Celebrants Online

Celebrants Online is now on Twitter

2010-06-22T16:49:00.003+10:00

Celebrants Online has finally set up a Twitter account. Check it out here. The aim will be to tweet a mix of items, some of interest to Marriage Celebrants and others of interest to couples thinking about or planning their wedding. We'll see how it goes ...

Marriage Celebrant over-supply?

2010-06-21T11:06:00.005+10:00

A recent article in the The Age newspaper raises the question of the over-supply of Marriage Celebrants to the market.

The article highlights some of the potential pitfalls for marrying couples in regards to selecting a suitable celebrant to perform their wedding ceremony.

With over 10,000 Marriage Celebrants offering their services across Australia, and almost 1/4 of those in Victoria, the choice for marrying couples now seems overwhelming.

So, how to choose a Marriage Celebrant?

There's no definitive answer ... suffice to say, price alone is definitely NOT it. You often read or hear, "You get what you pay for." That generally is the case with Celebrant services as it is with buying a car, or a stereo system or a house.

A few things to think about:

experience
qualifications
reputation
resources made available to you
physical resources available for use at your ceremony
quality of voice
physical presentation
time made available to you
and then ... price

This is hardly an exhaustive list. If a marrying couple does their research, just as they do when choosing a cake, cars, venue and flowers, then they'll be in the best position to make a wise choice.

Website statistics updated

2009-07-10T12:32:00.004+10:00

Statistics for the four websites have now been updated to end-June 2009.

Click on the links below to check out the stats for each site:

Civil Celebrants in Hong Kong

2009-03-25T15:49:00.005+11:00

Interesting to note that the notion and practice of authorising & using Civil Celebrants is increasing rapidly in a variety of countries. A January 16 press release from the HK Government announced the appointment of 34 new Marriage Celebrants, bringing to 1,439 the number of Celebrants appointed since mid-April 2006. It's great to read that, with the introduction of Civil Celebrants, the number of civil marriages has taken off - couples are making the most of the opportunity to celebrate a Civil Ceremony.

Levels of connectedness

2009-03-23T20:11:00.006+11:00

I've spent today at a professional learning session with Will Richardson. Will is a charismatic and inspirational educator and advocate for using technology in a wholly integrated fashion in learning & teaching & living.

While I attended this PL session wearing my hats of Teacher Librarian & Head of IT Faculty, rather than my Celebrants Online hat, there is much in what Will talked and writes about that could be well-utilised by Celebrants.

Many of us network via email & face-to-face contact through our professional associations. But there is a huge world, with enormous potential, just waiting for us to network - with other Celebrants and all involved in the business of ceremony and with potential clients.

Are you on Twitter, YouTube, Flickr? Do you have a blog that you post to on a regular basis? These are just some of the amazing Web-based tools that enable you to network with the world at large. In creating an effective web presence you will be increasing your opportunities for learning, sharing, and growing as a technological person and as a Celebrant.

Celebrants Online welcomes ...

2009-01-27T17:56:00.006+11:00

Since the start of the Celebrants Online websites renewal process at the beginning of December '08, it's been my pleasure to welcome many Celebrants to the 'family'. Listed below are the recent additions to the websites. Please click on the links to view each celebrant's full profile.

Celebrants Online
John Whitford - North Central Victoria
Lesley Baker-Hames - Western Australia
Peter D. Raymond - Melbourne eastern suburbs
Pete & Olga Brown - Western Australia
Carol Dale - Melbourne southern suburbs
Richard Lawley - South Australia
Cheryl Griffin - Mornington Peninsula
Bev Krzyzanowski - Melbourne eastern suburbs
MaryAnne Sterling - Melbourne western suburbs
Kristina Visser - Central Victoria
Caroline Vergura - Melbourne southern suburbs
Mary Rose Hookey - Yarra Valley / Healesville / High Country
Josephine Katona - Geelong & Bellarine Peninsula
Emma Davey - Tasmania

NSWCelebrants Online
Nicole Celeban - Sydney western suburbs
Francine O'Brien - NSW Hunter Region
Alan Whitehead - NSW Blue Mountains

QLDCelebrants Online
Pamela Nair - Brisbane
Andrew Sinclair - Brisbane
Peta Fryer - Bundaberg
Candy Barta - Gold Coast
Sandy Samson - Brisbane
Terry Rundell - Bundaberg

Best laid plans ...

