News blog Brisbane Celebrant Glenda J Ashleigh

May 16, 2022 by Glenda Ashleigh

Wedding Bells Keepsake – Celebrant Glenda J Ashleigh

Keepsake Bells for Romantic Weddings

These keepsake wedding bells add a unique touch to weddings for all those romantic weddings.

No two weddings are the same and no two keepsakes are the same. I hand-make each tiny bell with love. These tiny bells come in a variety of colours. I try to match the bells to the colour range chosen for the bridal party.

These delightful keepsakes are exclusive to couples who book me as their Celebrant. It is my gift to them.

Contact Glenda, the Really Good Brisbane Celebrant and let these little bells ring out the joy on your wedding day!

May 3, 2022 by Glenda Ashleigh

Bush Wedding Gumdale Brisbane

Bush Wedding in Gumdale

Celebrate your bush wedding in Gumdale, a delightful Brisbane suburb in Queensland. The Gumdale Historic Museum is an authentic pioneer’s house right in the heart of Gumdale.

So near to Brisbane and the southern Bayside areas, this charming venue is just perfect for an Australian bush wedding.

House in the Bush

Experience the feeling of the Australian bush in the early 1900s. The house is constructed of depression-era, 1920s-1930s, tin shingle and weatherboard. It has furniture, clothes, books and tools that are authentic depression-era, and these are just delightful.

The house sits in an Australian bush setting with grassed level ground and is next to a sealed car park. This makes for easy access, especially for the Bridal Party and guests.

There are lots of fantastic natural bush photo opportunities too! Create your own Australian bush experience with some props from the museum’s collection. This truly is the authentic bush adventure!

The adjacent Gumdale Progress Association Hall is also available for hire, either as a ceremony venue, or reception venue.

Please contact Robyn Nalder: International – 61+732455009 Australia – 07 3245 5009 for hiring details.

I Love Bush Weddings

I love bush weddings! Not only are they relaxed and fun, but everyone feels welcome at a bush wedding. I create unique wedding ceremonies that capture the true essence of an Australian bush setting. Contact Glenda to book for your Australian bush wedding.

Bush Bride

Meanwhile, please enjoy the following tale of a ‘Bush Bride’ as she settles into domestic life in the Australian bush. She may be new to the bush, however this Bride is no shrinking violet! She is always cheerful as she comes to grips with the various challenges of life in the bush.

7 New Cleveland road

December 1, 2017 by Glenda Ashleigh

Wedding Ceremony Happiness

Wedding Ceremony Happiness is Catching

Wedding ceremony happiness shows in the faces of this delightful couple. Glenda, Andor and Terez’s first-choice wedding celebrant took the snap! Happiness is catching, and there were smiles all round as these long-term friends tied the knot at their wedding ceremony.

Andor and Terez are lovely people who are very welcoming and quickly make people feel at ease. This couple enjoy a relaxing atmosphere among friends and family, including their beloved pets. There are smiles on faces all round, and happy wagging of tails of the four-footed guests!

Memories of a thoroughly enjoyable day

Andor and Terez’s home provides a lovely setting for their wedding. I chat with family and friends as they arrive. Everyone is excited and thrilled for Andor and Terez. Love is in the air as we gather for a relaxed and romantic wedding ceremony.

Wedding ceremony happiness moment

The natural and very personal touches make this special day. These charming details are just perfect for an intimate and personal wedding ceremony. Delightful wedding decorations set the scene for this indoor wedding. Andor and Terez are thrilled with the family’s creative efforts.

Simple, and heart-felt words express the love and joy that Andor and Terez share with family and friends. Eyes are misty as Andor and Terez make their tender marriage vows to each other.

Family members get the ‘technology’ going and the couple’s favourite music fills the air. And even some singing! A delightful and happy wedding ceremony for a charming couple. Everyone loves the looks of delight as I present my special wedding keepsakes to the happy couple!

Wedding Ceremony Reviews

Client Reviews are extremely important as they give the vital information for continuous development. I ask all clients to give their honest review of my services. Andor and Terez are happy to share their comments about their wedding ceremony with Brisbane’s Really Good Celebrant, Glenda J Ashleigh:

What did you and your guests particularly enjoy about the ceremony? The ceremony was very familiar with a nice atmosphere.

What will you always remember about the ceremony? The Celebrant. #glendajashleighcelebrant

Overall, how would you rate your experience with Glenda as your Celebrant? Excellent.

What would you tell other people about Glenda? Just, call #glendajashleighcelebrant she’s very friendly.

Thank you, Andor and Terez for your sincere comments. This feedback is heart-warming and valued, and makes it a privilege and a joy to be a Marriage Celebrant. Read other people’s comments and recommendations about Glenda. These comments come directly from couples and clients in their own words.

Contact Glenda Ashleigh for your delightful wedding ceremony.

