Weddings

with your Special Occasions Celebrant

Your Wedding with Special Occasions Celebrant

is in good hands with experienced Riverina Celebrant, Judy Van Der Vegt

CONGRATULATIONS!

You are engaged to your one true love, your best friend for life.  The wedding date is set, all you need now is the right celebrant who will ensure your wedding is unique and special.

Judy is passionate about designing a ceremony that is special to each couple.  She will spend as many hours as it takes to ensure each couple is happy with the ceremony they choose.  Judy is fun-loving, has an eye for detail, and loves animals – let’s include your favourite dog or horse in the ceremony.  She is friendly and very easy to get on with.  Read more about Judy here.

Judy’s focus is your special wedding day but she can also assist with a reaffirmation of those special vows you took many years ago, a special naming ceremony for your baby, or a dignified farewell for a loved one.

Planning your wedding ceremony

What you can expect with Judy as your Special Occasions Wedding Celebrant

Meet with Judy

During your initial meeting you'll discuss your wishes for the ceremony, look through some samples Judy provides & fill in the Notice of Intended Marriage (legal requirement)

Your Special Ceremony

Judy will design a draft of the ceremony, keeping with your wishes and thoughts. You can make as many edits as you wish.

Rehearsal

We will meet at the venue and discuss any last minute changes to the ceremony. Then the wedding party will rehearse, until the bridal couple are happy.

The Wedding Day

Your special day is here!

Judy will be at the venue at least 30 minutes before the ceremony to make sure everything is as it should be. She will make sure the little things are in place – are the ties straight on the groom/groomsmen?; have they taken their sunglasses off?; is everyone in place? Judy will then meet the bride and the ceremony will begin.

Frequently Asked Questions

Planning & Legals

How far in advance should you contact me for your Wedding ceremony?

The more notice you can give a Celebrant the more choice you have with dates.  Your Notice of Intended Marriage is valid for 18 months.  Twelve months is a good preparation time for a wedding.  Once we meet and you confirm your booking with me, I will ask you for a deposit.  We will complete the Notice of Intended Marriage and I will leave you with various samples to look at.

I will be in touch about six months prior to your wedding to start the formal preparation of your ceremony.  It is best to do this in person and then once we have a broad outline I will email as many drafts as necessary until you are completely happy.

As a minimum we should meet to confirm the date; we meet again to discuss the ceremony; and we meet just prior to the wedding to sign more legal documents and confirm the final draft ceremony; we then meet a few days before the ceremony for a rehearsal and then of course, our final meeting is your special day.

I am happy to meet on more occasions if it helps you.  Travel for all visits (within 100 km) is covered in your fee.

We can meet by zoom initially, and throughout the preparation, but your Notice of Intended Marriage and other legal documents must be signed in person.  One of the couple can initially complete the Notice of Intended Marriage, but both must sign prior to the wedding.  The Statutory Declaration must also be signed prior to the wedding, but can be signed on the day if the couple are travelling for their wedding.

How much notice do you need?

Your Notice of Intended Marriage is valid for 18 months but must be signed at least one month in advance of your chosen wedding date.

What is usually included?

Your ceremony will usually include:

  • music
  • poems
  • verses
  • photos
  • memories or speeches from others

How you can help:

When you book your ceremony I will provide you with sample ceremonies, discuss your choices, and provide sample poetry, vows, askings, music.  I will ask you about yourselves so I can get to know you and your wishes.  I can help you put together readings and make suggestions to help the day run smoothly.

I will ask you whether you have a theme wedding in mind, or a special colour scheme so I can dress accordingly.  I can supply a PA system so everyone can hear and which can be linked to by your videographer to capture sound.

I will also ask you to think about an alternative location should there be a weather event which could affect your wedding ceremony.  A storm might require a move indoors or the hot sun might need a gazebo.  It is always useful to check your preferred site at the time you would like the ceremony and check where the sun will be – will it be pointing directly in the face of the couple?

What paperwork do we need to complete?

The first document you need to complete is a Notice of Intended Marriage.  This can be done with your Celebrant or witnessed by various other authorised persons.  Your Celebrant will need the original and it is easier to complete this document with your Celebrant.

The Notice of Intended Marriage can be completed by one of the couple in the first instance, if both of you are unable to present at the same time.

Can anyone get married?

To get married in Australia, you must:

  • not be married
  • not be marrying a parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, brother or sister
  • be at least 18 years old, unless a court has approved a marriage where 1 person is 16-18 years old
  • understand what marriage means and freely agree to marry
  • use specific words during the ceremony
  • give a notice of intended marriage form to an authorised marriage celebrant at least 1 month and no more than 18 months before your wedding
  • be married by an authorised marriage celebrant.

You don’t have to be:

  • an Australian citizen;  or
  • a permanent resident of Australia

For further information about getting married please speak to me or visit the Attorney General’s website:  Get married | Attorney-General’s Department (ag.gov.au)

Do I need to provide any ID or documents to my Celebrant?

