OVERVIEW
Congratulations on your engagement and your forthcoming wedding in Cairns.
Congratulations on your engagement and your upcoming wedding in Cairns at one of our iconic venues or beaches.
I am a Cairns marriage celebrant and a supporter of marriage equality, living and working in beautiful Far North Queensland. I offer you a huge range of choice in the content and performance ofyour ceremony, be it your dream wedding, commitment ceremony, a vow renewal after many years of happy marriage, or a naming ceremony for your newborn child. The vision I have for NQCelebrations is to fulfil and absolutely exceed all your expectations regarding the performance of your ceremony. The only inclusions I insist upon are the legal ones required by law - the rest is up to you. One of my recent wonderful brides referred to me as her "go to celebrant" - I can be that for you. Please call me to arrange a meeting.
About
My role as a marriage celebrant began several years ago and last year I was privileged to celebrate my 100th wedding. After thinking about what my point of difference to other celebrants is, I have realised that it is actually me - with me, what you see is what you get and I am there to marry you your way. Your ceremony will be yours, what you want, and my focus is on you. What we do on the day is your wedding - what you do for the rest of your lives is your marriage.
Mrs Janine Meakin
Owner
FAQ
My fee for a wedding is $500.00. Travel within approximately an hour drive from Cairns is included in this price. If your wedding is on one of the islands, my fee is $550.00 plus the ferry ticket is also to be paid (approx. $55.00 for locals at the moment). If your wedding is at Paronella Park, Bramston Beach or Mission Beach, or on the Tablelands, my fee is $550.00. Any other travel costs (eg plane, ferry, accommodation if applicable) will be an additional expense.
In Queensland you can marry at the Courthouse for a fee ranging from $344 to $588, depending on the day and time. My fee is based on this with the added consideration that I come to your venue, you have a wide choice of ceremonies, and my fee doesn’t change according to day and time.
Fees for other ceremonies are:
· Renewal of Vows $400.00
· Commitment Ceremonies $400.00
· Naming Ceremonies $350.00
Your official marriage certificate will cost an extra $48.20 payable directly to Births, Deaths and Marriages. If you are marrying on one of the beautiful beaches or gardens, you will also need a permit from Council (approximately $80).
You will be issued with a Statement of Fees, and a receipt once your payment has been received into my account. You can pay either through Direct Deposit or cash – either is acceptable. I require a non-refundable booking fee of at least $100.00 paid within 2 weeks of my acceptance of the Notice of Intended Marriage (this will give you a confirmed booking and the amount is included in the quoted price and is not extra) with the balance paid in full at least 2 weeks before the wedding.
The booking fee of at least $100.00 is non-refundable, so if you cancel you will not be refunded this amount as I have held the date for you. Refund of any other amounts paid will be at my discretion.
I am a Commonwealth registered marriage celebrant having completed my training in 2011. I am also a Justice of the Peace (Qual) in Queensland, and a member of the Australian Federation of Civil Celebrants.
Initially you need to complete the Notice of Intended Marriage. This must be registered with your celebrant at least 1 month prior to the date of your wedding, and once with your celebrant it is valid for a period of 18 months. In the month before your wedding you will also complete a Declaration of No Legal Impediment to Marriage which is a Commonwealth Statutory Declaration stating that you are both actually free to marry. On the actual day we sign three certificates – you keep the ceremonial one, the official one goes to Births, Deaths and Marriages, and I keep the other one.
I've thought about my point of difference to other celebrants and have realised that my point of difference is - me. With me what you see is what you get, and I work hard to ensure that you get the very best me I can possibly be.
January 2019
January 2019
January 2019
Expert Advice
As a wedding professional, NQCelebrations offers expert advice to help couples plan their perfect day. Ask a question or read their expert advice.
Get Expert AdviceWhat’s the difference between a traditional and civil ceremony?
NQCelebrations
A traditional wedding as such was performed by a priest in a church. A civil ceremony is performed by a celebrant, anywhere of your choosing eg beach, park, garden etc. There are legal elements that are required for each type of ceremony, but with a civil ceremony you can also choose what to have included - which may not be the case for a church wedding. When talking to my couples about the physical layout of their ceremony I refer to "traditional" as being me at the front facing the guests, one slightly in front of me on the side and the other on my left side.
What makes original wedding vows really stand out, in your opinion?
NQCelebrations
To make your vows stand out, say them from your heart. Have some fun with them if that is your way of expressing yourself to each other, but don't just rattle off someone else's words. The ones that I remember are those that have come from couples who look at each other while they are saying their vows and those who make their vows real
How long should my vows be?
NQCelebrations
I recommend no more then a paragraph, including the legal sentence. By the time we get to your vows both of you are very probably pretty emotional, so you do not need to be reading long vows. Say what you want to say and by all means add to it on the day if there is something you want to say but didn't script. Keep your vows short and from the heart.
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Hi Josephine, thank you for your kind words. I very much appreciate you taking the time and I also appreciated meeting you and Ricky and being able to do your wedding ceremony for you. The photos are just lovely. My very best wishes to you both for your life together. Regards, Janine