February 2, 2017 by Glenda Ashleigh

Valentine Wish

PEG AND POG SEND A VALENTINE WISH

Peg and Pog send a very special Valentine wish to all lovers. Each year, on February 14 is the day to celebrate romance!

Romance is in the Air

Romance! What exactly does it mean? According to the dictionary, the countable noun, ‘romance’ is “a feeling of excitement that you get from new and slightly dangerous experiences.” Wow! This is explosive stuff!

How Peg and Pog Found Romance

Until Pog met Peg, he had not done anything particularly exciting or dangerous. Pog was into break dancing. Of course, break dancing alone at home, did not set Pog up for any likely romantic experiences either.

Peg and Pog stars of Dolls are Different, or are they?

Peg and Pog know a thing or two about Romance

Pog’s unique execution of the ‘orbital rotation’ break dance move, is the catapult (literally) that lands him among the roses and at last he finds romance.

Peg captures the very essence of romance in the language of love as only she knows how. Can Pog say ‘no’ to the angelic vision of Peg as he regains consciousness (among the roses)?

Of course not! The only response he can offer is that of a gentleman, “Yes, thank you very much.” Pog feels an overwhelming love for the angel who appears before him.

Such sensitivity! Such insight! The wonder and mystery that overtakes Peg and Pog must be romance. Feelings of ecstasy, unconditional love and joy as two souls reach out to each other and meld together in harmony!

What Peg actually says to Pog is not important. For Pog, the message is clear and he is excited. That is all that matters. The language of love is indeed powerful and potent. It sweeps all concerns away and, as Pog discovers, it can snap a bloke from a dazed state to full alertness in a moment!

Find your romance in a Valentine Day wedding with Glenda Ashleigh, Professional Brisbane Marriage Celebrant

April 15, 2016 by Glenda Ashleigh

Wedding Keepsakes

Wedding Keepsakes for Very Important Brides

I wonder if many people know about the tradition of giving wedding keepsakes or charms to the Bride for good luck? Different cultures use different charm shapes as symbols of good luck.

A horseshoe shape is a traditional keepsake. Carry the horseshoe with the ‘arms’ turned upwards. This prevents the ‘good luck’ from spilling out! Carry the horseshoe with the ‘arms’ turned downwards, the good luck is said to spread everywhere the Bride walks.
A miniature shoe or slipper shape is also a popular wedding favour. Also, place a coin in the shoe or slipper for extra good luck!
Tiny locks and keys are attached to the bridal bouquet. These little ‘love locks’ make delightful decorations. Furthermore, they are also safer than attaching a padlock to a bridge or other public structure!
Another kind of attachment to the bridal bouquet is that of miniature portrait charms of family members who are not present at the ceremony. These may include loved ones, who although having passed away, are present, honoured and loved.

Wedding Keepsakes Made with Love

I make special wedding keepsake favours or charms for very important Brides. Book Glenda, the Really Good Brisbane Celebrant, and you are a VIB, very important Bride!

All brides should have at least one good-luck wedding keepsake or charm, and so I make my signature satin hearts. No two hearts are the same! I decorate each heart to compliment the style and colours to appeal to the bride.

I give these unique bridal favours to Brides as good-luck keepsakes to take into their married life. These truly are unique wedding mementos for Brides that I make with love and care. These ‘love hearts’ are not for sale! Book Glenda J Ashleigh, Brisbane’s Very Good Celebrant for your special bridal keepsake!

April 3, 2016 by Glenda Ashleigh

Wedding Bomboniere

Creative Wedding Bomboniere to Delight

Wedding bomboniere are favours or gifts that wedding guests receive on the wedding day. Weddings as happy events that people like to celebrate. Weddings also attract ‘good luck’ and everyone likes good luck! Wedding bomboniere is as different as you want it to be, so create your bomboniere and delight your wedding guests!

Wedding Bomboniere Through History

Traditionally, everyone in the community shares in the good luck associated with weddings and in spreading the love.

In 16th century France, only the wealthy classes gave wedding bomboniere to wedding guests. Small boxes to hold bonbons or other confectionery were popular bomboniere. These boxes were often decorated with gold and precious stones. Not only was this bomboniere valuable keepsakes, they were also handed down from one generation to another in families as heirlooms.

Families of modest means however, were more creative with their bomboniere. For example, In Italy, sugar-coated or Jordan almonds are popular as wedding bomboniere. Five sugar-coated almonds are presented in a dainty organza bag or wrapped in fine tule, and tied with a ribbon. These almonds represent the five wedding wishes: health, wealth, happiness, fertility and longevity.

