Would you like to be the first to have your marriage in Victoria registered online?

I have been asked by the Registry Office to trial a new system for registering marriages online. This trial begins on Monday 7 December, 2009.
From that point on, I shall have direct access to the website of the Registry Office and I will be forwarding all information electronically to that Office after the marriage is complete.

It is exciting to be a part of this initiative which will bring the registration of marriages into the 21st century. Watch this space for further details about this important innovation.

Standard Celebrant's Fee

What should I expect to pay a celebrant for the services provided?

This depends very much on many things such as the level of experience and reputation of the celebrant. You would not want anything to go wrong on our special day so perhaps the first thing to ensure is that your celebrant has had many years of experience.

In Melbourne, the average fee for a celebrant would be in the region of $550. If you can secure the services of a good celebrant for this figure or less and have the confidence that the celebrant is a true professional, then you are doing very well.

More Wedding Readings

Often, couples find that the most difficult aspect of their wedding ceremony is their choice of suitable readings. Here is a site that you may like to visit to read a further variety of suitable readings:

http://weddings.about.com/od/yourweddingceremony/a/ReadingsLibrary.htm

Wedding Readings

Give some substance and depth to your wedding ceremony with the use of some inspirational and uplifting readings. There are many sites on the net where you can find inspiration. Try, for instance, the following:

http://www.jimnoonan.com.au/#SelectedReadings

Unique Wedding Ideas

If you are planning a wedding, you might find it stimulating to dip into some of the ideas shared on the following site:

http://www.ourmarriage.com/html/unique_wedding_ideas.html

Some of the ideas don't impress, but others might arouse your imagination.

To book Jim Noonan to conduct your wedding, visit the website: www.jimnoonan.com.au

Wedding Unity Candles

The unity candle symbolizes the very essence of the wedding ceremony. Two smaller candles, representing the couple as individuals or members of separate families, are used to light a single center candle as a visible symbol of their commitment to each other. There are many variations on the ceremony and the individual details are completely up to you. Here are some ideas to help you as you plan your ceremony:

Before the ceremony begins, place the unity candle on a small table near the place for the ceremony. It can be useful to have a small tealight already burning before the ceremony commences so that there would be no need to be lighting matches when the time for lighting comes.

There are several popular options for lighting your smaller candles. You can have your parents come forward to light the them as a symbol of your two families coming together as one. At this point, some couples choose to present their mothers with a rose. Or, you may light the small candles yourselves from a tealight.

Subsequently, the bride and groom come forward and light the unity candle from the two smaller candles.

Often the celebrant will announce what is about to happen, and then the lighting takes place as gentle music plays.

To book Jim Noonan to conduct your wedding, ring him now on (03) 9379 3824

Legal Questions When Marrying

As with other important things in life, deciding to marry has legal consequences.

Normally you need to be 18 years of age or older. There are exceptions to this rule and your celebrant can guide you through what needs to be done if either of the parties is under the age of 18 years.

You must lodge with your celebrant a Notice of Intended Marriage at least one full month and not earlier than 18 months prior to the wedding.

When you lodge the Notice, you need to supply the following:
- Birth Certificates (or extracts) as proof of age and identity.
- A decree absolute or death certificate as proof that any previous marriage has been terminated.