Modern Sydney Celebrant

Same-sex marriage will soon be legal in Australia Australian Parliament is currently debating changes to the Marriage Act 1961,  which would allow same-sex couples to marry in Australia 2018. This follows a resounding 'yes' vote in the 2017 plebiscite on Marriage Equality. The contentious postal vote revealed that 61.6% of Australians believe same-sex marriage should be legalised. Prime minister Malcolm Turnbull has pledged that parliament will vote on the issue of marriage equality before Christmas. Changes to the Marriage Act 1961 will need to be passed in the House of Representatives and the Senate. The earliest same-sex marriage could be ratified and accepted into law would be December 8, but there are no concrete timeframes in place and it coule be much later. ​ Once same-sex weddings are made legal, LGBTI couples will first need to lodge a Notice Of Intended Marriage with their celebrant in order to be able to marry. There is then a minimum one-m...

It was like a scene from a storybook romance as Jo and Stacy celebrated their love at Newtown's Berkelouw Books. The gorgeous couple were cheered on by family, friends and their two adorable children as they promised to love, honour and care for one another for the rest of their lives. Jo and Stacy's Commitment Ceremony had lots of lovely, personal touches... acknowledgments to loved ones, a ring warming ritual and a heartfelt song performed by family. Berkelouw Books provided a stunning and character-filled setting, which the couple had styled with a vintage literary feel. Lara Holtz Photography captured the love, happiness and personality of this special day perfectly. As a civil celebrant it is my great frustration that I wasn't able to perform a legal marriage for Jo and Stacy.  I strongly believe that marriage should not be defined by whom it excludes. Rather marriage should be celebrated and strengthened by focusing on it's core values of ...

As debate rages in federal politics, the Sydney Morning Herald has asked four commentators to argue their case. The priest, the newly-wed, the lawyer and the lobbyist all give their views of whether same-sex marriage should be legalised. As a modern Sydney celebrant , Laura respects the rights of same-sex couples. She will help create a special and romantic ceremony signifying a life-long commitment to your same-sex partner.

Australian Greens leader Bob Brown will push for a conscience vote to allow gay and lesbian marriage after the next election. Both major parties are currently against changes to Australian marriage laws which would allow weddings for same-sex couples. But if the Green party take the balance of power in the Senate after tomorrow’s federal election, then gay marriage will be back on the agenda. As it stands, the Marriage Act states that marriage is “the union of a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life.” Same-sex couples are currently restricted to Commitment Ceremonies, which hold no legal standing. A civil celebrant can help make a Commitment Ceremony as close to a legal marriage as possible. Commitment Ceremonies celebrate the spiritual, emotional and practical joining of same-sex or other devoted couples. About the author: Laura Craddock is an open-minded and modern Sydney civil celebrant who conducts same-sex Commitment Ceremo...