract, straight off the Attorney General’s website. Here are some ideas to help you achieve this desire. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-35bwgzuP5Co/V75-X5yx63I/AAAAAAAA4v8/40-kr4PeY8I628YcKIjYcp9SGbbH1AshQCPcB/s1600/20160514_111230_NEW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-35bwgzuP5Co/V75-X5yx63I/AAAAAAAA4v8/40-kr4PeY8I628YcKIjYcp9SGbbH1AshQCPcB/s320/20160514_111230_NEW.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michelle married James at the National<br />
Carillon on a sunny autumn morning<br />
14 May 2016</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If you want your marriage to be legal – and of course, you do
– then your vows of marriage must comply with the Australian Marriage Act of
1961. They must be legal but they need not be legalistic. They can sound
intimate and heartfelt. (Having said that, I am also aware that keeping your
vows strictly traditional can also sound warm and moving when you add your loving
feeling to the words.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Here’s the vow as it appears in the Marriage Act: <i>“I call upon the persons here present to
witness that I, A.B. (or C.D.), take thee, C.D. (or A.B.), to be my lawful
wedded wife (or husband)”; or words to that effect.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You’ve probably heard this legal vow many times over at the
weddings of friends and family. It can sound rather dull and same old, same old.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The option to make your vows warm, fresh and friendly lies
in<i> or words to this effect</i>. You won’t
have free choice here however, to choose words that you personally decide mean much
the same thing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The words <i>to this
effect</i> are set strictly by the Commonwealth Attorney-General. Problem is, as I see it,
few celebrants explain all the wording options that are legally
available to couples getting married in Australia.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It’s fairly common knowledge I think, that you won’t have to
use the old-fashioned <i>thee</i> in your
vows. You can say <i>you</i> instead. But
did you also know that there are several variations on <i>all persons here present</i>? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You can say <i>all people
here present</i>. This is a bit more 21<sup>st</sup>-century but there are two
more modern options that may surprise you. You can say <i>everyone here</i> or say <i>everybody
here</i> in place of <i>all persons here
present</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_g3b428lub8/V75_xKXxt2I/AAAAAAAA40A/zFS7ZBMTI3sspfMPm4GjqZ9ekJjRbIJSgCPcB/s1600/IMG_0116_NEW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_g3b428lub8/V75_xKXxt2I/AAAAAAAA40A/zFS7ZBMTI3sspfMPm4GjqZ9ekJjRbIJSgCPcB/s320/IMG_0116_NEW.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michelle makes her vow of marriage to James</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Compare <i>I call upon
the persons here present to witness</i> with <i>I ask everyone here to witness</i>. See what I mean about warmer,
fresher and more friendly?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And then, to </span><i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">everyone
here</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">, you can add </span><i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">our families and
friends</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">. Note here however that you can’t say </span><i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">our families and friends</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><b style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">instead
of</b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">all persons here present</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> or
the like, but you can add it in.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<b style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">When does marriage legally come into effect?</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And here’s another fact you may not be familiar with:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Your legal marriage
takes effect when you make your vows, not with the signing of certificates.
In my many years as of experience as a civil marriage celebrant, I’ve found
this is a very common misunderstanding. Your certificates will state that a legal
marriage has already taken place.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L5b2jWjIyMs/V75tUJwYUjI/AAAAAAAA4ug/CCr9W2NYaLo7FMSqEzJ7_LkB5YO_u026QCPcB/s1600/Mae%2BRhuanie%2Band%2Bgnome.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L5b2jWjIyMs/V75tUJwYUjI/AAAAAAAA4ug/CCr9W2NYaLo7FMSqEzJ7_LkB5YO_u026QCPcB/s320/Mae%2BRhuanie%2Band%2Bgnome.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mae and Rhuanie in the winter Heart Garden. <br />
We had the ceremony and signing inside, in the cosy green room.<br />
22 July 2016</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Before you, your witnesses and your celebrant all sign your
three certificates of marriage, you are already legally married. This means
that if anything happens to your paperwork it won’t affect the legality of your
marriage.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Good to know this, yes?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Legal name change</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You may also like to know that if you plan to change your
name with marriage, this change also happens when you make your vows of
marriage to each other during your ceremony. That’s all there is to the legal
process of name change. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The bride can take the surname of the groom, the groom can take the surname of the bride, or you can join your surnames together. The choice is yours.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You may choose to be presented by your celebrant at the end
of your ceremony with your new names, like <i>Aaron
and Kelly,</i> <i>Mr and Mrs Stanton</i>. Or
<i>Kelly and Aaron Stanton</i>. This option
is legal, whether you have signed during a break in the ceremony itself or the signing
happens after your ceremony ends.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When you are signing your certificates, you already
have your new legal name. You must however, sign the three certificates of marriage
with your usual signature (or pre-marriage name). From then on, you can use your new signature.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oFIcjAxbJYY/V77PORewZ8I/AAAAAAAA41c/4eUo6fvWUIYi3v_0GUUDZ1FYY43yA-d6ACEw/s1600/Eh%2BKeh%2Bsigning.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oFIcjAxbJYY/V77PORewZ8I/AAAAAAAA41c/4eUo6fvWUIYi3v_0GUUDZ1FYY43yA-d6ACEw/s320/Eh%2BKeh%2Bsigning.JPG" width="199" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Naw Be and Eh Keh married in their<br />
Gungahlin home. 12 June 2016</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Soon after your wedding, you will probably want to order a
transcript of your official certificate from the Registrar in the territory or state
where you were married. You will need this documentation to prove your change
of name for any official purpose, such as changing your driver’s licence or
getting a new passport. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You may like to use my Search box to read about things like free wedding venues in Canberra, or see what I've written about a venue you have in mind for your wedding. On August 1, Google stopped Blogger access to all Picasa album images, and I always used to use Picasa. I'm sad to see so many dull empty boxes in my older blogposts, in place of my beautiful photos.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If you love wedding photos (as I do) you may like to visit one of my collections. <a href="https://photos.google.com/album/AF1QipM0GDM5Fcxkd1-Y87ZeIqMZV0TeJu59E1_hlY3N" target="_blank">Here's a link to one of my archive albums</a>. I've just revisited this album for old time's sake. Some of the images are just gorgeous. They no longer appear in blogposts.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If you would like me to be your celebrant</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> If you would like me to be your celebrant, I'd be delighted. Please contact me by filling in this <a href="http://celebrantcanberra.blogspot.com.au/p/email-contact-form.html" target="_blank">Email Contact Form</a>, or by phone or text to 0406 376 375, anytime on any day between 9am and 9pm. We can text, phone, email, use <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Michele.the.Celebrant/" target="_blank">facebook</a> messages, or talk on Skype if you wish.</span><br />
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ekEZRgb7hak/V8PNPCH7KgI/AAAAAAAA43E/0GSDJlkIfM8Sr8NBQxtzAOEyZ7_ZEEvXgCLcB/s1600/polka%2Bdot%2Bbride.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ekEZRgb7hak/V8PNPCH7KgI/AAAAAAAA43E/0GSDJlkIfM8Sr8NBQxtzAOEyZ7_ZEEvXgCLcB/s200/polka%2Bdot%2Bbride.gif" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> By the way, I've just been corresponding with Ms Rose at <a href="http://www.polkadotbride.com/" target="_blank">Polka Dot Bride</a> (with whom I have no commercial connection). It's a great resource site, run by lovely people. I recommend it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sincerely</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Michele</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JciMKnwmQ24/V765YPNhIDI/AAAAAAAA40E/7gkFjuw6APcW85Ef_ZG_JV7DvKuhw19eQCPcB/s1600/IMG_0034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JciMKnwmQ24/V765YPNhIDI/AAAAAAAA40E/7gkFjuw6APcW85Ef_ZG_JV7DvKuhw19eQCPcB/s640/IMG_0034.JPG" width="640" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">ca-pub-8935539357975972</div>Michele the Celebrant - Michele Bolithohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11497814289373880730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6005221770633216680.post-2283339504600142532016-04-06T20:19:00.000+10:002016-08-26T15:05:36.152+10:00How will you make your entrance?<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Hello, and welcome.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sarah has walked down the aisle at Gold Creek <br />
Chapel with her Dad. A happy handshake <br />
follows between father and groom.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> If you’re planning to marry -
well, first thing, my congratulations to you both. You may be wondering about
the right way to walk to your wedding ceremony.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> There actually is no right way,
and there is no wrong way. There’s a traditional way but that no longer makes
it the right way. Things are more flexible these days.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Chloe married Jadium at the </span><a href="http://www.nationalcapital.gov.au/index.php/component/content/article?id=233:national-carillon" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">National Carillon</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> on Aspen Island on Thursday 31st March. She walked across the bridge to the ceremony, as tradition goes, with her step-Dad, Robert. Some brides are accompanied by their mothers or another special person and some choose to walk in between both their parents.</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Chloe kissed Robert. Jadium and Robert shook hands, then Robert joined the arc of guests. During the <a href="http://celebrantcanberra.blogspot.com.au/p/simple-service-registry-office-wedding.html" target="_blank">simple ceremony</a>, Jadium and Chloe made quietly-spoken, heartfelt personal vows to each other before their vows of marriage. Their guests were standing only a few metres away from the bridal party and this gave a friendly intimacy to their wedding.</span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Here are Thuong and Rob who married in my </span><a href="http://www.cometomyheartgarden.com/" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Heart Garden</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> on a beautiful summer's day in February.</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GA_U2Fu7BCo/VwRjHtabzOI/AAAAAAAA338/BqQJON9xmfkp0-uaVYi5dLbcd7sRvr7Og/s1600/Thuong%2Band%2BRbo%2Bwith%2Bblur%2Bof%2Bguests.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GA_U2Fu7BCo/VwRjHtabzOI/AAAAAAAA338/BqQJON9xmfkp0-uaVYi5dLbcd7sRvr7Og/s400/Thuong%2Band%2BRbo%2Bwith%2Bblur%2Bof%2Bguests.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Rob and Thuong arrived at the Heart Garden together with their guests. After their Declarations of No Legal Impediment to Marriage had been signed, Thuong walked alone along the garden path to her waiting groom.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_tLa96x4rWE/VwRkiaJhbsI/AAAAAAAA34M/YcgV_x5iWxs6IuCTgUlacizKtA_14gqSQ/s1600/Thuong%2Band%2BRob%2B4-006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_tLa96x4rWE/VwRkiaJhbsI/AAAAAAAA34M/YcgV_x5iWxs6IuCTgUlacizKtA_14gqSQ/s400/Thuong%2Band%2BRob%2B4-006.jpg" width="398" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Like many couples do these days, when Qin Qin and Chang Yong chose to marry in the Heart Garden in December, they walked in together. So really, you can see that it’s totally your choice about how you arrive for your ceremony.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lucy was accompanied by her young<br />
son when she arrived for her marriage<br />
to Kirk last Spring.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cKrFzovc5l8/VgDJuYEHkdI/AAAAAAAA37I/PUtgiW_DMxouwu26s9tqEpYPwxnTbKEUg/s1600/20150904_122423.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cKrFzovc5l8/VgDJuYEHkdI/AAAAAAAA37I/PUtgiW_DMxouwu26s9tqEpYPwxnTbKEUg/s400/20150904_122423.jpg" width="160" /></span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"> Smiling nonstop, bride and groom, </span></span><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;">Lucy and Kirk leave </span><span style="text-align: start;">their simply beautiful and beautifully simple wedding </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">together, along</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">the blossom-lined driveway.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">They are</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> now wife and husband,</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">joined in marriage.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Consider the sunshine and the
cool</b><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b></b></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b></b></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Autumn is such a beautiful time
to marry in our nation’s capital. Canberra will soon be aglow with stunning
autumn colours and they’ll last right into June. Our autumn days are typically
sunny ones.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> The autumn solstice around March 21 and 22 started our shift to shorter days and longer nights. Daylight saving has come to a close. The more we move towards winter, around the middle of the day is probably the most enjoyable time to marry. As the sun goes down earlier, the afternoon shadows get longer and can be too cool to stand in. It’s good to take this into account when choosing the exact spot for your ceremony.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If you plan to marry outside, as so many couples do, always work out what the sun will likely be doing. You want everyone to be comfortable. You want them to have happy memories of enjoying your wedding. You won’t want your guests to wish your wedding would finish so they can head to a more comfortable place! </span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kf0kR4Zcy60/VKPVXtks-9I/AAAAAAAA18M/NkFPSk5CbJIXql8FYyjEoj0vobGPN2VOw/s1600/IMG_1424.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kf0kR4Zcy60/VKPVXtks-9I/AAAAAAAA18M/NkFPSk5CbJIXql8FYyjEoj0vobGPN2VOw/s320/IMG_1424.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">T</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">hink too about your own comfort. Strapless dresses in autumn and winter are fine in warm churches and special wedding places, such as the <a href="http://www.nationalarboretum.act.gov.au/home" target="_blank">Margaret Whitlam Pavilion at the National Arboretum</a>. But when you’re standing outside on a cooler day, you may be glad of sleeves or a warm wrap. </span>Some brides wear fluffy boleros. They look warm and gorgeous.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>The weird thing about chairs at
weddings</b><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b3wr-Rq21oA/VwR3VXvOJtI/AAAAAAAA37U/pL8m_KlPnKY3yI1PA3GpcGYoPADlFOGpw/s1600/P1000401.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b3wr-Rq21oA/VwR3VXvOJtI/AAAAAAAA37U/pL8m_KlPnKY3yI1PA3GpcGYoPADlFOGpw/s320/P1000401.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The presentation of Jayden and Sarah as<br />
newlyweds was easy for all to see.</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> The weird thing about chairs at
weddings is that almost no-one ever wants to sit in them. If there are lots of
chairs, it often takes me a while to fill them before the bride arrives. I
plead: ‘Please guests, take a seat. Empty chairs look bad in wedding photos’. So, if you’re thinking about chairs, I
suggest just a few at the front, perhaps for immediate family, the elderly and
the very pregnant.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Of course, if your wedding is to
be quite formal and you’ll have chairs for every guest, then it’s clear that
everyone will be sitting down. Keep in mind however, that in a church or chapel where
everyone is seated, they can look up to the bride and groom on at least one
step above them.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> On level ground, it can be
difficult for guests just a few rows from the front, to see what’s going on.