Although the form of wedding bomboniere differs across cultures, the thoughts and sentiments are the same. It is all about how you spread and share the happiness of your wedding day. Cut the wedding cake and put small pieces in boxes or paper bags for guests to take home with them. This is and old and delightful bomboniere tradition that is easy. Wedding guests place the boxed cake under their pillows on the wedding night for ‘good luck’. Hopefully, wedding guests experience good luck!

In the 21st century, people are more creative with wedding bomboniere. Some gifts are practical while others are more sentimental. Wine bottle stoppers, personalised pens, and even music boxes that play the wedding waltz are popular. These bomboniere are available commercially, however they do come at a cost.

Personalised Wedding Bomboniere

Wedding Bomboniere Crochet Bells

Why not personalise your wedding bomboniere in unique ways? Express your personality, hopes and dreams in personalised bomboniere. These gifts are heartfelt and add that special touch to your day. The hand-made crochet Wedding Bells in this photo are delightful examples of unique bomboniere. These little bells add a lovely touch to place cards or as decorations on champagne flutes.

Other popular personalised wedding bomboniere include plant seeds, small plants in pots, and home-baked confectionery, jams and biscuits. Print or hand-write thank you notes and attach to these items. Invite family and friends to gather, make or present these personalised items. Not only is this is a great way to get everyone involved in the wedding preparations, it also saves time, effort, and of course, expense!

Why not share the love, good wishes and ‘good luck’ with wedding guests? Make a donation to a charity on behalf of your wedding guests who then receive tokens such as pins or thank-you cards from the charity. Alternatively, write thank-you messages to guests on place cards at the reception, or attach them to bomboniere.

Get creative and delight your wedding guests!

Are you ready for some really creative ideas for bomboniere? As Brisbane’s Really Good Celebrant, I know a special couple whose families get into the really creative bomboniere in a big way! Check out the carrot carving bomboniere guests receive at the wedding of Peg & Pog.

February 27, 2016 by Glenda Ashleigh

Personal Wedding Vows

Words for Personal Wedding Vows

Would you like to make your personal wishes for your married life? Many couples make personal vows to each other in their wedding ceremony. Sometimes both parties write their ‘individual’ vows and sometimes they ‘share’ a common vow.

Personal Wedding Vows

By far the most popular personal vows are individual vows.

Quite often the words in the vows are kept ‘secret’ from the other party until the wedding day!

Don’t know where to start with your vows? Yes, I will help you to write them!

Presentation is important, especially on your wedding day! As Brisbane’s Really Good Celebrant, I attend to the details that make all the difference. I match the colours for your vow booklets to your chosen wedding colours.

Contact me for delightful personal wedding vows for your wedding ceremony!

Wishes and Words for Personal Wedding Vows

Wishes and words for personal wedding vows come from the heart. They express your personal hopes, dreams and values for your marriage. Choose the words that you and your partner understand and appreciate. After all, they are your words.

Have fun with your vows! Use words that you like and that you understand. The only rule to follow is: “Vows are respectful.” Apply this rule to everyone involved in your wedding ceremony and your guests. Think about the people who will hear you say your vows and ask yourself this question, “Do I want them to hear these words?” Keep the more intimate words and expressions for private conversations with your partner!

Writing Personal Vows

So you want to write your personal vows? Make a start! Write notes about all sorts of ideas, collect examples of vows and write something that you feel is ‘right for you’. Jot down a few points about what you bring to the marriage and what you wish for married life, then write your personal vow.

Need inspiration? Here are some suggested links to wedding vows sites to help you get started.

More modern vows. Quirky vows. How to write your personalised vow.

February 14, 2016 by Glenda Ashleigh

Brisbane Celebrant Weds Love Ducks

Brisbane Celebrant Weds Ducks in Love

Glenda J Ashleigh, Brisbane Celebrant weds the delightful love ducks in a ‘first’ for Brisbane. Brisbane ducks will never be the same! These ‘luvducks’ will say ‘I do’ in the beautiful Brisbane Bayside suburb of Manly.

Brisbane ducks will gather to witness the Bride & Groom being joined for evermore in duck love.

The wedding pond is a romantic wedding venue where the Bride & Groom first found love. The Bride & Groom will display their love with a large ‘Love’ sign.

Brisbane Celebrant, Glenda Ashleigh is very good at guiding nervous Brides & Grooms (including ducks) through their romantic wedding vows.

There will be much ‘happy flapping’ when the Groom gives the Bride an affectionate peck at the end of the ceremony.

Brisbane’s Beautiful Bayside

Duck family and friends are delighted that the two ‘luvducks’ will be wed in Brisbane’s Beautiful Bayside.

The Wynnum-Manly-Lota area on Moreton Bay has many great venues for wedding ceremonies all year round. This suits ducks just fine as the water is never far away. Lovely sea breezes during summer days allow ducks to relax and enjoy themselves. Winter days by the bay are a duck’s delight with sunshine glinting on the water.

