Liam Kelly - Civil Celebrant

Name: Liam Kelly - Civil Celebrant
Address: Melbourne, VIC, 3156, AU
Telephone: +61421392548

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Liam Kelly - Civil Celebrant

Liam Kelly - Civil Celebrant I'm a civil celebrant committed to using the power of storytelling to enrich human lives.

13/01/2025

I'd like to wish two absolute legends a very happy first wedding anniversary today. Chris and Chelsea, yours is the wedding which first springs to mind when I think of bringing a spirit of fun to bear upon the ceremony. From opening with a 'Princess Bride' reference to playing 'Liam Says' mid-wedding in order to pick your witnesses, it'll be hard to top the bar you set for the laughter which filled the room in which you made the ultimate commitment to each other. May this be the first of many years in which you enjoy the fruits of MAWWIED WOVE TOGEVAH

08/01/2025

I'd like to wish a very happy 3rd wedding anniversary to Zane and Katrina, the very first couple I ever married as a working celebrant. It's been a joy to see how well their relationship has bloomed throughout those years, difficult and exciting as they have been.

Looking between these photos, and the smiles on the faces of the children raised under the aegis of their love, it's difficult to deny that getting married on this day 3 years ago - in the theatre we played in as kids, no less - was the best choice they could have made.

Happy anniversary, you two. May the fruits of your bond grow even sweeter in time.

03/12/2024

BLACK AS NIGHT, LOVE'S TRUEST LIGHT

Traditions are funny things, when you think about them. On the one hand, they can serve as inherited guideposts by which previous generations help their bewildered children along, lending a sense of stability or moral clarity where confusion might otherwise reign. On the other hand, they can also serve as millstones around the necks of freer spirits - those who want only the space, and the liberty, in which to carve their own paths through the world.

I'm proud to say that my practice as a celebrant is leaning more and more towards serving these free spirits, largely by clearing the space in which their own creativity can thrive.

When I first met Tam and Jay, it was immediately apparent to me that they were my kind of people - free spirits in precisely the sense outlined above. They weren't interested in overblown pomp and ceremony, didn't care for inherited customs befitting times and places as distant from their love as could be: all they wanted was a little space, and a little time, in which to make manifest their commitment to each other, in a way which spoke to how irreplaceable each was in the eyes of the other.

We found that place next to a small hut, on Coranderrk lands near Healesville Sanctuary. As the sun warmed the ground on which we stood, our presence welcomed through a beautiful smoking ceremony courtesy of Murrundindi, a Wurundjeri elder, it was clear that there couldn't have been a better day to honour the love which binds Tam and Jay together.

This was born out by the end of the ceremony: anxiety melted into contentment, words of commitment gave way to the low tones and distorted guitars of Sleep Token, and adorable mini chocolate muffins vanished into thin air (said I, wiping crumbs from my mouth).

Most importantly, however, Tam and Jay tied the knot in their way: dressed in black, as they will be at all the metal shows they'll attend as husband and wife, and confident that the beauty of that day reflects the future they embrace together. Keep it metal, you two

04/06/2024

LOVE BY THE LAKE

I can recall the precise moment at which I knew that marrying Ray and Simone was going to be a delight above and beyond the standard for my line of work. It was during our first meeting: after mentioning that they joked about entering a 'ten-year relationship contract' upon getting together, they had hoped to time their wedding with their ten year anniversary as a way of 'renewing their expired contract', with a little upgrade to boot!

When I left that meeting, I was buzzing with more than just the coffee we shared. My hunch was that this wedding was going to be something special, and I'm delighted to write that, as the crowd applauded their first dance and the ceremony came to a close, this hunch turned out to be on the money.

One of the beautiful things about being a celebrant is that you get to see first-hand just how unique every couple in love ultimately is. Simone and Ray blended a distinctively cheeky sense of humour with an earnestness and romantic conviction which touched on the profound - an amazing combination which delighted everyone lucky enough to experience their long-overdue union first hand. From the way that Simone's bubbly personality was literalised in the tiny, multi-coloured bubble machine adding a touch of whimsy to their first dance, to the way that the ceremony went out to the blast of trumpets with which John Williams' 'Star Wars' theme opens, it's fair to say that their big day went down on their terms, and it was all the better for it.

