Gerry Fletcher, Marriage Celebrant, Tamworth

28/01/2026

WEDDINGS -2026
That magical time when two people decide to spend the rest of their lives together—and their entire life savings in a single afternoon. If you’re currently deciding between a "Grand Ballroom" affair and a "Grandma’s Patio" shindig, here is a breakdown of how your bank account will feel about those choices.

The Venue: Marble Pillars vs. Mildewed Fencing
• Traditional: You’ll pay a "Site Fee" that costs more than a 2018 Honda Civic. This fee grants you exactly six hours of access, after which a terrifyingly efficient coordinator will literally sweep your Great Aunt Linda out the door.
• Backyard: Free! Or, more accurately, the cost of a lawnmower tune-up and three bags of mulch to hide the spot where the dog buried a squirrel in 2023.
• The Hidden Cost: In a backyard, you will spend $2,000 on "decorative" string lights just to ensure your guests don't trip over the garden hose in the dark.

The Cuisine: Filet Mignon vs. The "Uncle Dave" Special
• Traditional: $150+ per plate. You are paying for a sprig of rosemary that has been placed with surgical precision and a chicken breast that is somehow both "artisanal" and incredibly dry.
• Backyard: $15 per person. You hire Spit Roast or fire up the Weber. Everyone is thrilled because barbeques are objectively better than rubbery salmon.
• The Hidden Cost: You’ll spend $400 on high-end coolers because "drinking lukewarm beer out of a plastic bin" wasn't the vibe on your Pinterest board.

The "Inclement Weather" Panic
• Traditional: Rain? Who cares! There’s a roof and industrial-strength HVAC. You might even get a moody photo under a tuxedo-clad umbrella.
• Backyard: If a single dark cloud appears on the horizon, the entire wedding party enters a state of high-alert dread. Is the garage/carport big enough?
• The Hidden Cost: $2,500 for a "Tent Deposit." This is basically "Rain Insurance" where you pay thousands of dollars for the privilege of sitting under a giant white tarp that smells like a gym.

The Final Tally
Category Traditional Wedding Backyard Wedding
Stress Level High (Financial) High (Logistical)
Dress Code Black Tie "Nice Jeans & Bug Spray"
Total Cost A down payment on The price of a used jet-ski
a house

16/02/2024

ELOPEMENTS OR SECRET WEDDINGS

No matter how romantic it may seem, an elopement is not possible in Australia as the Marriage Act requires that a Notification of Marriage (NOIM) form be given to a celebrant at least one month before the date of the wedding.
So how can you get "secretly" married?
The easiest way is to find a celebrant to accept the NOIM and then perform the wedding ceremony on the day. The celebrant will normally conduct the ceremony at a time and place of your choice. Two witnesses over the age of 18 must be present. Some celebrants may be able to provide the witnesses for you so it will really be a "secret"

SOME PROS AND CONS OF SECRET WEDDINGS
PROS:
Apart from the celebrant fee there may be no extra cost to the wedding.
You don't have to go through the culling process as to who to invite to the wedding.
Less stress, less drama and less planning.
You can always have a "wedding Reveal" party at a time of your choice.
CONS:
Family and friends may get upset about not being able to share in your milestone.
You miss out on having the wedding that you perhaps always thought about having.
It's hard to keep a secret!

STILL WANT A SECRET WEDDING? CONTACT ME

09/10/2021

Weddings (from October 11 2021)

Weddings in NSW may have up to 100 fully vaccinated people.

Do not attend a wedding if there are more than 100 people in attendance.

All people at a wedding must be seated while consuming food and drink. Dancing is permitted.

People within Greater Sydney can only travel within Greater Sydney and people within regional NSW can only travel within regional communities.

Rules for business

The occupier of a premises at which a wedding is taking place must:

not allow a person to consume food or drink unless the person is seated
follow the vaccination rules for business
have and comply with a COVID-19 Safety plan
ensure all people who enter the premises check in with the Service.NSW app or provide contact details to the occupier
not exceed 100 people at the premises

Rules for fully vaccinated people

You can attend a wedding, so long as the capacity limit is not exceeded. You must:

carry vaccination evidence with you and produce it for inspection to a police officer or authorised officer if requested
check in with the Service.NSW app or provide your contact details to the occupier
follow the face mask rules

Rules for people who are not fully vaccinated

If you are not fully vaccinated you can only attend a small wedding service.

A small wedding service is a wedding with up to 11 people attending, being:

the people getting married
the person marrying them
two witnesses
a person to record the service
5 guests

01/09/2021

NEW MARRIAGE FORMS

From September 1, 2021 couples wishiong to marry must use the new version of the Notification of Intended Marriage form.
This has to be submitted to a celebrant at least 1 month before the intended date of the marriage.
You can download a NOIM at the following:

https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/notice-intended-marriage-application

or call a celebrant to arrange for one to be sent to you.

If you've decided to marry, you need to give an authorised marriage celebrant, either civil or religious, at least one month's notice of your intended date. When you've chosen your celebrant you can then complete the Notice of Intended Marriage form. A Notice of Intended Marriage is valid for up to....

01/09/2021

NEW RULES REGARDING MARRIAGES FROM SEPT 3, 2021
From Friday 3 September 2021, small wedding services can be held in NSW.

