Planning a wedding in Melbourne? You’ve got the rings, the venue and a killer band…but don’t forget a marriage celebrant. After all, without a marriage celebrant your wedding is kind of just one big party! Your celebrant is the one who makes your marriage official and trust us when we say they can have a big impact on the feel of your wedding day.
How to choose the one
Picking the right marriage celebrant is almost as intimate as choosing your bridal party. You want somebody who reflects you as a couple, and who you feel comfortable sharing details of your relationship with, such as how you met and what you love about each other.
They do more than simply asking you to repeat a few words and sign the marriage certificate. They are talented wordsmiths and storytellers who help make your ceremony as engaging as it is memorable. There is also a fair bit of paperwork involved in getting married, so you also want someone who is organised to ensure your marriage is official in the eyes of the law.
Nailing the vibe
Do you want your wedding ceremony to be funny and uplifting or heartfelt and traditional? Or a little from column A and a little from column B? Considering the ceremony sets the tone for the rest of your wedding celebrations, it’s good to have a little bit of fun sprinkled throughout the formalities. A light-hearted laugh is also a nice way to relax with your guests and melt away and wedding day jitters.
Where to start
Like much of the wedding planning process, it’s important to do your research – so you’ve come to the right place! Before booking a celebrant, sit down with your partner and chat about what you want your ceremony to feel like. Think about weddings you’ve been to and what you liked (or didn’t like) about the marriage celebrant. Write down some key words to describe the vibe you are after e.g. warm, entertaining, sentimental, laid-back. And finally, read plenty of real wedding reviews to find out what other couples have said about the celebrant.
To help make planning your wedding day a whole lot easier, we’ve hand-picked 10 of the best marriage celebrants in Melbourne in 2023.
And, don’t forget to check out the One Fine Day Directory for more incredible vendors, suppliers and wedding day inspo.
1. MARRIAGE CELEBRANT MELBOURNE
Kate Morgan Celebrant
Kate’s style is relaxed and fun with a few happy tears thrown in for good measure. Her personal goal is to leave every person at every wedding feeling like it was the best ceremony they’ve ever been a part of and ready to celebrate!
She’s a passionate supporter of marriage equality, and is thrilled to be able to finally and legally marry LGBTIQ+ couples (one of the key reasons she decided to become a marriage celebrant after 10 years of working in PR).
Kate will discover what is most important to you, then turn that into a relaxed, playful and memorable ceremony that reflects you and your lifestyle.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT KATE MORGAN
REAL CUSTOMER REVIEWS:
“Kate made us laugh, cry and smile through the whole ceremony and we couldn’t of had a better start to our married life. She really captured us as a couple and went above and beyond to make sure every single little detail was correct and what we wanted. We are so LUCKY that we came across Kate and hope to see her at any event we attend in the future! We love you!” – Chelsie & Jeffrey.
2. MARRIAGE CELEBRANT MELBOURNE
Pete The Celebrant
Marriage celebrant and wedding MC rolled into one, Pete Hordern loves weddings so much he even hosts The Wedding Guide Podcast. He’s warm, engaging, and relatable, and one of the most talked-about, young wedding celebrants in Melbourne.
Couples rave that he takes the time to get to know them and goes above and beyond to help you feel relaxed and at ease. He will guide you through the entire process; vows, paperwork, story writing and stand by you on the day to deliver the ceremony of your dreams. Time to make it official? You won’t regret having Pete The Celebrant officiate your special day.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT PETE THE CELEBRANT
REAL CUSTOMER REVIEWS:
“Pete was so easy to work with right from the first email. Our first meeting was conveniently over facetime where we chatted and got to know each other, he even showed us his Gin distilling skills and very kindly gifted us a bottle of his home brew on our wedding day. Each meeting with thereafter was effortless.
Our ceremony was just perfect, he learnt our story so well that our guests assumed he was a close friend of ours. Everyone said it was the best ceremony they had been to and it’s definitely all thanks to Pete. it was completely us – funny, relaxed and full of love! He also MC’d our reception which made the whole day flow brilliantly. We highly recommend him if you’re after working with someone who feels like a friend right from the get-go! Cheers to Pete The Celebrant an absolute legend!” – Ross & Katrina.
3. MARRIAGE CELEBRANT MELBOURNE
A Melbourne Celebrant
Marriage Celebrant and Event MC
If you’re looking for a ceremony that will represent you and your partner as a couple, while engaging your audience and making the experience magical for everyone involved, you can’t go past A Melbourne Celebrant.
What makes A Melbourne Celebrant different?
A Marriage Celebrant since 2014, Alan is a sensitive and thoughtful celebrant, tailoring your ceremony to match your vision. He strives to create a sense of connection among everyone involved in your special day. He promises to put you both at ease on the day, and to have your loved ones and guests overcome with laughter and joy.