Guests at the back will hear your wedding but may not actually see it. Keep
this in mind if you’re choosing a formal venue. The </span><a href="https://www.tfehotels.com/brands/kurrajong/hotel-kurrajong/weddings" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Hotel Kurrajong</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> for
instance, has broad steps for the bridal party to stand on. So does the courtyard at </span><a href="http://moadoph.gov.au/visiting/venue-hire/" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Old Parliament House</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">. </span><a href="http://www.goldcreekchapel.com.au/" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">The Chapel at Gold Creek</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> is configured like a church so all the guests have a good view of the ceremony.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If you would like me to be your celebrant</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> If you would like me to be your celebrant, I'd be delighted. Please contact me by filling in this <a href="http://celebrantcanberra.blogspot.com.au/p/email-contact-form.html" target="_blank">Email Contact Form</a>, or by phone or text to 0406 376 375, anytime on any day between 9am and 9pm. We can talk on Skype if you wish.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> It just so happens that because we have no Registry Office weddings in the ACT, my specialty has become </span><a href="http://celebrantcanberra.blogspot.com.au/p/simple-service-registry-office-wedding.html" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">simple weddings</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">, usually quite small. I describe them as </span><i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Simply beautiful and beautifully simple</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> but I still love large weddings too. As a writer, I also enjoy helping couples craft a totally unique wedding for themselves in </span><a href="http://celebrantcanberra.blogspot.com.au/p/wedding-tips_20.html" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">the full service</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> that I offer. </span><a href="http://celebrantcanberra.blogspot.com.au/p/my-fees-and-what-they-cover.html" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">My fees</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> for </span><a href="http://celebrantcanberra.blogspot.com.au/p/simple-service-registry-office-wedding.html" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">simple</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> and longer weddings are here.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ry3t_btxi9M/VwSHVR527LI/AAAAAAAA38I/NZcTs-5InUsDQRe43MHWwO1YYRhwWxAmQ/s1600/Sarah%2BJaydon%2Band%2BMichele.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"> <img border="0" height="226" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ry3t_btxi9M/VwSHVR527LI/AAAAAAAA38I/NZcTs-5InUsDQRe43MHWwO1YYRhwWxAmQ/s320/Sarah%2BJaydon%2Band%2BMichele.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Many of the weddings I attend as celebrant are small and private. This means that I never post photos from them online. Two weddings recently have been so small and so private that I've also found witnesses for the marrying couples. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> One wedding was in the </span><a href="https://www.nationalcapital.gov.au/index.php/attractions-managed-by-the-nca/old-parliament-house-gardens" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">National Rose Gardens at Old Parliament House</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> and I helped the bride and groom by finding a professional photographer who was also very happy to be witness. At a wedding in my garden last week, two of my writing group friends kindly agreed to be witnesses. I guess you could call these two weddings 'elopements'.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Even with the simplest of weddings, there are lots of options, especially in choosing your location. I have many years of experience as a civil celebrant in Canberra and close-by. Please think of me as a freely-available resource, as well as your possible celebrant. I'll happily answer any questions you may have.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sincerely</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Michele</span></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">ca-pub-8935539357975972</div>Michele the Celebrant - Michele Bolithohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11497814289373880730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6005221770633216680.post-44351743034006578262016-01-08T14:31:00.002+11:002016-03-23T00:52:38.569+11:00Last year had such a happy ending.Hello, and
welcome.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-suRf1zdpZ2w/VqdxCoMBVKI/AAAAAAAA3vo/Z00CWsweZCI/s1600/20151205_163513.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-suRf1zdpZ2w/VqdxCoMBVKI/AAAAAAAA3vo/Z00CWsweZCI/s400/20151205_163513.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On Saturday December 5 2015, Lou and Dan married at Mystery Bay on the south coast.<br />
It was a big, joyful family-and-friends event. They had a simple wedding ceremony, which included<br />
very moving personal vows to each other. There was a fabulous party to follow. Many guests camped at the site.<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> </span><br />
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January is a
quiet time for me and weddings because I have my annual rest until the Australia Day holiday.<br />
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<span style="color: red;">UPDATE 26 January</span></div>
I enjoyed my time off in January. I thought I'd get some writing done but I always seemed to end up working in the garden! When it calls me, it's so insistent! As I add this update, I'm at my desk, preparing for a wedding in my garden tomorrow morning.<br />
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As we move into 2016, the googlebots are still being very kind to me and sending lots of work my way. Surely, over 120,000 page views of this blog is a high count for something so local and so specialised.<br />
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<b>There are no weddings at the Registry Office in the ACT</b> and searches for this are often sent my way by my googlebot friends.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--mgVK3mRKcs/Vo8dIpwEtKI/AAAAAAAA3t4/tM3TqPcWLV8/s1600/P1000218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--mgVK3mRKcs/Vo8dIpwEtKI/AAAAAAAA3t4/tM3TqPcWLV8/s320/P1000218.JPG" width="177" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Annette and Matthew married<br />
with a simple ceremony<br />
in the elegant simplicity<br />
of the Margaret Whitlam<br />
Pavilion at the Australian<br />
National Arboretum<br />
Saturday 31 October 15</td></tr>
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I pop over to facebook every so often and maybe I’ll give <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Michele.the.Celebrant" target="_blank">my facebook page</a> more attention this year. I take lots of wedding photos and I like to put some there (with permission, of course).<br />
And as always, word-of-mouth is still a main way for couples to hear of the high quality of the service I so enjoy providing.</div>
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<i>Your day is my focus.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>That’s my promise. </i><br />
<i>It’s my pleasure.</i></div>
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In the short and simple ceremony I've created, all legal requirements are included, yet couples still have the opportunity to make several choices about how the legal parts are presented. They can also add their own personal vows if they wish. Many choose to do this. Many don't.</div>
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<b><i> Simply
beautiful and beautifully simple. </i></b>These are the weddings I already specialise
in. Simple weddings are so popular these days, especially in my private romantic
<a href="https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjgsMKHraTKAhUBRJQKHQvJDyQQFggbMAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cometomyheartgarden.com%2F&usg=AFQjCNG4cqQ6DBwBqG5DAIG7yNAZsvNvmQ&sig2=x3A8j28U2J1DsXKooT-hZg&bvm=bv.111396085,d.dGo" target="_blank">Heart Garden.</a> There’s no extra cost involved for this.</div>
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Couples who visit usually
notice how special the Heart Garden feels. The peaceful welcoming feel doesn’t
come across in online images and they often comment on this. Wedding guests also tell me they enjoy the way the garden feels, and not just its beauty.<br />
If you'd like to see how the garden looks in the month you plan to marry, my page on <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/mbolithocc/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a> has a large collection of photos. Or visit <a href="http://cometomyheartgarden.com/">cometomyheartgarden.com</a> and look for the menu of monthly slideshows. <o:p></o:p><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M9jbcD2LHgc/Vo8cbcEC-OI/AAAAAAAA3tw/I1YN6DDVv44/s1600/P1000289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M9jbcD2LHgc/Vo8cbcEC-OI/AAAAAAAA3tw/I1YN6DDVv44/s200/P1000289.JPG" width="199" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy bride Nisa, after her<br />
marriage to Selwyn in the<br />
Heart Garden, Canberra<br />
Friday 27 November 15</td></tr>
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Much of the time, I’m in the garden, working away as The Heart Gardener. I'm adding plants, weeding, feeding and generally maintaining. On and off during the day, and into the evening (often until about midnight) I’ll be at my desk. Of course my desk overlooks the garden!<br />
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I’m self-employed. This means that I set my own schedule. I can be available for your wedding any day, or any night, at any time and location that you choose. (Please note here that Heart Garden weddings are only held during weekdays.)</div>
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<b>My Wedding Pages will give you extra information</b><br />
As more and
more couples who are planning to marry are using smartphones to search for their
wedding services and suppliers, fewer people are noticing the extras on this
blogsite.<br />
On a laptop or desktop screen, my Wedding Pages, my slideshow of
gorgeous wedding photos and also my resource list, all appear on the right-hand side. I also have a Search box for tracking down information about locations, etc. On the small screen of your íPhone or Android, I hope you’ll find menu icons so that you can also access these extra resources.<br />
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These are my
Wedding Pages:</div>
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<a href="http://celebrantcanberra.blogspot.com.au/p/email-contact-form.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Email Contact Form</a><br />
<a href="http://celebrantcanberra.blogspot.com.au/p/simple-service-registry-office-wedding.html" target="_blank">Simple Service - Registry Office ACT Wedding Substitute </a></div>
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<a href="http://celebrantcanberra.blogspot.com.au/p/wedding-tips_20.html" target="_blank">My Full Service, and Lots of General Wedding Info</a><br />
<a href="http://celebrantcanberra.blogspot.com.au/p/michele-as-your-celebrant.html" target="_blank">Twelve Reasons for Choosing Michele as Your Celebrant</a><br />
<a href="http://celebrantcanberra.blogspot.com.au/p/see-and-hear-michele-heart-garden.html" target="_blank">See Michele on YouTube or Chat with Her on Skype</a><br />
<a href="http://celebrantcanberra.blogspot.com.au/p/my-fees-and-what-they-cover.html" target="_blank">MY FEES and What They Cover</a><br />
<a href="http://celebrantcanberra.blogspot.com.au/p/if-you-live-outside-australia.html" target="_blank">If You Live Outside Australia</a><br />
<a href="http://celebrantcanberra.blogspot.com.au/p/notice-of-intended-marriage.html" target="_blank">Notice of Intended Marriage PDF</a><br />
<a href="http://celebrantcanberra.blogspot.com.au/p/testimonials.html" target="_blank">Wonderful Reviews, Much Appreciated by MB, CMC</a><br />
<a href="http://celebrantcanberra.blogspot.com.au/p/wedding-review-form.html" target="_blank">Wedding Review Form</a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a9aSIskFO84/Vo8SV5ijivI/AAAAAAAA3tY/1Wt5oBncAQU/s1600/20151231_153657.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a9aSIskFO84/Vo8SV5ijivI/AAAAAAAA3tY/1Wt5oBncAQU/s400/20151231_153657.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Qin Qin and Chang Yong married in<br />
the Heart Garden on the last day of last year.<br />
We drank a toast to their marriage<br />
and then one to the New Year.</td></tr>