Number of people
You can attend a small wedding service if:

• you are legally required to conduct the wedding service being the celebrant or officiant
• you are one of the 2 people getting married
• you are one of the 2 necessary witnesses
• you are recording the service or
• one of 5 guests.

These rules mean that no more than 11 people can attend a wedding service under any circumstances.

Small wedding services held outside Greater Sydney including the Blue Mountains and Wollongong

If you live outside Greater Sydney, you can leave home to attend a small wedding service outside Greater Sydney.

If you live in Greater Sydney, you cannot leave home to attend a small wedding service outside Greater Sydney, either as a participant in the service or as a guest.


Small wedding services held in Greater Sydney including the Blue Mountains and Wollongong

If you live outside Greater Sydney, you can leave home and enter Greater Sydney to attend a small wedding service only if you are:

• one of the people who is legally required to conduct the wedding service being the celebrant or officiant,
• one of the 2 people getting married
• one of the 2 necessary witnesses
• the person recording the service; or
• a parent, child or sibling of one of the people getting married.

If you live in Greater Sydney, but not in an area of concern, you can enter an area of concern to attend a small wedding service only if you are:
• one of the people who are legally required to conduct the wedding service being the celebrant or officiant,
• one of the 2 people getting married
• one of the 2 necessary witnesses
• the person recording the service
• a parent, child or sibling of one of the people getting married.

If you live in Greater Sydney but not in an area of concern, you can only attend a small wedding service as a guest (other than a family member referred to above) if it is in Greater Sydney and not in an area of concern.

If you live in an area of concern within Greater Sydney you can leave that area to attend a small wedding service in Greater Sydney, only if you are:
• one of the people who are legally required to conduct the wedding service being the celebrant or officiant,
• one of the 2 people getting married
• one of the 2 necessary witnesses
• the person recording the service
• the parent, child or sibling of one of the people getting married.

If you live in an area of concern within Greater Sydney, you can only attend a small wedding service as a guest (other than a family member referred to above) if it is in the area in which you live.

15/08/2021

24/06/2021

A Marriage Celebrant can marry anyone who is legally able to be married.

A Marriage Celebrant recognises the social, cultural and legal significance of marriage and the marriage ceremony in the Australian community.

Contact me to see how your wedding ceremony can be tailored to meet your wants and needs.

19/05/2020

COVID-19 Update 19/5/2020

The NSW Government has now published Public Health (COVID-19 Restrictions on Gathering and Movement) Order (No 2) 2020 providing detailed information on requirements for weddings taking place in NSW.
In addition to our communications with you last week, it has now been advised that:
• In addition to the couple, the people conducting or assisting in the conduct of the wedding, a photographer, videographer, and up to 10 guests may attend a wedding
• People attending will be required to provide their name and contact details, so that they can be used for contact tracing if needed
Public Health Order (2) 2020 can be viewed at:https://gazette.legislation.nsw.gov.au/so/download.w3p?id=Gazette_2020_2020-99.pdf
Part 2 Work and gatherings, Section 6 (4)(a) and (b) provides information on the requirement of contact details being provided and recorded for attendees at weddings in this state. This includes the recording of a contact telephone number for each attendee.
Part 6 Records and exchanges of information, Section (1)(a) and (b) advises that the record of contact details should be kept for a period of at least 4 weeks by the relevant person, and if needed provided on request to the Chief Health Officer

19/05/2020

COVID 19 New Regulations 19/5/2020

The NSW Government has now published Public Health (COVID-19 Restrictions on Gathering and Movement) Order (No 2) 2020 providing detailed information on requirements for weddings taking place in NSW.
In addition to our communications with you last week, it has now been advised that:
• In addition to the couple, the people conducting or assisting in the conduct of the wedding, a photographer, videographer, and up to 10 guests may attend a wedding
• People attending will be required to provide their name and contact details, so that they can be used for contact tracing if needed
Public Health Order (2) 2020 can be viewed at:https://gazette.legislation.nsw.gov.au/so/download.w3p?id=Gazette_2020_2020-99.pdf
Part 2 Work and gatherings, Section 6 (4)(a) and (b) provides information on the requirement of contact details being provided and recorded for attendees at weddings in this state. This includes the recording of a contact telephone number for each attendee.
Part 6 Records and exchanges of information, Section (1)(a) and (b) advises that the record of contact details should be kept for a period of at least 4 weeks by the relevant person, and if needed provided on request to the Chief Health Officer

06/07/2019

Affordable backyard weddings

06/07/2019

Price of a Registry Wedding Increased

The cost of a Registry wedding increased in NSW from July 1st, 2019
Prices are now:
Monday to Friday (8.00am to 4.00 pm) $442.00
Friday Evening (6.00 to 8.00 pm) $557.00
Saturday and Sunday ( 9.00am – 5.00pm) $557.00
For this you get the Notification of intended Marriage (NOIM) lodged; the set ceremony ( about 10 minutes – no music or readings) and a standard marriage certificate.

What do you get when you use a celebrant?

You get to choose your celebrant. The celebrant will meet with you to discuss your plans for the ceremony and to check the NOIM and all other legal requirements. Most celebrants will prepare a ceremony tailored to your requirements. The celebrant will lodge the NOIM and arrange a rehearsal if required. You get to have a ceremony tailored to what you want, at where you would like it to be held and at a time of your choice. Some celebrants will also arrange for the standard marriage certificate to be sent to you at an additional cost after they have registered the marriage.