Marriage Celebrants in the News

April 2012

To Many Marriage Celebrants (as reported by ABC Radio)

ABC Radio reports that marriage celebrants play a central role in so many occasions including weddings and funerals. They discuss the celebrants role in bringing a special, personal sense of occasion to a ceremony or a celebration. They interview a celebrant and celebrants dial in to comment. 

Dozens of couples wed on Valentine's Day (as reported by NINE MSN)
Nine MSN reports that Chippendale marriage celebrant Marianne Lea said it was going to be a hectic day for marriage ceremonies on 14 February 2012. The story says that the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages has estimated that 100 couples are getting married this Valentine's Day, 35 of them at the state's Chippendale offices.

January 2012
Off Duty Police Become Marriage Celebrants (as reported by the Herald Sun)
The Herald Sun reports that police officers are moonlighting as jumping castle operators, marriage celebrants and actors when they are not on the beat.  Officers in can moonlight provided it is in their own time, doesn't affect their job or pose a real or perceived conflict of interest.

December 2011
Older Australians Marrying (click here for details reported by Adelaide Now)
Adelaide Now featured a story about older Australians getting married. The article reports that marriage celebrant Judith Ernst says elderly people marrying is not uncommon.  She is quoted as saying "I've been a civil marriage celebrant for 17 years and in that time I would have married 300 or 400 elderly couples," she said. "I've married people in their late 70s and 80s  ...  I've even married people in their 90s. I wouldn't say it was rare.  It's about falling in love and making that commitment."

Some Australians unaware they were never married (click here for details reported by the SMH)
The Sydney Morning Herald reports that "the inescapable conclusion from information provided by the federal Attorney-General's Department - the national supervisor of the boom in marriage by civil celebrants - is that some Australians are blissfully unaware they were never married in the first place. How does this happen? Human error. Celebrants, however few, have been licensed to conduct wedding ceremonies when they are simply not up to the task. They are sloppy with paperwork or they do not follow the legally prescribed script.

Gay Marriage for Australia? (click here for details from Nine MSN report)
Labor backbencher Stephen Jones will bring a private member's bill to parliament in early 2012 to change the definition of marriage in the Marriage Act. The move follows the ALP's decision last week to change its platform, to "ensure equal access to marriage under statute for all adult couples irrespective of sex who have a mutual commitment to a shared life".

Wedding Chill in Sydney (click here for details reported by the SMH)
The Sydney Morning Herald reports the Bureau of Meteorology has been fielding anxious calls from brides-to-be asking for long-range weather forecasts, amid the coldest start to a Sydney summer in almost 50 years.  Nervous brides have been requesting forecasts up to two months in advance.

November 2011
Marriage Celebrant Slams Federal Fee (click here for details as reported by the Rockhampton Morning Bulletin)
Rockhamton Civil Marriage Celebrant Gwen Simpson talks with the Rockhampton Morning Bulletin about her marrying 1,000 young and old couples in the Rockhampton (QLD) region and the proposed annual fee for marriage celebrants she calls "the Federal Government's latest cash grab". (read Australian Celebrants research about the annual fee for marriage celebrants)

October 2011
Men Taking a Woman's Surname (click here for full details as reported by News.com.au)
News.com.au reports that marriage celebrants are conducting more ceremonies where the groom is taking the bride's name.  The story quotes demographer Bernard Salt as saing "A husband taking his wife's name is a very 21st-century idea." 

Celebrants to pay Annual Licensing Fee (click here for details as reported by the Telegraph)
The Telegraph reports about the federal government plan to weed out rogue operators. The paper mentions the number of marriage celebrants has skyrocketed in recent years and an Attorney General's audit found more than 10 per cent of celebrants were breaching their role.

September 2011
Wedding Spend on Rise (click here for full details as reported by the Hobart Mercury)
The Hobart Mercury reports that couples are pushing aside the tough economic times and planning weddings that cost, on average, $36,200 an increase of 6.5 per cent on 2010-11.  The report mentions a IBISWorld report that flagged weddings as one of the top growth sectors this year. It forecasts industry growth of $4.7 billion by 2016-17, with the biggest beneficiaries being venue hire operators, wedding dress suppliers, food services and photographers.

Marriage Ceremony in Helicopter (click here for full details as reported by the Noosa News)
The Noosa News (QLD) reports on a couple marrying 150m above Byron Bay in a helicopter. The paper reported that the couple were married for 18 years, divorced for two and then decided to re-marry.  A witness, the pilot and the marriage celebrant were with the couple.  

