Rebels' Guide

On a stunning Mount Tamborine winter day, Todd and Rebecca’s friends made their way to Cedar Creek Estate for a very special day. My first thought when I saw Cedar Creek Estate was that someone had invested more tender loving care into this wedding venue than I’d seen any any other. Kylie and her team work hard to create a memorable frame for your wedding day. The photographers, Brisbane’s Ketto and Semper , were not only some cool lads but also major professionals, check out their artwork below. And then there was me, their celebrant. I drove back down the mountain knowing that the day was going to always be in my mind as one of the most fun weddings I’ve overseen. Todd’s a real estate pro so a few well placed real estate gags, like “who puts this woman up for auction?”, and a generally amazing atmosphere, made for a memorable, fun, and special day. Rebecca and Todd wanted to share a few words about the wedding day as well: “We absolutel...

On a stunning Mount Tamborine winter day, Todd and Rebecca’s friends made their way to Cedar Creek Estate for a very special day. My first thought when I saw Cedar Creek Estate was that someone had invested more tender loving care into this wedding venue than I’d seen any any other. Kylie and her team work hard to create a memorable frame for your wedding day. The photographers, Brisbane’s Ketto and Semper , were not only some cool lads but also major professionals, check out their artwork below. And then there was me, their celebrant. I drove back down the mountain knowing that the day was going to always be in my mind as one of the most fun weddings I’ve overseen. Todd’s a real estate pro so a few well placed real estate gags, like “who puts this woman up for auction?”, and a generally amazing atmosphere, made for a memorable, fun, and special day. Rebecca and Todd wanted to share a few words about the wedding day as well: “We absolutel...

When Larissa met Ian at college in 2005, she never dreamed she’d one day be his wife … and his caretaker. After a tragic accident left Ian without the ability to speak, walk or care for himself, she did what any woman in love would do: she married him. And another video from their wedding

A bride emailed and asked me for some ceremony recessional song ideas, I don’t often share music recommendation on this blog because music choice is quite the personal thing and different people love different songs, and different people think that my different songs are different. Do you see where I’m going? Alas, here are some songs I’m loving in wedding ceremonies at the moment. Steal and ignore on a whim. Please note: This is just a brain dump of crazy and weird wedding songs, not a pretty and well-organised list! Please add your own suggestions in the comments 🙂 Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros – Home Angus & Julia Stone – The Wedding Song Ben Howard – Only Love Rudimental – Feel The Love Laura Jansen – Use Somebody Olly Murs – Heart Skips a Beat ft. Rizzle Kicks Avicii – Wake Me Up James Vincent Mc Morrow – Higher Love Or to go a little more upbeat, Steve Winwood’s version. Britt and I played this t...

In August I was lucky enough to be invited to a 30th birthday party that was also secretly a wedding! If you follow me on Facebook or Instagram, on the day you might have seen me post “I performed a surprise wedding today, and my favourite element of the ceremony is how guests had their senses awakened and expectations of a birthday party turned upside-down. Instead, they can wholly embrace the raw celebration and mystery of unconditional love and commitment.” It’s true, everyone was totally engaged in what was happening because they weren’t expecting it. That’s something I try to bring into a ceremony if possible, a little surprise, something the guests probably weren’t expecting. Lauren and I were laughing about the photos from the day, mainly because before the wedding we were scared that we’d forget how to tie their knot, not legally speaking, but in their rope-tying part of the wedding ceremony. I told the story of how sailors would send a ...

In August I was lucky enough to be invited to a 30th birthday party that was also secretly a wedding! If you follow me on Facebook or Instagram, on the day you might have seen me post “I performed a surprise wedding today, and my favourite element of the ceremony is how guests had their senses awakened and expectations of a birthday party turned upside-down. Instead, they can wholly embrace the raw celebration and mystery of unconditional love and commitment.” It’s true, everyone was totally engaged in what was happening because they weren’t expecting it. That’s something I try to bring into a ceremony if possible, a little surprise, something the guests probably weren’t expecting. Lauren and I were laughing about the photos from the day, mainly because before the wedding we were scared that we’d forget how to tie their knot, not legally speaking, but in their rope-tying part of the wedding ceremony. I told the story of how sailors would send a ...