Delivering your wedding ceremony with a spirit of warmth and sincerity, Alan will ensure it genuinely reflects the love you share with family, friends and each other, making it a truly unforgettable day.
Why choose A Melbourne Celebrant?
If you’re looking for a memorable and unforgettable ceremony for your wedding day, you can’t go past A Melbourne Celebrant. Aside from a warm and personalised service, you can also expect the following:
– A celebration to remember
– Authentic, engaging and down to earth
– LGBTQI + friendly
– Ceremonies, elopements, vow renewals
– Event planning services available in house
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT A MELBOURNE CELEBRANT
Real client reviews:
“I never thought I wanted to be married or that a wedding ceremony mattered to me. When my husband proposed, and we started planning a wedding Alan helped us organise vows and a complete rundown of how the day would unfold including all the intimate details toe ensure connection with our friends and family near and far.
We are a Canadian and Irish couple who live in Australia and our wedding day included so much love and laughter. We were so blessed to have such an incredible celebrant. Our guests were blown away by how beautiful the ceremony was and how smoothly the day ran; it was all thanks to Alan. It flowed seamlessly and he had our guests laughing and crying with funny stories and such beautiful words and sentiments.
Alan made it a day to remember, and we cannot wait to renew our vows and do it all again!” – Natalie Ward
4. MARRIAGE CELEBRANT MELBOURNE
Hitched by Heidi
Experienced marriage celebrant, Heidi, likes to work with the shunners of tradition, the couples who are unapologetically intentional with every aspect of their day.
Full of heart and humour, she believes the ceremony should be a hero moment instead of a boring formality that has to be endured, and her relaxed vibes will guarantee both giggles and heartfelt tears from you and your guests.
If you want to kick-off your wedding celebrations with a bang and ensure your ceremony will stand out from the rest, Heidi is your go-to girl.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT HITCHED BY HEIDI
REAL CUSTOMER REVIEWS:
“It was amazing to work with Heidi, her positive and energetic vibe instantly drew me to her. The whole process was super easy and fun!! We both felt extremely supported and excited to get married. On the day, our ceremony was amazing and so much fun!! Heidi included the guests which made them feel so special, and I have been told by many of them that it was one of the best ceremonies they have been to. Heidi did an amazing job and we couldn’t be more grateful!” – Kirstie & Jarred.
5. MARRIAGE CELEBRANT MELBOURNE
Weddings By Yazmin
With a whopping 13 years of experience under her belt, Yazmin knows exactly what it takes to create a ceremony that will be uniquely you. It’s no wonder she’s one of the best-rated marriage celebrants in Melbourne. Not one for cheesy one-liners, her friendly, light-hearted style has just the right amount of joy, laughter, tears and warmth.
Her aim is to make the ceremony the most stress-free part of planning your wedding, and the most talked-about part from all your guests. She’s an absolute wedding all-rounder, offering MC’ing and on-the-day coordination packages too.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT WEDDINGS BY YAZMIN
REAL CUSTOMER REVIEWS:
“Our wedding day would not have been so perfect without the soul that is Yazmin. Meeting Yazmin she took time to get to know us, listened to what we wanted and made us feel calm and relaxed. Her professionalism and wit made communication a breeze, even making us laugh to lift the stress, answering all questions and concerns with love and support.
Yazmin went above and beyond, supported us with our vows to deliver the most special 20 minutes of our lives! The part we are most thankful for is her ability to make our ceremony exactly what we wanted – simple, to the point, not too long (hubby’s request), very personal and helped our love for each other shine through. We received beautiful praise and feedback on our ceremony about how ‘full of love’ and ‘unique’ it was. It was perfect.” – Janka M.
6. MARRIAGE CELEBRANT MELBOURNE
Mike Larkan
One of Melbourne’s favourite event hosts and, Mike Larkan is an award-winning celebrant who delivers a personalised and unique wedding ceremony. His style is fun, laid-back, romantic and up-lifting – and never boring! He wants your guests to feel like they’re part of the wedding, not just watching it.
As a trained journalist, Mike takes pride in writing individual scripts for his couples to reflect their personalities and love story. Mike is also a loveable TV weather presenter, so he may even give you a heads up in predicting the weather for your big day!
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT MIKE LARKAN
REAL CUSTOMER REVIEWS:
“Mike, you were truly the greatest addition to our wedding ceremony. The amount of love and laughter in that room was amazing. Our guests absolutely loved you and said you are definitely one of the best in the business. Thank you so much for joining our day and make it awesome.” – Sherridan Jimenez.
7. MARRIAGE CELEBRANT MELBOURNE
Charis White Celebrant
Passionate, attentive, organised, friendly, modern, outgoing and professional are just a handful of words to describe marriage celebrant Charis White. With a background in Opera, Charis is a confident public speaker who absolutely loves love and cannot wait to tell your love story.
