Archives for 2017

Games at weddings are becoming more and more popular.  When I first became a celebrant I performed a themed and costumed Alice in Wonderland Wedding.  I came as the white rabbit from the story. During the break after the ceremony and before the Reception, guests played croquet on the lawn, like they did in the story itself.  They all seemed to really enjoy the theme and the croquet.

You don’t have to have a theme to have some fun and games at your wedding.  If you want to be hip with the in crowd, here are some tips for a successful fun wedding that everyone will be talking about for ages afterwards.

So many ceremonies happen outdoors in parks and gardens these days and even in people’s home gardens, that it is really perfect to set up some games to give the guests something to do if there is a break between the ceremony and the reception times. It also discourages so much alcohol drinking, so could save you a bundle. You can provide water and soft drinks in eskies or tubs of ice during the break. Let the champagne flow after the bridal party arrive back to the celebrations.

There are a few ways to acquire the necessary games you need to keep the guests entertained while you have photos taken etc.  Firstly keep in mind what type of wedding you are having.  If the look is very formal, some more refined games would be required.  Croquet or Boules would be very suitable.  You can buy boules and croquet sets that are not too expensive and keep them later for home parties in your own garden.  If you keep your eye on the catalogues you can find these games on special from time to time.  They last forever, so can be a great investment. I also had friends who made their own giant jenga.  They said it wasn’t too hard.  Look on pinterest for information on making giant games.

I ordered giant games online, which included giant jenga (very popular) and giant connect 4, also a popular game.  There was also a giant dominoes. The quality of the games when they arrived was quite disappointing, the giant connect 4 falling to pieces before my party was over. This was a big shame.  I had attended a party where the giant games were absolutely fantastic.  On enquiry, my friend informed me that she had hired these games for her party.

Another fantastic game is Giant frisbee, but this perhaps is a little athletic for a wedding.  Guests may have to take off their good shoes and heels to play this.

Some of the types of outdoor games for hire

• Giant chess
• Giant jenga
• Giant pick up sticks
• Ten Pin Bowling
• Boules
• Croquet
• Giant Connect 4

So if you do care that your guests are having a great time and not just drinking the bar dry in between ceremony and reception, start buying or look at some of the following websites to see prices to hire games.  Then put one of your friends or family members in charge of putting the games out and collecting them to be taken back after the wedding.

If you are game for the games for your big event, try the following websites.

www.brisbanebackyardgames.com.au

www.giantgames.com.au

or if you feel jumpy

www.jumpingcastlehirebrisbane.com.au/

Have an excellent wedding and if you want a fantastic celebrant who is lots of fun, contact us.

Cherish Ceremonies

Marriage Celebrants

www.cherishceremonies.com.au

www.cherishceremonies.com

phone Lynette 07 3807 3025 or Tamzin 0403 582 667

Creating Moments to Cherish Forever!

Having your Fur Babies attend your wedding is very popular at the moment.  Doggos and Puppers are such a special part of the family and more and more people are choosing to have them be present and be part of their wedding and new ‘leash on life’.

There are a few things to consider when deciding to have your pets be a part of your special day, otherwise, it can end up a bit Ruff.

As weddings can be quite busy and hectic, it is a good idea to ‘paws’ and ask a friend or relative or specialised pet sitter to be in charge of your furry friend/s.  These days there are even special people who will do everything on the big day to ensure your furry friends arrive on time, are looked after, fed watered and returned to their safe place after the wedding. This obviously removes the worry about their welfare.

For example: http://www.firstclasspetweddingassistants.com.au First Class Pet Wedding Assistants service Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Northern NSW and the Hinterlands

Firstly you should check that pets are allowed at the site you have chosen.  They will need shade and water if it is an outside venue, especially in summer weather. Obviously, they should not be left alone in cars or to their own devices.  Please give someone from your guests or your pet sitter permission to come and get the pets if they start to cause any sort of disruption to your ceremony. Like little children, pets can sometimes act out of character or in an unruly manner, and you don’t want them to spoil your big day.

If they are playing a role in the ceremony, besides being in the photos or part of the wedding party, you should practice their role with them. Be realistic, do they sit still and behave if they are going to be part of the ceremony?

