Ebony Millard Marriage Celebrant - Blog

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Busy in my "Down Time"......

8/2/2016

Having some fun at the Milton Ulladulla Wedding Expo! I looked at this chair all afternoon it's so gorgeous I had to have a little sit! It's available for hire from Hoorah events. Click on the pic - it will take you to their website!

So it's been a little while since I posted a blog. I would like to say that the reason for that is because I have been so busy! Well that's half true, I've been lucky enough to marry five gorgeous couples this July, but considering I just ate half a King Island Triple Brie while watching Sex and the City re runs I guess you could say I have also been indulging in a little down time.
With the new wedding season now less than a month away I thought I had better start getting organised. I am sure there a plenty of couples out there having their "Holy Crap" moments when they realise the whole year they had to plan their wedding has slipped away and all they have left to work with is a matter of weeks. Don't worry! It will all come together - it always does.
And just to give you a little something to look at I have posted a few pics from some of the weddings I have done in the last little while. Most of the pics are courtesy of the fabulous Dean from Cloudface photography. The others are thanks so my expert hand or a kind person I have roped into taking my pic.

Most of the pics are courtesy of the fabulous Dean from Cloudface photography including this stunner of Jack and Kate's wedding at Mollymook back in June. The others are thanks so my expert hand or a kind person I have roped into taking my pic. Click on this pic to see more of Dean's work.

Busy times and love in abundance!

3/12/2016

I just wanted to share a few of my favourite moments over the last few months. Enjoy x

Wedding Season is cranking up!!

11/9/2015

Well the wedding season is currently in full swing and what a whirl wind of amazing weddings so far!
November is my busiest month for the year with 10 weddings which will have me traveling all over the country, I am so excited!! (Cue me opening huge bottle of Champagne to celebrate..... see pic above).
I thought I might quickly share a few pics from the last couple of months. It's just a tiny snippet of what I have been up to so if you would like to see more follow me on Instagram at: ebonymcelebrant for regular updates, shameless selfies and some behind the scenes action!

Wedding Season's begun..... but wait where's Nanna?

9/2/2015

Wow what a wonderful way to start the wedding season!
A big Congratulations to Anna and Rob who were married on Saturday at Merribee. Amazingly the weather turned out to be stunning after the area was completely smashed by torrential rain (over 400mls!!) in the week leading up to their wedding day.
It was a gorgeous afternoon and the guests gathered in front of the fantastic barn in the fabulous gardens of Merribee house. We were all set to go after hearing word from the Bride that she was running on time. Rob was waiting patiently by the arbour with his best man when suddenly we realised Nanna wasn't there!
A messenger was quickly sent to tell Anna there was a slight delay as we were waiting for her 92yo granny to arrive. Finally Nanna and her driver (who was described as being as useful as a chocolate teapot haha) took their places and the music began.
Their ceremony was simply lovely, with lots of laughs from the guests and maybe even a couple of tears. It was such an honour to share Anna and Rob's story with their family and friends and I'm so excited that as it's just the start of the season and I get to share many more.

Scroll down for a few pics I grabbed quickly of Merribee while waiting for Nanna to arrive.
Don't forget I'm a Celebrant not a photographer so if you want a better idea of how lovely it is at Merribee check out there website: http://www.merribee.com.au/ It's worth a look!

Hooray for Today!!

8/17/2015

Today I just want to gloat a little by saying that I am finally and officially a Full Time Marriage Celebrant!! I have to admit it is a little scary as I have resigned from my regular weekly wage paying employment and the security that it provides but I am so excited to be able to fully focus on the job that I enjoy most in the world. Being a Marriage Celebrant is more than just a job to me, it's my life!
So stand by for more facebook action, more blog posts and more wedding instagram pics because wedding season is just around the corner and from the looks of my bookings diary it's going to be Awesome!

Winter is coming......

4/28/2015

It’s hard to believe that the 2014/15 wedding season is actually over. It has been quite honestly nothing short of amazing!

I’ve had the great pleasure of hanging out with some extremely fabulous people and I’ve loved sharing their love stories with their families and friends.

This season I have experienced and seen so many extraordinary and wonderful things. There has been lost bridal parties, happy socks, ripped pants, ripped dresses, late brides, very late brides, extremely late brides and nervous grooms!
There has been young marriages, old marriages, remarriages and elopements. I’ve seen crazy kids, gorgeous kids, puppy dogs and dog fights. I’ve laughed at butt grabs and grandmothers dressed as flower girls. I’ve shed tears of joy in moments of unexpected hilarity and tears of sadness as we remembered those no longer here. I have battled with the wind and I’ve been silenced by the deafening thunder. I have asked everyone, including the guests to kiss as the rain tumbled down (before we all ran for cover!). I have shared a sunrise with one couple and the sunset with others. I’ve had kangaroos join the guests as they watched one couple say “I Do” and whales entertain other guests as they waited for the ceremony to start. I’ve had sand in my shoes and dug holes in the lawn with my heels. There has been glitter and bubbles and petals and confetti. I’ve travelled from Kangaroo Valley to Mogo and many places in between. Every place has been stunning and special. There has been music and laughter and food and love.