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<b> </b>If you're planning to marry soon, or a while into the future, I'd love to hear from you. By law, the lodging of a Notice of Intended Marriage must be done with the celebrant or church of choice, at least one month before the day of the wedding. I can help you marry exactly one month from the time you're reading this!<br />
<b> If you’d
like to book me as your celebrant</b>, please phone or
text me on 0406 376 375 (any day between 9am and 9pm) to see I’m available. If
you <a href="http://celebrantcanberra.blogspot.com.au/p/email-contact-form.html" target="_blank">email me</a> with a wedding booking. I’ll reply quickly. Or if you simply have
queries, please feel free to contact me by phone, text or <a href="http://celebrantcanberra.blogspot.com.au/p/email-contact-form.html" target="_blank">email</a>. I’m a very
experienced marriage celebrant and always happy to help. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yQHORO0HMNI/Vo8CvzJzBpI/AAAAAAAA3tA/7sXddFkAr8k/s1600/20151231_153653.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yQHORO0HMNI/Vo8CvzJzBpI/AAAAAAAA3tA/7sXddFkAr8k/s400/20151231_153653.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Here's to 2016. </div>
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I wish you a
wonderful year!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Sincerely<o:p></o:p></div>
Michele<br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">ca-pub-8935539357975972</div>Michele the Celebrant - Michele Bolithohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11497814289373880730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6005221770633216680.post-90878083638146880222015-11-05T23:56:00.000+11:002015-12-26T12:12:21.652+11:00Welcoming the world to marry in Canberra<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Hello, and welcome.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4xDB5zdzKJ0/VgDGab4AXBI/AAAAAAAA3pM/9Gl7xYbnkC4/s1600/20150902_115306.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4xDB5zdzKJ0/VgDGab4AXBI/AAAAAAAA3pM/9Gl7xYbnkC4/s400/20150902_115306.jpg" width="398" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jimena (born in Colombia, South America) and Luke (born in ACT Australia)<br />
married on the second day of Spring under the pine trees in Nara Peace Park,<br />
then celebrated with a gourmet picnic.</td></tr>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wOfuxkFvGBw/VjgTg9g0rVI/AAAAAAAA3WA/8chpxCVh7cw/s1600/Jimena%2Band%2BLuke%2Bpicnic%2Bin%2BNara%2BPark%2B2-09-2015%2B12-14-35%2BPM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wOfuxkFvGBw/VjgTg9g0rVI/AAAAAAAA3WA/8chpxCVh7cw/s320/Jimena%2Band%2BLuke%2Bpicnic%2Bin%2BNara%2BPark%2B2-09-2015%2B12-14-35%2BPM.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It's a particularly glorious spring this year in our nation's beautiful capital. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Living in Canberra is like living in an enormous park. Even in the newest suburbs - and Canberra is expanding rapidly - advanced trees are planted in new streets by our nature-conscious local government, usually before the houses are built.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> You may be a local reading this and you may be wondering why I'm spelling out that Canberra is our nation's capital. It's a cause of surprise and delight for me when I see Google's analytics and notice how many people in how many different countries are reading this blog.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hGTGSyBdln4/VgDcE_xQnPI/AAAAAAAA3eg/HrkcLvHPm8w/s1600/IMG20121024_007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hGTGSyBdln4/VgDcE_xQnPI/AAAAAAAA3eg/HrkcLvHPm8w/s320/IMG20121024_007.jpg" width="198" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gabby and Dan <br />
mid-October 2012</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Mars and Jenny live in Shanghai in China. Their friends Dan and Gabby, who are living here in Canberra, were married in the Heart Garden in the spring of 2012. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Mars saw their wedding photos but also visited the garden's blog <a href="http://cometomyheartgarden.com/" target="_blank">cometomyheartgarden.com.</a> There's a menu there for twelve slideshows. They show how the garden looks in each month of the year. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Jenny and Mars loved the garden images and chose early October. October is mid-spring in our hemisphere.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> I've imported these links for monthly slideshows into my <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/mbolithocc/month-by-month-in-the-heart-garden/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a> account to make access to them easier. There's a <b>Visit Site</b> button top left on the cover photo for each month. Also, I've rekindled my interest in <a href="https://instagram.com/michelethecelebrantheartgarden/" target="_blank">Instagram</a>. It's been fun collecting beautiful images lately as I walk around the garden with my phone and quickly upload them to share. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Early last month, Jenny and Mars flew to Canberra to marry in the Heart Garden. The day before their wedding, we had a meeting together. The day after their wedding, they flew back to Shanghai. </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fXOjKXKwlMM/VjsN1ppcU2I/AAAAAAAA3gY/2fv4EvWEUlQ/s1600/Jenny%2Barrives%2B2-10-2015%2B12-04-00%2BPM.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fXOjKXKwlMM/VjsN1ppcU2I/AAAAAAAA3gY/2fv4EvWEUlQ/s400/Jenny%2Barrives%2B2-10-2015%2B12-04-00%2BPM.JPG" width="397" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jenny walks along the garden path to join her groom, Mars.<br />
They have flown from China to marry in the Heart Garden.<br />
How extraordinarily special is this?!<br />
4 October 2015</td></tr>
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<b style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Getting married in Australia</b><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> There are no residency requirements for getting married in Australia. The Australian Marriage Act of 1961 applies in all states and in both the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Your celebrant (or church) does all the preparation for your marriage, not the government registry. (The exception here is for marriages that actually take place at a government registry office.) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> In ACT we have no registry office weddings. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Couples must choose a private civil celebrant for a simple registry-style wedding, or marry in church.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Like all couples in Australia, couples coming from overseas must lodge their <a href="http://celebrantcanberra.blogspot.com.au/p/notice-of-intended-marriage.html" target="_blank">Notice of Intended Marriage</a> with their chosen celebrant at least one month before the wedding date.</span><br />
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This can be done by scan and email. (Or by airmail.)</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zuhlfYufWMo/VjsOFp26_II/AAAAAAAA3pA/MZEw9RQPgcc/s1600/Mars%2Band%2BJenny%2Bwith%2Bcertificate%2B2-10-2015%2B12-25-51%2BPM.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zuhlfYufWMo/VjsOFp26_II/AAAAAAAA3pA/MZEw9RQPgcc/s200/Mars%2Band%2BJenny%2Bwith%2Bcertificate%2B2-10-2015%2B12-25-51%2BPM.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
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Mars and Jenny, married, </div>
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and displaying with </div>
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pleasure, their</div>
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marriage certificate.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Documents proving date and place of birth must be sighted by the celebrant before the marriage can take place. As well, official evidence must be sighted of how previous marriage/s ended, if this applies. If a scan from overseas has been used for the lodging of the Notice, then the original must be given to the celebrant before the wedding.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> After the wedding, as with all marriages in Australia, the celebrant sends the paperwork to the local registry for </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">registration of the marriage. No copies of private papers (such as passport scans) are kept by the celebrant, nor the Registrar. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> A marriage in Australia becomes completely legal during the marriage ceremony and not with the signing of the certificates. This means that if anything happens to the paperwork, the legality of the marriage is not effected.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> There are three certificates of marriage altogether. Every couple takes home with them, a personal marriage certificate, which documents the details of the marriage that's just taken place. I always fill out this attractive certificate in a font that's been chosen by the couple during our meeting.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eT5Dx31w62k/VjsYdCbwFfI/AAAAAAAA3is/13c1XoOH2Ng/s1600/P1000208.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eT5Dx31w62k/VjsYdCbwFfI/AAAAAAAA3is/13c1XoOH2Ng/s400/P1000208.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just married. Late October 2015<br />
Extremely happy couple Jayne and Cameron with their<br />
personal marriage certificate. It's been printed<br />
in the font of their choice.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> The celebrant keeps one certificate and one certificate is sent to the Registrar in the local territory or state for registration. Even though the one to the Registrar is commonly called the 'official' certificate, all three certificates are of course, legitimate legal documents. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> After their marriage, couples overseas, just like local couples, can apply online to the Registry Office for what's called a 'full marriage certificate'. This will record the information from the official certificate sent in by the celebrant. It will also have a registration number on it. (You will pay the Registry Office for this certificate.)</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4fWeyPU4t54/VjtLMeAFfFI/AAAAAAAA3kk/VudPCLVygoU/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4fWeyPU4t54/VjtLMeAFfFI/AAAAAAAA3kk/VudPCLVygoU/s400/1.jpg" width="160" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My first attempt at<br />
an infographic has<br />
been lots of fun. But way<br />
too time-consuming!<br />
(I used<a href="https://www.canva.com/" target="_blank"> Canva</a>. It's a free<br />
design site.)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> When I refer to paperwork sent to the registrar by the celebrant after the wedding, I'm referring to the Official Certificate of Marriage and the Notice of Intended Marriage. If the couple needed an interpreter during the ceremony, as Jenny and Mars did, then the Interpreter's Certificate is also sent to the Registrar.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Mars's good friend Dan was interpreter for him and Jenny. The interpreter does not need to be professional, however they must declare competency in both languages. In this case it was Mandarin (Shanghai-ese) and English (Aussie-style).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Of the sixteen weddings already where I've been celebrant this spring, ten were hosted in my garden. The brides and grooms had many different origins - Australia, Malaysia, Ghana, China, South Korea, Scotland, the Philippines, India and France. My magical garden is truly a place for uniting nations!</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qK5_PZ4snOY/Vjs0re-AFaI/AAAAAAAA3i0/DFUYaIHV7gI/s1600/P1000182.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qK5_PZ4snOY/Vjs0re-AFaI/AAAAAAAA3i0/DFUYaIHV7gI/s320/P1000182.JPG" width="175" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aussie husband Justin shares<br />
another kiss with his lovely<br />
French wife, Lolita.<br />
16 October 2015</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> I</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">n a recent <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Michele.the.Celebrant" target="_blank">facebook</a> post, I uploaded photos of the wedding
of Susana and Edmund, both born in Ghana. After a long pre-marriage visa
process, they married as soon as Edmund arrived in Oz. On Friday October 16, Lolita from France
married Justin who was born in Australia. A very simple ceremony was exactly what they wanted. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">(A simple service is printed on just one A4 page!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i> <b>Simply beautiful </b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><b> and
beautifully simple . . . . . </b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> This is my description of a wedding in my Heart Garden.
