While for a wedding celebrant, it may be their hundredth ceremony, for most couples, it’s their first. Five celebrants share their best advice on making the most of them on your big day.
Siobháin Hooper
Siobháin Hooper became a celebrant after her own wedding. “At the time, we didn’t know much about celebrants or how it all should roll, but I thought to myself afterwards, I would love to do that and do a good job of it too!
“I’ve heard my style described by a wedding photographer as smart casual, and I like that. I want couples and guests to feel at ease on the day and know that they are in safe hands. I invite everyone in so that they feel part of the celebration.
“I never want it to feel that it’s just me standing up there preaching at them for 30 minutes. It’s a collective effort to create something really special.”
Siobháin says it’s a good idea to let your celebrant know about any family or guest dynamics that may be in play. This helps to avoid any awkward interactions during the rehearsal, on the day, and especially during pre-ceremony chats.
Another sometimes overlooked wedding element, Siobháin mentions, is the audio system. As there are many outdoor, wide-open ceremony sites, she says it really does pay to have a professional audio setup if possible.
“I’ve seen too many friends of the couple pale-faced with the stress of being in charge of music for the ceremony. Some celebrants have their own PA system, too, that couples can use. Make sure to add ‘audio’ to your list early on and discuss it with your celebrant or planner.”
What makes a great celebrant great?
A practical response to this question would be someone with good writing skills, confidence with a crowd, punctual, professional. The list goes on, but none of these attributes have any meaning to them. They should be a given. I think what makes a great celebrant great is someone who is passionate about what they do, and you can see it in them—a storyteller with heart who can make you feel something.
What should couples let their celebrant know early on?
Enquiry emails from couples who give me a bit of info about them and what style they’d like for their ceremony always give me a little dopamine hit. I will add here that sometimes it’s easier to outline what you don’t want for your ceremony. Include that too! Let your celebrant know a bit about you in that initial interaction, and you’ll have a much better experience overall.
What’s the best way for couples to get the most out of working with their celebrant?
Be really open about the process. Whether your celebrant prefers to sit for a chat to find out about you or if they send a questionnaire to help write your ceremony, the more background you can give them about you as a couple, the better your ceremony will be. You’ll feel comfortable, like you have a friend up there with you.
Nate Dunn
Nate Dunn enjoyed marrying his friends so much that he never stopped officiating. He says that great celebrants are truly passionate about the industry and care for their couple; at the core of a great celebrant-couple relationship is collaboration.
“Watch other ceremonies the celebrant has done, and make sure the style and tone are what you're after,” he advises. “Don't be afraid to change or improve bits of the ceremony that you think can be improved.”
Nate became a celebrant after his friends asked him to officiate their wedding. “I had such a good time that I stayed on.
“I’m different as I am also an emcee and on-the-day coordinator, so I sort of become the go-to person for my couple. I want them to just enjoy the day and be part of it. My job is not only to be their celebrant, but to think on my feet and put out any ‘fires’ on the day. I'm also a lot of fun to be around.”
What makes a great celebrant great?
Someone who is truly passionate about the industry and cares for their couple. While it's the couple's first wedding, the celebrant has probably done hundreds of them, which means treating that wedding you're doing with the same care and attention as the first one you've ever done.
Also being super organised. You can't move the couple's wedding date, you gotta be ready!
Is there something couples tend to overlook?
You can really not start planning too early. I think the best time to start planning your wedding is the day after you get engaged. If you leave booking your various vendors too late, you won't get any of the vendors you want. You can't be too organised or too early, I reckon.
Debbie Hawker
Debbie Hawker says a great celebrant is like a secret ingredient. She says the more quirky, tiny details are shared, the more personal the ceremony becomes. “Whether it’s the way your partner calms your nerves with a hug and a cup of tea, or the fact that they’re the only one who cleans the litter box without complaining - these unique, personal moments give a ceremony that magic touch.”
She advises couples to ask questions, collaborate, and be open to ideas. Her favourite is a romantic time capsule that involves a letter from each to the other, along with a delicious bottle of wine to be opened on their first anniversary. Including funny anecdotes from wedding guests can also create beautiful, light-hearted moments.
What makes a great celebrant great?
They bring genuine warmth, loads of empathy, and just the right touch of humour. It’s someone who listens, really hears your story, and then helps you tell it in a way that feels uniquely you.
A great celebrant is relaxed - but never casual - is supportive without being overbearing, and always tuned in to the moment. They’re serious when needed, but never forget that happiness and love are why we're there. Creativity, ease, presence, and the ability to make everyone feel heard and special are what make a great celebrant truly shine.
When I first meet with couples, there’s absolutely no pressure to book. I encourage a relaxed chat to answer any questions and give an overview of the process. Once we’re locked in, I ask each partner to complete a questionnaire about the other; these insights help me craft vows and a ceremony that are truly unique to them.
