Wedding wisdom from your celebrant

As soon as you have a date in mind! The Whitsundays' dry season (May to September) books out well ahead — 12 to 18 months isn't unusual for popular Saturdays. That said, if your date is closer, always ask; weekdays and shoulder-season dates often have room, and elopements can sometimes come together in a matter of weeks.

Your Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM) must be lodged with me at least one month before your wedding day (and no more than 18 months out). You'll need ID like a birth certificate or passport. Don't stress about the paperwork — I'll guide you through every form, every step. That's my job.

Late afternoon is magic — softer light, cooler air, and golden hour for your photos right after the ceremony. In the warmer months I'd gently steer you away from the middle of the day: nobody remembers their vows fondly while squinting into midday sun. And for beach ceremonies, it's worth checking the tide times before you set your heart on a spot.

It's your call, and I'll happily make the announcement either way. Many couples ask guests to put phones away for the ceremony so every face they see is a face, not a screen — and so your photographer's shots aren't full of iPads. Others love guests capturing everything. There's no wrong answer; just decide together beforehand.

The details only you two know — how you met, the moment you knew, the little things you love about each other. That's exactly what my Our Love Story questionnaire draws out, and it's why no two of my ceremonies are ever the same. The couples whose guests say "that was SO them" are always the ones who shared generously.

Write from the heart, keep them roughly the same length as each other, and don't try to memorise them — that's what the beautifully printed vow cards I bring are for. Speak to your person, not the crowd, and if happy tears come, let them. Nobody has ever regretted crying at their own wedding.