If this style of wedding feels just right for you, you’ll be so welcome to
marry in my garden. (There is no extra fee for marrying in the Heart Garden.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> If you’d like a beautifully simple wedding in another lovely
location, I’d be delighted to join you there.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> If you’d like a longer ceremony, perhaps with added vows and
readings, then you may choose my full service. There’s a detailed PDF <a href="http://celebrantcanberra.blogspot.com.au/p/wedding-tips_20.html" target="_blank">here</a>. (If you have trouble opening this, please email or phone me and I'll send you a copy.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> I’d love to help you craft a unique wedding ceremony that
expresses your individual personalities, along with what you both want as a
couple. As well as being a civil marriage celebrant, I'm a published writer. My
degree is in English and psychology. I used to have a weekly column called 'Good
Thinking' in a local newspaper and I’ve had several articles published online.
(At <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/expert/Michele_Bolitho/58434" target="_blank">ezine articles</a> I’ve been granted ‘Expert Writer’ status in two wellbeing
categories.)</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PJOE4eO7jbY/Vjs1huVBHBI/AAAAAAAA3i8/YYLLjhORluk/s1600/P1000049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PJOE4eO7jbY/Vjs1huVBHBI/AAAAAAAA3i8/YYLLjhORluk/s400/P1000049.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dolly (born in the Philippines) enters the Heart Garden with her son for her marriage to Alan.<br />
Such a joyful wedding, in peaceful and private surroundings.<br />
8 October 2015</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CFd6nNxBqiw/Vjs3c5BrqXI/AAAAAAAA3jQ/7dPfY4j7OMQ/s1600/P1000068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CFd6nNxBqiw/Vjs3c5BrqXI/AAAAAAAA3jQ/7dPfY4j7OMQ/s400/P1000068.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dolly enjoys the scent of Çlematis Montant Éliza'beth</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Heart Garden weddings are for couples with eight guests or
so, and are only held on weekdays. I'm available however for long and short weddings,
at any location at any time, on any day, for any number of guests. I've been to weddings at sunrise and also at suppertime. And I'm happy to travel.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <b> </b></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>If you’re planning to marry, my congratulations to you both!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My <a href="http://celebrantcanberra.blogspot.com.au/p/my-fees-and-what-they-cover.html" target="_blank">fees</a> are in my Wedding Pages, along with lots of other information about getting married. There's a collection of <a href="http://celebrantcanberra.blogspot.com.au/p/testimonials.html" target="_blank">reviews</a> as well</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">. If you're reading this blog on your mobile, there's a tiny MENU button (or icon) above this post. It will take you to all my Wedding Pages.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> If you enjoy looking at wedding photos - as I do - there's an extensive slideshow in my sidebar, along with other features. You may need to look for this on a tablet, laptop or desktop as I can't see it anywhere on my android phone.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> If you’d like me to be your celebrant, I’d love to be there
for you. With a booking, or simply an enquiry, please phone or text me on 0406 376 375 any day
between 9am and 9pm. If I miss your call, it’s probably because I’m totally
absorbed in working in the garden! I’ll call you back as soon as I get your
message.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Or you can fill in the email contact form <a href="http://celebrantcanberra.blogspot.com.au/p/email-contact-form.html" target="_blank">here</a> and I’ll soon respond
by phone or email. Perhaps you'd like us to have a video chat on Skype before you make your decision? That's fine with me too. </span><br />
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</div>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5XPv9c7TIe4/VkM9ds5GULI/AAAAAAAA3oM/EBk63EPDLnk/s1600/20151004_114540.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5XPv9c7TIe4/VkM9ds5GULI/AAAAAAAA3oM/EBk63EPDLnk/s400/20151004_114540.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> I hope your final choice of marriage celebrant is me :)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sincerely,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Michele</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V0Ovvguarhg/Vjs7OrRWViI/AAAAAAAA3j8/IGcmQ8itQJM/s1600/P1000184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V0Ovvguarhg/Vjs7OrRWViI/AAAAAAAA3j8/IGcmQ8itQJM/s640/P1000184.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Heart Garden in mid-Spring 2015</td></tr>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">ca-pub-8935539357975972</div>Michele the Celebrant - Michele Bolithohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11497814289373880730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6005221770633216680.post-66116095232937813042015-06-01T22:22:00.003+10:002015-10-27T15:34:47.358+11:00Canberra’s Top Ten Wedding Venues for 2014 – Guess What’s Number Five!<div class="MsoNormal">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-70jD2ouKe_0/VWxI6rKIKCI/AAAAAAAA2Rc/Lr1Ntnvqtp8/s1600/IMG_2553.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-70jD2ouKe_0/VWxI6rKIKCI/AAAAAAAA2Rc/Lr1Ntnvqtp8/s400/IMG_2553.JPG" width="223" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tegan arrives for her marriage<br />
with Steve<br />
The Heart Garden<br />
8 May 2015</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hello, and welcome</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Did you happen to see an article in the Canberra Times
recently about the <a href="http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/canberra-life/gold-creek-heads-top-10-wedding-list-as-couples-move-away-from-religious-weddings-20150409-1mhiz3" target="_blank">Ten Top Canberra Wedding Venues for 2014?</a> And did you happen to notice which place came in at Number 5? My
beautiful romantic Heart Garden! I was absolutely amazed, and absolutely
delighted. It was ahead of the Hyatt, and St John's Church in Reid. There were more weddings in my Heart Garden last year than at Nara Park. Who'd have guessed it? Certainly not me.</span></div>
<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Getting married in winter<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> It’s the first day of winter in our nation’s capital and it’s
a typical Canberra winter day already. Crystal clear, sunny <b>and</b> <b>icy! </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I didn’t really
feel like going out into the garden from our snug warm house but then I
reminded myself how very special today is for the couple who will come to marry
in the garden at 2pm. (At their request, no mention of names.) Thinking of them made it easy for
me to rug up and be out the door, ready to plant some new flowers and spend some hours sprucing the garden up to look its best.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> At this time of year, Heart Garden wedding ceremonies are
often held in my green room, with the bride and groom standing in the bay
window. Often the signing table’s in the green room as well, but if the weather’s
sunny, still and warm enough, we sign in the garden. Celebration drinks and
photos usually take place in the garden, with everyone warmly clad.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Today at 2 o'clock the sun was shining and the air had warmed a
lot. We had the ceremony in the garden, with bride and groom standing in front
of a huge ‘guelder rose’ viburnum, still resplendent with golden autumn leaves. The winter-flowering apricot tree is in flower
already and its pink blossom-laden branches stretch far out over the lawn.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u2BwikZz4G4/VWxLAGANAEI/AAAAAAAA2Ro/KYsj8YLIPPs/s400/IMG_1614.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cindy and Billy married in the green room in July last year, <br />
then had celebration drinks and photos in the garden.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u2BwikZz4G4/VWxLAGANAEI/AAAAAAAA2Ro/KYsj8YLIPPs/s1600/IMG_1614.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Simply beautiful and beautifully simple</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I didn’t set out to specialise in small registry-style
weddings, it just evolved that way. I set up this service in about 1997 when the ACT Registry Office
closed its wedding room and moved to Fyshwick. Since then, registry-style
weekday weddings in my large, peaceful romantic garden have become extremely
popular. I enjoy the intimacy of these weddings. They’re perfect for couples
who want to avoid a lot of stress and fuss. And expense. I describe this popular wedding option as 'simply beautiful and beautifully simple'.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sSHcNpCBVZs/VWxjuQaBSHI/AAAAAAAA2SA/HFOU4Tw2JvI/s1600/IMG_1502.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sSHcNpCBVZs/VWxjuQaBSHI/AAAAAAAA2SA/HFOU4Tw2JvI/s400/IMG_1502.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Luke and Cassandra - happy newlyweds under the winter-flowering apricot<br />
Friday 13 June 2014</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here are some circumstances
for a registry office style wedding</span></b></div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Bride and groom have been married before (to other partners). They just want a
simple legal recognition and celebration of their relationship together.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> The couples has already created for themselves, a personal ceremony in which they made heart-to-heart commitments to each other, but it was not a legal wedding. For instance, they may have made their vows on a beach in Bali, or simply in their own home.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> The couple is having a big wedding overseas and getting
legally married in Australia first (or after) is a much simpler option. I
recall a bride and groom who had married in a huge, successful wedding in China with her
family and community. They were planning another big traditional wedding in
India in the new year, with his family and community. When they married in the
peace and tranquility of the Heart Garden, with just one witness each, they looked
so relaxed and contented. ‘This is just for us’ they said. They couldn’t stop
smiling.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Sometimes couples who have been together for a while, find
they are being posted with work to a location where marriage is expected, such
as Dubai. Even though they have a very low-key wedding, it’s still a memorable
event. Each year from then, it’s still a cause for celebration.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> There may be a baby on the way and the parents want to formalise their relationship and have a celebration while they're still able to focus on a wedding.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Sometimes people who love each other dearly simply want to
elope. A private, secret Heart Garden wedding is the perfect plan.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> From my vast experience with small simple (but still
special) weddings, I have worked out a way to streamline the pre-wedding
process. </span><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I can also help couples marry exactly one month after they first make
contact with me by phone or email.</b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> (One month is the minimum time required by
law after lodging a Notice of Intended Marriage with any civil celebrant or
church in Australia.)</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="398" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hobaS4x120Q/VWxMEMx36UI/AAAAAAAA2Rw/OxBduR6oQkY/s400/IMG_2606.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking very pleased - Jacinda and Antonio married at<br />
Redbrow Gardens in Murrumbateman on May 9 this year.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hobaS4x120Q/VWxMEMx36UI/AAAAAAAA2Rw/OxBduR6oQkY/s1600/IMG_2606.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love weddings, big
and small</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I’d love to be your celebrant, whatever sized wedding you
choose. I will travel to any location in the ACT or surrounding NSW (or
further, if needed). I am available for weddings every day of the week. I’ve had
a couple of dawn weddings and also some around supper time when the party was
already underway. I’ve married couples in their family room, in their lounge
room, sitting on their backsteps. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I’ve been at grand formal weddings (like one in the Senate
chamber of Old Parliament House) as well as casual parties, where I’ve been
invited to stay and dance. I’ve had several weddings in balloons, flying over
Lake Burley Griffin. You can tell from this I hope, that I'm really flexible
with when and where. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Your wedding is your choice. There are requirements of the
Marriage Act which have to be included. These are of course, important. They
need to be taken seriously but they don’t need to be a feature. As a writer I can
help you blend the legalities into your wording and still keep your ceremony very personal
and unique. I will deliver even the simplest one-page ceremony with heart.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="197" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PxplQ_iDAcU/VWxElNumUXI/AAAAAAAA2RQ/RoT6bTSM_qA/s400/Nelly%2Band%2BHuang%2Bfor%2Bfacebook%2B13-04-2015%2B4-00-23%2BPM.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nellie and Truong married amidst the roses<br />
