Jim Noonan, Civil Marriage Celebrant

  • Celebrant's Blog

    Further information regarding the following posts can be found at:
    http://weddings.jimnoonan.com.au

    Heavenly Harp


    When you encounter a true professional as a musician at a wedding, it really lifts the tone of the ceremony.  Last weekend, I met up with just such a professional, harpist Alannah Guthrie-Jones.
    Check out her credentials at:
    www.heavenlymoments.com.au
    Heavenly Moments indeed!!!
     
    Can I get married less than one month after lodging my Notice of Intended Marriage form (NOIM)?

    It is quite common for couples to ask me if they can be married without giving a full month's notice of their intention to be married.  The most common reason for this request is that one of the parties is facing the expiration of a visa and needs to marry sooner than one month's time.   Only "Prescribed Authorities" such as the Registry Office can give couples permission to shorten the time and this permission is never given if the reason is that a visa is about to expire. 

    The Victorian Registry website sets out clearly some of the acceptable reasons that might be given for a shortening and I advise anybody who wishes to consider whether they might be eligible to visit this site:

    Shortening the Time of Notice
     
    Animata String Quartet

    You can't beat a string quartet at a wedding.  Here's one that gave a touch of class to one of my recent weddings.  Visit their website at  www.animatastringquartet.com.au
     
    Tying the Knot

    An ancient Celtic ritual sometimes used at Australian weddings is what is known as Handfasting.

     
    What are the Banns of Marriage?



    The word banns refers to an official announcement of an intended marriage.  These days it could take the form of an a notice in a newspaper.  Long ago the term covered births, deaths and taxes but since the time of Charlemagne it has referred only to marriages. He had an eye to preventing marriage between brothers and sisters!!! He required seven days notice for a wedding giving people time to reveal if the couple were indeed brother and sister. The practice still exists in some cultures, but is more likely to be aimed at preventing polygamous marriages.  Times sure have changed!
     
    Popping the Question

    There are countless ways one could propose marriage to the love of one's life.  If you were to enter the question "Will you marry me?" into Google you would find currently 890,000 different results.  If you would like to bring a touch of romance into this event in your life, why have a look at Google and see if it offers you any appealing ideas.

    If you want to sample examples of how others have done it, have a look at:
    Will You Marry Me?
     
    Whom Should I Marry?

    A young woman recently asked me this question, "Should I marry the person whom I have fun with me and who treats me like a princess or should I marry the person who has been a loyal friend to me over a long time?"  A naive question, no?  And one I did not dare to try to answer directly.  So I decided to answer in the words of one wiser than I who says, "Marry the one whom you would like to have as the father of your children". 
    She just said, "Wow! That makes me think."  Can you think of a better answer I could have given to the young woman?
     
    George Bernard Shaw on Marriage

    "When two people are under the influence of the most violent, most insane, most delusive, and most transient of passions, they are required to swear that they will remain in that excited, abnormal, and exhausting condition continuously until death do them part." George Bernard Shaw
    He has a point do you not think? So happy are those couples who discover the deeper, enriching and fulfilling basis for a happy marriage and find that their partnership gets better and better over the years.
     
    What about a Facebook group for your Wedding Guests

    Not all of your family, friends and guests will be familiar with Facebook, but imagine how much fun and information will be available for them if they are familiar with Facebook. Would you like to know how to set one up and run with it? See the following:
    http://weddings.about.com/b/2010/04/20/making-a-facebook-group-for-your-wedding-guests.htm
     
    Do you have to apply for a change of name when you get married?

    It is surprising just how often I am asked this question. Just to reassure those who are not clear on this point, the answer is No!. After your wedding, the Registry can issue a marriage certificate if you require it and this is usually sufficient evidence to have personal documentation changed to your married surname. However, some organizations may require you to register a change of name where you have married overseas.
     
    Wedding Directory

    For up-to-date information on wedding services, see:
    theweddingdirectory.com.au - Australian Wedding and Bridal Directory
     
    Happy Day at Redesdale

    Any place is a good place for a wedding when you are in love!
    This is what it was like at Redesdale today before one of the worst storms in recent memory hit Melbourne.
    Hope everybody got home safely!
     
    NSW Migration Agents

    There are many excellent migration agents in Victoria who understand that "Weddings In Melbourne" is the best place to send clients who want a prompt and efficient marriage ceremony when they are dealing with Partnership Visas.  However, we have noticed a NSW Agent, Jose Respall, who has given his clients a very helpful link to a  complete list of Australian Marriage Celebrants for the guidance of his clients.  How helpful is that?  See: https://www.respall.com/index.php/default_con 
     
    A Moment to Remember Forever


    Don't you just love that moment when the bride and groom can say, "We have pledged ourselves to each other and we are so happy about it."
     
