The Joyful Celebrant
OVERVIEW
I'm a fun-loving, contemporary celebrant with a passionate and inclusive nature. I bring the right balance of emotion and fun to your ceremony to ensure your special day is full of colour and special moments. I am dedicated to ensuring your ceremony is creative and inspired by your amazing relationship. Your ceremony may be formal or casual, traditional or cultural, themed or in a park, at a restaurant or at home. No matter where or what style your after we can make it perfect for you and your guests will leave with wonderful memories of your special day.
'Kyla was a ray of sunshine since the first zoom meeting we had with her! Kyla has such a warm, friendly and caring personality. Our wedding date changed 3 times; the last time was before the stage 4 lockdown on Valentine's day weekend (when we due to get married). Kyla was gorgeous; she checked in with us and worked with us to set a new date. Our ceremony was beautiful, Kyla made our guests laugh. Kyla is so organised, attentive and punctual! The ceremony was straightforward and just what we wanted. Thank you so much Kyla! We are so happy we choose you to be our marriage celebrant! Lots of love!!' Claire & Tom
About
I am an award winning celebrant (3yrs in a row) and have done more than 200 Weddings. I've officiated weddings in Melbourne, Hobart and now Northern NSW. Being a Wedding Celebrant is the best job in the world not only because of meeting some of the most gorgeous couples and hearing their love story, but also meeting families and loved ones who are precious to each couple and play a huge part in their lives. I live to make your wedding day the absolutely best day of your lives!
Kyla Sorenne
Business Owner
FAQ
YES!! The definition of marriage has been changed in Australia to be inclusive of same sex couples. This is so exciting and a very welcome change indeed.
Australia
If you were born in Australia you will need to provide your original birth certificate. If you were born overseas, your original birth certificate is preferred, however a current passport issued by your country of birth is acceptable.
If you have been married before, you will need to provide the celebrant with proof that any prior marriage has ended whether by divorce or by the death of the other party.
Should any of the above documents be in a foreign language, you will need to provide a certified translation in English.
If one of you is under 18 years of age, the written consent of your parents or guardian will be required.You will also need an order from the court. (Section 10-21 of The Marriage Act 1961) The Marriage Act 1961 can be downloaded for further information.
Other Countries
Please refer to the legal requirements in your country.
Yes, you will need to have two witnesses over the age of 18. You may be able to ask staff from the resort where you are staying, or choose a photographer who has an assistant, or the celebrant may be able to organise for two witnesses to attend. At one ceremony I conducted, the couple had one friend come with them and then invited someone walking along the beach to be a witness. He was visiting from New Zealand and was delighted to assist.
In Australia:
If you have lodged a notice of intent to marry form in the required time - a month and a day before your wedding date, and fulfilled the required legal requirements, then yes, you can. If you haven't lodged the notice of intent to marry form within this time frame, then no, you cannot. The notice of intended marriage form needs to be lodged with an authorised celebrant (religious or civil). This form is valid for eighteen months from the date of lodgement.
Under certain circumstances a shortening of this time may be granted by a prescribed authority. For more information ask your celebrant or download a free copy of the Explanatory Material on the Marriage Act which has a section on Shortening of Time.
Most celebrants provide a certificate for many different styles of ceremonies. A Marriage Certificate will be signed during the ceremony by the wedding couple, your chosen witnesses x 2 and the celebrant. This Marriage Certificate will then be gven to you on the day to commemorate your marriage, and once the marriage is registered with the Dept of Births, Deaths and Marriages, you can recieve a copy of your official certificate by applying to them directly.
You are not legally required to exchange wedding rings. However, it is a tradition since early times to honour the commitment you are making to each other. The ring has come to symbolise the never ending nature of love.
Nowadays some grooms are choosing not to wear a wedding ring due to occupational health and safety concerns. Some may exchange a ring on the day and wear it only on social occasions. If only one ring is being exchanged, it can be acknowledged that this ring is the symbol for them both of their shared love and commitment.
I had a couple who decided to buy a special gift for each other instead. His present was a set of golf clubs!