2009-01-27T17:37:00.002+11:00

It's hard to believe that my last post was back in July last year. This past month and a half has been flat-chat with the subscription renewal process for Celebrants Online, NSWCelebrants Online & QLDCelebrants Online.

And it's back to school tomorrow, so my email response rate may slow down a little as I leap in to what promises to be a very busy school year.

Back in July I started the process of uploading celebrant photos on to Flickr, as I saw that as another way of promoting Celebrants with a value-add service. Despite having let the project slide, I still believe that, so will aim to get back on track with it.

A new year resolution ... every endeavour will be made to update the blog with an item of interest on a weekly basis. Let's see how I go. :)

Celebrants Online on Flickr

2008-07-13T18:53:00.007+10:00

Celebrants Online is now on Flickr ...

Flickr is a photo sharing website that allows users to create albums or sets of photos. Each photo can be set up with a title, description and up to 75 tags. Celebrants who subscribe to one of the Celebrants Online websites will now automatically have their image included in the relevant Celebrants Online Flickr photo album.

The process of uploading all the images started today, and will continue over the next week or so. Forty three done so far. A couple of hundred to go!

I'm happy to include this as a value-add service to all Celebrants who subscribe to one of the websites. This is just one more opportunity to get Celebrant images out there where they may be seen by potential clients.

Updates to Celebrants Online

2008-07-13T14:26:00.003+10:00

Prue Madsen is the latest addition to the Celebrants Online website. Prue is a celebrant based in Carlton North, an inner-Northern suburb of Melbourne, Australia. Visit Prue's Celebrants Online page to learn more about the ceremony services she offers.

ClustrMaps

2008-07-04T08:59:00.003+10:00

Wow! Its' been 8 1/2 months since I last posted.

As I'm currently on school holidays, I'm trying to get a few maintenancey sort of things done to the websites - catching up with some new posts was one of my tasks. Last school holidays disappeared in a blur of tradespeople as I began to settle in to my new home, so no website time was forthcoming.

Yesterday (3rd July) I added a ClustrMaps image to each of the four website homepages. I've noticed when I check my website stats that quite a few visitors come from countries other than Australia. They come from the U.S., N.Z., China, Germany, Canada, Hong Kong, Chile, India, and Ireland, to name just a few.

ClustrMaps will - eventually - begin to show the originating locations of visitors in a clear, easily understandable, visual style. It'll probably take a little while for the updates to register but I'm looking forward to seeing the little red dots appear on the maps.

Another celebratory story

2007-10-13T09:07:00.000+10:00

Britain's civil partnership law, which came into effect in December 2005, has, in its first year of operation, enabled more than 16,000 gay & lesbian couples to effectively marry.

That's more than 16,000 couples who have pledged their love and commitment to each other - couples who, prior to the legislation's introduction, were legally regarded as second-class citizens.

One day, hopefully, Australia will join the ranks of enlightened countries.

Marriage on the increase!

2007-10-13T08:23:00.000+10:00

The Australian Bureau of Statistics has some interesting data about marriages in Australia during 2006 - marriage is on the up and up!

"In 2006, there were 114,222 registered marriages, an increase of 4,899 (4.5%) from 2005. This is the highest number of registrations since 1999 ... In 2006, marriages performed by civil celebrants again outnumbered marriages performed by ministers of religion. ... By 2006, this proportion had increased to 61.3%" (of all marriages)

There's also data about the age at which couples are marrying, where they were born and whether they cohabited prior to marriage. Interesting stuff.

University-trained celebrants

2007-10-10T17:12:00.000+10:00

Did you know that Monash University trains Civil Celebrants? There is a large number of providers offering training for Civil Celebrants but Monash University actually offers a Graduate Diploma in Civil Ceremonies. At the end of this course, Monash Celebrants graduate with a well-rounded understanding of the place of ritual and ceremony in today's society.

According to Monash's website, "Students acquire an understanding of the history and cultural variety of rites of passage as practised in the Australian community. They learn to use music and literature creatively in ceremony, to identify the emotional, legal and ethical aspects of rites of passage, and to develop the skill to respond sensitively to the needs of their clients. In summary, the curriculum prepares graduates to practise as professional, confident and successful celebrants."

