Glenda J Ashleigh

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Marriage Certificates in Australia

Marriage Certificates in Australia

Most people think of their ‘official’ Australian Marriage Certificate as the one they receive on their wedding day.  Actually, the number of Marriage Certificates signed at an Australian wedding varies depending on who officiates at the wedding ceremony.  For example, there are only two Marriage Certificates at a State Registry Office Wedding.

There are three Marriage Certificates at civil and religious weddings.  A Commonwealth-registered Marriage Celebrant (CMC), or a designated person of a religious organisation approved by the Australian government officiates at these wedding ceremonies.

  • The first Marriage Certificate is in the Marriage Register which I keep securely as the authorised Celebrant.  This certificate contains all the personal identity details of the Bride and Groom, including their birth dates.
  • The second Marriage Certificate is the Presentation or Ceremonial Marriage Certificate.  I present this certificate to the Bride and Groom on their wedding day at the end of the ceremony.  Although this certificate is a legal document, however it does not prove identity as it does not show birth dates.  This certificate proves that the persons named were married at a given place on a given date.  Keep this document safe!
  • The third Marriage Certificate is the Official Marriage Certificate.  This certificate contains all the personal identity details of the Bride and Groom, including their birth dates.  The Commonwealth-registered Marriage Celebrant (CMC), or a designated person of an Australian government approved religious organisation, submits this third certificate to the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages in the State/Territory where you marry.

How many Marriage Certificates do you need or want?

So, how many certificates do you need or want?  That is up to you!  If you want a certificate that you can use to change your name for example, then  you need to purchase a copy of your Official Marriage Certificate.  This is available from the Registry of the State/Territory where the marriage takes place.  This certificate is the ‘legal document’ that not only establishes your identity but also shows the details of your marriage.

Finally, State Registries offer a decorative, Commemorative Certificate for a fee.  This certificate is for display purposes only and is neither a legal document nor a proof of identity document.

How do you know the right questions to ask?

Do you want clear and correct information about getting married?  Do you want to know more about marriage documents?  Ask the right questions and get the correct information!

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Wedding Tips

Wedding Planning Tips that Make a Difference

Use great wedding planning tips to make a difference!  As a professional Registered Marriage Celebrant, I am often asked about wedding hints and tips for ceremonies.  Every ceremony is different, however the following tips apply to all wedding ceremonies.

Goodluck Horsehoe

Goodluck Horseshoe

We often overlook the really important areas of planning a wedding.  Some areas are so commonplace that we take them for granted and we hope that they will ‘look after themselves’.  We hope that we will have ‘good luck’ and that everything will go smoothly.  Brides often carry wedding charms or keepsakes such as a horseshoe to assure good luck on the day.  These are fun, however they do not guarantee that good luck will follow.

Of course you want your wedding ceremony to be breathtaking!  After all it is your special day and you expect that your ceremony will flow smoothly and be absolutely delightful.

Important Wedding Areas

Wedding ceremonies must contain the legal requirements, however just meeting the legal requirements for a marriage ceremony does not meet the requirements for an enjoyable ceremony.  Here are a few helpful wedding planning tips that I hope will help you to make your ceremony, simply the best!

  • Choose the people and services for your wedding ceremony very carefully. The success of the occasion depends on the choices you make.  How well do people understand each other?  How respectful they are of each other’s wishes?
  • Communicate at all stages of the process – planning, arriving at the venue, entrances, where people are required to stand, what they do during the ceremony and what happens at the close of the ceremony.  Don’t fall into the trap of “Oh I though you knew that…” or “Why wasn’t I told…” or “I didn’t know you wanted me to do that…”.  Keep everyone in the communication loop, including your guests.
  • Inform your celebrant of the arrangements. A really good marriage celebrant works with other service providers, eg photographers, event planners, directors and venue staff.  They encourage your guests to feel comfortable.  Everyone is there to help make this very special occasion a memorable one for all the right reasons.  Your celebrant has a big responsibility.  They are in charge of the ceremony!

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Episode 7: Peg & Pog’s Rose Garden Wedding

Peg & Pog’s Rose Garden Wedding

Peg & Pog’s Rose Garden Wedding is Episode 7 of the micro-series, Dolls are Different…or are they? a pegdoll production.

Rose Garden Wedding

wedding rose bell

Wedding Rose Bell

The Rose Garden is the special place where Peg & Pog’s love first bloomed.

Doll family members and friends have their own ideas however, and are determined to ‘help’ in making the wedding plans.  They swamp Peg & Pog with ideas and suggestions for wedding planning.

Before Peg & Pog know it, the Doll family members and friends take over the wedding planning (or so it seems)!  Peg & Pog need their own wedding helper!