Old Parliament House Rose Gardens 13 April 2015</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PxplQ_iDAcU/VWxElNumUXI/AAAAAAAA2RQ/RoT6bTSM_qA/s1600/Nelly%2Band%2BHuang%2Bfor%2Bfacebook%2B13-04-2015%2B4-00-23%2BPM.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You can contact me</b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><a href="mailto:contact@celebrantcanberra.com.au" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">by email here</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, or with this </span><a href="http://celebrantcanberra.blogspot.com.au/p/email-contact-form.html" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">email contact form</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. Or phone or text me any day between 9 and 9 on 0406 376 375. We can talk
on Skype if you like, with or without video. I’d love to help you make your
wedding plans come to life in just the way you wish.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sincerely</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Michele</span></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">ca-pub-8935539357975972</div>Michele the Celebrant - Michele Bolithohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11497814289373880730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6005221770633216680.post-62092980930614589282015-03-18T19:32:00.000+11:002015-04-23T01:22:10.458+10:00A special wedding place goes public and an old classic makes a come-back<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4pKp4iVZCys/VOVS8bLo_cI/AAAAAAAA1-Y/EOfCUIzVmIk/s1600/20150102_120132.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4pKp4iVZCys/VOVS8bLo_cI/AAAAAAAA1-Y/EOfCUIzVmIk/s1600/20150102_120132.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First Heart Garden wedding for 2015.<br />
Elyse and Romulus treasure their certificate.<br />
Friday 2 January</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hello, and welcome</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> In this post, I write about Fetherston Gardens for the first time and give the Hotel Kurrajong a new mention.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
<b>Fetherston Gardens is a large, generous romantic 1970s style garden</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Fetherston Gardens is a flourishing informal public park, comprising several gardens. It's in Heysen Street Weston, between the Police Services Centre and Fetherston Ridge, up near the Parkway. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> This lovely local treasure has been a sort-of well-kept secret for the many volunteers who co-work with TAMS (Territory and Municipal Services) to make and keep these gardens beautiful. I am one of those fortunate volunteers. Three years of TLC have restored Fetherston Gardens to their former glory. They used to be a teaching garden for the CIT (then called TAFE). They are named after my wonderful friend, gardening teacher and art teacher, Tony Fetherston. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fetherston Gardens, Weston ACT 15 February 2015</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The word has spread. An Open Day in late February, organised by Defence Housing, which neighbours the gardens on Fetherston Ridge, brought many hundreds of visitors. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Just two blocks away from my own Heart Garden, this generous public venue is open seven days a week and it's free for all. I'm sure it will continue to get lovelier and lovelier.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Fetherston Gardens has several settings suitable for weddings, from a small group to a large crowd. As yet, there are no covered areas or public toilets. Bookings can be made through <a href="http://www.tams.act.gov.au/" target="_blank">TAMS</a>. I'm really looking forward to being celebrant at weddings there.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The restoration of the Hotel Kurrajong in Barton</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> My friend Christine Salins has a really interesting and wide-ranging blog about <a href="http://www.foodwinetravel.com.au/?s=kurrajong">travel, wine and food</a>. A recent post about Canberra drew to my attention: The restoration of the <a href="https://www.tfehotels.com/brands/kurrajong/hotel-kurrajong" target="_blank">Hotel Kurrajong</a> in Barton.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.foodwinetravel.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Vintage-Cars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Hotel Kurrajong, TFE Hotels, where to stay in Canberra, best Canberra hotels, food wine travel, Christine Salins." border="0" src="http://www.foodwinetravel.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Vintage-Cars.jpg" height="145" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">www.foodwinetravel.com.au</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've been celebrant at several weddings at the Kurrajong over the years and always enjoyed its quiet charm. I especially like the way they roll out the red carpet for the entrance of the bride.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I haven't seen the renovation but Christine's blog talks of a thorough, thoughtful upgrade in the style of the hotel's glory days.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> This would be a superb venue if you're planning a retro wedding. It's not on the free list of course, like Fetherston Gardens (or my Heart Garden) but if the budget allows, it's a wonderful setting for hosting a modern-day or olden-day wedding in our nation's splendid capital. If the walls could talk, they'd tell so many stories I'm sure, of extraordinary events when politicians (including one prime minister) made this grand old place their home-away-from-home.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To marry in the <a href="http://www.cometomyheartgarden.com/" target="_blank">Heart Garden</a></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> During a long restful break in January, I actually got to spend many hours in parts of my glorious garden that couples and their guests never get to see, With several weddings booked in autumn, my focus is now totally back on making the wedding area look cared-for, colourful and welcoming.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Would you like to marry in the Heart Garden?</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d7NByNSOUjI/VQmfffN1d3I/AAAAAAAA2II/I1GoKGnMEsU/s1600/IMG_2223.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d7NByNSOUjI/VQmfffN1d3I/AAAAAAAA2II/I1GoKGnMEsU/s1600/IMG_2223.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just married!<br />
Alice and Aaron.<br />
Wednesday March 11</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On the sunny lawn or under the shade of the wisteria pergola, you'd be so welcome to have your small weekday wedding in my garden. Like Fetherston Gardens, its style is rambling, rustic and 1970s romantic. It's peaceful and private, with a very friendly feel. Children are welcome.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jessica and Micha</span>el married on</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Wednesday 4 March.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Such a peaceful, happy day!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Linger for celebration drinks and lots of photos if you wish. You bring the bubbly, I bring out the crystal glasses.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> The green room, with windows overlooking the garden in three of its four walls, is our wet day or fiercely hot day or absolutely freezing day, back-up plan. The green room can be cooled or warmed to make the environment for your wedding, absolutely perfect, regardless of the weather.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">'Your garden is more beautiful than it looks in the photos' is a comment I often hear. It's also the feel of the garden that touches the heart and makes this private wedding venue so charming and unique. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> There are also several photos from recent Heart Garden weddings on my <a href="https://plus.google.com/b/113845510144263096011/+CelebrantcanberraBlogspot/posts">Google+ page</a>. </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have a new compliant sound system</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I've bought a new sound system. It's a MIPRO M101 that's completely compliant with new broadcasting regulations, specific to the ACT and surrounds. The new regulations were made law on the first of January this year.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> It's a small yet powerful unit with a cordless mike, which I take to larger weddings. It's portable and battery-operated. This means that I never need an electricity supply. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> The amp has a great sound that's clear and true. It can also be used for wedding music when a phone or other mp3 player is plugged in. If there's a reader at the wedding, or two readers, I can take an extra microphone to be used simultaneously.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_GsRjGRKv38/VQkJGC9t3ZI/AAAAAAAA2FU/UoQkDl6cRW8/s1600/IMG_2193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_GsRjGRKv38/VQkJGC9t3ZI/AAAAAAAA2FU/UoQkDl6cRW8/s1600/IMG_2193.JPG" height="233" title="Lauren arrives for her marriage to Adrian Four Winds Winery Murrumbateman NSW" width="600" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Lauren arrives with members of her family for her marriage to Adrian</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">at <a href="http://fourwindsvineyard.com.au/" target="_blank">Four Winds Winery</a> in Murrumbateman NSW.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">A big happy gathering in a country setting like this needs </span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">a good sound system that's portable as well.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Saturday 7 March 2015</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adrian signing the register.</td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you'd like me to be your celebrant at your wedding</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b></b> If you'd like me to be your celebrant at your wedding, I'd be delighted to be there for you both.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(All of my fee information is in this <a href="http://celebrantcanberra.blogspot.com.au/p/my-fees-and-what-they-cover.html" target="_blank">Wedding Page</a>.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> If you choose my full service, I'll give you lots of assistance in creating your own ceremony, perfect for you both. My other occupation is writer. You can read about my full service <a href="http://celebrantcanberra.blogspot.com.au/p/wedding-tips_20.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Or perhaps you'd prefer a <a href="http://celebrantcanberra.blogspot.com.au/p/simple-service-registry-office-wedding.html" target="_blank">simple, short registry-style wedding</a> ceremony with a just a few wording choices of your own. Add more personal vows to the ones set by the Marriage Act if you wish. The choice is yours. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> With me as your officiant, a registry-style ceremony will never be cold and strictly official-sounding. Even though your entire ceremony may fit on one A4 page (which I will print in the font of your choice) it will always feel like 'the real deal'. (Which it is!)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Perhaps you need the simplest wedding for legal purposes. A basic marriage ceremony, either in my Heart Garden or in another location of your choosing, will still be a very significant occasion in your life together.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Please feel free to contact me</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> There's an <a href="http://celebrantcanberra.blogspot.com.au/p/email-contact-form.html" target="_blank">email contact form here</a> or you can phone me on 0406 376 375 on any day between 9am and 9pm. Or text me, or <a href="mailto:contact@celebrantcanberra.com.au" target="_blank">email me</a> directly. We can chat together on Skype if you'd like, with or without a video connection. Just email or phone me first to set up a time that suits you both.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I'd like to help you any way I can. There are lots of ideas for you in my Wedding Pages. They appear to the right on a computer screen. On a smaller screen, you'll need to tap the Pages Menu. You can find a Search box at the top of this blog to help you get specific information from my previous blogposts on how to get married, good venues and so on.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Please feel free to contact me with any other questions. From way over one thousand weddings, I have a massive amount of experience and I'd love to help you in any way I can. Remember that if you have a question, you may find the answer in one of my previous blogposts. Just check in the Search box. Also please remember that you</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> don't need to hire me to get my help.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dA8UIdLvsX0/VPOvqnKSUEI/AAAAAAAA2Ak/G4diI-wyvz0/s1600/Tilly%2B%26%2BAaron%2B270215%2B059%2BEdited%2BLogo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dA8UIdLvsX0/VPOvqnKSUEI/AAAAAAAA2Ak/G4diI-wyvz0/s1600/Tilly%2B%26%2BAaron%2B270215%2B059%2BEdited%2BLogo.jpg" height="399" width="600" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thrilling moment for Tilly and Aaron, who married at the<br />