This season has been awesome to say the very least. I have met too many fabulous people to count. I have worked with many tremendously talented, professional and generous people whose support in this industry has been overwhelming. I am so grateful to enjoy a job and a life full of love.

This season has filled me with an abundance of joy and I rub my hands in glee with anticipation for what shenanigans next season will bring!

Keep scrolling for some more pics.....

Two lives lived in colour.... a Kangaroo Valley Adventure

4/15/2015

One of the many perks that come with being a Marriage Celebrant is that I get to go to beautiful locations that I might not ordinarily get the chance to. So I would like to say a huge thank you to the fabulous Tim and Claire for allowing me the opportunity to spend some time in the spectacular Kangaroo Valley. This place really is a little slice of heaven. Majestic rolling hills, amazing cliffs and rock formations, thick lush forests and cows!!

I knew the wedding was going to something a little different when I met these guys and they explained that they a passionate about living their lives in colour. Living in colour is their way of saying they don't want to be dull, boring and beige. And if the wedding ceremony was anything to go by there is no doubt that these guys have a very bright and colourful life ahead of them.

Claire's arrival was somewhat delayed by their 4 month old daughter who decided her need for a feed far out weighed the Brides arrival to her own wedding. So a very stylishly dress Tim nervously awaited as the guests gathered in the brightly coloured hall.

And bright it was. The hall itself is about 10 minutes up the river from Kangaroo Valley, nestled among gorgeous scenery and beautiful old farms houses. Claire's Mum had put in countless hours creating fabulous pom-poms made from brightly coloured wool which were strung up along lace paper images along the ceiling. The tables were decorated with mix match vintage coloured glass vases filled with a rainbow of flowers. The plain timber trestle tables were accompanied by bright red chairs. The colour was complimented by the use of plain white candles and dinner ware. The end result was simply gorgeous.

Finally the Bridal Party arrived. The Hall doors where closed so that Claire wouldn't be seen getting out of the car. Then the music started and the bridesmaids entered to the upbeat tunes of "Happy" by Pharrell Williams. When Claire appeared on the arm of her Father through the hall door they were dancing and they had a good jive as the guests clapped and cheered.

Highlights of the ceremony for me were the beautiful personally written vows which they had not shared with each other before the ceremony. Then the epic moment when Claire teased Tim about his aversion to public displays of affection and gabbed his bum right there in front of everyone! I had tears I laughed so hard.

I have no doubt they went on to enjoy a fantastic night with their guests and will go on to live a wonderful life together lived very much in colour.

Scroll down for more pics from Tim and Claire's fabulous wedding day!

8 Non Traditional Wedding ideas that will make your ceremony less generic and more you!

3/2/2015

I’ve been getting more and more requests lately for ideas that are a little less than traditional. People are wanting to personalise their weddings more and more and I have to say I love it! So I have compiled a few ideas that will make your wedding less traditional and more you.

A morning wedding. This is a fabulous idea if you are planning a beach wedding. How beautiful would it be to have a sunrise wedding? There is rarely any wind on the beach in the morning. The colours as the sun rises is far softer than the afternoon glare and it’s so peaceful, everything is so fresh. Then after the ceremony you could go out for a champagne breakfast!
Warning: This does not give you a lot of time to get hair and makeup done so probably best for a couple who are going for a more natural look.
A night time wedding. Imagine saying your vows under the romantic glow of candle light or overlooking the rise of a glorious full moon! I am an unashamed fairy light addict so a night time wedding for me is so exciting.
Warning: Photographers are not going to be keen on all the low light photography so you may need to shop around for someone with skills in this area.
Personalised vows. Write a love letter to each other. Make a list of all the things you love about each other. Make a promise. It can be sincere or silly. Whisper your vows to one another or write them on a contract and sign it or write things you want to let go of and burn it!
Warning: There is a minimum legal wording that must be said by the bride and groom and heard by their witnesses. But apart from that you can go to town.
Exchange something other than rings. Yes rings are traditional but they aren’t a legal requirement. You can exchange anything, jewellery, golf clubs, car/house keys, trophies, symbolic statues, a bag of flour, a plant, investment portfolios or you don’t have to exchange anything. You could just high five or have a special shake hands!
Warning: It’s hard to fit golf clubs in the best man’s jacket pocket.
Shake up the flow of the ceremony. Have a kiss at the beginning of the ceremony, calm the nerves and have a final snog before you’re hitched. Traditionally the groom arrives before the bride but why not rock up together? You could even have the photos done first. You will still get the grooms first look at the bride in her fancy frock and then after the ceremony you can get straight into the partying, photos done!
Warning: There may still be some family pics that need to be done but at least you won’t have to run off for a couple of hours after the ceremony.
Audience/Guest participation. Some people do it with a blessing of the rings ceremony. I recently had a couple request that all of their guests share a kiss with their loved one as they shared their first kiss as husband and wife at the end of the ceremony. It was beautiful! You could get the guests to sing along with the Brides entrance song or any other songs throughout the ceremony by handing out lyric sheets. Play a celebratory song after the ceremony and get the guests up to dance. Could you imagine a huge impromptu conga line or chicken dance?!?!!
Warning: Nope, can’t think of anything for this one.
Friend as the celebrant. You can have whoever you like preside over the wedding ceremony as long as you have an authorised celebrant on hand to oversee the legalities and sign the paperwork. So if you have a charismatic friend or a family member who isn’t afraid of getting up in front of your guests then why not? It makes for a far more personalise approach and certainly a memorable event.
Warning: Some people are not cut out for public speaking, just saying.
Elope. This one is pretty self-explanatory. Who needs the headache and the stress of guest lists and seating arrangements not to mention the expense of paying for all those guests to eat and drink their way through the evening? You’re looking at a house deposit right there! It can still be memorable and amazing without an audience. Some of the most moving and unique weddings I have done were with less than 10 people. It’s intimate and really special. It focuses on the most important element on the day – two people and a promise.
Warning: Some feathers may get ruffled as often others feel they have the right to share your day. It’s your call.