Their services include a personally written, tailored wedding ceremony, legal application and registration of your marriage, and liaising with your vendors such as photographers and stylists.
Whether you choose to have a traditional, non-traditional, large or small wedding, a civil service allows you to construct your own wedding ceremony to suit, and Charis will be there to guide you through every step of the way.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT CHARIS WHITE
REAL CUSTOMER REVIEWS:
“Charis is such a beautiful person and we were so lucky to have her as part of our special day. She is a true professional with a heart of gold. From our very initial meeting, to rehearsal, all communication in between and the wedding she was the best celebrant we could have asked for.
Not only did she connect with us on a level of professionalism but a personal level. She made us feel comfortable and put our nerves at ease for our big day, especially my husbands who had to wait for me under the arbour. We consider ourselves lucky that we found Charis and it was the best choice we made. Thank you for being wonderful, Charis!” – Brett & Louise.
8. MARRIAGE CELEBRANT MELBOURNE
Sally Hughes Marriage Celebrant
Four-time winner of ABIA Victorian Celebrant of the Year, Sally Hughes is known for presenting engaging, warm, and humorous wedding ceremonies with confidence. Sally is friendly, organised, and attentive, and says she will never take for granted how fortunate she is to be invited into people’s lives.
Start with an obligation-free meeting to discuss your ideas, and then put your trust in Sally to create a bespoke ceremony that reflects your personalities, values and vision.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT SALLY HUGHES
REAL CUSTOMER REVIEWS:
“Sally, from the bottom of our hearts, thank you so much! Your beautiful, fun, loving and bubbly personality made our ceremony so touching. As well as a few really good laughs, you delivered our story so wonderfully that you made all 220 of our guests feel the intimacy from your gift of storytelling! Deserving of all your awards (Australian Celebrant of the Year), you are truly an amazing celebrant! Thank you so much for being a part of our day and making it so special for us.” – Fiona & Paul.
9. MARRIAGE CELEBRANT MELBOURNE
Sam Lavery The Celebrant
If fun, modern and authentic is your vibe, Sam Lavery is your man. Sam’s specialty is entertaining ceremonies that have the perfect balance of laughs and feel-good moments that will make your special day memorable for both you and your guests.
He prides himself on being a natural storyteller, and by getting to know you as a couple, he will tell your tale like you have been friends for years! With a background in stand-up comedy and podcasting, Sam also offers MC packages.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT SAM LAVERY
REAL CUSTOMER REVIEWS:
“If you have clicked on Sam’s profile, do yourself a favour and book him in for your wedding. As soon as we met Sam for coffee we knew he was the one! Sam was relaxed, easy going and informative, and just made us feel so at ease with such an unfamiliar process.
On the day of our wedding he blew us away. We were really hoping for a relaxed and fun vibe for our ceremony to set the tone for the rest of the day and Sam was incredible. He was hilarious and engaging and our guests loved him. We had so many guests asking us if he was a mate of ours because it seemed like he knew us so well and was so comfortable with our story. Sam, thank you so much for making our day incredible!” – Cass & Chris.
10. MARRIAGE CELEBRANT MELBOURNE
Emma Tomlinson Civil Celebrant
With over 10 years’ experience in the wedding business, this Mornington Peninsula-based celebrant is passionate about creating interesting, fun, natural, relaxed and memorable ceremonies.
Short and sweet or formal and traditional, Emma knows that the main focus of the ceremony is YOU. She loves taking the time to get to know “you” as a couple and to create and deliver a ceremony you’ll love! Couples say she “exudes joy” and that’s because she genuinely loves her job and considers it a privilege.
You can trust her to lodge all legal paperwork, assist in writing personal vows, and provide suggestions for readings, poems and quotes.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT EMMA TOMLINSON
REAL CUSTOMER REVIEWS:
“Emma is truly one of the best celebrants in Melbourne and it’s clear to see she loves what she does! I have known Emma since my days organising events at Port Phillip Estate and as soon as Luke and I were engaged, we contacted Emma and were lucky enough to book her for our wedding! From start to finish Emma was friendly, warm and highly professional. She has all the tools to get you ceremony ready and is there to support and help every step of the way.
Seeing Emma on our wedding day only brought a sense of calm to both Luke and I (which people definitely underestimate). Her delivery of our ceremony was bright, personal and fun – she truly makes you feel this ceremony is all yours! Thank you so much Emma – we could not have wished for a better person to share this incredibly important and special day with us.” – Georgie & Luke.
Check out the One Fine Day Directory for incredible vendors, suppliers and inspiration.
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Hero image via @alexmarksphotography and @claire.belford.celebrant
By Brooke Delfino
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ONE FINE DAY CONTRIBUTOR
