It's a pretty simple answer to a rather complicated question.

You need to choose a great celebrant.

Look at their reviews. And I don't just mean the star rating… dig into the comments. Look for the things you're hoping people will say about your own ceremony.

Did guests laugh?
Did people cry?
Was it relaxed?
Was it memorable?
Did it feel personal?

You might even discover a few things you hadn't thought about.

They also need to have something that makes them different.

There are a thousand celebrants saying they're fun, relaxed and exciting. But if you really want a unique ceremony, find someone with their own angle (and an angle that syncs with exactly what you’re after).

I'll be honest… traditional ceremonies are on the way out.

So much has changed over the ten years since I first became a celebrant.

People want something that feels more like a party. Something that kicks the day off in the best possible way.

At the end of the day, the main parts of a wedding ceremony stay the same. The legal bits. The rings. The formalities.

But there are so many little things you can do to make it feel completely different from a standard wedding.

The first step is choosing suppliers who know what they're doing and have plenty of experience.

If you're after a relaxed ceremony, they'll know how to make that happen.
If you're after a funny ceremony, they can do that too.

There are also little touches that can make a huge difference.

I've had couples hide two pens under random guests' chairs and announce that whoever finds them becomes the witnesses.

I've seen couples draw witness names out of a hat.

I've seen rock-paper-scissors decide who says their vows first.

I've seen grandmothers, siblings and lifelong friends invited up to hand over the rings.

These little moments go a long way towards creating a non-traditional wedding ceremony that people actually enjoy.

This is probably one of the biggest questions I get.

Especially because of my business.

Here's my honest answer.

After more than ten years doing this, I'm about 98% confident that people will laugh during your ceremony.

Can I guarantee 100%?

Absolutely not. Nobody can.

But after doing hundreds and hundreds of ceremonies, you start to understand what makes people tick.

A big part of my job is getting to know both of you, finding the funny little details about your relationship, and gently exaggerating them until they're funny without ever losing sight of who you are.

I love being a celebrant. I wouldn't still be doing it after ten years if I didn't.

And over that time I've learnt that there's always a laugh to be found.

It doesn't matter if you think your relationship is boring.
It doesn't matter if you think your family won't laugh.
It doesn't matter if your bridal party seems serious.

People naturally want to enjoy themselves.

My job is simply to bring that out.

It's a combination of lots of little things.

It's about choosing the right suppliers and trusting them enough that you don't have to worry on the day.

It's about doing your research on your venue. Will guests be sitting in the sun? Is there a wet weather option?

At the end of the day, your wedding is about you and your partner… but it's also worth remembering that people have organised babysitters, travelled long distances and made a real effort to be there.

You want them to have a great time too.

But don't overthink it.

There's only so much you can control.

You can prepare for the weather.
You can prepare for nerves.
You can prepare for delays.

But sometimes it's 38 degrees.
Sometimes the flower girl has a meltdown.
Sometimes Uncle Barry has one too.

The old saying really does apply:

Prepare for the worst and hope for the best.

And not to get too philosophical, but just breathe.

Your wedding day is going to fly by.

So when you're standing there together, take a second to actually look around.

Enjoy it.

Take it all in.

If you've done your research and surrounded yourself with good people, then you've already done everything you can.

Oh boy.

You're asking the controversial questions now.

I think the biggest mistake is choosing a celebrant who simply doesn't suit your personality.

That can also include choosing someone who's cheap and cheerful and tries to fit in as many weddings as possible.

Can I tell you one little red flag?

And yes, this might upset a few people.

If someone is advertising themselves as both a DJ and a celebrant... I'd probably ask a few questions.

Are they doing it because they genuinely love creating incredible ceremonies?

Or is it just another service they're adding to increase revenue?

If all you want is the legal paperwork, then that might be perfectly fine.

But if you want a ceremony that's funny, relaxed, non-boring and something people will still be talking about long after the dance floor closes, then do your research and find someone who fits both of your personalities.

And don't be afraid to spend a little extra.

I know wedding budgets are already ridiculous.

But, like most things in life, the really good suppliers usually charge what they're worth.

Easy question.

I always tell my couples to put all of their nerves and pressure onto me.

I've been doing this for so long that I've seen absolutely everything happen during a ceremony.

I've even had a drunk guest faint halfway through and hit his head on a heater.

Thankfully, he was okay.

If you're introverted, that's completely fine.

You don't need to suddenly become performers.

You just need to trust the people you've chosen around you.

Pick your suppliers carefully.

Then let them do what they do best.

I help couples with this all the time.

Usually one person writes:

"I love you."

Then the other person submits what feels like a PhD thesis.

My advice?

Keep it to about three or four cue cards.

People's attention spans only go so far anyway.

If you can say exactly what you need to say in that amount of space, you've done a fantastic job.

I've also got a guide on writing your vows if you'd like to check it out.

And you're always welcome to send them through for feedback—even if I'm not your celebrant.

One request though...

Please don't send them to me on the morning of the wedding.

By then it's probably a little late.

Twenty to twenty-five minutes.

Anything much longer than that and people start thinking about the bar.

Including me

Who would've thought we'd end on this one?

I don't want to sound arrogant, but after doing this for more than a decade, it just feels natural to me.

I know standing up in front of a crowd scares a lot of people.

For me, it's a thrill.

It's an honour.

I genuinely love hearing a crowd burst into laughter during a ceremony.

But I also know that the emotional moments matter just as much.

The real skill is balancing those two things.

Creating something that's hilarious, heartfelt and completely personal to you.

That's what I've been lucky enough to do for the last ten years.

And hopefully it's something I'll still be doing for many decades to come.