May the next decade together be as rewarding as the last, and May the Force be with you both

13/03/2024

When I underwent training to become a civil celebrant, I was presented with a piece of advice often given to entertainers and event organisers: "if you can help it, never work with children or animals". The longer that I've been doing this work, however, the more reasons I have to doubt the width of its applicability.

It is true that including children in weddings throws up unique challenges, but this is also true for every other type of person - consequently, it can be difficult to take stock of that because those other types of people are so much more readily represented at weddings that we take their presence for granted.

In the spirit of wanting to highlight the good that kids at weddings can do, then, I humbly present to you this short list of ways that, in my opinion, the presence of kids can enhance your wedding, not detract from it.

(speaking anecdotally, the time I responded to a baby's interjection with 'everyone's a critic!' is probably the best laugh-reaction I've ever gotten out of an audience, hence my inclusion of #3).

Photo credits:

02/02/2024

WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS
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I'm generally quite lucky as a celebrant, in that almost all of my clients have been a delight to work with - I've yet to encounter a 'bridezilla', for instance, nor have I had to deal with the sorts of wedding disasters that Tik Tok has made increasingly visible of late. Given this charmed professional life, it means something when I say that having the opportunity to meet Chris and Chelsea was particularly special to me. It was only when, towards the end of our first meeting, they floated the idea of playing a game of 'Simon Says' with the audience in order to figure out who their witnesses should be that I began to realise just how lucky I was.

While many busy themselves in projecting an image of uniqueness as part of their 'personal brand identity', Chris and Chelsea simply are utterly unique individuals in the least ostentatious way imaginable - theirs is the individuality of nature, not of careful, market-facing nurture. This relaxed individualism resulted in the best of all possible situations for a celebrant to be in: they shared a definite idea concerning how they wished their ceremony to go and a free-spirited flexibility regarding how that idea might be adapted to fit changing circumstances. This combination of factors meant that, though we did have to move the ceremony indoors at the last minute due to Melbourne weather doing its thing, nothing could rain on their parade.

That happiness - the pure happiness of two hearts whose beats have synchronised - was infectious, and you can see it in all of the images I've posted today. Chris and Chelsea graciously invited me to stay for the reception, and I can confirm that that happiness kept on rolling right through the night, the first of their married lives.

I am lucky to have had the chance to work with such lovely people. I am luckier still in that our relationship has survived the work which brought it into being.

Chris and Chelsea: may the decades to come be as rewarding and fulfilling as the one you've so ceremoniously closed out. I look forward to hanging out with you again soon

07/01/2024

NEW YEAR, NEW 'WE'

Now that we're all on the other side of that bizarre liminal week between Christmas and New Years, I've noticed that a lot of people have swapped 'New Years Resolutions' for 'Ins' and 'Outs' lists: those things that they want to introduce in their lives through the coming year, and those they'd rather leave in the dustbin of history.

I think that this is a good thing, provided that you cultivate your lists in the spirit of kindness, both for yourself and others - there's no sense in junking the harmful cycle of moving between excessive standards and excessive guilt if you're just going to use your Ins/Outs lists as an excuse to be cruel to yourself.

In the spirit of approaching 2024 with a will to be kind, here's my humble suggestion for something to put on your 'Ins' list: make this year the one in which you commit yourself wholeheartedly to the love of your life. In a climate of uncertainty, the best time to place the pursuit of your happiness at the forefront of your life is right now - though none can say what tomorrow may bring, it is within your power to make today one worth remembering.

If anyone reading this feels ready to make such a step, you know that you've got a mate in your corner, eager to help you along the way. So why don't you place 'worrying about tying the knot' on your Outs list and get in touch? I'm always only a text message or a DM away. :)

Photo credit:

#2024

16/11/2023

EVERY FRAME A PAINTING

~

It's often said, and rightly so, that 'a picture is worth 1,000 words'. It might seem ill-advised for someone who works with words to admit it, but it's true. The magic of images lies in their unique 'density' - their capacity to communicate, in an instant, a wealth of meaning that words, which demand time to write, read, and hear, have to build up, brick by brick.

As such, if I were ever asked why I remain a celebrant, I'd spare my poor inquisitor a short essay and reply instead with this image.

Why?

