Your Ceremony...
"Love is the Passionate Dance Between two
Hearts.
It is to Believe in the Dream, and Together make it Real."
Sylvana Rossetti
A Personal Philosophy
Marriage ceremonies throughout the centuries have largely taken predictable forms. Within religious communities it is called ‘Liturgy’: the term given to prepared, defined and organisationally upheld statements. In more recent years with the provision for ‘civil’ ceremonies, celebrants have offered the choice of ‘standard’ or ‘modified standard ceremonies’ that are reused on a continuous basis.
These are often fine statements; they may be rich in sentiment, they may well define the meaning of marriage, but are they written for you?
Uniquely yours to the last detail
Through my distinctive approach I celebrate the identity of the people involved – each ceremony ‘belongs to the couple’. It is uniquely theirs to the last detail. Each ceremony is original, personal and arises from the time we spend together.
As a qualified and accredited Marriage & Family Counsellor, I was trained in the fields of Marriage Preparation, Marriage Enrichment and Reconciliation Counselling. Growing out of my extensive professional work in the humanities, I have chosen an approach that sets the stage for a great celebration – not about the ‘institution of marriage’ itself, but rather the ‘people’ who are being married and what it means to them.
A Foundation for the Future
The process of preparing the ceremony is an experience from which couples have gained a great deal. From the material shared and selected, the ceremony is composed and becomes a heart-warming statement for you and for your guests, celebrating:
• who you are together
• what it means for you to share your lives
• the ‘life directing vision’ you have composed, and
• a fulfilling life as a family.
Your ceremony in printed form presented on the day,
becomes the blueprint for a ‘forever life as one’.
Being Legally Prepared
Each couple is fully informed regarding the ‘legal requirements in preparation for their marriage’. They will also be offered specialist material prepared by the ‘Relationships Division’ of the Attorney Generals Dept. This includes printed and other visual material.
Celebrating the Experience
For your wedding party to be well informed you may choose a rehearsal. This will be discussed during your preparation interviews. On your wedding day, as your celebrant, I will arrive 20-30 minutes ahead of time – not only to guide the groomsman, but to also check out the all important facilities and to welcome the guests.
For out-of-doors ceremonies, guests often require guidance regarding the location and warm greetings often help to set the tone for the event. (It is also time to meet the bridal party for any last minute calming of nerves.) The ceremony will then be a moving and happy occasion setting the stage for further celebrations to follow.
Ken Palmer
