OVERVIEW
Based in Canberra, Chris White is a warm, modern, and professional wedding celebrant with a passion for creating meaningful wedding day experiences. Chris approaches each unique wedding with enthusiasm and authenticity. When you engage Chris as your wedding celebrant, you know that you’ll receive thorough communication, unwavering support, and genuine interest in your love story.
Every celebrant booking with Chris White begins with an obligation-free chat over phone or email, where you’re welcome to ask any questions you may have. Chris’ disarming and friendly demeanour will put you at ease, allowing you to openly and comfortably participate in the ceremony writing process. After Chris has finished penning the first draft of your ceremony, you’ll have the opportunity to review and request changes ensuring you are completely satisfied with the final result. He can deliver the ceremony in English, Mandarin, Thai or French
“Hi Chris, thank you so much for making our day such a memorable one. Your calm, easy-going personality was just what we were after. We received so many compliments from guests enjoying how you put it all together and how you delivered it. So glad we stopped by and spoke with you at the wedding fair.” –- Clara
What you’ll love about working with Chris White for your Canberra wedding:
Highlights of working with Chris White for your Canberra wedding:
'Chris is the most incredible love interpreter! He delivered the most personalised ceremony that all our guests commented suited us to a tee. Easy to work with and great communication. We could not be happier with our choice!' Gabby, Bride
About
If you would like a relaxed, personalised and professional celebrant, then you've come to the right place. Let's work together to create a wonderful memory for you both and experience for your family and guests.
Chris White
Business Owner
Easy Weddings Special Offer
Glasshouse Candles
Every couple that books through Chris White Celebrant through Easy Weddings will receive a beautiful GlassHouse Candle as a thank you and on going memory of the wonderful memory and experience of your wedding day.
Enquire to claim offer Enquire to claim offerPackages
A short ceremony with only the bare minimum in legal components. A modern day elopement with no more than 15 guests.
Usually just the one face to face planning meeting (or video call) is all we need.
You complete a couple of questionnaires to help me build your ceremony
Unlimited communication (text, email, phone, etc).
Writing and delivery of your personalised ceremony, and can help with personal vows if that is something you would like.
Travel to your chosen ceremony within Canberra region.
Lodgement of all legal paperwork to ensure your marriage is legal registered.
You get to choose what I wear on the day
Mostly the type of ceremony for those couples that don't necessarily want their story to be told and are focused on getting to the reception and celebrating.
I can come by to a dinner or a lunch you are having with family and friends and surprise them all with you getting married.
A short process with only the bare minimum in legal components.
This process takes about 10 minutes to perform and is suited for those couples who are simply looking to make the marriage official; generally for those who aren’t looking for fanfare and have no guests, except two witnesses.
This can happen at my place, a cafe or a park. It is still special in that you are married at the end of it, but to be clear this is not a ceremony per se. I can come by to a dinner or a lunch you are having with family and friends and surprise them all with you getting married.
Just need at least a month's notice to complete initial paper work.
I lodge all the legal paperwork to ensure your marriage is registered with BDM.
This is the full deal where you are limited only by your imagination.
Fee inclusions:
There is an additional $100 for a rehearsal; these aren't necessary and you will be very well prepared for the big day through our lead up sessions.
This ceremony takes about 30-40 minutes to perform.
Location
Service Area Canberra and surrounding Region
FAQ
That all sits with me. We just work to pull the info together and I manage it all on your behalf. This is done pretty much in the back end of the process, blink and you wil miss. But I wont! main legal bits are completing the NOIM and the Declaration in advance and then i register the marriage immediately after. You just sit back and enjoy the creative part of designing exactly what you want the memory to be.
There are few jobs that see people at their best and happiest. Marriage Celebrant is one of those, so who wouldn't want to be involved. l love hearing people's stories and working with couples to create a wonderful memory for them and a great experience for their guests. I really only want to be involved in activities that reaffirm love, joy, understanding and inclusion.
The only MUST haves are the Monitum (which is me for about 30 secs) and the legal vows (which is each of you for about 15 secs each). After that gloves are off and we can be as simple or as complex as you like. Readings, hand fastings, personal vows, butterflies, unicorns, the limit is your imagination, patience and how long you have the wedding venue for. But in all honesty we aim to max out at 30 mins.
I’m all about equality, inclusion and the recognition of love. I would love to be involved in your wedding. I am blind to race, age, religion or how you identify. As a member of the LGBTIQ+ community I fully embrace everyone who come to be married by me. The end goal is to recognise the love that is in the room and get you guys married!