Photo cred: Sunrise pic - ablwedding.com

Pop-Up Wedding? That sounds awesome!! Tell me more.....

1/20/2015

It seems a whole number of things are popping up these days. Pop-up restaurants, Pop-up cafes, Pop-up shops! Why not a pop-up wedding?

This could be the perfect answer for those looking for a beautiful wedding without all the fuss. A wedding that focuses on what is important, the couple, their ceremony and their marriage.

Elopements are becoming more and more frequent as many people prefer to spend the average of 20-30 thousand dollars (If not more) on a home deposit than on a flashy wedding with all the trimmings. Now don’t get me wrong, I love a big wedding as much as anyone, but not everyone has loads of close friends or a family. Not everyone likes the idea of standing in front of 100+ guests, it’s scary!! Some people can’t afford a wedding with the works and some people simply feel that the marriage ceremony part is between the two people saying the vows and that spectators are optional or not required.

So the good bits about a pop-up wedding; It’s a legal wedding. You will say your vows, sign the paperwork and walk away Husband and Wife just like any other legal wedding. You get a beautifully styled space to hold your nuptials, a registered marriage celebrant, a fabulous photographer, room for up to 15 guests and memories to last a lifetime! You can wear whatever you like. You can play your own music or bring along a musician. You can exchange your own personal vows and wedding rings and if you need we can even provide the witnesses.

After the ceremony our photographer will whisk you away to get your wedding day photos. If you have guests they can be in the photos too. Then you can head off to your after party to celebrate however you like, with whoever you like! A picnic on the beach, a fabulous meal at any one of our fantastic local restaurants, a full blown reception with everyone you know or home for ham sandwiches, the choice is yours!

Pop-up weddings are all about keeping it simple and affordable as well as special and memorable. It’s something a little different from the traditional. It celebrates the two people who matter the most on their wedding day. And what better place to do it than on the stunning NSW South Coast?

If this idea appeals to you please feel free to contact me for more information and get excited as the first South Coast Pop-up Wedding is likely to be Popping up on the first day of Spring!!

Photo Cred: elizamagazine.com and onewed.com

Holidays are fabulous in a place like this!

1/13/2015

Whilst patiently waiting in the bumper to bumper traffic that is the yearly holiday occurrence of our beautiful coastal villages, I started drafting this post in an effort to remind myself why I love living here, because quite honestly bumper to bumper traffic and reduced internet really does give you great cause to ponder such things. So in an effort to lift my ever darkening mood I started to consider the positives of living where I do, here on the South Coast of NSW.

This time of year in particular there is a wonderful holiday vibe. Sunburned noses and smiling faces are everywhere you look. Sarongs and wet hair, bare feet and board shorts, beach cricket and fishing rods poking up all over the place. The smell of sausages sizzling on the BBQ wafts on the warm evening breeze and mingle with the sound of the ice cream trucks jingle and the clink of stubbies as people gather to enjoy their holiday time together.

I feel so grateful when I see how much joy this sleepy beachside community brings to our visitors knowing that I get to experience it all year round. No wonder people come here to get married! We are spoiled with so many fantastic reception venues, accommodation options and of course stunning ceremony locations. The choice is endless with awesome headlands, beautiful beaches, gorgeous parks and amazing forests, fabulous wineries and all with spectacular views.

So even if the traffic is bad and the overloaded network means the internet becomes infuriatingly slow (I tried to post this over a number of occasions this past two weeks unsuccessfully!!) it’s only for a few weeks. I’m counting my blessings that I get to enjoy the spoils of this location year round. It truly is a magical place and with the excitement and the good vibes that come with our visitors, it’s especially fabulous this time of year.

P.S If you would like any further information on the possibility of having a wedding around here feel free to drop me a line!

Photo Cred goes to me!! All Pics taken within a few kilometres from my house :D

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