Rock Garden Lawn, <a href="https://www.anbg.gov.au/gardens" target="_blank">Australian National Botanic Gardens, Canberra</a><span id="goog_572294429"></span><span id="goog_572294430"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a><br />
Friday 27 February 2015<br />
(Photo by <a href="http://www.kerrysleemanphotography.com.au/" target="_blank">Kerry Sleeman</a>)</td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you're planning to marry, my congratulations to you both.</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> You may have looked at my videos on <a href="http://celebrantcanberra.blogspot.com.au/p/see-and-hear-michele-heart-garden.html" target="_blank">YouTube</a>. They're a little out of date. The first one starts by saying that three celebrants have chosen me as celebrant for their own weddings but by now that number has doubled to six. These celebrants have chosen me above all our peers to be there for them on their own wedding day - this is my favourite testimonial for validating my good work.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Being a celebrant is such a happy heartfelt privilege for me. I'd love to be the one you choose for your most amazing and memorable day.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sincerely</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Michele</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-6FxP_BsgCDU%2FVQkMBCWva7I%2FAAAAAAAA2Fk%2FaEtHlN9m834%2Fs1600%2FIMG_2198.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6FxP_BsgCDU/VQkMBCWva7I/AAAAAAAA2Fk/aEtHlN9m834/s1600/IMG_2198.JPG" --><div class="blogger-post-footer">ca-pub-8935539357975972</div>Michele the Celebrant - Michele Bolithohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11497814289373880730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6005221770633216680.post-4348120891943759252014-12-31T19:36:00.001+11:002015-11-18T14:35:17.639+11:00Your 2015 wedding - short simple registry style, or longer with more options?<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Hello, and welcome.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> I am writing this on the eve of 2015. So many
wonderful weddings during 2014, and for so many reasons. The main reasons of
course are the open declaring of the love that a couple shares, and their desire
to spend their lives together in a formally committed relationship.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_FD3RRvm9-4/VKORrxxEkYI/AAAAAAAA14s/sCzIwNUyt68/s1600/IMG_1097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_FD3RRvm9-4/VKORrxxEkYI/AAAAAAAA14s/sCzIwNUyt68/s1600/IMG_1097.JPG" width="267" /></span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Looking back on this year, brings to mind many wonderful weddings, and I've amassed hundreds of photos to remind me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> I enjoy all weddings I attend as celebrant, and I certainly don't plan to have any favourites. Sometimes it just happens however. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Here are photos from the wedding of Jordan and Karlo on May 15. It was so much fun! As video-makers, they've captured the joy of their day on <a href="http://vimeo.com/95878219">Vimeo.</a></span></div>
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<i>Your wedding is my focus.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>That’s my promise.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>It's my pleasure.</i></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XRDnSAyRUDw/VKOSOdKPbdI/AAAAAAAA15E/n3UT79tjkCo/s1600/IMG_1088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XRDnSAyRUDw/VKOSOdKPbdI/AAAAAAAA15E/n3UT79tjkCo/s1600/IMG_1088.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jordan is married, boots and all!</td></tr>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We want to get married as soon and as
simply as possible.</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Perhaps you want the quickest wedding possible, but
there’s much more to it than just signing papers. Compared to getting married
in many other countries though, getting married in Australia is quite straight-forward. You don't need Australian residency, for instance.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> First off, you must lodge your <a href="http://www.ag.gov.au/FamiliesAndMarriage/Marriage/Documents/Notice-of-intended-marriage.pdf">Notice of Intended Marriage</a> with your celebrant at least a month before your intended wedding date. There are several other legal
requirements which you can’t leave out, such as being informed by your
celebrant about local marriage education programs. You’ll be given government leaflets,
including an invitation to take part in the new<i> <a href="https://www.dss.gov.au/our-responsibilities/families-and-children/programmes-services/stronger-relationships-trial">Stronger Relationships</a></i> program. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> You’ll receive a free video called ‘Taking the First Step’. You’ll probably need a meeting for all this.
From many years of experience, I’ve streamlined the meeting for simple weddings
to one hour. The next time we meet, it’s the wedding!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ey7UTeMuVhE/VKOnmBjGM8I/AAAAAAAA17A/0ev_TCRnP4A/s1600/20141101_111422_2Annie%2Band%2BMarkus%2B1-11-2014%2B11-14-21%2BAM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ey7UTeMuVhE/VKOnmBjGM8I/AAAAAAAA17A/0ev_TCRnP4A/s1600/20141101_111422_2Annie%2Band%2BMarkus%2B1-11-2014%2B11-14-21%2BAM.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Signing after their simple ceremony in the National<br />
Rose Gardens at Old Parliament House, newlyweds<br />
Markus and Annie 1 November 2014</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> In Australia, even for the simplest wedding, you can’t just
sign certificates. You must have a ceremony in which you make legally required
vows in the presence of at least two adult witnesses. (Must be 18, may or may
not be related to you, need not be known to you personally.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> The simplest wedding ceremony will easily fit on
one A4 page. Even when read slowly to let the words carry their full
importance, it will only take a few minutes. Signing the certificates may
actually take longer!</span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Why we want everything simple.</span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Sometimes couples are just wanting the basics so
that their legal marriage can be registered. They may have planned a big beautiful
wedding in another place like Fiji or Bali, or another place that’s special to
them where getting legally married is more complicated. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Sometimes the couple is
heading overseas to new employment, say in the United States. They know that it
will be helpful in the culture they are going to, to have their longterm
relationship recognised in legal marriage. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Sometimes couples want to marry in
their faith. If the form of wedding ceremony they plan is not recognised by the Australian government as legal then a civil celebrant can legalise their marriage in a short separate ceremony. (Or here's another option: Y</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">ou can bring your pastor to your wedding as Jordan and Karlo did, then include a blessing prayer in your ceremony.)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aE4DnOb0FyI/VKPWk5BwHBI/AAAAAAAA184/l-tlPuuLIB4/s1600/IMG_0986.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aE4DnOb0FyI/VKPWk5BwHBI/AAAAAAAA184/l-tlPuuLIB4/s1600/IMG_0986.JPG" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gailie and Chan had a quiet,<br />
simple autumn wedding in the<br />
Heart Garden with just two<br />
witnesses. 8 May 2014</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Sometimes a short and simple wedding is all a couple has ever wanted.
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> The simple (but still special) wedding I’ve
written has a few variations but it basically collects together, all the legal
requirements of the Australian Marriage Act. I’ve added a welcome, the option
to add personal vows to the legally required ones, and a choice of friendly
endings.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Over the years, I’ve learned to say <i>Welcome</i> in a variety of languages. The bride or groom may have just
arrived in Australia, or special guests may have come from overseas just for
the wedding, with little knowledge of English. Because their interpreter speaks
the language of the newly arrived bride or groom, this helps them feel at home.
It can give this significant life event much more meaning.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> (FYI if the bride or groom speaks little English, they must provide an interpreter for their wedding. The interpreter need not be a
professional. He or she signs a legal certificate which is then sent to the
Registrar with the other wedding papers.)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We want short and simple but still want to
add our own vows.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BdiZXX5Rf94/VKOQvP_KjOI/AAAAAAAA14U/t1Yt7xIXXHA/s1600/DSC07518.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BdiZXX5Rf94/VKOQvP_KjOI/AAAAAAAA14U/t1Yt7xIXXHA/s1600/DSC07518.JPG" width="133" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Even in the simple ceremony, I invite couples to
make personal vows to each other. These need not be in English. I remember back in May 2012, the
sense of pure romance as Francesca and Aldo read pledges of their love for one another, in Italian. They read from beautiful gold-printed scrolls which Francesca had made. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Of course, words written on
small cards, or as letters to each other, serve the same intimate purpose. </span><br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IN3b_kXr4Ew/VKOQ-pYnvqI/AAAAAAAA17c/BmuaTvfkHak/s1600/DSC07521.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IN3b_kXr4Ew/VKOQ-pYnvqI/AAAAAAAA17c/BmuaTvfkHak/s1600/DSC07521.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RZ0aUYeieCc/VKORyzCDHtI/AAAAAAAA140/4s2NIWonZj4/s1600/IMG_1111-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RZ0aUYeieCc/VKORyzCDHtI/AAAAAAAA140/4s2NIWonZj4/s1600/IMG_1111-001.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Karlo reads vows he has written for his<br />
marriage to Jordan, before she reads<br />
vows she has written from her smartphone.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Occasionally couples will ad-lib their vows.
Rather than writing from the heart and then reading, they speak directly from
the heart during their ceremony. Sometimes, the emotion of the moment is rather overwhelming however and
the mind goes blank! That’s when it’s helpful to have your vows pre-written.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Simple weddings have sort of become my specialty or niche.
Couples who google a registry office wedding in the ACT – where we have none –
will often be directed to my blog by my friends, the googlebots. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> With the </span><a href="http://celebrantcanberra.blogspot.com.au/p/simple-service-registry-office-wedding.html" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Simple (but still) Special Service</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> I provide a registry-style wedding. And when people
who plan a short, simple wedding see photos of my Heart Garden, they are really
glad they tell me, to be able to marry in such a beautiful place. And at no extra
cost. (And bring champagne for a celebration toast with crystal glasses for
everyone to drink from!) </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I am also available to conduct simple ceremonies in any other location, on any day of the week, with any number of guests. Heart Garden weddings are small weddings, always held on weekdays.</span><br />
<b><i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></b>
<b><i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We want a longer ceremony, unique to us as a couple.</span></i></b><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I still offer <a href="http://celebrantcanberra.blogspot.com.au/p/wedding-tips_20.html" target="_blank">my full service</a> as a celebrant. </b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">(But
not in the Heart Garden.) </span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Personally, I am really happy when couples make this
choice. I'm a writer and I love to help couples with the creation of a ceremony
that speaks so clearly, just for them.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ka2UI2Z1Neg/VKOr9aKYJiI/AAAAAAAA17Q/tr5XvtThK9w/s1600/IMG_1723.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="208" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ka2UI2Z1Neg/VKOr9aKYJiI/AAAAAAAA17Q/tr5XvtThK9w/s1600/IMG_1723.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clare and John chose my full service for their wedding at the<br />
Pavilion on Northbourne on July 26 this year. I just loved<br />
the opportunity to help them create their own ceremony.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> With the full service, there are two meetings and several other extras.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> The bride and groom prepare their ceremony, with lots of wording
ideas and help available from me. Plus they may refer to other sources. They
may like vows they heard in a TV show and found inspiring, or they’ll look for wedding
wording ideas on the net. Once they’ve put their ceremony together, I give the
wording a final polish. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> I keep in mind how the ceremony will come across when presented live.
