Bruce Kilpatrick Celebrant Services

5 ( 3 reviews ) · Wodonga / Bright / Echuca. VIC. · Show Phone

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OVERVIEW

I will assist you in creating a wedding ceremony, that reflects the unique people that you are and help make your special day, extra special

My role is to assist you in creating a wedding ceremony that reflects the unique people that you are, and to help to make your special day ‘extra special’. This can be achieved by skilfully crafting a ceremony that is based on your personalities and backgrounds, encompassing your personal stories, music, poetry, and readings that are symbolic of your emotions, values and hopes, for your future life together.

In our initial meetings, we will chat about your personal stories; how you met and the subsequent development of your relationship. I also chat with each person separately to capture the different sides of the ‘same’ story! This introduction is usually the one thing that will set your wedding apart; it is often amazing how some seemingly basic information can be transformed into the most entertaining story about how some wonderful relationships came to be. I work with each of my clients to create a ceremony that is warm, engaging, appropriately light and humorous, but above all, distinctly unique to their relationship.

About

I have a Diploma of Marriage Celebrancy (Distinction), Certificate IV in Celebrancy Certificate IV in Workplace Training & Assessment (Distinction) My extensive experience ensures that your day will run not only smoothly, but with a generous and humorous spirit as well. I am extremely friendly and personable, with a calm and relaxed approach to life. I love what I do, and take great pride in helping my clients create memories that they will treasure forever.

Mr. Bruce Kilpatrick

Business Owner

Photos

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FAQ

What training have you had?

I have worked as a funeral celebrant since 2002. I gained my Diploma of Marriage Celebrancy (Distinction), from the International College of Celebrancy, in mid-2004, and was registered by the Attorney-General’s Department, Celebrant Section, on the 2nd of September, that year.

I have subsequently achieved a Certificate IV in Celebrancy through the International College of Celebrancy, and have also achieved a Certificate IV in Workplace Training & Assessment (Distinction) in order to fulfil requested tutoring duties with the College.

How long have you been a celebrant?

I have been a Funeral Celebrant since 2002, and have been registered as a Marriage Celebrant since the 2nd of September, 2004. I have participated in over 400 wedding ceremonies, and over 200 funeral services.

What does your fee cover?

I am a professional Marriage Celebrant / Presenter / Performer /Public Speaker and Master of Ceremonies. As such, when you book me to be your celebrant, you are hiring the sum total of all of my professional experience, along with my extensive training (which is far more than the average celebrant, who, in many cases, may only have a basic qualification from a 2 – 4 day TAFE course).

Because of the combination of my experience and training, you can rest assured that, between us, we will create the sort of wedding ceremony that you have dreamt about. Plus you will be able to see that it is achievable with ease, fun and a complete lack of stress.

Experience and professionalism come with their own added value, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be at a prohibitive cost. My fee also covers the provision of background materials and sample ceremony examples, all client communications and correspondence (including face to face meetings) and a printed keepsake of your wedding ceremony. An audio recording of your ceremony can also be provided at an additional cost.

Please contact me so that I may quote for your individual needs.

Why should we choose you?

My extensive experience ensures that your day will run not only smoothly, but with a generous and humorous spirit as well. I am an extremely friendly and personable, with calm and relaxed approach to life. I love what I do, and take great pride in helping my clients create memories that they will treasure forever.

3 reviews 5 Write a Review

September 2019

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Bruce was the celebrant for our destination wedding at Falls Creek in Victoria. He made sure that we completed all legal aspects of the process on time, and wrote a beautiful and funny introduction to our ceremony. We heard many great comments from our friends and family about how wonderfully he conducted the service and how personalized we were able to make it. Bruce also presented us with a printed copy of our ceremony nicely bound for keepsake purposes, which was very thoughtful. We would certainly recommend Bruce to our friends and family for future weddings and occasions.

Jazmine B.

June 2019

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Dear Bruce, Just a little note to say ‘thank you’, for a beautiful ceremony; everyone loved it and a couple of our friends said that they wished that their ceremonies had been so entertaining. It was a truly memorable day, and you made it even that more special. With many thanks, Shane and Kim.

Shane P.

June 2019

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Hi Bruce, I have been meaning to write to tell you just how grateful I am for all your hard work regarding our wedding. You were a huge hit, everyone there has commented on how excellent you are; I did not get a chance to introduce myself properly, nor to say thank you properly, the day takes off on its own momentum, as I am sure you would know. But, it’s never too late to say thank you; you were truly terrific, light, fun, you had terrific energy, an excellent, clear voice, I just felt like I had known you for years, but we first met as I was standing at the alter! I was so comfortable with you, and knew that you had everything well in hand. What an important day, it just would not have been the same without you. Should you wish ANYONE to call me, to confirm how totally pleased I was with your work, please have them do so, or email me at this address. I loved how you made it all so easy, to personalise the entire thing, and send out all that information, you really made it stress free, and fun; we got your schedule of the ceremony, then looked through your paperwork, and chose what was right for us, we totally loved that and got right into it. We felt like we had customised it ourselves, but did not have to bother and stress about coming up with it all. Then, to have the readings printed out for everyone, so that we did not have to hide them in those silly dresses, was such a relief. Not to mention, half way through organising it all, I did a total back-flip and wanted to rewrite our entire story – your, ‘no fuss’ approach to that was appreciated, making our ceremony exactly as we wanted it. I will always think back fondly on you; thank you Bruce, you truly made my wedding day better than I had imagined. All my love, Simone.

David G.

Expert Advice

As a wedding professional, Bruce Kilpatrick Celebrant Services offers expert advice to help couples plan their perfect day. Ask a question or read their expert advice.

Get Expert Advice

Do any modern couples still include the opportunity to object during a wedding ceremony?

Curious about this and how it would be done well.

Bruce Kilpatrick Celebrant Services

Firstly, I have no idea how long it has been since the question, as to whether anyone has an objection to the wedding proceeding, has been included in a marriage ceremony but, it would be a long time. In essense, because the question has no legal standing, it has no place in a legal marriage ceremony, for one basic reason: in Australia, when the marrying couple approach a celebrant, priest, rabbi etc. to perform their ceremony, they have to provide legal, documentary evidence, and sign a 'Declaration', that they are 'legally able to marry', when they sign the 'Notice of Intended Marriage' form (NOIM) and, if they have been married previously, again, they have to provide legal, documentary evidence as to how that marriage was terminated. Therefore, no-one has any 'legal' reason to question the Bride and Groom about their conjugal status, except the celebrant.

Bruce Kilpatrick.
Authorised Marriage Celebrant.

Can we write our own ring element into our wedding ceremony?

Wondering if the ring part of our ceremony can be personalised or if it has to be what everyone else has?

Bruce Kilpatrick Celebrant Services

Apart from the required first line of the vows, which must be in accordance with Rules & Regulations of The Marriage Act 1961, and the inclusion of the 'Monitum From the Marriage Act', everything else is the complete free choice of the couple.

Can the celebrant refer to us as husband and wife in a commitment ceremony?

In a commitment ceremony is the celebrant allowed to say husband and wife?

Bruce Kilpatrick Celebrant Services

The Marriage Act 1961 is very specific: during a 'legal' marriage ceremony, the couple must start their vows with the following sentence:
"I call upon the persons here present, to witness that I, (add name of groom/bride), take you, (add name of groom/bride) to be my lawful, wedded wife/husband." Because a Committment Ceremony is not a legal marriage ceremony, the words husband/wife must not be used.
Also, it is illegal to purport, or make out, that the Committmant Ceremony is actually a Marriage Ceremony.

Bruce Kilpatrick
Authorised Marriage Celebrant.