Peg & Pog’s Wedding Helper

At last, Peg & Pog find their ‘ray of sunshine’ in Glenda the Best Brisbane Celebrant.  Peg & Pog do not want to hurt the feelings of Doll family members and friends by refusing their offers of ‘help’.  Glenda, being the Best Brisbane Celebrant, listens patiently to their concerns.

Glenda helps Peg & Pog to find ways to resolve this troublesome situation.  She asks what Peg & Pog really want for their wedding ceremony, and guides Peg & Pog through ideas, options and practical strategies. Peg & Pog are happy that the wedding planning is at last on track!

The Rose Garden is abuzz with excitement!  It is Peg & Pog’s Wedding Day

Peg & Pog’s wedding day arrives!  All dolls (and bees) gather in the Rose Garden for a very special wedding ceremony.  Doll fashionistas strut their stuff, showing off their latest creations.  Doll kids run and play and chase bees, and Doll parents and family members and Doll friends chat and admire the roses.  Glenda, the Best Brisbane Celebrant, arrives and everything is ready!

New, fascinating Doll family members join the cast members of episodes 1-6 in episode 7.

All dolls and the creator/director/producer etc etc, the Very Good Brisbane Celebrant, Glenda J Ashleigh, hope that you enjoy Episode 7: Peg & Pog’s Wedding

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Bridal Party Attendants the Best Man

Bridal Party Attendants

The Doll families are eager to help Peg and Pog in planning for the wedding in the Rose Garden.  Apparently, it is ‘traditional’ to have attendants in the bridal party!  Peg and Pog don’t even know if they want any bridal party attendants at their wedding.

Glenda, Brisbane’s Very Good Celebrant, asks Peg and Pog why they want to have bridal party attendants.  Peg and Pog haven’t actually thought about the why, or if they want any, they just think they should!

Checkout the various roles that traditionally, are included in the bridal party.

Peg and Pog learn that the bridal party can consist of  just the Bride and Groom!  The two witnesses can be guests, and do not need to be in the Bridal Party.  Peg and Pog can choose whether or not to have bridal party attendants.  Bridal party attendants are optional!

Peg states that she definitely wants flower girls as her bridal party attendants on her wedding day.  Pog suggests that his nieces, Pip and Pepper are just right as flower girls.

The Role of the Best Man in the Bridal Party

bridal party attendants best man

Best Man

Pog chooses his brother, Milo, to be his ‘Best Man’ at the wedding of Peg and Pog.  Milo feels very honoured to be Pog’s ‘Best Man,’ and wants to be the best, ‘Best Man’ he can be!

However, Pog is not too sure about the responsibilities of a ‘Best Man’, so he asks Peg, the blushing bride-to-be, if she knows.  Peg says that Milo’s role, as ‘Best Man,’ is to assist Pog, the Groom, get ready for the wedding.

Although Pog thinks this is a great idea, he is still unclear about what exactly the ‘Best Man’ does.  Pog asks Glenda, Best Brisbane Celebrant, for help.

Responsibilities of the Role of Best Man

The responsibilities of the role of  ‘Best Man’ vary, and depend on what the rest of the bridal party expect.  Glenda, Best Brisbane Celebrant, answers the many questions that Peg & Pog ask.

Pog learns that the wedding party is really a team and that he is not on his own on his wedding day!  Peg is happy that Pog’s confidence is lifting, and Milo is happy that his role as ‘Best Man’ really means a lot to Pog.   Milo tells Pog that he is thrilled about his ‘active’ role in the wedding.

Milo aims to be the best, ‘Best Man’ for Pog.  Being ‘Best Man’ comes with very important responsibilities, and Milo wants to do a great job!   Pog needs all the help he can get on his wedding day, and he knows that Milo is just the best  ‘Best Man’ for a successful day.

 

 

 

 

 

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What if it rains on your Wedding Day?

What about Rain on a Wedding Day?

Rain on a wedding day can be tricky!   For outdoor wedding ceremonies, it can go either way.  Even if the weather does clear for the ceremony, the ground may be too soggy.  This situation will apply in many outdoor locations in Brisbane and the Bayside areas (at least!) in these days of unpredictable weather.

Do you have a Wet Weather Plan?

Do you have a wet weather backup plan for your outdoor wedding ceremony?  This is essential for your wedding ceremony to go ahead, rain or shine!  If the rain decides not to fall, and the ground is not too soggy, then the outdoors it is!

If it does rain, then the backup, wet weather plan swings into action.

garden wedding setting

Is the reception close by?  Are arrangements in place for the wedding ceremony?  With some adjustments, the ceremony will proceed as planned.

Of course, decisions need to be made no later than 6 hours before the ceremony.  This allows  family and friends to help in the setting up (either outdoors or indoors) for the start of the ceremony.