Marriages in doubt due to illegal Vows (click here for full details as reported by The Sydney Morning Herald)
The SMH reports that thousands of marriage ceremonies conducted by celebrants may be invalid because the wrong words have been used in the ceremony.  The story talks about the need for celebrants to recite precise words from the Marriage Act for a wedding to be valid beyond dispute.

Beating the Marriage Age Gap (click here for full details as reported by The Gladstone Observer)
Sunshine Coast marriage celebrant Darienne Davis talks with the Gladstone Observer about couples overcoming the age gap stigma when getting married. 

August 2011
Special Being a Marriage Celebrant (click here for full details as reported by Dockland News)
Jan Gielnik, Melbourne Civil Marriage Celebrant, talks with the Dockland News about why he loves his job.  He is quoted as saying “It is very, very special being a marriage celebrant”.  “Everyone has their own magic about it and I get to be involved in a snapshot of another person’s special moment.”

Bucket list for Tasmanian Marriage Celebrant (click here for full details as reported by The Mercury)
The Hobart Mercury reports on Marriage celebrant and former TV newsreader Tom Payne's bucket list. The paper quotes Tom as saying "Not everyone has the resources to execute a bucket list of exotic overseas travel, but everyone must have a good reason to get out of bed in the morning."

JK Wedding March hits 70,000,000 Viewers (click here for video on Youtube)
One of the worlds most popular wedding videos has now reached 70,000,000 viewers. Marriage Celebrant Andrew Sinclair said he was inspired by the video and the couple featured. He said Youtube gave the wedding industry a unique way to tell couples about their products and services.

TV New Zealand reports Australian couples are heading to NZ (click here for full details as reported by TVNZ)
This story talks about New Zealand tourism getting a boost from Australian gay couples crossing the Tasman to be married. It says pressure is mounting on Prime Minister Julia Gillard to allow a conscience vote on the issue of gay marriage in Australia (Marriage Act)

Adelaide Celebrant Dorinda Hafner African Australian Woman of the Year (click here for full detail as reported by Adelaide Now)
West African born marriage celebrant Dorinda Hafner has been named African Australian Woman of the Year.  This was announced at the African Chamber of Commerce national awards. Adelaide Now covered the story with a great pciture.

Popularity of Civil Ceremonies report by AsianCorrespondent.com (click here for full detail as reported by AsianCorrespondent.com)
Kritika Seksaria, the Regional Representative for Asian Correspondent based in Melbourne, reports on the popularity of civil marriages in Australia. She talks with civil marriage celrbant Lisa Caponio.

July 2011 
Marriage Celebrant, Drum Player and Limo Driver (click here for full detail as reported by the Northern District Times)
The Northern Distrcit Times reports on a Hunters Hill marriage celerbant who loves his 1962 Chevrolet Bel Air.  Michael Parsons is quoted as saying “I like to keep my hands in the community and give something back to the place I call home.”

Marriage Celebrant Run Down by Skateboard (click here for full detail as reported by the NT News)
The NT News has reported a wedding ceremony was almost postponed when the celebrant failed to turn up - after being run down by a skateboard. 

Marriage Celebrant Featured on ABC TV Program "Compass" (click her for full details of the ABC TV Compass story)
Melbourne Celebrant Jason McCheyne talks on ABC's TV Program Compass about his role as a celebrant and why he can't marry his own partner.

June 2011
Celebrant Witch (click here for full detail as reported by ABC online)
The ABC reports an Australian witch claimed she was beyond the law before dragging a policeman hundreds of metres with her car.  She was sentenced to jail this month in Victoria. Recklessly causing serious injury was the charge. 

May 2011
Marriage Celebrants Program Reform (click here for full detail from the Australian Attorney General)
In the Budget delivered on 10 May 2011, the Government announced a measure to improve the Marriage Celebrants Program. This aims to strengthen the professionalism of marriage celebrants and will benefit marrying couples, marriage celebrants and the community. For further information, please see the Marriage Celebrants Program Reform page. If you would like to comment on the measure in advance before the consultation process begins, you can email celebrantprogramreform@ag.gov.au.

April 2011
Civil Marriage Celebrant Link to Royal Family (click her for full detail as reported by The Herald Sun)
The Herald Sun has reported a Queensland Celebrant's family had its "generational clock synchronised with the royals".

