Couples' reviews

Our story with Victoria started with shortbread at a wedding expo — and if you know Gareth, you’ll understand that excellent biscuits are a fairly effective way to make a good first impression! We had been searching for the right celebrant for a while, but from the moment we met Victoria, there was something different about her. She was warm, friendly and incredibly engaging. Rather than simply telling us about herself and her services, she immediately started asking questions and genuinely getting to know us. We stood there talking, laughing and asking each other questions, while Gareth happily accepted multiple pieces of what he still maintains was some of the best shortbread he has ever eaten. By the time we left, we knew we had found our celebrant. Being local was also important to us. Our connection to the water and the local area was a meaningful part of choosing where we wanted to marry, and Victoria understood that. She already knew Sandstone Point, had conducted weddings there before and was familiar with the venue, which immediately removed another layer of stress from our planning. Over the months that followed, what started as a celebrant-client relationship genuinely began to feel like catching up with an old friend. We would arrange to meet Victoria for what was supposed to be a quick 15 or 20-minute chat and somehow still be sitting there an hour or two later talking about everything under the sun. There was never any awkwardness with her. She created such a warm and comfortable environment that we could talk openly about our relationship — the wonderful parts, the difficult years, the time we spent apart because of visa issues, and the fact that through everything, we continued to actively choose each other. We could be completely honest that marriage wouldn't mean liking each other every minute of every day, but we knew we would love and choose each other every day. Victoria really got to know us, and that made such a difference. She was also incredibly flexible. Gareth's work schedule made evening appointments difficult, while my own circumstances sometimes made early mornings impossible, and Victoria simply worked around us. Weekends, later starts and even meeting us on a public holiday for our rehearsal were never made to feel like an inconvenience. That rehearsal turned out to be one of the best decisions we made. None of us really knew what we were doing! Victoria walked our entire wedding party and our parents through everything — the procession order, where everyone stood, how quickly to walk, what happened when Dad and I reached the end of the aisle, and all those little details you don't realise you don't know until somebody asks you to actually do them. As someone who likes to know exactly what is happening and when, having Victoria take us through the ceremony beforehand gave me so much confidence. On the wedding day, even with my heart racing, I knew exactly what was supposed to happen. Throughout the planning process she gave us so much guidance without ever making the ceremony feel like hers rather than ours. When we weren't sure what to do, she provided examples and options for vows, ring exchanges and different parts of the ceremony, explained how things normally worked, and then always brought it back to: what do you two want? And then came the wedding day. Victoria arrived early, beautifully presented and completely prepared. She chatted with our family and friends, helped everyone know what was happening and somehow remained calm while Gareth went from happily joking with the boys to becoming an emotional wreck waiting for me to arrive! She had tissues ready, reassured him that everything he was feeling was completely normal and was such a wonderful source of support while he was overwhelmed. Knowing that she was there looking after him before I arrived meant so much to me. She was just as wonderful with me. After Gareth delivered his incredibly beautiful vows, I immediately told Victoria that I did not want to go next because there was absolutely no following that! She calmly reassured me, reminded me that my vows were beautiful too and that they said something different, gave me a moment to breathe, and helped me find the confidence to continue. Throughout the ceremony she guided not only us, but our guests as well. She explained what was happening, introduced our readings and the special people delivering them, let everyone know when they needed to sit or stand, and kept everything flowing naturally. She was also conscious of our photographer and videographer, helped ensure guests didn't obstruct them, and respectfully reminded everyone about our request not to take or share photographs during the ceremony. There were so many little things Victoria did throughout the entire process that made our lives easier, but what we will remember most is how she made us feel. By the time we stood together on our wedding day, it didn't feel like a stranger we had hired was marrying us. It genuinely felt like a friend was standing there marrying us — someone who knew our story, understood our relationship, cared about us both and wanted our ceremony to be exactly what we wanted it to be. We couldn't have asked for a better celebrant. Victoria, thank you for your warmth, your endless energy, your flexibility, your guidance, your humour, your kindness, and for looking after both of us so beautifully throughout the entire journey. We are incredibly grateful that we found you and that you were the person who officially married us. We would recommend Victoria and White Weddings a hundred times over to anyone looking for a celebrant. She was the perfect fit for us and for our day. And Gareth still remembers the shortbread.

Leena M.

Supplier: Victoria White - White Weddings Redcliffe

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