Where the wedding ceremony is conducted at a different venue and there is no time to change the information on the Presentation Marriage Certificate,  I complete a spare form 15 and fill in all information by hand.

Rainy Wedding Da

Of course, if it does rain on your wedding day then according to myth, “happy is the bride who has a rainy wedding day!”  So rainy day weddings are good luck!  Are you planning a wedding in a park?  Check out the Garden and outdoor wedding post .

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Wedding Ceremony Venue & Amenities

Does your Wedding Ceremony Venue have Amenities?

Does a wedding ceremony venue need to have amenities?  Picture this – You dream of having your romantic wedding ceremony on a cliff high above your favourite bit of ocean or landscape.  The wedding party is OK; you are arriving in a helicopter.  Your Guests (and your Celebrant, Photographer, etc are not so lucky.  They have to drive, or walk up a road that leads off another road that is quite a way from anywhere!

Look After Your Guests

Recall, you invited your guests!  They expect that you will at least consider their basic needs.  Basic needs can only be met by having amenities available.  Amenities include services such as toilets, showers, electricity, shelter, drinking water.

wedding ceremony venue wynnum north

Seaside Wedding Ceremony Venue

Your chosen wedding ceremony venue may not have amenities on site.  This does not mean that the venue is unsuitable for your wedding ceremony.  However, you do have to think about your guests and service providers.

Where are the closest public amenities located?  How do you tell people about what is, and what is not available on site?  This map of national public amenities is a good start.  You can check the availability of amenities in public parks and areas.  Even if your wedding ceremony venue is in a private venue, this information can be helpful.

As  Brisbane’s Best Marriage Celebrant, it is my responsibility to  look after the welfare of everyone at your wedding ceremony.  One of the key questions I ask is about the availability of wedding ceremony venue amenities.  I also ask you how you will be informing your guests about your wedding ceremony venue.  Here are some other questions for you to think about.

  • How easy is it to get there?
  • Do we need to bring umbrellas?
  • Do we need to bring drinking water?
  • Where are the nearest toilets?

Your Guests are VIPs (Very Important Persons).  Look after your guests’ needs and everyone will be happy!  Happy guests make for a happy celebration.  Your highly recommended Celebrant will also be happy!

Contact Glenda for help with your wedding planning.

You will find other helpful links and resources for choosing a venue for your wedding ceremony on the  Links & Resources page of this website.

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Flower Girl Attendants in Bridal Party

Flower Girl Attendants in the Bridal Party

Bridal Party Attendants the Flower Girl

Bridal Party Attendants the Flower Girl

Flower Girls are delightful!  What is the role of a Flower Girl?  Flower Girl attendants in the Bridal Party assist the entrance of the Bride.   A Flower Girl  is a great addition to the Bridal Party, and the delight is doubled when there are two of them!

Here are Pip and Pepper, those two-and-a-half-year-old twin nieces of the Bridegroom, Pog at Peg & Pog’s wedding.

Peg and Pog hope that Pip and Pepper will skip along happily in front of them as they enter the Rose Garden for their wedding ceremony.  However, Pip and Pepper have other ideas!!

The little Flower Girls take a shortcut to the Rose Garden.  After all, weddings are exciting and little girls like excitement!  Pip and Pepper race ahead and alert everyone that Peg and Pog are on the path!  Pip and Pepper stand in front of the wedding arch, clapping and squealing with delight as Peg and Pog enter the Rose Garden.  Family and friends join in the clapping, and there are smiles all round.  This lovely touch sets the warm and happy tone for the wedding, and everyone feels the love.

Flower Girls as Bridal Attendants

Are Flower Girls in the Bridal Party a good idea?  What do you really expect of Flower Girls?  Choosing Flower Girls can be a way to include young girl relatives and friends in the wedding.  The big questions are, “Do they want to be a Flower Girl?” “Are they old enough to understand what is expected?” and “Are they reliable?”

Pip and Pepper are two-and-a-half-year-old girls who do exactly what they want to do!

As long as the Bride and Groom and all other Bridal Party attendants prepare for anything, then it is a good idea.  Children are unpredictable however, and the chance of different behaviour is very high.

Girls who consider themselves to be too old to be a Flower Girl have the role of Junior Bridesmaid.  The Junior Bridesmaid’s role is actually less complicated that that of a Flower Girl.  Junior Bridesmaids have a more relaxed time and do not have any specific tasks on the wedding day.

Will you include Flower Girls or Junior Bridesmaids in your Bridal Party?  How will you prepare for different behaviour on the day?  How will you cope with unplanned events on the day?  What will you say or do when such unplanned events occur?  Of course there is only one thing to do!  Keep smiling, treasure the precious moments on your big day, and spread the love.  Contact Glenda, Brisbane’s Best Celebrant for  your wedding.