Ceremonies by Cath - Catherine Flavell
Sydney, NSW
- Services
- Civil celebrant, Elopement celebrant
- Works in
- Sydney
About
Ceremonies by Cath is a civil marriage celebrant service run by Catherine Flavell, based in Wattle Grove in Sydney's south west. The business offers wedding ceremonies, registry-style and elopement ceremonies, renewal of vows, commitment ceremonies and civil funeral services. A private, dedicated ceremony room at Wattle Grove is available for small and intimate weddings with just two witnesses, as an alternative to booking at the registry office. Ceremonies are written to suit each couple, whether formal and elegant, casual and relaxed, or a simple elopement-style wedding.
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Questions
Will our Australian wedding be recognised worldwide?
Absolutely - as I am registered Civil Marriage Celebrant, your wedding is legally recognised worldwide.
What about all the legal documents?
Don’t stress. I look after all the legal documents on behalf of my couples and I will guide you along the way. All the couples need to do is provide me with the relevant information to complete their Notice of Intended Marriage form and also the required documents.
What about COVID?
First and foremost, everyone’s health and wellbeing MUST be front and centre in all our minds and of course we also need to abide by the health regulations and restrictions when imposed by our Government at the time of your wedding.I have assisted many couples navigate these trying times since March 2020 which was only achieved when the couples and I worked together, ensuring we had constant and open communication between us. So I am confident that together we can do the same should extreme COVID measures look like affecting your wedding.
What if I need help with our application for an immigration visa for my overseas fiance?
I have assisted many couples in this situation. I am not authorised to speak about the immigration side of things, but I can speak about my role as your celebrant with attending to your marriage legal paperwork - including providing you that all important supporting letter for your Visa application.
17 more questions
Can we be married if one of us is under 18 years of age?
Yes it is possible provided the person who is under 18 years of age obtain permission from a judge or local magistrate. However permission is rarely granted and couples are often asked to wait until the under aged person turns 18. Under no circumstances can two persons under 18 years marry each other.
How many witnesses do we need?
Two official witnesses who must be 18 years and over are required for your ceremony. They can be relatives or friends and they don’t have to be Australian residents or citizens. All you need to do is supply me with their full legal names.
Can you provide the two official witnesses for us?
Yes, I have supplied witnesses for some of my couples if you wish to not have any of your family or friends know about your elopement. The cost for the two witnesses will be included in my Statement of Fees to you and from there I will pay the witnesses after your wedding ceremony.
We need an interpreter at our wedding how that does work?
You don't have to engage and pay for a professional interpreter. Your interpreter can be a family member or friend who can speak fluently and understand both English and the language that needs to be interpreted. There is a form that your interpreter will need to sign before and after your wedding ceremony which I will prepare in advance for you. I will also explain the process with your interpreter before I start your wedding ceremony. All you need to do is supply me with your interpreter's full legal name, their address, occupation and the language that will be need to be interpreted.Please note your interpreter is not allowed to also act as one of your official witnesses.
Is there a time restriction of when we can marry or where we can marry?
Any restrictions is more likely to be imposed by the respective local Councils (for public parks) or owners (of private venues) – so do make sure that you check out your desired venue before you book.
If there are people around where we intend to get married, can we ask them to move?
Provided that you have paid the Local Council to hire that site for your wedding and have a confirmed booking receipt, you have the right to ask them to move.
Do you performed wedding ceremonies outside of Sydney?
Absolutely. I have conducted weddings in the Central Coast, Hunter Valley, Wollongong, Southern Highlands and even Canberra. A travel fee will apply which is calculated based on the total km distance that I travel to and from your wedding venue. Other incidentals where applicable will also apply – tolls, overnight accommodation etc
Would there be any other additional fees involved?
Only if they are applicable to your wedding. I work on a ‘user pays’ format and I am upfront with all additional fees that may apply at the time of booking. For example:• Paid parking – secured parking station or street metered;• Where I am required to use any of our Motorways to get to and from your wedding venue;• Onboard a boat or on an island in our beautiful Sydney harbour which requires a water taxi to get me back to land after the wedding ceremony;• At a venue outside of Sydney that requires calculating the cost of mileage and if I am required to stay overnight.
Do you have a PA system?
Two in fact! I have one that cater for up to 150 guests and one that cater for up to 300 guests. Both my PA systems are portable and don’t require electricity and I have a separate hand held microphone for the couple to use during their vows or if they have a family member/friend doing a reading during the ceremony.
Do you look after our music during the ceremony?
I always encourage my couples to appoint a responsible friend or relative to attend to the music on the day – equipment and cueing the songs etc. Simply, because as your celebrant, my role and focus will be to deliver the wedding ceremony.
How long does the ceremony usually last?
A great ceremony averages around 15-20 minutes long. However, it can be as short or as long as you like. It all depends on what you want to include into your ceremony. Often the time restriction can also be tied into how long you have booked your ceremony venue for. Whatever the circumstances, rest assured that you can still have a beautiful ceremony from me.
Can we have some input into our ceremony?
Absolutely –I wholeheartedly encourage this with all my couples – after all it is your wedding. I love working with my couples to perfect that special ceremony just for them.
We want to involve our beloved dog(s) in our ceremony?
Not a problem – I’ve had many couples involve their fur baby in their wedding – especially as their ring bearer. However please check with the venue owner or Council if they allow dogs on site.
How many times can we meet with you?
I am a strong believer in open communication so I don’t have any restrictions on how many consultations you have with me - especially via phone, email or even video conferencing. At the very minimum, we will meet face to face at least twice before your wedding day (time of booking and rehearsal) but usually on average at least 3 times – all depends on each couple’s situation.
Are you able to assist us with any recommendations of other wedding service providers as we prepare for our wedding?
YES - Of course, it will be my pleasure to assist and recommend wherever I can.
Serving drinks?
It is a good idea to hold out on serving alcoholic drinks before or during the ceremony – there is plenty of time to celebrate afterwards. Also, I do recommend that you check with the respective Council first on what their ruling is with serving alcohol in public.
Should we have a contingency plan or plan b?
Definitely highly recommended if your wedding is going to be outdoors – especially where the weather may not being in your favour. Obviously for extreme weather conditions where there could be potential danger to you and your guests, common sense will need to be exercised.
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