Brisbane Celebrant Glenda Ashleigh

Brisbane Celebrant Glenda Ashleigh is Brisbane’s Really Good Celebrant. People (and ducks) find Glenda friendly and approachable. Glenda is a true professional, reliable and trustworthy. Your ceremony is Glenda’s business and she takes very good care of it.

What does Glenda do very well? She really listens to Brides & Grooms. Your wishes come first! You can be confident that Glenda will help you plan the ceremony that best suits you.

The Wynnum-Manly-Lota area is easy to get to from the Brisbane CBD. It is close to the Gateway Motorway, linking the northern and southern areas of Brisbane.

Contact Glenda

Contact Glenda by mobile, or if you prefer, text for a callback to chat about your ceremony wishes, needs and wants. Glenda will answer your questions clearly and honestly.

You are welcome to arrange a meeting with Glenda, obligation-free to discuss your ceremony.

February 6, 2016 by Glenda Ashleigh

Brisbane Autumn Brides & Weddings

Brisbane Autumn Brides & Weddings…beautiful

Brisbane Autumn Brides really do have the best of everything! Autumn is a delightful time of year in beautiful Brisbane, the capital of Queensland. Autumn is an ideal time for weddings. Not too hot and humid during the day, not too chilly in the evenings.

Brisbane outdoor home garden wedding setting

An Autumn wedding ceremony in the great outdoors is a popular choice for Brides & Grooms in Brisbane. Fresh air, natural surroundings and relaxed.

When is Autumn in Brisbane? The Australian Autumn is from 1 March to 31 May. However, as Brisbane enjoys a sub-tropical climate, the weather often feels more like summer. The Autumnal Equinox for 2022 is 21 March. This is the time when there is an equal number of daylight and night-time hours. It is said that this is when the world is ‘in balance.’

Brisbane Autumn & Easter Brides & Weddings

Brisbane Autumn also means Easter. This is a popular time for weddings. Easter holidays in 2022 are celebrated from Friday (Good Friday), 15 April to Monday (Easter Monday), 18April in Brisbane.

Planning a Brisbane Autumn Wedding

Planning for a Brisbane Autumn Wedding? Planning to invite guests from outside Brisbane, perhaps from overseas or interstate? Here are some important points to keep in mind:

The state of Queensland (as well as Western Australia and The Northern Territory) does not currently observe daylight saving time. The Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria, however, do observe daylight saving time for part of the year. In these states and territory, daylight saving time ends on the first Sunday in April.
The daylight hours get shorter during Autumn. The later in Autumn, the shorter the daylight hours. This is important when planning a daytime outdoor wedding ceremony. Knowing when it is daylight in Brisbane is very useful!
Your Notice of Intended Marriage must be in the hands of your Celebrant at least one month before the date of your wedding ceremony.

Book Brisbane’s Really Good Celebrant now!

Dates for some Saturday and Sunday Autumn wedding ceremonies are still available!

Don’t wait (or at worst forget about it). Uh, oh, you did forget, didn’t you? Don’t panic, contact me now! If you have already made your wedding arrangements, and the wedding is less than 1 month away, you may be able to apply for a shortening of time in certain specified circumstances.

January 31, 2016 by Glenda Ashleigh

Garden Wedding – Glenda J Ashleigh Celebrant

Garden Wedding with Brisbane’s Very Good Celebrant

A Garden wedding with Brisbane’s Very Good Celebrant, Glenda J Ashleigh, is just delightful! The sun is shining, the birds are singing and everything is as it should be – perfect! All is well in the garden.

Peg & Pog garden wedding

Parks and gardens in Brisbane, Queensland (fantastic one day, perfect the next!) make great venues for outdoor wedding ceremonies.

Brisbane’s Very Good Celebrant, Glenda J Ashleigh, conducts the wedding ceremony just the way that Peg and Pog want.

Everyone feels relaxed and happy. They really enjoy the charming ceremony and the garden setting. The roses are blooming, the grass feel like carpet, and there is plenty of space for all to see.

Garden Weddings & Weather

Providing the sun keeps shining, all will be well for the wedding party, service providers, and of course those very important people, the guests. Delightful! But then, who can control the weather?

A few clouds drift over, and then some more… Quick! Here comes the rain, run! Where do people run to? What do they do when they get there? What do you do with soggy people? A bedraggled bridal party does not look good, especially in photographs and videos.

If you consider holding your wedding ceremony in a garden or one of the many delightful parks in and around Brisbane, be prepared with a ‘rainy day’ option. Is there shelter close to the ceremony area? Is the shelter large enough to provide cover for everyone? You might want to tell guests to bring their ‘brollies or you can provide umbrellas for them.

Be prepared. Check out the shelter option in your chosen park. Avoid becoming a ‘soggie’ on your wedding day! Delight your guests, they will thank you for your good planning.