This needs no explanation, if anything, a moment of silence for all of the wedding photographers that eyes were too focused on the bride and groom and not where their feet are.

The famous line from Henry Ford is “You can have any colour you want, as long, as it’s black”, and I feel like the wedding industry has been ran the same way, even though it doesn’t have to. Did you know that the only three things absolutely have to happen on your wedding day? That is the signing of your marriage certificate (plus one for the government and one for your celebrant) Your celebrant needs to say a few words about what marriage is in Australia, simply that marriage in Australia is the union of a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others entered into for life. Finally, the bride and groom must verbally confess their desire to marry one another; usually these are called the vows. You might have noticed a few things missing from that list: walking down the aisle, wearing a dress or a suit, time limitations, location specifications, number of guests, which side the bride and groom are on and which sides their friends and families sit on. Wedding tradition pretty mu...

It’s not the “done thing” to use your mobile phone during a ceremony, but no-one’s ever seen a bride do it. What do you suppose she is doing on her mobile phone? http://youtu.be/CDVQvme5tb0

Anthony Aurelius is a British videographer. Last year, he filmed the wedding of Stan Gocman and Claudia Ressler. When they finally got their wedding video, they heard something no one should ever be subjected to. Aurelius apparently didn’t realize that he had recorded his own disgusting, foul, Nazi sympathizing, anti-Semitic rant, and that it was sent to the couple.

Almost all of my blog posts are written for brides and grooms, on how to make their wedding day awesome. But here’s one for everyone else. Here’s my tips on how to be a good wedding guest. 1. Your smartphone I get it, your new phone does panoramic 3D HD fish-eye awesome-lens flare photos. But, the bride and groom have just paid a professional a large sum of money (which they’re worth, by the way) and they’ll be taking the photos today. After the ceremony you can get all the selfies, and at the reception there’ll be more. But for 20 minutes, try and resist your inner-demons and put the smartphone, and camera, away. 2. Your dumbphone Turn it off or put it on silent. There’s nothing more important right now. Take a few moments out if your busy life and embrace the mystery of love in front of you. 3. Your ears Listen to the celebrant and the couple. If you’re lucky the couple have chosen a celebrant who isn’t boring and monotone. They might ev...

You have known each other from the first glance of acquaintance to this point of commitment. At some point, you decided to marry. From that moment of yes, to this moment of yes, indeed, you have been making commitments in an informal way. All of those conversations that were held in a car, or over a meal, or during long walks – all those conversations that began with, “When we’re married”, and continued with “I will” and “you will” and “we will” – all those late night talks that included “someday” and “somehow” and “maybe” – and all those promises that are unspoken matters of the heart. All these common things, and more, are the real process of a wedding. The symbolic vows that you are about to make are a way of saying to one another, “You know all those things that we’ve promised, and hoped, and dreamed – well, I meant it all, every word.” Look at one another and remember this moment in time. Before this moment you have been many things to one another – acquaintance, friend, companion...

A good marriage must be created. In the art of marriage the little things are the big things. It is never being too old to hold hands. It is remembering to say “I love you” at least once each day. It is never going to sleep angry. It is having a mutual sense of values and common objectives. It is forming a circle of love that gathers in the whole family. It is speaking words of appreciation and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways. It is having the capacity to forgive and forget. It is giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow. It is finding room for the things of the spirit. It is a common search for the good and the beautiful. It is not only marrying the right partner, it is being the right partner. by Wilferd Arlan Peterson.

When you start searching for a “normal” wedding ceremony or a “traditional” ceremony most of it’s elements have their roots in Christianity and Catholicism.   The Gaelic traditions tend to lean to the civil and worldly side of the marriage ceremony spectrum. Here’s 10 you might like to practise at your wedding 1. Tie the knot. The handfasting ceremony, the origin of the saying ‘tie the knot’, has it’s roots in Gaelic and Celtic tradition where the couples hands would be bound with a ribbon, rope or other material in the place of a minister binding them together. Here’s more info on handfasting or hand-tying ceremonies , There is no right or wrong way to celebrate your nuptials with a handfasting. You can involve parents individually, or together, or your celebrant can perform the ceremony alone. 2. A ‘Penny Wedding’ A Scottish Penny Wedding is one where every guest would “bring a plate” or similar t...