Wedding Celebrant Top 10 'Not to Forget' Things When Planning Your Wedding.

1.Your Wedding Date! Have you checked there are no sporting, music, culture events, markets or festivals in the area? School holidays on the Sunshine Coast are also busy times and best avoided if possible. Saturdays and Sundays are very busy and book well in advance; consider having your Sunshine Coast Wedding on a weekday which is generally quieter. Get an idea of a range of dates that may also suit friends and family guests. Have you allowed plenty of time with your work/commitment schedule to properly celebrate; there’s nothing worse then marrying on the weekend and going back to work at 8am on a Monday!?

2.Did you get your all-important Sunshine Coast Council or Noosa Council Permit and have you forwarded this to your Celebrant, photographer and stylist?

3.Guests - What will the guests do while you’re having couple photos taken? Give them clear instructions about what the plan for the ceremony/reception/transport/timings will be. The best way to phrase this for example is: ‘Please arrive at 3.45pm for a 4pm ceremony start time’ This allows time to find parking and walk to the location. What is accessibility and access like at the location for your guests. Will any of them require special assistance in getting down beach steps or climbing that mountain!? And please have available at the ceremony location for them: cool bottled water, shade and sunscreen.Have you sent them a list of nearby accommodation? You can ask your Wedding Celebrant to mention a few housekeeping points that cover the after-ceremony timings, facilities and transport etc.

4.Have you organised someone to assist the photographer with the list of who you want in family/guest photos? You will be in all the photos so this needs to be someone else who knows the names of most of the guests.
5.Are your pets taken care of either at home, or if they are at the ceremony as ring bearer, who will look after them into the evening? Are children catered for at the ceremony and reception, they will need things to amuse and occupy them.
6.Who will take the ceremony flowers for you to the reception venue? Who will hold your phone, keys, make-up touch-up kit, the marriage certificate that your Wedding Celebrant presents you with at the wedding?

7.Do you want a ‘Recessional’? (Walking back down the aisle while everyone stands to congratulate and cheer) usually to upbeat tunes with either sparklers, petals, leaf confetti or bubbles. Others prefer a quieter conclusion to their ceremony that comes to its natural end at the signing table where someone can bring you a glass of champagne! Ask your Marriage Celebrant all about this.

8.How are you getting from your getting ready accommodation to the ceremony venue and then on to the reception and back to your accommodation when the party ends!? Does the AirBnb you are booking allow weddings/reception/groups of people for a party, many do not, this may need a special call to the owner to approve?

Most Importantly:

9.Make time to greet/hug/chat with each older family relative, they will not be able to whizz up to you and say ‘Hi’ as easily and it will be important for them to have some one-on-one time with you.

10. Have you factored in time for yourselves on the day, each hour will go by in whirlwind of energy and emotion, make sure to take plenty of time together sessions to be in the moment together.