Puttin’ the Elle in Cellebrate!
My journey to becoming a marriage celebrant
Me with legends Mahlie, Joni and Alex celebrating the fact that love always wins on 15 November 2017
I’d always loved the idea of being a marriage celebrant, but I knew I would never be able to say the words that were legally required to be said in all marriage ceremonies up to 2017 - “Marriage, according to the law in Australia, is the union of a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life” (also known as The Monitum).
I could never speak those words in a marriage ceremony because I did not believe them - they were the antithesis of my own views on relationships and marriage. I have always had the privilege of having a diverse network of people around me having grown up in the Blue Mountains and spent my adult years in Sydney’s Inner West, and part of being an ally to the queer folx in my network was saying that I wouldn’t be part of the heteronormative nonsense that was an institution reserved exclusively for straight couples.
After a long-fought battle, Australia finally legalised same sex marriage in Australia in November 2017. I signed up for my Cert IV in Celebrancy that night, champagne glass in hand and perhaps a little full of happy lovey dovey vibes (and the aforementioned champagne, which led me to pay the entire course fee upfront on my credit card).
After years of training and (of course) the very disruptive COVID-19 pandemic, I finally achieved my goal of becoming a registered civil marriage celebrant in Australia in August 2022. With a few ceremonies under my belt and a goal of bringing my own unique style of inclusive celebratory fun to Sydney, the Blue Mountains and surrounds, I started Cellebrate.
I still feel so utterly stoked and privileged to get to say the current Monitum:
Marriage, according to law in Australia, is the union of two people to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life.
The union of two people. Any two people. From any walk of life, and any background, regardless of sexuality or gender. Love is love, and I am here to celebrate the shit out of it in all its glorious forms.
So, tell us more…
How do ya celebrant, Elle?
My marriage celebrancy practice is a modern one, which means it is:
Digital as heck - let’s save some trees and printer-related stress and do as much of the legal paperwork and information gathering as we can online or on my iPad
Inclusive - everyone’s welcome, and I value diversity in my business. I am both a celebrant living with physical disability and chronic illness, and also a neurodivergent celebrant, so I’m very comfortable with accommodating whatever you need and having open discussions about curated inclusion in your marriage ceremony and on your wedding day
Flexible af - I love all things new and different, so bring on the non-traditional! Let’s get creative and do something with your marriage ceremony that truly represents you and your love. Also, please bring your dogs. Or I can bring mine. Let’s just make sure there are dogs there. I’ll even bring treats.
My values
You have every right to choose a marriage celebrant that aligns with your values, so I’m spelling out my values here so you can see if we’ll be a good fit! It’s okay if we’re not the same, but you may wish to find a marriage celebrant who is more closely aligned with your own beliefs - everyone deserves the wedding day of their dreams, and being values-centred is the best way to make your day reflect you.
Equality
I believe that:
all people are created equal
everyone is worthy and deserving
love is love in all its forms.
My business as a marriage celebrant has been carefully crafted to uphold equality in all possible ways. None of my wedding ceremonies will include any language that does not align with the principles of equality.
Inclusivity
I will never discriminate against you on the basis of background, circumstance, gender, disability, neurodivergence or minority status. I will make all reasonable accommodations in the way I deal with you to give you the best possible experience and ceremony. If you require any sort of accommodation or adjustment, just let me know.
If you feel concerned that you don’t know what kind of accommodations might be available for marriage ceremonies or weddings in general, well I’ve got loads of experience with that being a physically disabled and neurodivergent celebrant and I’m happy to give advice.
None of my ceremonies will include any language that ostracises any group or that puts anyone down.
Connection to Country
We are living on stolen Aboriginal lands, and sovereignty was never ceded. I grew up in the Blue Mountains on Dharug and Gundungurra Country, and I live now on Wangal land in Sydney’s Inner West.
I work throughout NSW as a marriage celebrant. I recognise all Australians’ connection to these lands, but in particular I reflect my acknowledgement of the Traditional Custodians of the lands I am working on in every marriage ceremony. This is not negotiable for me, and you’ll see this reflected in my Services Agreement.
I make a commitment to care for and nurture Country out of respect for the deep and unwavering connection of Aboriginal peoples to these lands. Please think about your impact on Country if you are having your ceremony outside and choose environmentally friendly options wherever you can. I always promise to leave a ceremony site unaltered by my presence as part of this respect, and my couples join me on this mission.