I’m also transparent with my writing, sending each couple a copy of the ceremony for feedback. After all, we only get one chance to get this right, and I want them 110% happy. It also helps ease nerves on the day, as couples know exactly what will be said and can focus on being fully present with each other.
Is there something couples tend to overlook?
Yes, but I always ask! Often, couples forget to mention why they’re doing this — not just because it’s tradition, but what it truly means to them. Whether it’s the dream of being each other’s safe place, building a life together, or simply cementing that forever commitment...those emotional whys can get lost if we don’t talk about them.
Also, odd little habits – like who always folds the laundry or deep-cleans the oven – might seem mundane, but those everyday acts are little love notes in their own right and deserve to be celebrated.
What’s the best way for couples to get the most out of working with their celebrant?
Bring it (warts and all) to the table! Be honest, share everything - even the funny, silly, little details. Let your celebrant be part storyteller, part therapist, and part crafts-woman of moments.
The best ceremonies come from couples who trust their celebrant enough to let them weave in those unexpected, beautiful threads that make the story uniquely theirs.
What drew you to becoming a celebrant?
I was inspired by my own wedding - I wanted something fun, totally personal, and I couldn’t find it. So, I thought, “I’d love to be the type of celebrant I wish I’d had,” and that’s how this all began over 13 years ago.
Now, over a thousand ceremonies later, I bring a modern, vibrant, and humorous approach, while staying deeply heartfelt and sincere. My style is flexible: I can be quirky, traditional, deeply romantic, or playfully unconventional. Whatever my couples desire, I deliver.
I’m relaxed, but not casual; supportive, but not overbearing; creative, but grounded in real emotion.
Sean Joyce
Sean Joyce is a celebrant because his daughter asked him to be. He lists personality, training, connection, and the focused pursuit of glowing reviews (of which he has many) as what make a great celebrant.
What should couples let their celebrant know early on?
It's up to the celebrant to ask the right questions and at the right time. As a couple's confidence in their celebrant grows, their view of what's possible expands, and an iterative process takes over. So, a planned short, nervous wedding becomes a lovely, big, glowing event.
It's the celebrant's job to find out what the couple would really, really love to have and work with them to see how close they can safely get to that.
Is there something couples tend to overlook?
It's up to the celebrant to ask the right questions and at the right time. All families have tricky dynamics, and it's the celebrant's job to ascertain what they are. The couple can choose to ignore some or all of them. Or the celebrant can help them see that their wedding creates a new dynamic where they get the right to make the rules, and they can decide who's in and who's out. If someone declines their kind invitation, that's their choice.
What’s the best way for couples to get the most out of working with their celebrant?
Assuming they have developed trust in their celebrant, they can treat it like a collaboration. Bring all their ideas, structure, and experience. Of the myriad options, they still have to decide which ones suit their ambitions for their day and what stamp they want on their marriage.
What’s your style or point of difference?
I don't know, as I'm the only one of me I've got.
Sarah Porter
Sarah Porter says that openness and honesty lead to great weddings, a connection that naturally emerges when she meets couples over coffee — or wine.
She adds that it’s also great to get onto things early. “The time leading up to the wedding can get really busy, so the wedding script is something that can get ticked off in advance.”
What makes a great celebrant great?
A great celebrant is someone who can make the couple feel at ease and relaxed, as well as engage with the wedding guests. I always say finding the right celebrant for a couple is looking for someone who would naturally fit in with family and friends, but not 'take over the show'. Celebrants are a ‘necessary accessory’, so the focus needs to remain on the couple.
Is there something couples tend to overlook?
Having been a celebrant for a number of years, I tend to ask all the questions to ensure I get all the info I need. For many couples, it's their first time, and ‘you don't know what you don't know’, so it's my role to make sure everything is covered.
What drew you to becoming a celebrant?
I was always the MC and never the bridesmaid at friends' weddings! I've been involved in event planning and public speaking all my life, and I see it as a privilege and pleasure to marry people. My wish is that couples would want to do their ceremony all over again, but not change anything.
Making sure the ceremony reflects the couple is key. It's not a performance or show, and finding the right balance between relaxed and reverent is key.
Behind The Vows
Every couple’s story is different, but one constant runs through all five celebrants’ advice: openness. The more you share – from tricky family dynamics to those quirky, everyday details that define your relationship – the more personal and meaningful your ceremony becomes.
It also pays to be practical. Sort out the audio early, book vendors sooner than you think, and provide your celebrant with as much background information as possible. These small steps help ease stress on the day and let you focus on what really matters.
Most importantly, remember that while your celebrant may have officiated hundreds of weddings, yours is the only one that matters on the day. The best celebrants approach each ceremony with fresh eyes, passion, and care – helping you feel comfortable, connected, and truly celebrated.
After all, a great ceremony isn’t about a perfect script. It’s about creating a moment you’ll want to relive forever.
