What the Best Perth Celebrants Are Doing at Wedding Ceremonies
- Kat Wray
- Oct 24
- 6 min read
I’ve been to hundreds of weddings in Perth and seen some amazing, and not so amazing, wedding ceremonies. Gone are the days where you randomly picked a celebrant off the Attorney General register list and hoped for the best. In this modern age you can choose from a huge variety of Celebrants of all ages, ethnicities, values and styles – but also a variety of budgets, service levels and experience.
I wanted to break down a few key things that might help you choose your Perth Celebrant including what I consider good Celebrant etiquette, and highlight things you may not have considered but can make (or break!) a good ceremony.
First, let’s just remember that the ceremony is important!
I know there are some couples who will just ‘book anyone’ because the ceremony isn’t as important as the rest of their wedding day plans. Sometimes it’s because the couple are a bit introverted, and the idea of making a big show of themselves at a ceremony is cringeworthy. Or maybe they are nervous and just want to get it over and done with. I’m sure this is why registry style weddings are so busy!
BUT – let me tell you that when couples get to choose and connect with a likeminded Celebrant, they have a much more relaxed ceremony. There shouldn’t be cringeworthy moments because you know what to expect, and the Celebrant knows what you want. They pronounce your name right, they set the scene, and they guide your guests. And let’s not forget that this ceremony, however big or small you want to make it, is the only necessary part of a wedding day. Without it, you wouldn’t be married.
Good Celebrants meet with you to discuss what kind of ceremony you want
Choose a Celebrant that matches your vibe. If you want a non-traditional, funny Celebrant then don’t book a traditional, modest Celebrant (and vice versa!). If there’s anything you like, or don’t like, make this clear when you first meet them. You can request a quick videocall with potential celebrants so you can gauge their personality and style, or if you’re lucky they might have some footage of previous wedding ceremonies.
You can ask to approve the script, or you can ask them for a copy of a previous wedding script to get an idea of how they operate. Some celebrants do keep some parts of the script a secret, but that’s so you have genuine surprise and smiles during the ceremony!
Good Celebrants are masters of their own equipment
We want someone who is confident with the sound equipment right? Because if something goes wrong, who’s going to fix it? Good Celebrants arrive early and test their sound equipment and set it up in the best spot for good sound.
If aesthetics matter to you, ask what the sound equipment looks like and how it would be set up (because sometimes the speakers will end up in the shot!).
I also want to mention that it’s rare that a Celebrant will manage the music for the ceremony. This is quite a tricky skill and is risky – for example announcing your arrival on the microphone while simultaneously playing music at the right spot on the one device, or a second device which adds another layer of complexity. Don’t be afraid to delegate this job to a trusted family member or friend!
It’s also worth mentioning that some (few) Celebrants might bring someone to help, quite often their partner. Sometimes it’s to help set up the sound equipment or to carry things for them. I only want to mention it because occasionally the partners will wait around the ceremony space, sometimes even taking footage. It feels like an uninvited guest lurking around, which makes my job difficult if I’m trying to photograph guests etc. Worth asking about if you think this would bother you!
Good Celebrants consider the details – like beautiful and practical vow cards and signing books
If you’ve gone to so much effort to consider all the pretty details, you might forget to consider what your Celebrant brings to the event. What are they reading off? A nice folder? What colour is the folder? Are they reading off a tablet or e-reader?
And when you’re saying nice things to your fiancé, the last thing you want to worry about is a flapping piece of paper. If there are microphones involved and you choose to hold it yourself (as opposed to the celebrant standing there and holding it for you) it means you only have one hand to hold the vows.
Good Celebrants invest in professional, sturdy vow books that can hold your printed vows in them, which stops them from flapping around. They re-use them for every wedding so it’s a worthy investment!
If your Celebrant doesn’t offer this, consider buying matching sturdy cards to write your own.
Good Celebrants consider their outfit
Much like the previous point, if you've gone to all the trouble to consider all the pretty details for your ceremony so everything matches - then let's also consider what the Celebrant is wearing as they're a pretty big focal point for the ceremony! Most good Celebrants will ask what your colour theme is so they can match or at least avoid a clash!
Good Celebrants don’t hand you the certificate just before walking down the aisle
I hate to offend any Celebrants who are still doing this, but it can really distract from what can be one of my favourite photos of the day – when a couple, full of smiles, is exiting their ceremony surrounded by happy faces. I don’t want to see a certificate in the shot!
Why do Celebrants do this? I can only assume it’s because legally they must give the certificate (the only copy you’ll ever get) to the couple after the ceremony. Does it have to be right then and there? No. Good Celebrants will immediately come and find the couple after they exit the aisle and will hand it to them and then direct them to give it to a trusted family member or friend to keep safe. This is definitely something you should discuss with your Celebrant so you have a strategy, especially if you plan on exiting the ceremony straight to photos.
Good Celebrants don’t stand behind the couple for the key (photogenic) moments
A Celebrant will stand with you for the legal vows and perhaps the introduction, but other additional (non-legal) moments like the ring exchange, personal vows, big kiss etc, a Celebrant does not have to be right there in between or behind you. Discuss this with your Celebrant for your preferred positioning for the Ceremony.
Good Celebrants discuss your exit strategy and build this into their script
This is something I’ll always discuss with you, but a Good Celebrant will too. How are you exiting the ceremony and where (and why!) are you leaving? Let’s make sure you have a purpose and direction for leaving the ceremony, so you don’t get to the end of the aisle and look lost!
Are you headed straight for the bar for a celebratory drink? Are you heading straight into portraits? Are you heading to a specific spot for family photos? Are you waiting at the end to receive congratulations from everyone? Wherever you’re going, make sure the Celebrant explains this to the guests so they know what to do next!
Good Celebrants check in with the photographer and other vendors
A Good Celebrant will always check in with the photographer before the ceremony begins for a quick chat. They let the photographer know the order of events and any particular key moments that are happening in the ceremony, especially any surprises. They should also check the photographer is ready before commencing the ceremony. The photographer doesn’t want to miss any shots because they weren’t expecting it!
Have you seen something amazing at a Perth wedding ceremony that you thought was worth mentioning? Get in touch, I’d love to know!
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