This is a true ‘tail’ from a Cherish Wedding. Quite a few years ago, friends of mine, Lindsay and Kim, decided to a special little fur friend Rufus take the role of ‘best man and ring bearer’ at their wedding. Rufus was a very good friend of Lindsay’s and they decided to dispense with the traditional human roles of Best Man and just use Rufus. Being the smart little fellow he was, they practiced calling him at the appropriate time to come and bring the rings to the Bride and Groom. Rufus wore a doggy tuxedo with the rings attached and ran up the aisle right on cue and delivered the rings to perfection.  What a good boy he was.

Since those days, many couples have chosen to have their fur babies there as part of their ceremony to great acclaim.

There are many websites where you can purchase some formal gear for you pet to wear at your Wedding. Otherwise, a pretty bow or some flowers attached to their collar would do the trick just right!

Good luck with your pet-friendly wedding and if you follow some of this advice you too will have a happy ‘tail’ to tell.

If you would like to book a wedding including pets with Cherish Ceremonies, just contact us

Cherish Ceremonies – Creating Memories to Cherish Forever!

Some couples who book Cherish Ceremonies to be their wedding celebrant want the full formal, traditional or elaborate wedding, while others, for many reasons prefer the idea of doing what’s legally required and moving on as a happily married couple. So if you are after the simplicity and affordability of a “Kiss and Go” type wedding this is what’s required.

Firstly you have to get a “Notice of Intended Marriage” or “NOIM” form signed with your celebrant. To complete this form your marriage celebrant will need to see your original birth certificate or passport and a form of photo ID like a drivers license. If you have been previously married, then you will also need to show the court document confirming dissolution. If you have changed your name, you need evidence of this. You can also complete the statutory declaration of no legal impediment when you sign your “NOIM”. Don’t worry your celebrant will have all the documents and how to complete them and will complete the necessary legal paperwork for you. You just have to sign in the appropriate locations to make it all official.

Then you wait…….. 31 days and then you can be married. YAY!

On your “wedding day”, you meet with your celebrant and 2 witnesses (over 18 years old – can be anyone at all) at any location within Australia. A “Kiss & Go” wedding is usually performed at the celebrant’s home or office. Then the legally required words must be said.

The celebrant must say:

“I am duly authorised by law to solemnize marriages according to law.

Before you are joined in marriage in my presence and in the presence of these witnesses, I am to remind you of the solemn/serious and binding nature of the relationship into which you are now about to enter.

Marriage according to law in Australia, is the union of a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life.”

then….

Both the bride and the groom must say the legal vow line. You can add more too this line if you like, however, the minimum legally required words are:

“I call upon the people here present to witness that I [legal first name, and middle name &/or surname], take you [legal first name, and middle name &/or surname], to be my lawfully wedded wife/husband.”

and then the celebrant must “declare you married” or “declare you husband & wife”.

After these legally required words are spoken by each of the parties, we need to sign the legal paperwork. For this we need the bridegroom, the bride, the two witnesses (anyone who is over 18 years old and who witnessed the words spoken and signatures of the bride and groom) and the celebrant. So their are three documents at this stage that need to be signed by all 5 people:

1. The Marriage Register (Big red book that belongs to the celebrant with all of their weddings in it)
2.  The Official Certificate of Marriage (form that gets submitted by the celebrant to Births, Deaths & Marriages)
3. The Certificate of Marriage (pretty certificate that the couple get to keep on the day of the wedding)

Once the above documents have been signed and witnessed you are married! It really is that quick and easy! If you decide to have the kiss and go style wedding you will find the signing of the documents takes longer than the actual wedding. This option is a fantastic idea for anyone who wants to take all of the stress and additional expense away from getting married in Australia. Imagine how much money you would save by not having an expensive formal gown, multiple bouquets of flowers, a wedding cake, fancy transport to the wedding, an expensive venue hire cost, bonbonniere, DJ/ musician, MC and reception.

If you would like to arrange a minimum legally required wedding in the style of “Kiss and Go” in South East Queensland, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Logan or surrounding areas, then give us at Cherish Ceremonies a call, text, email or whatever suits you and we can make this easy wedding happen for you and your fiance. In just 31 days and with no fuss and just the celebrant costs to pay, you will have arranged the cheapest, easiest wedding you can have!

Contact Us

[email protected]

Phone: 07 38073025 or 0403582667

Cherish Ceremonies

Creating Memories to Cherish Forever!