If you are trying to choose a wedding celebrant for your Melbourne wedding, the good news is that a few simple checks will tell you almost everything you need to know. Your celebrant is the person who makes your marriage legal, sets the tone of your ceremony and keeps everyone calm when the nerves kick in, so it pays to look beyond price and availability.
In this guide, award-winning Melbourne celebrant Mike Larkan shares seven practical things to look for, the questions worth asking, and the legal basics every couple should understand before they book.
AKA – Similar Terms
While you are searching, you will see celebrants described in a few different ways. Common terms include:
- Marriage Celebrant
- Civil Celebrant
- Authorised Marriage Celebrant
- Commonwealth-Registered Celebrant
- Wedding Officiant
- Melbourne Wedding Celebrant
What Does a Wedding Celebrant Do?
A wedding celebrant does far more than read a few lines and sign the paperwork. A good celebrant gets to know you as a couple, writes a ceremony that tells your story, guides you through the legal requirements, coordinates with your venue and suppliers, and makes sure every guest can see and hear what is happening.
Because no two couples are alike, the best way to choose a wedding celebrant is to think about the kind of ceremony you want first: relaxed and funny, romantic and heartfelt, short and sweet, or something in between. Once you know the feel you are after, the seven points below will help you work out who is the right fit. If you would like a broader overview, our earlier guide on choosing the best Melbourne marriage celebrant covers Melbourne venue styles in more detail.
7 Things to Look for When You Choose a Wedding Celebrant
Here are seven things worth looking for before you sign on the dotted line:
- They are authorised to marry you. In Australia you must be married by an authorised celebrant. Civil celebrants are registered with the Commonwealth, and the Attorney-General’s Department publishes a searchable List of Commonwealth Registered Celebrants, so it only takes a minute to check a celebrant’s registration before you book.
- You feel comfortable with them. Mike’s own advice is simple: choose someone you are comfortable with. Meet in person or have a proper chat on the phone. If the conversation flows easily, that relaxed feeling will carry through to your ceremony.
- They write a personalised ceremony. Ask whether your ceremony will be written from scratch around your love story, or pulled from a template. Mike writes every script individually, including your vows if you wish, and suggests music and readings so the day truly reflects you.
- They complement you, not compete with you. A great celebrant knows the spotlight belongs to the two of you. Look for someone whose style suits yours, whether that is warm and humorous or more traditional, without turning the ceremony into their own show.
- They bring a quality sound system. Outdoor Melbourne ceremonies can be windy and noisy. Ask what audio equipment your celebrant provides. Mike owns a cordless sound system, so guests in the back row hear every word.
- They are easy to reach and genuinely available. Find out how much consultation is included and how you can get in touch. Mike offers unlimited consultation by phone, text and email, so questions never sit unanswered for long.
- They have real experience and reviews to back it up. Experience matters when weather turns, a ring goes missing or a groom gets nervous. Ask how long the celebrant has been marrying couples, read genuine reviews, and ask how they handle the unexpected.
Questions to Ask Before You Book
Once you have a shortlist, these questions will help you compare celebrants side by side:
- What is your ceremony style? Ask for an example of how they open a ceremony or tell a couple’s story.
- How do we get to know each other? A first chat and a face-to-face catch-up help your celebrant capture your personalities.
- Can we write our own vows? Most couples can add personal promises alongside the legal wording, so ask how your celebrant supports this.
- What sound equipment do you provide? Check whether there is a wireless microphone for readers and for your vows.
- Will you coordinate with our venue and suppliers? Your celebrant should be happy to liaise with your venue, photographer and musicians.
- What happens if you are unwell on the day? It is a fair question, and an experienced celebrant will have thought about it.
The Legal Basics Every Couple Should Know
Whoever you choose, a few legal steps apply to every wedding in Australia. According to the Attorney-General’s Department:
- Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM): You must give your NOIM to your authorised celebrant at least one month and no more than 18 months before your wedding. In limited circumstances, such as employment or travel commitments or medical reasons, a prescribed authority may approve a shorter notice period.
- Identity documents: Your celebrant will need evidence of your date and place of birth, proof of identity, and proof that any previous marriage has ended.
