Marriage Celebrants Celebrate 50 Years

In Australia

Did you know the Marriage Celebrant program in Australia celebrated its 50 th birthday a few weeks ago? On 19 July 1973 the first Civil Marriage Celebrant was appointed in Australia. Her name is Lois Darcy, she’s from Queensland, and she was a special guest at the National Conference in Canberra this week. I was lucky enough to be there and to hear her speak about the early days of the program

What a story! Before the Marriage Celebrant program commenced there only two options for a couple to be married They could choose a church wedding, even if they weren't church goers, but they had to abide by whatever requirements the church placed on them as far as the ceremony was concerned Or they could go to a Registry Office between 9am- 5pm weekdays Of course, if you didn’t live in a city with a Registry Office this meant a visit to the local Court House in working hours Mon-Fri, and you got to exchange your legal vows and sign your marriage certificates in the same room where the magistrate sentenced the lawbreakers

We have come a long way since then and Australia now has one of the strongest civil marriage celebrancy programs worldwide, currently supporting over 80% of marrying couples each year to celebrate their marriage how, where and when they choose. This means each marrying couple now has the right to a respectful, dignified and personally meaningful ceremony which can take place anywhere, on any day and at any time of day or night that works for them.

I love the variety, the diversity and ingenuity of the couples I work with, and the beautiful places they choose to make their promises to each other. Helping them shape and share their stories is such a privilege. Some like it bigI think the most publicly visible wedding I’ve assisted with was held at the amphitheatre on Yeppoon Main Beach for 200 guests. And then there’s the secluded and the intimate, like an elopement on Facing Island (accessed by boat) or an elopement at Five Rocks Headland (accessed by 4WD)- can’t decide my favourite, they were both private and sweet! I’ve been high on hilltops at Mt Archer and Mt

Etna, down at sea level on Heron Island, Pumpkin Island, Great Keppel Island and on all the beautiful beaches along the Capricorn Coast between Sandy Point and Keppel Sands I love a road trip to Byfield or Mt Morgan and I’ve travelled west to Biloela, Emerald, Moranbah, Moura, Theodore, Baralaba and Clermont, North to Cairns and South to Murwillumbah to officiate at weddings. Having said that, some of my most favourite weddings have taken place at home in the backyard.