March 2011
Marriage Celebrants De-registered (click here for full details as reported by the Telegraph)
The Sydney Telegraph reports 35 celebrants have been "slapped with Federal Government warnings" after an audit revealed 1 in 10 failed strict new standards. 

February 2011
Marriage Celebrant's Account of Kiwi Earthquake (click here for full details as reported by The Australian)
The Australian details a New Zealand Celebrant's account of the Christchurch earth quake.

January 2011
New Years Eve wedding performed by Melbroune Marriage Celebrant (click here for full details reported by News Corporation)
News Corporation reports on details of Carlton skipper Chris Judd's wedding to partner Rebecca Twigley at Albert Park.

December 2010
Civil Marriage Celebrants Rise (click here for full detail from Australian Bureau of Statistics)
The proportion of marriages performed by civil celebrants continued to increase in 2009, with 66.9% of marriages performed by civil celebrants. Civil marriages have outnumbered religious ceremonies since 1999 when 51.3% of all marriages were performed by civil celebrants. Of the 39,740 marriages performed by ministers of religion, the most common rites used were Catholic (32.8%) followed by Anglican (17.3%).  In 2009, couples who lived together before marrying were more likely to marry in a civil ceremony than those who lived apart, with 73.7% of couples living together married in a civil ceremony, compared with 43.6% of those who lived apart.

Novermber 2010
ABC Radio Presenter and Civil Marriage Celebrant (click here for full detail as reported by ABC 891 Adelaide)
ABC Radio Adelaide reports on staffer Deb Tribe’s multi skills as an on air presenter and marriage celebrant.  They report said she has also worked as a waitress, lawyer and tax office worker.

Celebrants to pay Annual Licensing Fee (click her for details as reported by the Telegraph)
The Telegraph reports about the federal government plan to weed out rogue operators. The paper mentions the number of marriage celebrants has skyrocketed in recent years and an Attorney General's audit found more than 10 per cent of celebrants were breaching their role.

September 2011
Wedding Spend on Rise (click here for full details as reported by the Hobart Mercury)
The Hobart Mercury reports that couples are pushing aside the tough economic times and planning weddings that cost, on average, $36,200 an increase of 6.5 per cent on 2010-11.  The report mentions a IBISWorld report that flagged weddings as one of the top growth sectors this year. It forecasts industry growth of $4.7 billion by 2016-17, with the biggest beneficiaries being venue hire operators, wedding dress suppliers, food services and photographers.

Marriage Ceremony in Helicopter (click here for full details as reported by the Noosa News)
The Noosa News reports on a couple marrying 150m above Byron Bay in a helicopter. The paper reported that the couple were married for 18 years, divorced for two and then decided to re-marry.  A witness, the pilot and the marriage celebrant were with the couple.  

Marriages in doubt due to illegal Vows (click here for full details as reported by The Sydney Morning Herald)
The SMH reports that thousands of marriage ceremonies conducted by celebrants may be invalid because the wrong words have been used in the ceremony.  The story talks about the need for celebrants to recite precise words from the Marriage Act for a wedding to be valid beyond dispute.

Beating the Marriage Age Gap (click here for full details as reported by The Gladstone Observer)
Sunshine Coast marriage celebrant Darienne Davis talks with the Gladstone Observer about couples overcoming the age gap stigma when getting married. 

August 2011
Special Being a Marriage Celebrant (click here for full details as reported by Dockland News)
Jan Gielnik, Melbourne Marriage Celebrant, talks with the Dockland News about why he loves his job.  He is quoted as saying “It is very, very special being a marriage celebrant”.  “Everyone has their own magic about it and I get to be involved in a snapshot of another person’s special moment.”

Bucket list for Tasmanian Marriage Celebrant (click here for full details as reported by The Mercury)
The Hobart Mercury reports on Marriage celebrant and former TV newsreader Tom Payne's bucket list. The paper quotes Tom as saying "Not everyone has the resources to execute a bucket list of exotic overseas travel, but everyone must have a good reason to get out of bed in the morning."

JK Wedding March hits 70,000,000 Viewers (click here for video on Youtube)
One of the worlds most popular wedding videos has now reached 70,000,000 viewers. Marriage Celebrant Andrew Sinclair said he was inspired by the video and the couple featured. He said Youtube gave the wedding industry a unique way to tell couples about their products and services.

