Ceremonies written from your own story
Photo to be confirmed
G’day, I’m Kelvin. I’ve been a marriage celebrant since 2007, with about 80 ceremonies so far. Much of it came through word of mouth, here in Queensland and in Victoria, where I spent 2013 to 2018.
Your ceremony is written from your own story, with as much or as little humour as you like.
My wife, Christine, has regularly helped me at interviews and on wedding days.
Kelvin Brown OAM
Kind words from couples to come
I work for you, no one else.
If anyone rings me with ideas to add to your wedding, it doesn’t happen unless you hear it first.
Your story. Beautifully told.
A few happy days from over the years.
Not every photo survived, but these did.
Photos to be confirmed with Kelvin
Prices, up front
Plenty of celebrants keep their fees quiet. I’d rather you knew the cost from the start.
What memories do you want in 5, 10 or 20 years’ time?
A legal ceremony needs only a few essentials, set out in the legal requirements below, and can be done in a matter of minutes. The rest of the ceremony is what you choose to have. Build it from those memories, and I can definitely help you with that.
Basic ceremony
Lasting 10 to 15 minutes.
$500
Includes
- Processing of all your legal documents
- Your initial interview
- Unlimited phone enquiries
- A rehearsal
- A small ceremony, created for you and approved by you both
- A sound system, so all your guests can clearly hear the ceremony, especially what you two say
Extras
Additional costs are added for extras such as:
Travel to your ceremony site over 100 km
Sub-ceremonies
Handfasting, a unity candle ceremony, a sand ceremony, or any one of a thousand ceremonies found in the history of cultures throughout the world.
Surprise weddings
The wedding should be a surprise only to your guests, never to either of you or your witnesses. Give your guests a good reason to turn up, such as a birthday, engagement or celebration. If it’s a BBQ and the weather looks bad, they may not turn up.
Theme weddings
Medieval, Game of Thrones, Wiccan (white witch, belonging to an authorised coven), or any subject you can think of.
Extending the wording of your ceremony
What any extras cost is discussed with you before you commit to the ceremony. It depends on the time they take, particularly research and creating what you need.
It’s not one hour, mate.
The basic ceremony lasts 10 to 15 minutes. Behind it, I block out your whole day and turn other bookings away, and there’s a lot of legal paperwork.
There’s more paperwork than you’d think
Marriage is a legal process with strict identity checks. I’ll guide you through every form.
Give notice in time
Sign a Notice of Intended Marriage and give it to me at least one month, and no more than 18 months, before the wedding.
Less than a month away?
The Queensland Registry may approve a shorter wait for reasons such as work or travel, wedding arrangements, medical reasons or legal proceedings. Talk to me early.
Show who you are
Since the tragedy of 9/11, identity checks have become much stricter. I must be satisfied of your legal name, where you were born and your date of birth. Originals, please.
Born in Australia, never changed your name
Quite simple: your birth certificate and photo ID (a state driver’s licence or Australian passport).
Changed your name through a previous marriage
Your birth certificate, previous marriage certificate and photo ID. I need to see the legal path from your birth name (birth certificate) to your current name (photo ID).
Born overseas
Your foreign passport, as well as photo ID. If your passport is in a foreign language, you’re responsible for a translation by a NAATI legal translator.
No proof, and can’t get it? Call me.
Married before?
Bring your divorce certificate, or a death certificate if you’re widowed. It shows there’s no legal reason you can’t marry again.
We meet in person
The law asks me to meet each of you separately, in person, before the wedding.
Sign your declarations
Before the ceremony, you each sign a declaration that you believe there’s no legal reason you can’t marry.
On the day
The law needs a few set words, shown below. The rest is yours. You, your two witnesses (both over 18) and I sign three marriage certificates, and one goes home with you.
Registered within 14 days
For a Queensland wedding, I lodge your paperwork with the Queensland Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages within 14 days, so your marriage is registered.
Changing your name?
The certificate from the day is ceremonial. To change your name or prove you’re married, order the official one from the Registry. It isn’t sent automatically.
Marriage Act 1961
The words the law requires
You each say
To establish a legal marriage, you each say these words as your official vows:
“I call upon the persons here present to witness that I, A.B. (or C.D.), take thee, C.D. (or A.B.), to be my lawful wedded wife (or husband, or spouse)”
A.B. and C.D. stand for your names.
Or words to that effect: “thee” can become “you”, and you can also use “partner”. Your personal vows are different and can be whatever you wish.
I say
As your celebrant, I’m required to say these words to you and your witnesses during the ceremony:
“I am duly authorised by law to solemnise marriages according to law.”
“Before you are joined in marriage in my presence and in the presence of these witnesses, I am to remind you of the solemn and binding nature of the relationship into which you are now about to enter.”
“Marriage, according to law in Australia, is the union of 2 people to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life.”
Or words to that effect.
Count your drinks
The Marriage Act requires everyone in the wedding party to be able to consent to the marriage and witness the ceremony. So if you have a few nerve-settling drinks beforehand and I believe you’re under the influence of alcohol or drugs, I can’t go ahead with a legal ceremony.
Are you unsteady on your feet? Slurring your words? Are your pupils dilated? If your witnesses are the same, I must ask for different witnesses. Don’t risk your special day: count your drinks, if you have any.
Complaints
If you ever wish to complain about any part of my service, just google “Complain about a Marriage Celebrant”, click the link to the Attorney-General’s Department and follow the information.
Kelvin’s own examples to come
General information only. Rules can change, so check ag.gov.au or qld.gov.au for the latest.
Room for a laugh
I like a bit of humour in a ceremony. Sometimes subtle, sometimes more, always as much as the two of you want.
Fancy a cheeky opener? Twice, with the couple’s full blessing, I’ve begun with a 50-second ‘auction wedding’. It doesn’t count legally, so the real ceremony follows. Big laughs both times.
Kelvin to confirm
Booking your date
A $150 deposit
It books your date and it’s non-refundable, because once I book your ceremony, that date is unavailable for me to use for anyone else.
If I change or cancel your ceremony, for whatever reason, your deposit is refunded, along with anything else you’ve paid.
Final payment
Pay it at any time, as long as it’s paid by the day before the wedding.
If you cancel
You can cancel my contract with you at any time, for any reason. You lose the $150 deposit, and anything else you’ve paid is refunded.
Say you’ve paid the full $500 and cancel later: you’re refunded $350.
Let’s start with your story
Give me a ring, or leave your details and I’ll be in touch.
Based in Fernvale, South East Queensland
Travel over 100 km to your ceremony site costs extra.
Or leave your details
Thanks!
This is a preview, so nothing was sent. Once the site is live, your details will reach Kelvin.