When I meet couples for the first time, I often find them several sips into an emotional cocktail unique to wedding preparation: 7 parts passion to 3 parts nervousness. The depth and sincerity of their love for each other is beyond doubt, but a troubling note of anxiety makes itself felt - inspired perhaps by the thought of engaging with marriage law, the delicacies of family politics, or the ache of old wounds, as they find themselves called to rebuild bridges that have been burned before.

My job is to sit with them, talk about their hopes (and listen for the ways in which their fears approach the surface of conversation), and work with them on swapping out those 3 parts of nervousness for a shot of confidence. With my words, I do my best to make them feel good and excited about what is to come. I take the words they've entrusted to me, little fragments of a path only they have walked, and do my best to weave them into a ceremony which leaves them feeling exactly as they should: like they're about to take the first steps of the rest of their lives.

If I've done my job right, those steps will meet the dance floor with a sense of lightness and fun tempered by the deep warmth of a love freshly-pressed into the fabric of the world, as Jarrod and Yvette did here.

If I've done my job right, that is, the words these pictures are worth are those of the lovebirds they frame - of their jokes, their anecdotes, and of the way I've mirrored their lives in solemnizing their commitment to each other.

Every frame is a painting, yes - but behind every frame, and every life, is a story.

Photo credit:

19/06/2023

LOVE IS ALL YOU NEED

Many couples, when planning a ceremony to celebrate the bond of love between them, find themselves struck with a certain anxious thought: that the scope and size of said ceremony is a measure of the love it exists to honour. Worried that it won't be 'real' unless they go all out, these couples find themselves blowing out their nerves and their budgets in the hope that making a spectacle of their love is one way of guaranteeing its security.

This week past, I had the good fortune to perform a commitment ceremony for a couple which served as definitive proof that this idea is mistaken.

L and S didn't need a guestlist of thousands, catering and entertainment fit for royalty, or the security of tradition to celebrate their love in the manner best suited for them. For, standing among the bamboo at the Tim Neville Arboretum, they had everything they needed in their two hands: one to hold the pen with which they declared their commitment to each other for all time, and one to hold the sword the steel of which will back up that commitment. When you consider the support of their family in attendance and the uncontrollable laughter captured beautifully in the first image here, you can understand what I mean when I say that the air among the trees on that midweek afternoon hung thick with the happiness that their union both expresses and promises.

May your love gleam like your swords beneath an unclouded sky, and may your relationship retain the warmth of the hugs we shared that day. I was proud to be a part of helping you ascend to this next stage of your relationship, champions, and I look forward to seeing where it goes from here.

25/05/2023

I'm so excited to have the opportunity to share some photos from the recent wedding of these beautiful people, Jarrod and Yvette, held at Warburton's gorgeous .

After months of planning, writing, revising, rehearsing, meetings over pizza, and one last-minute scramble to find the ringbearer just before the ceremony was set to start, it was gratifying beyond measure to see that hard work pay off through the way that everything fell into place in the last few seconds.

Our couple stood ready, nervous and set to burst with the excitement you can see in the first photo. The guests fell quiet as I took my place at the front of the space. Jarrod and Yvette's son, Reuben, accompanied Mum and Dad down the aisle in his stylish white vest, unaware all the while that he was playing a very important role in helping his folks to realize the promise he represented.

The moment bridging the onset of this quiet and the first word of the ceremony was a perfect one. My initial nerves (every celebrant worth their salt gets a bit nervous before a wedding) gave way to a wave of clarity - a sense that I was going to help these two wonderful people, who I had grown to adore over the time I worked with them, celebrate their love for each other in exactly the way that they wanted.

So it was that this perfect moment kept on rolling, kept building upon itself to create an incomparable wedding day. I was honoured and delighted to be invited to be a part of it, and I wish Jarrod and Yvette the very best for their lives together.

Photo credit:

26/02/2023

Last night, I had the distinct pleasure of conducting a commitment ceremony for Darren and Natalie, two lovely people who were dealt a fairly dodgy hand over the last few months.

It was a privilege to have been invited to bring about such a well-deserved night of happiness and celebration for these two, one which I'm sure raged on 'til the early morning after I took my leave!

One of the best things about this job is that it exposes you to ways of loving you'd never thought possible. Natalie and Darren's unique dynamic - one which resembled a comedy duo more than a typical couple in love - demonstrated to me not just that it is possible to blend total irreverence and profound adoration, but that it's quite an infectious combination.