- The legal words: Certain words must be said during the ceremony. Civil celebrants say the monitum, a short statement about the nature of marriage under Australian law, and each of you says the legal vows. Everything else, from your love story to your personal promises, can be as individual as you like.
- Two witnesses: Two witnesses aged over 18 sign the marriage certificates on the day.
- Registration: Your celebrant must send the paperwork to the births, deaths and marriages registry in the state where you married (Births, Deaths and Marriages Victoria for Melbourne weddings) within 14 days.
A professional celebrant takes care of these details for you, which is one more reason to choose a wedding celebrant with plenty of experience. For more practical advice, see Mike’s tips before getting married and tips and tricks for the ceremony.
How Mike Can Help You
Mike’s approach to celebrancy is built around getting to know each couple. Here is what working with him looks like, as described on his wedding celebrant services page:
- A first chat, then a coffee: After your first conversation, Mike meets you over a coffee to get to know you. From then on, you are a team.
- A ceremony written just for you: Mike writes your ceremony, your love story and, if you wish, your vows, and suggests music and readings with some not so stock standard ideas.
- Unlimited consultation: Phone, text or email, even on Sundays.
- Supplier recommendations: Mike can suggest trusted wedding suppliers he has worked with.
- Cordless sound system: So everyone hears every word, indoors or out.
- A journalist’s eye for a story: Mike trained as a journalist, which helps him tell your love story in a warm, engaging way.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far in advance should we book a wedding celebrant?
Popular celebrants are often booked well ahead, especially for peak-season Saturdays, so it is worth enquiring as soon as you have a date and venue in mind. Legally, your Notice of Intended Marriage must be lodged with your celebrant at least one month and no more than 18 months before the wedding.
How can we check that a celebrant is authorised?
Civil marriage celebrants are registered with the Commonwealth. The Attorney-General’s Department publishes a searchable List of Commonwealth Registered Celebrants on its website, where you can look up a celebrant by name.
Can we write our own wedding vows?
Yes. There are legal words that must be included in every ceremony, but you can add your own personal promises before or after them. Mike can write your vows with you or help you polish your own.
What legal documents do we need?
You will need to complete a Notice of Intended Marriage and provide your celebrant with evidence of your date and place of birth, proof of identity, and proof that any previous marriage has ended, such as a divorce or death certificate.
Does the celebrant register our marriage?
Yes. After the ceremony, your celebrant sends the signed paperwork to the births, deaths and marriages registry in the state where you married. For Melbourne weddings, that is Births, Deaths and Marriages Victoria.
Can our celebrant also be our wedding MC?
Some celebrants also work as MCs. Mike is an experienced wedding MC as well as a celebrant, so he can look after both your ceremony and your reception if you would like one familiar face for the whole day.
Other Services and Summary
As well as wedding ceremonies, Mike offers a range of services for life’s big moments:
- Wedding MC services to keep your reception running smoothly, with plenty of laughs and dancing.
- Life Celebrations: dignified, personal farewells that celebrate a loved one’s story.
- Corporate Functions: an engaging host for awards nights, conferences, fundraisers and more.
- Media Training, drawing on decades of experience in radio, TV and newspapers.
When it comes time to choose a wedding celebrant, focus on the essentials: make sure they are authorised, that you feel at ease with them, that your ceremony will be written around your story, and that they have the experience, equipment and availability to deliver on the day. Get those right and the rest falls into place.
Why Choose Mike Larkan as Your Melbourne Wedding Celebrant
Many Melburnians know Mike as the former nightly weatherman for Ten News, a role he held for 25 years. Today he is a qualified and registered marriage celebrant who graduated from the International College of Celebrancy, with more than ten years on the wedding scene and over 1,200 wedding ceremonies behind him. He was also named Best Supplier by Easy Weddings, as covered in our post on Mike as an award-winning marriage celebrant.
Mike has married couples across Melbourne, from CBD rooftops and laneway bars to bayside yacht clubs, as well as in the Yarra Valley and on the Mornington Peninsula. His ceremonies are warm, friendly and often full of humour, but always focused on the two of you.
To check availability for your date or ask any questions, contact Mike Larkan today. You can also read more about Mike, browse his professional tips and tricks or catch up on the latest news.