Your Celebrant will need to see documents proving your age (birth certificate or passport) plus photo I.D. (such as driver’s licence or passport).  If you are not an Australian Citizen you can use your overseas passport..

If either of you have been married before you need divorce papers or a death certificate.

Can I get married sooner than waiting for one month?

Yes, in certain circumstances, for example medical issues, employment or travel commitments, legal proceedings.  You will need to apply and receive approval from a “prescribed authority”.  Speak to your Celebrant if these circumstances relate to you.

What happens if I am not yet divorced?

You can complete the Notice of Intended Marriage but you need to ensure your divorce is absolute prior to the wedding.  Your Celebrant will need to see proof that you are divorced before the ceremony can take place.

Locations & Venues

Locations Judy services

Judy is happy to travel and does so regularly for her other interest – judging dog sports.  She can officiate at your wedding either during the week or on the weekend.

Towns include Albury, Batlow, Canberra/ACT, Cobram, Coolamon, Cootamundra, Culcairn, Deniliquin, Finley, Goulburn, Griffith, Grong Grong, Ganmain, Gundagai, Hay, Hillston, Holbrook, Junee, Lavington, Lockhart,  Moama, Narrandera, The Rock, Temora, Thurgoona, Tocumwal, Tumbarumba, Tumut, Urana, Wagga Wagga, Wodonga, Yarra Valley (Victoria), Yerong Creek, Young.   Plus all areas in between and nearby.  Please discuss your preferred venue with me.

Travel is included up to 100 kms of her home; additional travel cost may be incurred, together with accommodation costs if applicable, for travel outside this area.  Travel costs can be discussed on booking.

The types of venues/locations that are held

Weddings can be held in any venue or location of your choice.  I have officiated by the side of the Murrumbidgee, in a chapel, in the park/botanical gardens, at the wineries, in the back yard, by the side of a lake, in the bush, in the home, on the farm, even in the lounge of my Mum’s home in Melbourne.

I am happy to fit in with the couple, other than hot air balloons!!  Please discuss your thoughts and dreams.  Theme weddings are welcome.

Ceremony

How long does the service usually goes for?

Most services go for approximately 20 minutes but can be lengthened with the inclusion of readings and poetry.  As the ceremony is the focus of your day, I recommend including special readings of importance to the couple and expanding your ceremony to somewhere between 20 and 30 minutes.  Services, particularly a legals only service, can take as little as ten minutes.

Can we have a “do it yourself” marriage?

You can be married in a registry, but that is very impersonal and certainly not memorable or special.  A Celebrant will look after all the legalities, design something special and unique for yourselves, and make sure your special day is everything you have always dreamed of.  That’s not to say that you can’t have a small, personal wedding with just yourselves and your two witnesses, plus maybe a few close friends or family – you can.

Speak to me about what you would like and I will design your ceremony to suit, whether it be small or large.

Fees

What does a Celebrant charge?

Different Celebrants have different fees although there are certain actions all Celebrants must do.  That is, they must ensure your documents have been completed accurately and that all the legal requirements are met, including the legal wording that must be included in your ceremony.  A Celebrant should register your marriage and is responsible to accept lodgement of your Notice of Intended Marriage.

My fee covers the following:

  • Obligation free initial meeting with the couple.
  • Preparation of all legal documents (Notice of Intended Marriage, Certificate of Marriage, Declaration of Marriage)
  • Preparation of ceremony – including any number of drafts needed to make the ceremony special and how you would like it to be
  • All face-to-face or Zoom meetings, and/or discussion via email.
  • Resource kit for couples (includes sample ceremonies, creative ideas and rituals, poems and verses)
  • Rehearsal with bridal party
  • The Ceremony – being early to ensure all is ready and officiating at your marriage
  • Lodgement of documents with the Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages.
  • Lodgement of application for registered marriage certificate (may incur an additional fee).
  • Printed copy of your ceremony for a keepsake
  • Keepsake Certificate of Marriage, provided on the day (this document cannot be used for legal changes of name, mortgages, passports etc)
  • All travel within 100 km radius of Wagga Wagga, NSW

The nitty gritty

A $200 deposit is due when you book and the final payment is due when we sign the statutory declaration just in advance of your wedding.  Arrangements can be made for payment to be made at any time prior to this, including regular small payments on a weekly or fortnightly basis.

Payment can be cash, cheque or by direct deposit.  Banking details will be on my Statement of Fees which will be provided when we meet to discuss your booking.  You will also find my cancellation policy on my Statement of Fees.  Depending on the reason for cancelling some or all of the deposit may be returned.  If for some reason (accident, emergency) I am unable to attend your wedding then I have an arrangement in place for another Celebrant (friend) to take my place.

Was the answer to your question missing?

Please submit your question here or contact Judy.

Happy Clients

READY TO BOOK OR WANT TO KNOW MORE?

Judy is available to answer any queries that you may have.