I never change the wording of personal vows and I make sure that all legal
requirements have been met. (I give the couple an explanatory handout on this
at our first meeting.) </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> I always wait for the email that OKs the final
draft before I print the ceremony on thick parchment. I use the couple’s choice of
font. Finally I tie the ceremony together into a booklet, with ribbon of their
choice, ready for the big day. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b> Whatever sized wedding you choose, I am deeply
committed to making every wedding I take part in a wonderful, enjoyable and memorable
event.</b> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OCWbdHsD1ew/VKPSaL69D6I/AAAAAAAA174/98-ZshqeQYM/s1600/20141101_111456.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OCWbdHsD1ew/VKPSaL69D6I/AAAAAAAA174/98-ZshqeQYM/s1600/20141101_111456.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> I realise that I play an essential part. As the celebrant. I can make the marriage legal. I have the authority to pronounce a couple ‘husband and wife’
(if that’s what they choose) but I like to keep my role to the side. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> My preference during the wedding is always to
stand to the side, rather than in between the bride and her groom. The groom
and his bride are then centre-stage, not their celebrant. (And their photos won’t
feature their celebrant as they gaze lovingly at each other while making their
vows, or when they are exchanging their wedding rings.)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> I have many weddings booked for 2015 already. This
means that 2015 is going to be a very special year in the lives of many couples,
young and older. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Here’s to the New Year, and all the happiness it will bring!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Bringing in 2015</b></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BFwJa3AyEUk/VKORPqgU5aI/AAAAAAAA14k/YBu58g1CM_0/s1600/Anjana%2Band%2BShakil%2Btoast%2BNew%2BYear%2B29-12-2014%2B12-33-10%2BPM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BFwJa3AyEUk/VKORPqgU5aI/AAAAAAAA14k/YBu58g1CM_0/s1600/Anjana%2Band%2BShakil%2Btoast%2BNew%2BYear%2B29-12-2014%2B12-33-10%2BPM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the final Heart Garden wedding for this year, on December 29,<br />
newlyweds Anjana and Shakil toast the year just ending, along with 2015,<br />
the first year of their marriage. Here's to the happiest future, Shakil and Anjana!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: center;">And farewell to 2014</b></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sSmHnw3JMLs/VKOfR87AVdI/AAAAAAAA17w/84XnrvjjVEI/s1600/20141003_171951.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sSmHnw3JMLs/VKOfR87AVdI/AAAAAAAA17w/84XnrvjjVEI/s1600/20141003_171951.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Farewelling Vanessa and Mark as they leave the<br />
Heart Garden, married.<br />
3 October 2014</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></b></div>
<span style="text-align: start;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> If you’d like to book me as your celebrant</b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">, or
have a chat about your wedding plans by phone, email, text or Skype video, I’d
love to talk with you. My phone number is 0406 376 375 (9am to 9pm any day).</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Please <a href="mailto:contact@celebrantcanberra.com.au">email me directly</a></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">or use this </span><a href="http://celebrantcanberra.blogspot.com.au/p/email-contact-form.html" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Email Contact Form</a>.<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> It’s on one of several Wedding Pages on this blog. (You’ll see
these pages to the right on a large screen but on a small screen, you’ll find a menu for them at the top of the blog.)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> My congratulations and very best wishes to you
both on your exciting wedding plans. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sincerely</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Michele</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">PS My thanks to all the brides and grooms who have given me their permission to use photos from their wedding online. Many other couples choose to keep their weddings private and I always respect their wishes. </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">ca-pub-8935539357975972</div>Michele the Celebrant - Michele Bolithohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11497814289373880730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6005221770633216680.post-84448904080481340792014-10-19T12:52:00.001+11:002015-11-18T14:30:57.072+11:00Brides are never late<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: left;">
Hello, and welcome.</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: left;">
Brides are never late. This is my belief. Their timing is always perfect. They
arrive in ‘bride time’ and <b>bride time is not of man’s world</b>. (You may quote me
on that <span style="font-family: "wingdings"; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span>).
</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9xOSW_YqiwM/VEMNxc2tAeI/AAAAAAAA1WM/J_9mvIwYSYs/s1600/20141011_163535.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9xOSW_YqiwM/VEMNxc2tAeI/AAAAAAAA1WM/J_9mvIwYSYs/s1600/20141011_163535.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">Michelle had such a gentle radiance</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">about her when she married Jason</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">in the Sunken Garden of</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">Queanbeyan Park </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">on Saturday 11 October 2104</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I know from my own wedding, way back last millennium, that
preparing to be a bride and then actually appearing as the bride, can take a lot
of time and care. It’s a truly unforgettable experience, even in a very low-key
wedding. </div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: left;">
I will be glad when brides believe that it’s not rude to be
late for their wedding. I will always give them reassurance and wait until they
feel more relaxed and are fully present to the moment before I begin the
ceremony. I will also wait until the groom lets me know that he's ready to get
married.</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: left;">
I missed the start of my own wedding because I was so
overwhelmed. I think I’d been waiting to
hear: ‘Dearly beloved, we are gathered here ...’ since I was a little girl. But
I missed it. And I know I’ll never hear those words for me again.</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: left;">
I will take care to ensure that you don’t miss any of your
wedding ceremony. I’ll wait until I get the OK from each of you individually
before I start to read your ceremony. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RnyRhMdnUkE/VCpKL2E6ziI/AAAAAAAA1T4/bs4uaS6K0VA/s1600/2014-09-26%2B12.47.29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RnyRhMdnUkE/VCpKL2E6ziI/AAAAAAAA1T4/bs4uaS6K0VA/s1600/2014-09-26%2B12.47.29.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;"> Beautiful bride Bec married Brendan</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">in the Heart Garden </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">on Friday 26 September.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">Bec chose her favourite colours and the</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">garden responded with the same.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">(It's WA wildflower,<span style="background-color: white;"> <i>eremophila nivea</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">at the Heart Garden gate.) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">* see below</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> I always ask the musicians or the guest looking after the entrance music to wait until I give them a sign before they stop or fade
the music. This gives the groom and bride some ‘settling in’ time together
before their ceremony starts.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Once the ceremony begins, even though I speak quite slowly,
the whole wedding can feel to the couple like it’s over in mere minutes! (By
the way, I’ve had two years of voice training and attended several workshops
for voice and public speaking. I used to run my own seminar centre and had a
regular segment on 2CC. Have also talked on 2XX and local ABC radio. Have
recorded a relaxation audio with ambient musician Dr Alan Hinde that always
works because my voice is easy on the ear and Alan’s music was played from the
heart.) </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">This is my advice to
all beautiful brides </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">(and all brides are beautiful because they
radiate their joy):<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> It’s fine to arrive at your wedding when you get there. Anyone who accuses
you of being late and being rude is out of touch with your intention. You have not been planning to arrive after the time you were expected, according to the invitations you prepared. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Your
intention is to</span> get ready and arrive when you feel right, and when you feel
truly ready to make such a significant commitment in your life. And on <b>your</b> day, your timing is perfect.</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: left;">
So, arrive
when you arrive and know that all is well. </div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TwCce3xlgPc/VEGYEiA-reI/AAAAAAAA1U8/AAcHnRDGRpI/s1600/20141010_163059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TwCce3xlgPc/VEGYEiA-reI/AAAAAAAA1U8/AAcHnRDGRpI/s1600/20141010_163059.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking magnificent together in Tongan traditional <br />
costume, Losi and JP married in the Heart Garden<br />
on October 2014. Losi has written my a wonderful<br />
review. It's on my <a href="http://celebrantcanberra.blogspot.com.au/p/testimonials.html">Testimonial Wedding Page</a><br />
- Thank you so much, Losi.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Take deep breaths and enjoy the thrill of seeing your
beloved groom waiting for you. It’s <b>his</b>
day too. Enjoy your most special day together.</div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>If you’d like me to
be your celebrant<o:p></o:p></b></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: left;">
If you’d like me to be celebrant at your wedding, please
contact me by email – click <a href="mailto:contact@celebrantcanberra.com.au">here</a> – or by filling in the <a href="http://celebrantcanberra.blogspot.com.au/p/email-contact-form.html">contact form</a> in Wedding
Pages. If you’re viewing this on your smartphone, you’ll probably see a tiny icon in the top left corner that will take you into Pages. (There’s also
other information on this blog that only comes up on a larger screen.)</div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
My friends the googlebots may have directed you to this site
because you were looking for a Canberra registry office wedding and you found
out that they don’t exist. If you’d like a short and simple ceremony, this link
will take you to that <a href="http://celebrantcanberra.blogspot.com.au/p/simple-service-registry-office-wedding.html">Wedding Page</a>. </div>
</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d69eFqY8Pcs/VEMVWEigihI/AAAAAAAA1Ws/JCwaavf208o/s1600/20140924_154448.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d69eFqY8Pcs/VEMVWEigihI/AAAAAAAA1Ws/JCwaavf208o/s1600/20140924_154448.jpg" width="173" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">Robbie and Erica</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">married in the Heart Garden</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">on Wednesday 24 September.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">Such a happy family day!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
You are most welcome to marry in my beautiful romantic
garden on a weekday and you have up to eight guests or so. Many couples
say to me: ‘This is so much better that getting married in a registry office.’
They are delighted by the ‘value adding’ of having their wedding in a large tranquil private garden.
(There is no extra fee for this.)</div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
If you’d like my <a href="http://celebrantcanberra.blogspot.com.au/p/simple-service-registry-office-wedding.html">Simple Service </a>on any day of the week, at
any time of day or night, with any number of guests, then choose your own
location and I’ll be there. (And I’ve recently found out that my fee is
less than the NSW registry weekend fee, which has been set at $507.)</div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
If you’d like more opportunity to prepare your own ceremony,
along with other extras, then you can read about <a href="http://celebrantcanberra.blogspot.com.au/p/wedding-tips_20.html">my full service</a> here. </div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
My other occupation is writer. I’ll give
you all the help you wish to prepare a ceremony that speaks for both of you in
such a way that your guests will be saying things like: ‘I can’t believe how
perfect your ceremony sounded. It was so right for you two!’</div>
</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
If you are doing a celebrant search before you make your
decision, I’ll be very happy to talk with you on Skype. Just send a quick email and we'll arrange a time. Or phone me for a chat
on 0406 376 375, anytime between 9 and 9 on anyday. Or <a href="mailto:contact@celebrantcanberra.com.au">email</a>.</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9ddUnOeD1Fs/VEMYqGb7rwI/AAAAAAAA1W4/KPSPApWR3DA/s1600/2014-09-20%2B12.06.10%2BVicki%2Band%2BDonald%2Bwith%2BMichele%2B20-09-2014%2B12-06-10%2BPM.10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9ddUnOeD1Fs/VEMYqGb7rwI/AAAAAAAA1W4/KPSPApWR3DA/s1600/2014-09-20%2B12.06.10%2BVicki%2Band%2BDonald%2Bwith%2BMichele%2B20-09-2014%2B12-06-10%2BPM.10.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">It was so easy for me to share the happiness <br />of Vicki and Donald</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">when they married at Lanyon Homestead in Tharwa</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">on Saturday September 20 2014</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
My congratulations to you both on your happy plans. I’d love
to be there for you as your celebrant when your wedding day at last arrives!</div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Sincerely,</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Michele</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
* Brendan and Bec's photographer was Tate Needham, a real pleasure to work with. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Tate sent me a link to the great photos he took on the day </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://www.t8photography.com/BecAndBrendan"><span style="color: purple;">http://www.t8photography.com/BecAndBrendan</span></a></div>
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<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">ca-pub-8935539357975972</div>Michele the Celebrant - Michele Bolithohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11497814289373880730noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6005221770633216680.post-26721125492928971422014-08-11T12:29:00.000+10:002015-01-27T11:00:22.863+11:00'Going to the chapel of love .....'<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hello, and welcome</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> As a young bride, I loved making a grand entrance down a
long aisle in a gorgeous stone church. My lovely Mum and soon-to-be Mother-in-Law had worked together to fill the church with flowers, mostly from <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--g-8pVXwBIQ/U9ojo3V987I/AAAAAAAA1D4/rzU0n-RxzRM/s1600/IMG_1722.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--g-8pVXwBIQ/U9ojo3V987I/AAAAAAAA1D4/rzU0n-RxzRM/s1600/IMG_1722.JPG" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clare has arrived for her<br />
marriage to John<br />
26 July 2014</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
my Grandmother’s
garden. The organist played ‘Here Comes the Bride’ as I walked with my smiling
Dad. And there was my beloved, watching and waiting at the end of the aisle.