As a Monash graduate, I can vouch for the quality of training provided! If you're interested in locating a Monash graduate to celebrate your special occasion, visit the Civil Celebrants Graduate Association (Monash) and you'll find a fantastic array of Celebrants to choose from.

1000 Civil Unions – milestone achieved in NZ

2007-10-09T15:37:00.000+10:00

A celebratory story from New Zealand - 1000 Civil Unions have been registered in that country since the introduction of the Civil Union Act on 26th April 2005.

Changing your name

2007-09-29T08:34:00.000+10:00

If you are going to change your name on getting married, you may find it helpful to use a 'Change of Name' kit.

Such kits usually include all the official forms you might need, and step by step instructions, for changing your drivers licence, registration, passport, bank accounts, electoral enrolment, Medicare, private health funds, superannuation, insurance policies, memberships, store accounts, and more!

I've just done a quick search on Google and come up with a couple of sites that may be useful - Name Change Kits / Kardella Kreations Name Change Kits / Smart Bride Name Change Kit

There are heaps more similar sites out there for you to choose from - just be careful that you select a kit that applies to the country/state you live in.

906 new Marriage Celebrants appointed to date!

2007-09-26T16:40:00.000+10:00

A quick search of the A-G's Register of Marriage Celebrants shows that 906 Marriage Celebrants have been appointed so far this year (2007).

That's a lot of newly-appointed Celebrants for wedding couples to choose from ... think of the creative potential, the enthusiasm, passion and excitement that is likely present in this collection of newly-appointed Marriage Celebrants.

These Marriage Celebrants, together with the thousands of previously authorised Celebrants, give wedding couples a huge scope for choice. There's sure to be a Celebrant who is just the right person for you - seek and you shall find!

Your Marriage Certificate

2007-09-20T13:01:00.000+10:00

Just over two years ago the Attorney-General released a new marriage certificate - the Form 15 marriage certificate - that has increased security features, including special inks and a unique number. Read the A-G's press release here.

You can see a sample copy of the certificate here.

Info from the A-G's website:
"When you get married, your marriage celebrant prepares three certificates of marriage.
All three certificates contain the details of your marriage and you and your witnesses will be required to sign all three certificates. They are:

the certificate retained by the marriage celebrant for their records;
the certificate that will be forwarded to the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages for the registration of your marriage; and
the certificate that you will be given as your record of the marriage."

Remember that the certificate you receive is evidence of your change in marital status. it is not a proof of identity document and, in some cases, will not be accepted as such.

Notice of Intended Marriage

2007-09-19T13:01:00.000+10:00

Part of the legal requirements of getting married include completing the Notice of Intended Marriage.

You need to give this completed form to the Marriage Celebrant who will conduct your marriage. You need to do this within 18 months of your proposed marriage and no later than one month and one day prior to the ceremony.

Your Marriage Celebrant will likely have a copy of this form to give you, but you can also follow the link above to download a pdf copy from the website of the Attorney-General.

Marriage Celebrants' Code of Practice

2007-09-18T10:34:00.000+10:00

Did you know that Marriage Celebrants have a recognised Code of Practice under which they operate?

This Code outlines the expected behaviour, community standing and appropriate practice of the Marriage Celebrant in relation to conducting your Marriage Ceremony.

Your Marriage Celebrant will give you a copy of the Code of Practice. This ensures that you are aware of the level of service you can expect from your Celebrant.

Special offer for newly authorised Celebrants

2007-09-17T14:06:00.001+10:00

Congratulations to all those Celebrants who have received their official authorisation from the Attorney-General. It's an exciting time for you as you move in to this new area of being a Marriage Celebrant.

I invite you to consider promoting your services via Celebrants Online, NSWCelebrants Online, QLDCelebrants Online. Join now, pay the 2008 subscription fee, and save yourself the fee for the remainder of this year.

Some of you have been eagerly awaiting this time for a number of years. Others have only relatively recently completed their Celebrancy qualification. Whether you've been waiting for a long or short while, the moment is now here!

As a newly authorised Marriage Celebrant you will no doubt be thinking about promoting your services to potential clients. Investigating the available options is a good first step. Do some research on the web, discover websites of other Marriage Celebrants, work out for your self what looks good and what appeals to you, then think about how you can create your own presence and style.

You might like to sign up for a hosted web page on Celebrants Online or its sister sites. Celebrants Online ranks highly in Google and other search engine results, and is included on many other wedding-related websites around the web.