Does your celebrant match your colour scheme?

Rachel decided on a purple and teal colour scheme for her wedding at the historic Gabbinbar Homestead in Toowoomba. With the gents in grey, and bridesmaids in purple, Rachel's bouquet was set off with purple flowers. She suggested that I wear teal or silver to complement the colour palette. Luckily, I have a dress to match every occasion. Make sure you let your celebrant know your vision for the ceremony, so they will dress to suit.  Brides are welcome to look at my Pinterest page to make a choice to best fit their wedding colour palette. https://au.pinterest.com/cheryllandsberr/celebrant-dresses/ Professional photos by Kat Cherry Photography at Toowoomba. iphone photos by moi.

The bridal party

The table decorations - featuring the purple, teal, and silver colours

It's all those special little touches that the guests appreciate at a wedding. Contact Cheryl at ido@cherylwedding.com if you are looking for a celebrant who understands how much care you are putting into your wedding trimmings.

The stunning floral arrangement.

Don't you love the train on Rachel's dress?

5 benefits of a morning wedding

3.30 pm is the most popular time to marry, but have you considered having your wedding at 11am?

Reasons to marry before midday include:

• the overhead sun causes less shadows
• lunch is a less expensive and more casual meal to provide than dinner
• the winter days are lovely and warm
• your guests won't be squinting into the afternoon sun
• you'll be  home in time to watch Master Chef!

A glorious winter's day at 11am - Wellington Point wedding

Contact Cheryl at ido@cherylwedding.com for your Morning Wedding in Brisbane.

Technology causes wedding mishaps

Did you know that the new iPhone 7s do not come with aux ports? Couples who arrive at their wedding ceremonies planning on playing their ceremony music through the PA system have been disappointed to find that their phones need an attachment to link to the aux cable. Check if your celebrant has an adapter you can use.

Contact Cheryl on ido@cherylwedding.com to find out more.

Wedding Arbours

Rustic Arbour at The Rocks, Yandina, on the Sunshine Coast

I've seen so many clever and creative arbours at weddings lately. The groom from today's wedding at Wellington Point, Brisbane, made this arbour himself!

Funcionz were the stylists for this rustic looking arbour at a recent wedding at Coochiemudlo Island, 10 minutes off the coast of Victoria Point in Brisbane.

Beautiful Illusions, based in the Redlands, styled this wedding earlier in the year at Raby Bay, Cleveland.

The next arbour was from a wedding at the Novotel Twin Waters Resort near Maroochydore. 

Riverlife functions at Kangaroo Point, Brisbane, created this wedding arbour.

This home-made arbour was made from tree trunks, draped fabric in the same colour as the bridesmaid dresses, and artificial flowers. It looked fabulous.

The floral arbour below was created by Ultimate Events on the Gold Coast. Photography by J'Adore. 

Below, the circular arbour was decorated by the bride. You don't need too many frills when you have an outlook like this!

Victoria Park Golf Club, in Herston, Brisbane, is a popular choice for wedding ceremonies.

Below is the wooden arbour in its natural state.

And below, Moreton Bay Trailer Boat Club at Manly, Brisbane, displayed this arbour. Decor by Beautiful Illusions at Capalaba.

Whatever your style or budget, an arbour can add an attractive backdrop for your wedding ceremony area.If you are looking for a celebrant in Brisbane with plenty of ideas, contact Cheryl at  ido@cherylwedding.com

New ideas for your wedding ceremony

Are you looking for a way to include your guests in the ceremony? Why not have them contribute to the bridal bouquet? When Lauren arrived at her ceremony at Riverlife by the Brisbane River, she was escorted by her Dad, and carried a single white rose. 

Lauren is escorted by her dad.

As she walked down the aisle, Lauren collected a flower from each of her family members. In the background was Nick Cave, singing "Into my Arms". 

As Lauren reached the end of the aisle, her sister was waiting with Lauren and Ian's gorgeous daughter, Ruby, who held the final flower for the bouquet. 

Lauren's mum, Carol, had saved some ribbon from her own wedding, and she used this ribbon to gather all the flowers into a bouquet. 

Ian and Lauren took a breath, and prepared to make their vows to each other. The guests watched on in hushed anticipation.

This was such a lovely way to start the ceremony, and allowed Lauren a moment with some of her family members at one of the most important times of her life. The guests loved being included in the ceremony, and being able to contribute to the memories.