That is fully dependent on yourselves. I wil always work with couples to ensure I am in keeping with your theme/vibe, and will discuss this with you in advance. More often than not I will get you to choose; most couples like the Schitt's Creek Blue jacket unless its a black tie event!
Absolutely triple vaccinated and fluvax.
I recommend you plan for no more than 30 minutes, in total. Most ceremonies when constructed around inclusions that hold meaning and relevance will fit perfectly into that time frame. Anymore than that you will find guests moving in their seats, your ankles getting a little sore and longing looks towards the wine bar.
March 2024
March 2024
Chris White Celebrant
Hey Abbie, you guys were fabulous and so giving through this process that made it my absolute pleasure. And what a party afterwards! It was such a pleasure delivering on your vision for both the ceremony and the reception, and your gang were so invested in you both; it made for such a great night! And wow what a venue up at Jaspers!
November 2023
Chris White Celebrant
Lauren and Liam thanks so much for your review. That is very kind of you. You were both such a pleasure to collaborate with, and being so open with your story made it a joy, as did your great group of guests!
March 2024
Chris White Celebrant
Hey Jackson thanks for the lovely words. Dream couple, dream venue, great guests. You guys provided all the good oil which helps the ceremony flow smoothly and effortlessly. I am very grateful for the opportunity to have worked with you both!
March 2024
Chris White Celebrant
Maddie, you guys were a blast and knew exactly what you wanted. Thanks for taking the risk and letting me perform some of it in Macedonian. I enjoyed learning the phrasing and getting my tongue around some of those curly ones - but it is great to hear that it was appreciated by Nana! You both helped curate a lovely memory for me too and so glad you were happy with the day.
Expert Advice
As a wedding professional, Chris White Celebrant offers expert advice to help couples plan their perfect day. Ask a question or read their expert advice.
Get Expert AdviceCan we get married in two weeks time?
We are heading on holiday and would love to be married in two weeks. What are our options?
Chris White Celebrant
In short, yes you can get married in two weeks, if you have extenuating circumstances (see below). Ordinarily a couple must lodge a Notice of Intended Marriage at least one month prior or no sooner than 18 months to the marriage.
But in certain circumstances you can be granted a 'shortening of time' to get married.
The Marriage Regs identifies the following reasons for approving a shortening: employment/travel commitments, wedding/celebration or religious considerations, medical reasons, legal proceedings, or an error in giving notice.
Your celebrant can assist with this but you will need to seek this through a prescribed authority.
My mum is very Catholic and wants me to have a Catholic priest at my wedding
However, my partner does not. Is there any way I could combine the two to keep both parties happy? I want some Catholic elements, but not the whole service.
Chris White Celebrant
In short, yes you can have a catholic priest involved alongside a civil celebrant, or even catholic sentiment/ceremony infused in the ceremony. You may find yourself involved in much compromise here though which in turn may be moving away from what YOU and your partner want this celebration and experience to be. Rather than being overly concerned with what it is your mum wants. For mine, front and centre is what the couple want as that is who I would be working with and for. And then there is finding a religious celebrant that may (or not) be less willing to compromise - but this is not my wheelhouse and you would of course need to look to bring the religious celebrant alongside. That said, there are many civil celebrant's who are of a religious bent that could well be the compromise that keeps most people happy. But then I go back to my basic tenet - it is about what the couple are looking for. No doubt Mum will likely be happy with whatever ceremony you decide.
How long does it take to get your official marriage certificate after the wedding?
Can't wait to change my name!
Chris White Celebrant
The sooner the celebrant lodges the registration with the relevant BDM the sooner you get the certificate. Yes, each BDM will have different processing times (and pressures - COVID impact on staffing is a real issue) depending on the size of the BDM and the juridiction i.e. NSW has many more weddings per week than NT, WA, ACT or SA so they may take longer than other juridictions. But to be honest NSW BDM has been turning them around so fast that my couples have very little wait. ACT acknowledge registration that same day and turn them around very quick. The celebrant has 14 days to lodge so to be honest that is likely the main cause for delay. I tend to get it done that night so there is no delay from my end. I've had no problems with ACT or NSW BDMs processing and having the certificates delivered via Registered Post within 14 days.
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Chris White Celebrant
Chris White Celebrant
Thanks Laura, thats very kind of you. It was lovely to meet you both and deliver a memorable event for you on your wedding day. I am so glad that it resonated with your guests and has made a lasting memory for you both.