Ceremonies & pricing
Three ceremonies, and everything you can put in them
Ten minutes with two witnesses, thirty people at a cellar door, or the full wedding with a rehearsal. Pick the one that sounds like you and I’ll take it from there.
The services
What kind of ceremony are you after?
Every one of these includes the legal paperwork, lodged and checked. The difference is how much ceremony sits on top of it.
Legals Only
$490
No processional, no readings unless you want one, no fuss. We meet, I say the words the law requires, you say yours, everyone signs, and you go and have lunch. Couples choose this when the wedding is really about the two of them, or when a bigger party is happening later.
- Who's there
- How long
- Where it works
- You can add
Intimate Ceremony/Elopement
$680
Still an elopement in spirit, but with the people who’d never forgive you for leaving them out. There’s room here for a ritual or two, a reading from a friend, and a proper story about how the pair of you got here. This is the most popular choice for couples travelling to Tasmania.
- Who's there
- How long
- Where it works
- You can add
Marriage Ceremony with a kick
$850
A processional, everyone standing, and a ceremony written from scratch after we’ve talked properly about the two of you. I’ll run a rehearsal, bring the sound gear so the back row hears every word, and work with your photographer and venue so the timing actually holds together on the day.
- Who's there
- How long
- Where it works
- You can add
Also available
Not every ceremony is a wedding
Pricing for these is quoted per booking.
Rituals and inclusions
Ways to make it sound like you
You don’t have to include any of these. But couples often don’t know they’re an option, so here they are. Bring your own idea and we’ll build the ceremony around it.
Handfasting
Your hands bound together with cord or ribbon while the words are said. Old, simple, and it photographs beautifully. Guests can each add a cord if you want them involved.
Works at any size
Ring warming
The rings pass through every guest’s hands before they reach yours, with each person holding a wish for the two of you.
Best under 40 guests
Candle or sand
Two into one. A gentle way to include parents, or children from earlier relationships, without making a speech of it.
Good for blended families
A reading worth hearing
Poetry, a passage, song lyrics, or something a friend writes. I’ll send you a shortlist if you’re stuck, and coach whoever reads it.
One to three readings
Your own vows
Written together or kept secret until the day. I’ll give you prompts and a word count that actually works out loud.
Any size
Kids and pets
Ring bearers, promises made to the children as well as each other, a dog down the aisle. None of it is a problem.
Any size
Pricing
What kind of ceremony are you actually after?
Named after coffee because that’s usually where the first conversation happens. Every package includes the legal paperwork, lodged and checked. The difference is how much ceremony sits on top of it.
Most Booked
Espresso
Legals Only
$490
- Notice of Intended Marriage Form (NOIM) lodgement & paperwork handling
- The Essential legal Monitum & vows (the minimum words required by law)
- Signing of the marriage certificates
- Commemorative certificate on the day
- Registration of marriage with Births, Deaths, & Marriages in Tasmania
- Option to include any ring exchange if required
- For ceremonies conducted in the West Tamar region
- Travel fees may apply outside this area.
Most Booked
Double Espresso
Intimate Ceremony/Elopement
$680
- Everything in Espresso
- A ceremony script written to reflect you both and your style
- Meeting up in person or via video link
- Ring exchange & any other ritual or custom can be incorporated – handfasting, sand ceremony, warming of the rings, or unity candle
- Portable PA system if required
- Suggestions for readings, poems or pros
- Travel fees may apply outside of the West Tamar region
Most Booked
Espresso Martini
Marriage Ceremony with a kick
$850
- Everything in a Double Espresso
- Unlimited ceremony drafts until we create the script that is right for you
- Pre-wedding rehearsal if required a day or two before
- Portable PA system to ensure all your guests can hear
- Signing table & two chairs provided
- Liaison with your chosen venue, photographer, videographer, stylist, & wedding planners
- Travel fees may apply outside of the Northern Tasmania region and interstate
If you are more of an Iced Latte or Irish Coffee couple, we can make an unconventional or themed wedding fun, vibrant & colourful.
The legal bit
Four things the law needs
None of it is complicated, and none of it is your job to remember. I check every form before it’s lodged.
Notice of Intended Marriage
Lodged with me at least one month before the wedding, and no more than eighteen months ahead.
Two witnesses over 18
Required even for a legals-only ceremony. Tell me early if you’re travelling alone.
Proof of who you are
Birth certificate plus photo ID, or a valid passport. Divorce order or death certificate if you’ve been married before.
The required wording
The Marriage Act requires me to read the monitum, & your legal vows from each of you. The rest is yours.
From the couples
In their words
“I really appreciate how thorough you are, & have been through everything. We had a wonderful ceremony and day, and you were a large part of that. I’ll be sure to recommend you to anyone that asks”
Brendan and Lipin, 2018
“Thank you for giving us the honour of having you as our Celebrant for the day. We thoroughly enjoyed it, & everyone said it was such a beautiful ceremony. Thanks to you for putting on such a beautiful day. Love always!”
Terry and Gwendy, 2018
Questions
The things couples ask most
How far ahead should we book?
The law needs your Notice of Intended Marriage at least one month before the date, so that’s the absolute minimum. In practice most couples get in touch six to twelve months out, mainly because the venue and the photographer book up faster than I do. If your date is tight, ring me before you book anything else.
Do we really need two witnesses?
Yes, and both have to be 18 or over. It applies even to a ten-minute legals-only ceremony. If you’re flying into Tasmania on your own, tell me early and we’ll work something out.
We're not Australian. Can you still marry us?
Yes. You don’t need to be a citizen or a resident to marry in Australia. You’ll need passports, and any document that isn’t in English will need an official translation. If either of you has been married before, I’ll need the divorce order or death certificate.
What paperwork do you need from us?
The Notice of Intended Marriage, a birth certificate or passport each, photo ID, and a divorce order or death certificate if you’ve been married before. I’ll send you a checklist and check everything myself before it’s lodged.
Do you travel outside the West Tamar?
Yes. West Tamar and Launceston are standard, and I’ll go anywhere in Tasmania by arrangement. Travel beyond the standard area is quoted per booking so there are no surprises.
What happens if it rains?
We plan for it before the day rather than on it. Every outdoor ceremony gets a backup spot agreed in advance, and we set a time to make the call so nobody’s standing around guessing.
Can we write our own vows?
Please do. I’ll send prompts and a word count that works when read out loud, and you can keep them secret from each other until the day if you’d rather. If writing them isn’t your thing, we’ll use a set you choose together instead.
Do you marry same-sex couples?
Yes. Every couple, every time — any gender identity, second marriages, interfaith and intercultural weddings. You will never have to explain yourselves to me.
Is a microphone and speaker included?
Portable sound is included with Double Espresso and Espresso Martini wherever the site needs it, so the back row hears your vows rather than the wind. Espresso Martini also covers microphones for readings and music playback.
How do we hold a date, and when do we pay?
Send through the date and I’ll confirm whether it’s free, usually the same day. A deposit holds it, with the balance due before the wedding.
One question left
Is your date free?
There are 365 days in a year, and 366 in a leap year. Tell me which one you’re after and I’ll come back to you.