These images were all captured by photographer http://mcmasterphotography.com.au/. 

Celebrant Cheryl Landsberry www.cherylwedding.com

Venue Riverlife at Kangaroo Point http://riverlife.com.au/weddings/

Groom's Entrance

Traditionally, the groom stands at the front of the chapel, with his supporters at his side, and the bride walks into the ceremony area to a grand and dramatic musical accompaniment. But you don't have to follow tradition. Why shouldn't the groom enter his wedding with a fanfare?

At Flaxton Gardens, Chris and his brothers arrived with a favourite Sigur Ros song playing. Bride, Jo, then entered with her sister and sister-in-law to another favourite Sigur Ros song.

At a recent wedding at the Novotel Twin Waters, Justin and his groomsmen arrived in a golf buggy, then walked down the aisle, Justin accompanied by his parents, to Good Life, by T Pain. Guests stood and cheered them on. Annie and her bridesmaids then arrived by golf buggy, and the mood changed from jubilant to serene as they walked down the aisle to A Thousand Years by Christina Perri.

The groom's entrance song can be traditional, emotive, or humorous.

• Sharp Dressed Man
• Eye of the Tiger
• Rocky theme
• Sexy and I know it

Wedding at Albert River Wines, Tamborine.

A gorgeous winter's day at Albert River Wines at Tamborine. The historic homestead is available for wedding receptions - choose from their menu, or self cater. There are several areas for wedding ceremonies, also. We were in the Vineyard Chapel, a decommissioned Lutheran church. The timber floorboards were polished beautifully, and there is also a stained glass window.

Outside, the meadows look out to the nearby mountain range. A vintage Rolls Royce is on hand to chauffeur the bridal party to the chapel door.

 

Contact Cheryl if you are looking for a celebrant in South East Queensland. ido@cherylwedding.com

Novotel Twin Waters Wedding

Novotel Twin Waters Pandanus Lawn

Twin Waters is just north of Maroochydore, on the Sunshine Coast of Queensland. The Novotel and the Sebel are both set on this picturesque lagoon, the setting for a beautiful wedding yesterday. The childhood sweethearts celebrated after their ceremony at Lily's restaurant, which floats above the lagoon. Singer, Marty Sima, serenaded the guests as they sipped champagne and watched the setting sun. The rainy weather for their rehearsal cleared to a glorious, sunny wedding day. Contact Cheryl at ido@cherylwedding.com if you are looking for a celebrant for your Twin Waters Wedding.

How to do a Sand Ceremony - tutorial

Do you want to include a Sand Ceremony in your Wedding? 

You will need 3 glass vases. A larger one, with a wide top and a stopper, and two smaller vases - each filled with a different colour sand.

Auslan Celebrant Brisbane

Hello,
I've been learning Auslan - Australian Sign Language - in order to communicate better with the Deaf Community. Last year, I completed my Cert II Auslan at Southbank TAFE, and I'm continuing with some tutoring from Green Door Auslan this year.

Although it's quite tricky to remember so many signs, and some of the are crazily similar, learning Auslan has been lots of fun. I've been teaching my family a few signs too, and it makes me wonder why Auslan isn't the language taught at our schools. Auslan has a lot less grammar than many of the spoken languages, which can have different genders for items (like German and Spanish), and different endings for past tense.

Auslan also has so many practical uses - how many times have you been at a noisy party, and wanted to ask your friend to phone a cab, or pass the dip? Ordering drinks at a bar would be so much easier in Auslan, and choosing the chicken or cheese roll on a noisy flight would leave no misunderstanding.

I'm not fluent in Auslan, but have learnt some skills to communicate better with Deaf people, and am practicing to include some sign language in marriage ceremonies to enhance the inclusion for Deaf guests.

Contact me if you are looking for a celebrant who will go out of their way to accommodate your needs. ido@cherylwedding.com

Said Yes to the Dress

Have you seen the new printable cards to hold while you're posting photos of your wedding planning? There's "said yes to the dress" for when you've found the perfect dress, and "I can't get married without you - will you be my bridesmaid?"

Here's a printout card for my new couples who have recently booked me as their celebrant. Looking forward to seeing your photos popping up!