It was an absolute pleasure working with you, Natalie and Darren. Be well, and may your love grow stronger still.

09/02/2023

Here's a sneak peek concering some of what I've been up to lately. If you think this looks good, just wait until you see what my wonderful couple, their talented vendors, and I have been cooking up for late April!

It should already be apparent from these snaps that my couple are choosing to get married in their unique style, on their terms, and they couldn't be happier with how things are shaking out! If you're interested in adopting such a personalised approach to your own wedding, hit me a DM or give me a call and we'll start planning your big day today!

23/01/2023

Let's keep the love rolling with another anniversary celebration! I'd like to wish a very happy anniversary to Noel and Sharon, a delightful couple I was honoured to marry this time last year.

Though it was an absolute scorcher outside (roughly 35C), the vibe of the ceremony could have not been more chilled. Ever-relaxed and ever-prepared, Noel and Sharon entered this new phase in their lives together with the kind of serene confidence and contentment of which Aristotle wrote when he described 'happiness' (eudaimonia).

I know that, wherever they are now, they'll be happy as long as they have each other, and I consider myself very lucky to have had the chance to see them off at the outset of their journey.

To Noel and Sharon: may the good life ever be yours, and may your love grow stronger still.

21/01/2023

I'd like to wish the happiest of anniversaries to Jake and Jaime, an adorable couple I had the distinct pleasure of marrying this time last year.

It's not often that an initial wedding consultation turns into a four-hour hangout over a BBQ dinner, but these two are just that kind of exceptional. It felt like we became instant friends, chatting about metal and plans for the future between signing the NOIM and sorting out rehearsal dates.

The same kind of energy was on full display at the wedding itself, as you can see in the photo featuring my colleague that day - Punk Rock Elvis! Romantics at heart, Jake and Jaime celebrated their big day in their own way, and, consequently, I doubt I'll ever see another quite like it. I'm lucky to have been a part of it.

I was honoured to have been invited as a guest to the reception, something some of you may remember from my recent post about Cardboard Tony Hawk. What a night that was! A steady stream of good food and sick beats flowing from the backyard marquee provided the perfect atmosphere for the kind of party in which Jake and Jaime seem to feel at home - and which, from what I've seen since, they've kept rolling to the present day.

Shine on, you crazy diamonds! Happy anniversary, my friends, and may your love grow stronger still.

08/01/2023

I'd like to wish a very happy anniversary to Zane and Katrina, the first couple I had the honour of marrying this time last year. The whole day was such a beautiful celebration of the blossoming love between two people who were very much meant to be together, and I'm privileged to have been asked to be a part of it.

I mean, the venue was the very theatre in which they played as kids and in which, nearly two decades later, in the green room after a show, they were to be engaged. You literally can't make up circumstances as wonderful or ideal as that!

Happy anniversary, you two. May you be well, prosperous, and may your love grow stronger still.

24/12/2022

Hey folks, this post is brought to you by me, Gizmo, star of what is, objectively speaking, the best Christmas film of all time - 'Gremlins' (1984).

Liam's taking a short break over Christmas, so I thought that this was a perfect opportunity to nick his phone and share my love with everyone reading this! While I'm chirping out mogwai melodies around the tree, I'm hoping that all of you are enjoying this holiday period and, crucially, that youre taking any time off to recharge as much as you can. It's so easy to overextend yourself over the holidays, so please be sure to treat yourself with the kindness and generosity you deserve. For, all things considered, you all deserve to be happy.

Uh, I mean...Mogwai!

I'd like to wish you all the happiest of holidays. If any of you were wondering what you could get Liam for Christmas, a couple of wedding referrals would do the trick ;P

Anyway, the siren song of midnight chicken is calling me, so I'd better return Liam's phone before I get transferred to the Naughty List!

05/12/2022

FROM JINGLE BELLS TO WEDDING BELLS

As the end of 2022 can already be heard screeching around the bend, it might be a good time to take a break from the holiday shopping and have a think about what you *really* want for next year.

Would you like to kick-start a brand-new chapter in your romantic relationship?

Would you like to celebrate your commitment to someone or a milestone anniversary?

