Michelle Cottell - Marriage Celebrant
OVERVIEW
Why?
Because I genuinely wish to help create the most incredible day of memories, by designing a unique and very personal ceremony for you both to rejoice in.
I will take care of every detail concerning the legalities of getting married while guiding you through the process with enthusiasm and genuine joy.
And, if sharing your love story with your family and friends by having it woven into your ceremony is something that appeals to you, then I'm your celebrant!
I am a happy, friendly and enthusiastic, young 63 year old, who can be depended upon to be punctual, practical, calm, helpful, professional, and willing to step outside the box, when necessary!
I would be delighted to have a no-obligation meeting at your convenience, to see if we suit, and another if you decide to proceed.
I can create a ceremony that will be customised to your personalities, your journey so far, and your dreams for the future.
Or, design a simpler ceremony, if you prefer, for a price that will reflect that.
I will also include a wedding rehearsal, and provide a cordless PA system that will supply excellent sound, even in a paddock or on the beach!
So, pick me! Because being married by a person who sincerely cares, can make all the difference! 🌷
About
I’m a true romantic at heart, and I’ve had the privilege of officiating over 45 beautiful weddings so far. Each one has been special, and I’m often told that I bring a warm, relaxed confidence and a genuine joy to every ceremony — as if I’ve been doing this my whole life. I absolutely love meeting couples, learning their story, and helping them create a ceremony that feels personal, meaningful and unforgettable! So, pick me! 😉😊
Mrs Michelle Cottell
Marriage Celebrant
Easy Weddings Special Offer
Original Marriage Certificate organised for you! - Save Time and piece of mind!
As a special offer for Easy Wedding couples, I will arrange for the Application of your Official Marriage Certificate, when I register your marriage the day after your wedding.
You will need this to legally change your name after marriage. I will also organise it to be delivered to your home by Registered Post.
This will save you from wasting your time at BDM, waiting around with your 100 points of identification, to buy it yourself!
Packages
Exclusive Offer
$900 - After getting to know you, I create a very personal ceremony that can include any, or all of your story so far, what you love about each other and your dreams for the future.
* A no-obligation meeting to see if we are a great fit, plus a second meeting if needed.
* Unlimited phone and email support,
* A rehearsal.
* A quality PA system with a cordless microphone for the ceremony.
* A presentation copy of the ceremony.
* A decorative Marriage Certificate.
* Administration, completion, and lodgement of all necessary and legal paperwork.
* And, as a special offer, if you wish a change of name, I will organise and submit on your behalf, the Marriage Certificate Application, and have it posted to your home by Registered mail.
Exclusive Offer
$800 - I will design a sweet, but less personalised ceremony, but one that will still be uniquely yours!
This would not include the story of your journey so far, or what you love about each other unless you express this in the vows that you may wish to create yourself. Of course, I will include anything you might like to write yourself.
Some couples prefer a ceremony that details their special moments, including personal details, or what led them to their wedding day such as their engagement story, but it does take some time to design it! Hence the extra $100 for Package One!
Exclusive Offer
The third package is a short simple ceremony consisting of the necessary legal wording, and would still include a ring ceremony and your vows, but not much else for the price of $650. This would need to be in close proximity to my home office and does not include a rehearsal.
Videos
FAQ
I will happily provide you with:
Unlimited phone and email support, plus a second meet, if needed.
A personally designed Ceremony.
A rehearsal at an agreed location.
A presentation copy of the Ceremony.
A decorative Wedding Certificate.
A quality, PA system, with a wireless microphone.
Administration, completion and lodgement of all necessary and legal paperwork, including the lodging of your Notice of Intended Marriage.
All these tasks will be done with the greatest of enthusiasm, professionalism and willingness to please!
Yes please!
For the sake of efficiency, if you choose to proceed on the day, you will need to have with you:
Your Original birth certificates.
A photo ID, whether it be a driving licence or a passport.
Any paperwork pertaining to the finalisation of a previous marriage, ie: divorce papers or a death certificate.
These will be used to fill out the first legal document, The Notice Of Intended Marriage, of which all others will be based upon.
Of course! This is your wedding.
I am here to guide you and take the burden off some of your decision-making, by making those necessary choices as easy as possible.
I will email you, or give you a hard copy of the ceremony format, which will include suggestions of readings, poems, rituals, vows, pledges, and ring ceremonies. It is user-friendly, and you will just have to read through it and email me your choices. I will then build the ceremony around your choices and email you the draft, for your approval.
There are several matters to be abided by, to create a legal and binding Ceremony of Marriage.
Firstly, you need to prove you are free to marry. Eg: Are over 18 years of age, not married now, etc.
That you are, who you say you are, by proof of identity.
Then, there are a few specific sentences that need to be included in the ceremony, to make it legal. But I will take care of that for you.
You will need to choose two witnesses, over the age of 18 years, that will sign the marriage registry and documents, on the day.
No, unfortunately not.
