It shouldn’t be all that surprising to learn that more couples are now choosing to celebrate their union in a place other than a church. For those who have no real connection to a religion then using a celebrant is often the logical choice. After all it hardly seems right to form the foundation of your married life in a place which really has no significance or relevance to one or both of you.

If you have decided to opt for a marriage celebrant, there are certain requirements which must be adhered to, to make your new role as a married couple a legal one. Aside from following the letter of the law, all marriage celebrants are bound by a Celebrant Code of Practice which is set out by the Attorney-General’s Department and which must be adhered to by all Marriage Celebrants. So what is this code, and what does it say about your Celebrant?

For starters, it says that all Celebrants are bound by the Code of Practice and failing which are subject to disciplinary measures by the Registrar. Maintaining a high standard of service is also key. Expect complete professionalism from the celebrant you have selected to perform your ceremony.

The role of your celebrant is not just one of physically performing the ceremony on the day. Your celebrant is required to hold the service in a manner which not only recognises the social, cultural and legal importance of the marriage but whom also acknowledges the importance of strong and respectful family relationships. And this applies both leading up to the wedding, and thereafter. The code states that all celebrants are required to have knowledge on family services within the community and be able to advise you on services available to sustain your relationship.

The authorised representative that you select to marry both of you should therefore approach his or her role not only with reverence, but plan a service together using appropriate actions and language. Many celebrants today do this by offering a variety of services. Patty Kikos, Director of ‘A Perfect Ceremony’ says that the ability to be versatile is a crucial element to being a successful Celebrant. “The ability to offer a variety of different options in reference to rites and rituals and wedding vows within the ceremony is paramount. Many couples opting to wed often come from different cultural backgrounds and are often at a loss with how to incorporate elements of their respective cultures within the ceremony. Additionally, many marriages are taking place for the second time and this can mean including children in the ceremony or having a special role for family members that don’t necessarily live in Australia”.

The Code of Practice also outlines a short list of general guidelines with minimum requirements when it comes to holding the actual ceremony. Expect your celebrant to maintain your privacy, to securely store and confirm any personal details and to complete any paperwork in a timely manner.

Your celebrant is also required to provide assistance in putting together your service. This means helping you choose a service that’s right for you including the literature, and also to conduct a rehearsal if you choose to have one. On the day, expect your celebrant to dress appropriately for the wedding and respect your expectations. If this means dressing down for a beach wedding, or dressing up for a formal black tie affair, then they should be willing to accommodate.

They should also ensure that the marriage ceremony is audible to guests and celebrants will generally do this by carrying their own PA system. Gold Coast Civil Celebrant Helen Murray says she is surprised by the number of compliments she receives from wedding guests simply because they were able to hear the ceremony. “Too often guests comment that they were unable to hear the last wedding they attended.  In a chapel or enclosed area it’s easier to be heard, but I still prefer to use a microphone because although I can project my voice. I’d prefer to keep the tone soft and romantic, rather than shout at the guests! Of course, the difficulty of being heard on a windy day on the beach with the surf crashing in the background cannot be underestimated, but I always use my state of the art PA system for even a small ceremony and have been known to hire an additional speaker if the guest list numbers over 100.”

If your celebrant is holding more than one service in a day you should expect them to give you the same amount of service and attention as you’d otherwise require. Be dubious of any celebrant who fails to meet a promise because they’ve been busy working on another event on the same day. And finally (and perhaps surprisingly), if you haven’t agreed to the time that your celebrant should arrive at the ceremony location to prepare for the ceremony, expect he or she to arrive at least 20 minutes before the event commences.

It doesn’t end with the just the ceremony. Post-wedding, expect your celebrant to elicit comments from you to improve their services and to also advise you how to notify the Attorney General’s Department (governing body for Celebrants) of any concerns you may have had.

When it all comes down to it, go with your instinct; it’s usually right. If you don’t get a good feeling from your celebrant, then it’s never too late to change your mind (or your celebrant). Choosing a celebrant is after all no different to deciding whether or not to have your ceremony in a religious venue, and which one to have it in. If the celebrant just doesn’t seem like a good fit for you – don’t do it. Your confidence and comfort with the celebrant means more than just signing a register.

Patty Kikos: www.aperfectceremony.com.au is a qualified professional Sydney based Civil Celebrant appointed by the Commonwealth Attorney General after completing recognised training. She is a member of The Association of Civil Marriage Celebrants of NSW Inc.

Helen Murray: www.marriage4yu.com is a qualified professional Gold Coast based Civil Celebrant appointed by the Commonwealth Attorney General after completing recognised training. She is a member of The Australian Federation of Civil Celebrants.