(It still gives me thrills, just bringing it all back to mind.)</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Like me, many brides want a venue with a memorable aisle. At weddings in my <a href="http://celebrantcanberra.blogspot.com.au/p/simple-service-registry-office-wedding.html">Heart Garden</a>, the bride can make a romantic entrance along the garden
path. It winds from the rustic gate, past the fountain and out to the lawn.
Here her groom awaits. (Or some couples simply choose to arrive together, often
with their guests, as a happy group.)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jrfqfwgj0Ko/VHJjsNmJJ1I/AAAAAAAA1rU/QHNEsncDqnA/s1600/IMG_1294.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jrfqfwgj0Ko/VHJjsNmJJ1I/AAAAAAAA1rU/QHNEsncDqnA/s1600/IMG_1294.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kyrsty walks along the <br />
garden path to marry<br />
Jesse. 1 Feb 2013</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Many couples would like to marry in a chapel. Non-religious
chapels are rare in Canberra, and <a href="http://www.goldcreekchapel.com.au/">The Chapel at Gold Creek</a> is a popular choice. I have
it on good authority that there’s a plan for a chapel in the romantic, spacious
gardens of <a href="http://www.ginninderry.com.au/#!weddings/c111m">Ginninderry Homestead</a>. If we had a non-sectarian chapel on
Canberra’s southside, I believe it would soon have lots of bookings.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> For a Saturday wedding at Gold Creek Chapel at the height of
the wedding season, couples may need to book a very long time ahead. Stan at
Gold Creek told me recently that he would encourage couples to consider a
winter wedding. The Chapel is warm and sunlit and bookings are freely
available. An off-season rate could apply.</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jLJ7lZuO4I4/U-gRXWR8NEI/AAAAAAAA1F8/vBh2-61tLx4/s1600/DSC07064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jLJ7lZuO4I4/U-gRXWR8NEI/AAAAAAAA1F8/vBh2-61tLx4/s1600/DSC07064.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Helen and Cheng married at</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Chapel at Gold Creek</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">on 12 March 2012</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Now we have the glorious new pavilion at the
National Arboretum. What a place to bring your guests from interstate and
overseas! To my mind, the Arboretum is already a national treasure. The </span><a href="http://www.nationalarboretum.act.gov.au/functions/fees_and_charges" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Margaret Whitlam Pavilion </a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> makes a superb wedding chapel. I haven’t had a booking there yet, but
I'm looking forward to it. For such a memorable location, I think that the booking fee is very reasonable.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> At the National Library, there’s another opportunity for a
chapel-style wedding. Over the years, I’ve been to a few weddings in </span><a href="http://www.nla.gov.au/visit-us/bookplate-cafe" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bookplate</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">,
after the cafe closed for the day. The wedding party stood with the
magnificent Leonard French coloured glass windows behind them. This gave a
cathedral-like effect. The chairs were arranged to give the bridal party an
aisle through the guests.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t4hV_EXYvGo/U-gYfGK-CvI/AAAAAAAA1Gk/Xb-oBd-v4IY/s1600/IMG_4015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t4hV_EXYvGo/U-gYfGK-CvI/AAAAAAAA1Gk/Xb-oBd-v4IY/s1600/IMG_4015.JPG" height="223" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking into the Margaret Whitlam Pavilion at the Arboretum</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> And there's another garden I love, with a glorious aisle for the bride to make her entrance. It's at <a href="http://www.petercrisp.com.au/weddings.htm">Crisp Galleries and Gardens</a>, on the Hume Highway, just past Bowning. It's magical!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SjiLyZ_P2gk/U-gZ5l5n7SI/AAAAAAAA1Gs/WuxMAmmWue4/s1600/IMG20131009_011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SjiLyZ_P2gk/U-gZ5l5n7SI/AAAAAAAA1Gs/WuxMAmmWue4/s1600/IMG20131009_011.jpg" height="176" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the extensive gardens at Crisp Galleries, <br />
there's an avenue of stately poplars for the bride to walk along.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> The photo of Clare, with love in her eyes, at the top of this blogpost, was taken before her marriage to John in the <a href="http://www.capitalhotelgroup.com.au/pavilion/functions.html">Pavilion on Northbourne</a> in Braddon. The Atrium there is a magnificent indoor garden, very well maintained. This was the perfect venue for a garden wedding on a chilly winter’s afternoon. There’s no traditional aisle but Clare’s entrance was elegant and memorable as she came down the central spiral staircase with her Dad.</span></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-me8J2sQubmI/U-gVDNDX-vI/AAAAAAAA1GU/l3ymCGkwZZA/s1600/IMG_1736.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-me8J2sQubmI/U-gVDNDX-vI/AAAAAAAA1GU/l3ymCGkwZZA/s1600/IMG_1736.JPG" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Photo taken from the third floor of the Atrium at The Pavilion on Northbourne</span><br />
<div style="font-size: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A DIY Chapel?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Now, after years of searching, I believe I’ve found the
perfect place for a DIY chapel. It’s the new <a href="http://www.musicact.com.au/venue-profile/griffith-hall">community hall at Griffith</a>. With a
willing team of assistants, a couple could make a wonderful ‘chapel’ here. The
end wall is all glass, north facing, with trees and open park in the
background. The bridal aisle could be made short or long, depending on the
arrangement of the chairs.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> This new public building is simple and elegant. It’s easily
accessible and of course, has power available and toilet facilities. To the
side of the hall, there’s a courtyard with flowering pear trees. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They must have
been quite advanced when they were planted as they already provide shade and
ambiance. To the back of the hall is a generous kitchen.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8S0dvpWF58M/U-gdCUjTk9I/AAAAAAAA1Hk/Ny2HRMfCaSM/s1600/IMG20131217_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8S0dvpWF58M/U-gdCUjTk9I/AAAAAAAA1Hk/Ny2HRMfCaSM/s1600/IMG20131217_001.jpg" height="320" width="168" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Looking out into the<br />sunny protected <br />courtyard</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I imagine that a couple could have their wedding with the
backdrop of the floor-to-ceiling windows, then perhaps a cocktail party in the
back of the hall and spilling out into the courtyard. There’s plenty of room
for dancing. </span></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9nPA0n9IJxE/U-gcxnmGvVI/AAAAAAAA1Hc/8J8ryhO9dMM/s1600/griffith+hall+17-12-2013+10-46-13+AM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9nPA0n9IJxE/U-gcxnmGvVI/AAAAAAAA1Hc/8J8ryhO9dMM/s1600/griffith+hall+17-12-2013+10-46-13+AM.jpg" height="208" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The north wall of the Griffith Community Hall</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I know the wooden floor is great for dancing because I’ve
been going to <a href="http://www.niaaustralia.com.au/find-nia-in-act">Nia</a> dancing there on Tuesday mornings. That’s how I discovered
this unique place which could quickly and easily be fashioned into a wedding
chapel for low cost and high impact. Bookings can be made through <a href="http://www.sscs.org.au/">Southside Community Services</a> on 6126 4700.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To contact me about your wedding</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> If you would like me to be celebrant at your wedding, I’d
love to be there for you. On this blog, there are several Wedding Pages with extra information to help you with your wedding plans. </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> There’s one Page
of <a href="http://celebrantcanberra.blogspot.com.au/p/michele-as-your-celebrant.html">good reasons for choosing Michele</a> as your celebrant. Such as, I will stand to
the side where I can easily speak to you, as well as to your guests.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z0Cscu0z6JE/U-hRdp21NwI/AAAAAAAA1H8/ZJlvuASIXqY/s1600/Karlo+and+Jordan+vows+15-05-2014+10-39-40+AM.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z0Cscu0z6JE/U-hRdp21NwI/AAAAAAAA1H8/ZJlvuASIXqY/s1600/Karlo+and+Jordan+vows+15-05-2014+10-39-40+AM.JPG" height="256" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Karlo makes his special vows to Jordan<br />
The Heart Garden<br />
15 May 2014<br />
(No celebrant in sight!)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This means
that when you see your wedding photos, you won’t see your celebrant standing in
the middle, centre-stage between you both. You’ll just see the two of you,
sharing very precious moments to remember all your life. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> There’s also a Page
with an <a href="http://celebrantcanberra.blogspot.com.au/p/email-contact-form.html">email contact form</a>. Or email me directly by clicking or tapping <a href="mailto:contact@celebrantcanberra.com.au">here</a>.</span></div>
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<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fDnCKtlLLnk/VBlur3Co24I/AAAAAAAA1QU/xzwPms_NSaQ/s1600/IMG_1104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fDnCKtlLLnk/VBlur3Co24I/AAAAAAAA1QU/xzwPms_NSaQ/s1600/IMG_1104.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jordan, the modern bride,<br />
reads her vows to Karlo<br />
from her smartphone.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Or if you prefer, phone me on 0406 376 375 on any day
between 9am and 9pm. Please note that I no longer have a landline. Perhaps you’d
like the three of us to chat on Skype before you make your celebrant decision?
That’s easy to arrange.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may
have about getting married. No obligation to book my service is implied. If
you’ve decided to marry, my congratulations to you both, and thank you for
visiting my blog.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Till next time</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sincerely,</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Michele</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And thank you Sarah for the testimonial you posted on Google Maps and TrueLocal. It is much appreciated. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.200000762939453px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Michele was our celebrant for our wedding in July 2014 and our service was perfect. Michele is an AMAZING celebrant and made our wedding truly special. From the first time we met with her, we could tell that our wedding ceremony would be the personal, professional and upbeat ceremony that we wanted. Her kindness and enthusiasm won us over. She was as genuinely as excited as we were for our big day. Our guests came up to us afterwards and praised the beautiful ceremony and how wonderful Michele was.</i></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.200000762939453px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.200000762939453px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>I will be recommending her to all my friends and family with upcoming weddings. Thank you Michele</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5TgB7rRPcGU/U-haO5iK9CI/AAAAAAAA1Ng/FiJGMMnXpQ4/s1600/IMG_1661.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5TgB7rRPcGU/U-haO5iK9CI/AAAAAAAA1Ng/FiJGMMnXpQ4/s1600/IMG_1661.JPG" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jake and Sarah married at cosy 'Sweet Copper' in Gold Creek Village<br />
on 15 July 2014<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">ca-pub-8935539357975972</div>Michele the Celebrant - Michele Bolithohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11497814289373880730noreply@blogger.com0