How disappointing is it not to be able to hear the wedding ceremony? I have received a lot of praise for having a fantastic public address system and high quality microphone. It can make all the difference to a ceremony - people love to hear what is being said! It is a legal requirement (according to The Celebrants Code of Practice) that all registered celebrants ensure the ceremony be audible to all of the guests. Make certain that your celebrant has a high quality and, if necessary, portable (not requiring mains power) public address system. Make sure they can still use it if it's windy if you are going to be on the beach and how they protect against surplus noise across the microphone. Ask if they have cord free hand held microphone for the delivery of readings, poems, etc. Do they have the facility to play your music through their system: cd's, iPod's, computers, connections?
Yes! All ceremonies can be tailor made to suit your requirements. If you would like your pet included in the ceremony, just let your celebrant know.
April 2023
June 2022
June 2022
Expert Advice
As a wedding professional, The Joyful Celebrant offers expert advice to help couples plan their perfect day. Ask a question or read their expert advice.
Get Expert AdviceNotice of intent of marriage information for temporary resident
Hi Team, I am a temporary resident in Melbourne and my fiance is planning to travel her for the wedding from overseas with a tourist visa for the wedding. Can she send me a scaned notarized signed copy of intent of marriage over email and I print it out for submission to celebrant ? or should she send me a hard copy sent over post the document over to me?.
When should we be booking a celebrant?
How much time is needed before the wedding to get everything done?
The Joyful Celebrant
Dear Coupkes! Book a celebrant as soon as you meet one that you click with. Some couples book thir celebrant well in advance, some couples wait until just three months before. Somewhere within this timeframe will be fine. Make sure to talk with your celebrant about the tone, style, theme you have in mind for your celebration and make sure your celebrant fits that style. This is one of the most important things about choosing the right celebrant. Most celebrants can get the legal paperwork right and speak from a sript, but if you are looking for 'the right celebrant', the right celebrant is someone who can get on board with your vision of your amazing wedding day!
In kindness,
Kyla
The Joyful Celebrant
I am a terrible public speaker. How can I get ready for my wedding ceremony?
Hi there. Was hoping for some advice on how to tackle ceremony nerves so I can get through my vows. I really want to write my own vows but have always been terrible at speaking in front of crowds. What can I do ahead of time and on the day?
The Joyful Celebrant
Thank-you for your question! It's very common that couples ask about this and there are several things you can do. A personal vow whcih takes 2-3mins is very common and can give the bride or groom to-be nerves for weeks or day before your special day.
One thing I would say is write out your vows early and practice with a voice recording app to hear yourself. Sounds terrifying? Its one of the very best ways to hear how you are going to sound to your guests on the day. Focus on breathing and speaking very slowly, so slowly that you think its weird. The thing is your guests don't know what you are going to say, but you do. You need to give them time to catch up. So place your hand on your belly and make sure you take a breath as you're speaking. Keep your vows honest and light hearted, with lots of highlights from your time with your sweetie. Keep the serious stuff until the very end when you make your declaration of love and devotion.
The second suggestion is also very popular. Consider a scripted vow with a personal statement instead of a full personal vow. The scripted vow and personal statement is a very helpful way of getting support from your celebrant with very much the same effect. So the scripted vow is where the celebrant does most of thetalking and you say, 'I do.' Then you can say a few words from the heart but ti doesn't have to be a full 2-3 mins (but it can if you feel like it). Its a very popular option with nervous brides and grooms to be.
I wish you every happiness on yoru wedding day and ever after...
In kindness,
Kyla
The Joyful Celebrant
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The Joyful Celebrant
Do Both! Your fiancee will need to see a Notary Public/ Lawyer/JP in her own country and have her ID certfied by them, as well as her details and signature on the Notice of Intention to Marry document. Have them witness and stamp her signature. This should cost something like $60 - $120. Scan these documents and email them to your celebrant but also post or present the originals to your celebrant. And be prepared to show the original ID to your Australian Celebrant. The Celebrant can register the wedding with only one of the bridal party signing, hoever before the wedding can take place the Australian Celebrant must be satsified with the ID, witness of signatures on the NOIM's as well as the Delcaration of No Leagal Impediment.