Rustic wedding styling

This DIY wedding featured cute and quirky decor. The hay bales were covered with 2 layers of fabric with a foam insert, which provided super comfortable seating. Tables were made from pallets. Bunting was made with pinking shears by the groom's mother.

Eurovision Themed Wedding Celebration

 

Good evenink Kiev! Mark the date in your diary - the Eurovision final is 13th/14th May, 2017.  Everybody loves glitter, everybody loves wind-swept hair and white pants suits. Everybody loves Eurovision, and everybody loves a wedding. Why not combine the lot, and add a champagne cocktail or two? Frock up in your favourite lamé, invite your besties around, and dance till dawn with your beloved. Eurovision night is a perfect time to celebrate love!

If you are planning a legal marriage ceremony in Australia, contact your marriage celebrant at least a month before the wedding to lodge the Notice of Intended Marriage.

For Civil Partnership ceremonies in Queensland, contact your civil partnership notary at least 11 days before your ceremony.

And for a ceremony free of legal requirements and block voting, just call me before someone else does - I can only be in one place at a time!

For your Eurovision themed ceremony this year, contact Cheryl at ido@cherylwedding.com.

All ceremonies include choreographed dance routines and your celebrant dressed in your choice of a purple velvet cloak, gold tassled muumuu, or babushka ensemble.

Deux points Glamour amour! mwah!

May the Fourth Wedding

May the Fourth is a popular date for weddings of Star Wars Fans. If you are planning a wedding in Australia, you will need to lodge a Notice of Intended Marriage at least a month before the wedding - so for a May 4th wedding, this would need to be sorted by April 4th at the latest. Get planning now for your May 4 wedding, and May the Force be with you. Boom Tish.

Brisbane Celebrant

Looking for a celebrant in Brisbane? Someone who is vibrant and interested to hear your plans and ideas? Cheryl Landsberry has been an authorised marriage celebrant since 2003. Photo by Romana Saeheng. Hair and Makeup by An Eye for Style at Cleveland. Contact Cheryl www.cherylwedding.com

1950's Photo Shoot

I spent the day with two very talented ladies who created this fabulous promo for me.

Suzie, from An Eye for Style Wedding Hair and Makeup https://aneyeforstyle.com.au/ curled and styled my hair, and painted my lips red. I loved being pampered for the day!

Romana from http://www.romana.com.au/ styled the shoot, took the photos and edited them, and added the text. The results are so impressive.

And my business is marriage celebrancy - your wedding doesn't have to be 1950's style, but I do love frocking up when I get the chance. www.cherylwedding.com

These businesses all operate in Brisbane, so if you're looking for wedding suppliers, you need travel no further.

Email Cheryl at ido@cherylwedding.com

Love Letter and Wine Box Ceremony

Love letter and wine box ceremony

This wooden box was purchased especially for this Cleveland wedding ceremony. The couple wrote a love letter to each other, and placed the letters, along with 2 crystal glasses, and a bottle of their favourite wine in this box. The box was padlocked shut during their ceremony, and will be opened on the occasion of their fifth wedding anniversary. Guests were all keen to find out what was written in those letters - I guess this will be a secret between the bride and groom.

Tips for planning your Surprise Wedding

Looking to minimise fuss and expense?
Why not surprise your guests by holding your legal marriage ceremony during your engagement or birthday party? The bride, groom, and celebrant will all need to be in on the plan, and prepare the Notice of Intended Marriage at least a month before the date.

Here are a few things to consider:

• People just can't keep a secret. They will tell their spouse/mum/friend/hairdresser, and before you know it, everyone knows that the party will be your wedding. Tell as few people as possible about your plans if you are aiming for maximum excitement.

• Your guests may feel that it's OK to be late to a party, and may miss the big event. You could either have the wedding an hour into the party, or be prepared to have those people who arrived late miss out (their loss!)

• Some guests (especially if they live further away) won't show up to both the engagement party and the wedding - they'll just choose the wedding. In that case, you will need to find some incentive for them to attend the engagement party, or accept that they won't be there. People who are really special to you will make the effort to be there. 

• Some of your guests will be at weddings every second weekend, especially if they are in that age group where everyone is getting married. For others, like your grandmother, an engagement party and wedding are 2 anticipated social events on their annual calendar. They may feel like you have robbed them of one if you marry at your engagement party.

• You may receive less gifts by combining the 2 events (but how many toasters do you need, anyway?)