    Edwin & Mirjam - The Ceremony

     
    New Marriage Certificates for Victoria


    11/1/2010 > You may be aware the I am trialling a new online registration system for the Melbourne Registry Office.  Now that my clients are applying to the Registry Office for the official marriage certificates confirming that their marriage is registered there, they are finding that the certificates are looking much more "official". 
    Normally, couples applying for such a certificate are issued with merely a photocopy of the certificate they sign on their wedding day.  However, now my clients are receiving certificates that are custom printed with all the information that I supply to the Registry Office.  This is a refreshing surprise to my clients who claim that at last the marriage certificates issued by the Registry Office in Melbourne  "...look like something important"
     
    Would you like to be the first to have your marriage in Victoria registered online?

    1/12/2009 >  I have been asked by the Registry Office to trial a new system for registering marriages online.  This trial begins on Monday 7 December, 2009.
    From that point on, I shall have direct access to the website of the Registry Office and I will be forwarding all information electronically to that Office after the marriage is complete.

    It is exciting to be a part of this initiative which will bring the registration of marriages into the 21st century. Watch this space for further details about this important innovation.
     
    Standard Celebrant's Fee


    What should I expect to pay a celebrant for the services provided?

    This depends very much on many things such as the level of experience and reputation of the celebrant. You would not want anything to go wrong on our special day so perhaps the first thing to ensure is that your celebrant has had many years of experience.

    In Melbourne, the average fee for a celebrant would be in the region of $550. If you can secure the services of a good celebrant for this figure or less and have the confidence that the celebrant is a true professional, then you are doing very well.
     
    More Wedding Readings

    Often, couples find that the most difficult aspect of their wedding ceremony is their choice of suitable readings. Here is a site that you may like to visit to read a further variety of suitable readings:

    http://weddings.about.com/od/yourweddingceremony/a/ReadingsLibrary.htm


     
    Wedding Readings

    Give some substance and depth to your wedding ceremony with the use of some inspirational and uplifting readings. There are many sites on the net where you can find inspiration. Try, for instance, the following:

    http://www.jimnoonan.com.au/#SelectedReadings
     
    Unique Wedding Ideas

    If you are planning a wedding, you might find it stimulating to dip into some of the ideas shared on the following site:

    http://www.ourmarriage.com/html/unique_wedding_ideas.html

    Some of the ideas don't impress, but others might arouse your imagination.
     
    Wedding Unity Candles

    The unity candle symbolizes the very essence of the wedding ceremony. Two smaller candles, representing the couple as individuals or members of separate families, are used to light a single center candle as a visible symbol of their commitment to each other. There are many variations on the ceremony and the individual details are completely up to you. Here are some ideas to help you as you plan your ceremony:

    Before the ceremony begins, place the unity candle on a small table near the place for the ceremony. It can be useful to have a small tealight already burning before the ceremony commences so that there would be no need to be lighting matches when the time for lighting comes.


    There are several popular options for lighting your smaller candles. You can have your parents come forward to light the them as a symbol of your two families coming together as one. At this point, some couples choose to present their mothers with a rose. Or, you may light the small candles yourselves from a tealight.

    Subsequently, the bride and groom come forward and light the unity candle from the two smaller candles.

    Often the celebrant will announce what is about to happen, and then the lighting takes place as gentle music plays.

    To book Jim Noonan to conduct your wedding, ring him now on (03) 9379 3824
     
    Legal Questions When Marrying

    As with other important things in life, deciding to marry has legal consequences.

    Normally you need to be 18 years of age or older. There are exceptions to this rule and your celebrant can guide you through what needs to be done if either of the parties is under the age of 18 years.

    You must lodge with your celebrant a Notice of Intended Marriage at least one full month and not earlier than 18 months prior to the wedding.

    When you lodge the Notice, you need to supply the following:
    - Birth Certificates (or extracts) as proof of age and identity.
    - A decree absolute or death certificate as proof that any previous marriage has been terminated.
     
    Wedding Photographers

    There are many very fine wedding Photographers with whom I have worked in the hope that we can bring some magic to the wedding day.

    A few good ones that I have seen capturing special moments in the areas around Essendon are:

    Studio House Photography
    117 Pascoe Vale Rd. Moonee Ponds
    9326 1014

    Megagraphics Photography
    136 Mascoma St. Strathmore
    9379 6636

    Tina Giorgio Photography
    166 Pascoe Vale Rd. Moonee Ponds
    9370 7729

    Brian Bonnici Photography
    21 Kalyna Crt Delahey
    9364 0604

    Christopher Clinnick Photography
    7 Strathconnan Sq. Tullamarine
    9338 5394

    Alex Pavlou Photography
    480 Abbotsford St. North Melb
    9348 9595

    Clique
    489 Nicholson St North Carlton
    9347 9022

    Studio 477
    477 Victoria St. West Brunswick
    9388 2527

    Affinity Photography
    Kaye Wright

    http://www.affinityphotography.com.au
     
    Choosing a Wedding Reception Venue

    If you are looking for a first class Wedding Reception Venue which is within easy reach from all parts of Melbourne, you can do no better than The Roselyn Court Homestead:
    http://www.roselyncourt.com.au
    Elegance and first class service are a good combination.