Choosing a celebrant shouldn’t be hard.
But somehow, it is.
You scroll through websites.
Everyone sounds nice.
Everyone says they’re “warm, professional and personalised”.
And yet . . . you’ve been to weddings where the ceremony was:
- flat
- awkward
- completely forgettable
So what’s going on?
The difference between a great ceremony and a boring one isn’t luck.
It’s the celebrant.
Most celebrants aren’t bad – they’re just . . . safe
This is the part no one really says out loud.
Most celebrants:
- follow a similar structure
- use similar wording
- stick to what they know works
Which means you get a ceremony that’s perfectly fine . . . and completely unmemorable.
There’s nothing technically wrong with it.
But it doesn’t feel like anything, either.
The problem isn’t you – it’s what you’re being offered
Couples often think, “Maybe we’re just overthinking it”
You’re not.
If you don’t want:
- something stiff
- something overly traditional
- something that feels like it belongs to someone else
That’s not being difficult.
That’s having taste.
So how do you actually choose the right celebrant? Here’s what I’d be paying attention to:
1. Can they explain how they create a ceremony — not just that they do?
Everyone says their ceremonies are “personalised”. That doesn’t mean much.
Ask “How do you actually build a ceremony?”
If the answer is vague, template-based, or sounds like “we’ll just tweak this to suit you” . . . you’re probably getting a slightly customised version of the same thing they do for everyone.
2. Do they have a clear style?
A good celebrant isn’t trying to be everything to everyone.
They’ll have a point of view.
Maybe they’re:
- modern and relaxed
- classic and formal
- light-hearted and fun
None of those is wrong.
But if you can’t tell what their style is? That’s a red flag.
Because it usually means they default to “safe”.
3. Do you actually like how they write and speak?
Read their website. Thoroughly. Properly.
If it feels:
- generic
- overly polished
- like it could belong to any celebrant
That’s probably how your ceremony will sound too.
You’re not just hiring someone to stand there. You’re hiring their voice. Their presence.
4. Are they willing to challenge you (in a good way)?
A great celebrant won’t just say yes to everything.
They’ll:
- ask better questions
- push back on things that don’t quite fit
- help you avoid choices that feel forced
Not in an intense way – just enough to make sure you end up with something that actually works.
5. Do you feel like you can relax around them?
This one matters more than people think.
You’re going to be:
- sharing personal stories
- talking about your relationship
- standing in front of a crowd together
If the vibe feels off in your first conversation, it won’t magically improve on the day.
What actually makes a ceremony good?
Not length.
Not how many “features” it includes.
Not how fancy it looks.
A good ceremony is:
- easy and joyful to listen to
- natural in tone
- engaging without trying too hard
- clearly about you – not the celebrant
And when it’s done well? People pay attention.
Not because they have to.
Because they want to.
Do you need help to plan your wedding in Melbourne?
Let’s talk about “boring”
A boring ceremony usually isn’t dramatic or obviously bad.
It’s just:
- predictable
- flat
- slightly awkward
- easy to tune out
And the worst part? You don’t realise it until you’re in it.
You’re allowed to want more than “that was nice”
This is your wedding.
Not a box to tick.
Not something to rush through.
Or, worse, not something to get through.
If you want a ceremony that:
- feels natural
- reflects who you are
- actually holds people’s attention
Then the person you choose as your celebrant matters. A lot.
If you’re trying to avoid a boring ceremony…
Then you probably don’t need the safest option.
You need someone who:
- has a clear approach
- knows how to read a room
- can build something that feels like you – not just “a wedding ceremony”
If that’s what you’re looking for . . .
Then we should talk.
I work with couples who:
- care about how their ceremony feels, not just how it looks
- don’t want a cookie-cutter ceremony
- want something modern, relaxed, and genuinely personal
No scripts pulled off the shelf.
No awkward filler.
No going through the motions. Enquire here / Check my availability
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