You need to apply to the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages for an original Marriage Certificate, at the cost of $68.00. You can do this yourself, after your wedding day, but will need to go in person, and take in 100 points of identification.
Or, you can let me do it on your behalf, when I lodge your wedding documents, for registration of your marriage.
It will still only cost you the $68.00, but with none of the inconvenience, or time wasted lining up at the Registry!
Yes, with exception of two things.
The Marriage Certificate Application, at the cost of $68.00. You can arrange this yourself for the same fee, although you will need to physically go into a BDM office with 100 points of ID, to register, taking up a couple of hours of your valuable time. Or, you can allow me to arrange at the same time I register your marriage, as I lodge all your info at the same time! I am very happy to do this as a part of the service I offer.
A fee of $1.00 per km will be applied to cover any travel to rehearsal, or the ceremony, that exceeds 80 km from my office.
No, not at all!
Some celebrants charge up to $150 for a rehearsal, on top of their service fee! Many do this because they do not wish to do a rehearsal at all!
By charging you for one they hope you won't want to spend the extra money.
I believe, no matter how small the wedding, a rehearsal puts the wedding party, and the bride and groom, at ease by knowing what's expected of them! The best man's role is very important to the ring ceremony, and it is crucial to go over how he will be presenting the rings to the couple, while still allowing for a great photo of the three of them! The bridesmaids can feel awkward if its their first time, and if there are small children involved, it can make a significant difference to the calm flow of the beginning of the ceremony, if they all feel comfortable knowing how to execute their role. There is also the important person/s walking the bride/party down the aisle and passing them over to the waiting groom/party. How do they do this smoothly?
These questions and solutions are all nutted out in the rehearsal at no extra cost!
Reviews
Review Summary
January 2023
April 2022
Michelle Cottell - Marriage Celebrant
Dear Emma and Mitch, it's so wonderful to hear those words of appreciation. Thank you! I try hard to do my very best to provide a caring and professional service, while enjoying the connection, and sharing special memories of lovely couples such as yourselves. Seriously, thank you for the opportunity to do my job while still having fun! 😉😊
January 2021
Michelle Cottell - Marriage Celebrant
Oh, Bernice and Luke, thank you so much for such high praise and kind words. Your warmth and sincerity shine through. I am truly humbled... Thank you, for making it such an enjoyable and heartwarming experience. It was a wonderful day and you both looked so beautiful and happy, it must have lifted everyone's spirits, as it did mine! Wishing you much love and laughter, and many blessings, always! 💝
April 2022
Michelle Cottell - Marriage Celebrant
Dear Amelia and Cooper, thank you so much for your kind and thoughtful review. I really appreciate it! 🌺 I must say, that although the torrential rain was very inconvenient, I loved our adaption in the cosy living room of the mountain cottage! It was warm, wonderful, intimate and charming, and surrounded with love. I don't think you could ask for a better vibe! Thank you for sharing this very special moment in your life with me. I was truly honoured. 🌼
March 2022
Michelle Cottell - Marriage Celebrant
Dear Tammarra and Karra, it was my absolute pleasure to meet you, let alone design and perform your wedding ceremony. The trust you gave me, and the hand of friendship you offered, warmed my heart and made it so easy to enjoy and do my job! You are both treasures, and I wish you every happiness, always. 🌷
Expert Advice
As a wedding professional, Michelle Cottell - Marriage Celebrant offers expert advice to help couples plan their perfect day. Ask a question or read their expert advice.
Get Expert AdviceCan we do funny vows
Michelle Cottell - Marriage Celebrant
Of course! Your family and guests will love it! ??
A ceremony should be an enjoyable event, but also an emotional journey that reflects your personalities, sharing tears and laughter with all.
Writing vows
I'm so nervous can I use chatgpt
Michelle Cottell - Marriage Celebrant
Of course you can! chatgpt is a wonderful tool that you can access and then tailor make to your personal needs. I will also supply you with over 20 classic and unconventional vow examples, that you can choose from, or use as a base to make your own.
Help! How do I write my vows?
Michelle Cottell - Marriage Celebrant
Writing vows can be quite intimidating!
You know how you feel but how do you express into words those intimate feelings and promises you wish to make, articulately and publicly?
I have two suggestions. Get on to chatGPT and ask for help, listing any and all of your thoughts on what you feel, or what you'd like to say.
Or, check out my suggestions of over 20 vow examples that I supply as part of my service, and either choose one that resonates with you, or use any as a base to expand on. Either way will give you a start, and then there is me! I have over 45 weddings under my belt and can be a great resource. ????
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Michelle Cottell - Marriage Celebrant
Hi Kiah and Kane, I was so happy when you contacted me, having already met you and your family at your sister's wedding. I loved designing and performing your ceremony especially as you had the extra fun element to it with the wedding being a surprise for your guests! You all made me feel so welcome, like an old friend, which made it extra special for me. And we had a great time, didn't we? Sharing laughter and tears and a plan well executed! 😉😊 Thank you so much for the wonderful review, I really appreciate it. Wishing you all the best, always. 💖