• There'll be some guests who are disappointed, saying, "I would have had my hair done/bought a new dress/made you something special if I knew this was your wedding!". But none of this material stuff really matters in the long run.

• Will you show up to the party first, dressed in a party outfit, then slip away to change? Or just be married in a party outfit? Or will you arrive after the guests are already assembled, and walk down the aisle in white? (you'll need to come up with an alibi if you're not there to meet guests as they arrive - you could be picking up the cake, having photos at the park, or just picking up a friend from the station) 

• You'll need to plan with your celebrant how the announcement will work. Perhaps the guests will walk in to the engagement party, then see a sign like the one pictured above. Perhaps the DJ will play an appropriate wedding song, or your MC or celebrant could make the exciting announcement that you're going to be married.

• Make sure you have a photographer/videographer on hand to catch the expressions on the faces of your guests, as you may not see it all yourself. There will be gasps, tears, laughter, and applause, and you'll want to watch it over and over again.

• And lastly, Enjoy! This will be a night to remember!

•  

Getting married in a vineyard?

A wedding at a vineyard combines three of our favourite things - love, celebrations, and wine. But grapes are a seasonal fruit, and there are a few questions you should ask before choosing the date for your wedding.

• What months will the grapes be on the vines?
• What months will the vines be cut back and bare?
• Will there be nets placed over the vines at any time of the year?

Your photos will be gorgeous all year round, but you'll be relieved to have done a little planning in advance. 

Contact Cheryl Landsberry if you are looking for a celebrant for your wedding in the vineyards. ido@cherylwedding.com

Meet cute

The kiss

What is a Meet Cute? It's the story of the first meeting of a couple. Often it's a chance encounter that will change the lives of the two people involved. Anna and Zac met on a walking tour of Berlin. Steve and Alison met when Alison dropped into his travel agency to plan her holiday. Some couples meet through friends, or noticed each other across a smoky nightclub floor. A more modern fairy tale is an internet match up. It's that simple chance encounter that leads to a lifelong partnership.

Whatever your story, your Brisbane celebrant can narrate it during your marriage ceremony. Your guests will laugh, cry, and smile at at the true story of your meet cute, which sounds less likely than the corniest romantic comedy. Your aunt will blush, your single friends will be envious, and your loved up friends will smile knowingly. 

Contact Cheryl at ido@cherylwedding.com for your personal story telling.

Note to the neighbours

Are you having a backyard wedding and want to notify the neighbours? Here is a cute verse I've written for this purpose.

We are getting married

here in our back yard

There'll be some song and dance

as our guests will party hard.

Could you please be patient

as we celebrate our delight

the DJ and the flashing light

will be packed up by 12 midnight.

Commonwealth Games Dates 2018

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2018 Queensland Weddings

Planning your 2018 wedding? 

Keep in mind that the Commonwealth Games are being held on the Gold Coast in the first half of April, 2018. Venues in Brisbane are also being used. Flights and accommodation may be expensive & booked out early. This may impact your guests travelling from interstate. 

Check out the Commonwealth Games web site for details:https://www.gc2018.com/

Contact Cheryl Landsberry, Brisbane marriage celebrant, to plan your 2018 wedding:  ido@cherylwedding.com

How to do a Sand Ceremony at your Wedding

Sand Ceremonies are a popular visual showing the combining of two people or two families.
At this renewal of vows at Wellington Point in Brisbane, the couple had arranged for a flask of sand for each member of the family. They decorated the vases themselves.

During the ceremony, each member of the family added their bottle of sand to the heart shaped vase, then added the stopper. The result was a beautiful memento of their celebration.

For your wedding at Wellington Point, contact Cheryl at ido@cherylwedding.com

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Surprise Wedding Brisbane

Some couples want to avoid the fuss and expense of a traditional wedding, and decide instead to surprise their guests and hold the wedding ceremony during their engagement party. After welcoming guests to their engagement party, today's couple slipped away to change into bridal attire. Their MC announced the wedding to the gasps and cheers of their guests. The groom's sister and the bride's uncle were thrilled to be asked to witness the ceremony. To comply with Australian Law, the couple had to complete the Notice of Intended Marriage at least a month before the ceremony, however, they didn't have to tell anybody about their plans to be married as soon as possible.

The important thing to remember about a surprise wedding is that while it can be a surprise for the guests, it can't be a surprise for the bride or groom.