TV New Zealand reports Australian couples are heading to NZ (click here for full details as reported by TVNZ)
This story talks about New Zealand tourism getting a boost from Australian gay couples crossing the Tasman to be married. It says pressure is mounting on Prime Minister Julia Gillard to allow a conscience vote on the issue of gay marriage in Australia (Marriage Act)

Adelaide Celebrant Dorinda Hafner African Australian Woman of the Year (click here for full detail as reported by Adelaide Now)
West African born marriage celebrant Dorinda Hafner has been named African Australian Woman of the Year.  This was announced at the African Chamber of Commerce national awards. Adelaide Now covered the story with a great pciture.

Popularity of Civil Ceremonies report by AsianCorrespondent.com (click here for full detail as reported by AsianCorrespondent.com)
Kritika Seksaria, the Regional Representative for Asian Correspondent based in Melbourne, reports on the popularity of civil marriages in Australia. She talks with civil marriage celrbant Lisa Caponio.

July 2011 
Marriage Celebrant, Drum Player and Limo Driver (click here for full detail as reported by the Northern District Times)
The Northern Distrcit Times reports on a Hunters Hill marriage celerbant who loves his 1962 Chevrolet Bel Air.  Michael Parsons is quoted as saying “I like to keep my hands in the community and give something back to the place I call home.”

Marriage Celebrant Run Down by Skateboard (click here for full detail as reported by the NT News)
The NT News has reported a wedding ceremony was almost postponed when the celebrant failed to turn up - after being run down by a skateboard. 

Marriage Celebrant Featured on ABC TV Program "Compass" (click her for full details of the ABC TV Compass story)
Melbourne Celebrant Jason McCheyne talks on ABC's TV Program Compass about his role as a celebrant and why he can't marry his own partner.

June 2011
Celebrant Witch (click here for full detail as reported by ABC online)
The ABC reports an Australian witch claimed she was beyond the law before dragging a policeman hundreds of metres with her car.  She was sentenced to jail this month in Victoria. Recklessly causing serious injury was the charge. 

May 2011
Marriage Celebrants Program Reform (click here for full detail from the Australian Attorney General)
In the Budget delivered on 10 May 2011, the Government announced a measure to improve the Marriage Celebrants Program. This aims to strengthen the professionalism of marriage celebrants and will benefit marrying couples, marriage celebrants and the community. For further information, please see the Marriage Celebrants Program Reform page. If you would like to comment on the measure in advance before the consultation process begins, you can email celebrantprogramreform@ag.gov.au.

April 2011
Civil Marriage Celebrant Link to Royal Family (click her for full detail as reported by The Herald Sun)
The Herald Sun has reported a Queensland Celebrant's family had its "generational clock synchronised with the royals".

March 2011
Marriage Celebrants De-registered (click here for full details as reported by the Telegraph)
The Sydney Telegraph reports 35 celebrants have been "slapped with Federal Government warnings" after an audit revealed 1 in 10 failed strict new standards. 

February 2011
Marriage Celebrant's Account of Kiwi Earthquake (click here for full details as reported by The Australian)
The Australian details a New Zealand Celebrant's account of the Christchurch earth quake.

January 2011
New Years Eve wedding performed by Melbroune Marriage Celebrant (click here for full details reported by News Corporation)
News Corporation reports on details of Carlton skipper Chris Judd's wedding to partner Rebecca Twigley at Albert Park.

December 2010
Civil Marriage Celebrants Rise (click here for full detail from Australian Bureau of Statistics)
The proportion of marriages performed by civil celebrants continued to increase in 2009, with 66.9% of marriages performed by civil celebrants. Civil marriages have outnumbered religious ceremonies since 1999 when 51.3% of all marriages were performed by civil celebrants. Of the 39,740 marriages performed by ministers of religion, the most common rites used were Catholic (32.8%) followed by Anglican (17.3%).  In 2009, couples who lived together before marrying were more likely to marry in a civil ceremony than those who lived apart, with 73.7% of couples living together married in a civil ceremony, compared with 43.6% of those who lived apart.

Novermber 2010
ABC Radio Presenter and Civil Marriage Celebrant (click here for full detail as reported by ABC 891 Adelaide)
ABC Radio Adelaide reports on staffer Deb Tribe’s multi skills as an on air presenter and marriage celebrant.  They report said she has also worked as a waitress, lawyer and tax office worker.

Archived Stories

Civil Marriage Celebrant Performs Ceremony on Sydney Harbour Bridge (as reported by Reuters UK)

Reuters reports on a couple wearing jumpsuits and harnesses to tie the knot atop the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The civil marriage celebrant performing the ceremony was Sydney celebrant Danielle Blow.