In a world of Pinterest boards and wedding trends, it’s easy to focus on the flowers, dresses, and venues. But at the heart of it all lies one of the most essential figures: the marriage celebrant. More than just the person who officiates the ceremony, a great celebrant weaves personal stories, humour, and heart into every word.
If you’re planning your big day in Melbourne’s northern suburbs, you’ll find exactly that with Olivia Ferraro, a Reservoir-based marriage celebrant who brings warmth, charm, and personal flair to every ceremony. Whether it’s an intimate gathering or a grand affair, Olivia offers a ceremony experience that feels authentic, relaxed, and meaningful.
From coffee chat to a lifelong calling
It’s often the simplest moments that spark the biggest life changes—and for Olivia, that moment came over a casual coffee chat at work. What started as an offhand comment from a colleague changed the trajectory of her life, leading to a career as a marriage celebrant.
Olivia tells us, “It was a Monday morning when a colleague and I were making coffee, and she was telling me about the wedding she had attended. There was a pause in the conversation and then she turned to me and said, ‘You’d make a good celebrant!’. I didn’t think too much of it at the time, but as days passed, it kept replaying in my mind. I looked into it and the more I read and saw of other celebrants, the more excited I became. Now, I couldn’t think of anything else I would rather do!”
That passion and joy have become the foundation of Olivia’s work. Couples are drawn to her engaging delivery and vibrant energy, with many saying it’s clear just how much she loves the role. With a natural talent for storytelling and a voice made to captivate, Olivia brings every ceremony to life. Add to that a knack for organisation, and you’ve got a celebrant who ensures everything runs smoothly, making the process as enjoyable as the big day itself.
The moments before “I do”: where the magic truly begins
For Olivia, the magic of a wedding peaks in those charged moments between checking in with the bride and kicking off the ceremony. She gushes, “Guests are excitedly waiting to begin; they’ve had a chance to see people they haven’t seen in a little while and the anticipation of seeing the bride and groom tie the knot is at fever pitch. Once I check in with the bride, I’ll jump on the microphone for pre-ceremony announcements and I know that it now all comes down to these lead up moments: all the planning, the script writing, working out the final details – the absolute thrill and joy of presenting the ceremony gives me butterflies, pride and excitement.”
Unforgettable wedding moments
Every wedding brings its own special moments, but some stand out as truly unforgettable. For Olivia, one of the most memorable ceremonies was for an old running buddy who threw tradition to the wind and made an entrance like no other. “It was the most unique, entertaining and inclusive entrance I’ve ever seen! They decided to walk into the ceremony with their own theme music like dart players.”
(For context, a dart player’s entrance pumps out high energy, aimed at lifting the crowd for the player’s grand entrance).
“They had a friend make their rousing announcement and each walked into their family and friends with ‘I believe in a thing called love’ by The Darkness and ‘I was made for loving you’ by KISS.”
Olivia recalls that friends and family were up on their feet, hands were in the air, there were even signs held high with the couple’s name on them as the bride and groom came dancing down the aisle. “It was an incredible entrance, one that set the tone for the ceremony that screamed ‘celebration!’
In good hands – from start to finish
When it comes to wedding advice, Olivia has one key message: trust your vendors. With so many moving parts on the big day, having a reliable team makes all the difference.
“As your celebrant—and biggest cheerleader—I will take care of it all: from liaising with venue coordinators to photographers, videographers, and content creators.”
Setting the tone with the perfect playlist
And when it comes to filling the dance floor, Olivia knows exactly what hits the right notes.
“Queen B and Jay-Z’s ‘Crazy In Love’ never fails to bring out everyone’s best moves, while Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want For Christmas’ is a surefire crowd-pleaser for December weddings.”
But there’s one personal song still on Olivia’s wishlist: “I’ve always harboured a hope that one day a bride will enter to Olivia Newton-John’s ‘Magic’ – a phenomenal and yet quietly understated song.”