Have you been disappointed by a 'virtual graduation' over Zoom,
and found yourself wishing for an event focused on celebrating your accomplishment?

If so, then why put off to next year what you can start today?

If you're interested in having me serve as your celebrant, please get in touch using my contact info below to reserve your ceremony date for 2023!

Make it your New Year's resolution to see through your personal evolution with yours truly. :)

Phone: 0421 392 548
Email: [email protected]

#2023

08/11/2022

One piece of advice I've always taken to heart is this: "Never plan a wedding on an empty stomach". I recently had the luck to meet with two legends who agreed with me, and so we began the process of organising for their special day after tearing into some ripper meals, like this beast of a parma you can see here (yes, that is pulled pork on top of it; yes, it was amazing).

Times like these remind me just how lucky I am to work this job. If you reckon that this sounds like a pretty great way to get your wedding planning started, the next step is easy: just get in touch, and we'll meet at your favourite place :).

Address

Melbourne, VIC
3156

Telephone

+61421392548

Website

http://www.liamkellycivilcelebrant.com/

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Videos

Thanks very much to @sallycantcelebrant and @naturalgraceaustralia for inviting me today! As you can see, I was so excited to tell you all about what I saw that I recorded this vlog-style in the car the very minute I returned home! For anyone closer to Melbourne city than the regions, like myself, Natural Grace also has a Fairfield location. Sustainable and empathetic death care and advocacy is needed just as much by urbanites as those in the regions, after all! #funeralcelebrant #funeral #deathcare #deathcareadvocates #naturalgrace #holistic #holisticfunerals #melbourne #melbournecelebrant

CHATTING ABOUT COMMITMENT The humble commitment ceremony has seen something of a resurgence in recent years, and it's easy to see why. When budgets are tight or family politics look set to erupt into open warfare over seating arrangements, the commitment ceremony is there as a solid option for those who want to just want to celebrate their love in the here-and-now without all the fuss of a bells-and-whistles wedding. Watch this reel to learn a little more about commitment ceremonies and see if it fits the vibe you're going for. If it does, or if you have any questions you'd like cleared up, please don't hesitate to send me a DM, email, or give me a call at 0421392548. If you and your other half feel ready to commit to each other, I'm ready to commit to crafting the ceremony of your dreams! #civilceremony #civilcelebrantmelbourne #commitment #commitmentceremony #celebrant #melbourne #celebrantmelbourne #loveislove

TESTING, TESTING, 1, 2, 3. Every celebrant has at least one story to tell involving a near-miss with technological disaster. Given that there's nothing like major equipment failure to sink the mood at a wedding, part of our work involves the regular maintenance and testing of the tools of our trade. Though this might seem like a dull bit of busywork on its face, there's no reason why you can't have a bit of fun with it when it's routine testing in your own home. Testing at the venue is a different beast, as you're typically doing it not to see if the equipment still works, but to figure out the appropriate volume and position to ensure that all guests can hear it. In my case, 'fun' means taking advantage of the excellent bass in my Bose S1 PA and blasting some high-energy metal - there's nothing quite like it for getting you pumped up for a ceremony! #civilcelebrancy #civilcelebrantmelbourne #marriagecelebrant #celebrantmelbourne #melbourne #celebrant #weddingcelebrant #weddings

As a celebrant, it's important to practice before an audience in order to keep your presentation skills sharp. Given that part of our work involves traveling all over the place to meet clients, you'll never know in advance who your potential audience might be! On the day I took this video, I was in regional Victoria to meet some clients and get the Declaration of No Legal Impediment squared away. Having never been there before, I over-budgeted time for the trip and ended up arriving roughly half an hour early, before my clients had even come home. I decided to use the time to belt out a quick run-through of the wedding script, and it didn't take long after getting my folio from the car for me to spot these gorgeous creatures. With a literally captive audience and time to burn, I shot this little video to document the occasion before proceeding to rehearse. You might be surprised to hear it, but their feedback was invaluable for the main event the following week! #celebrant #civilcelebrant #marriagecelebrant #celebrantmelbourne #civilcelebrantmelbourne #travellog

As a celebrant, it's importance to practice before an audience in order to keep your presentation skills sharp. Given that part of our work involves traveling all over the place to meet clients, you'll never know in advance who your potential audience might be! On the day I took this video, I was in regional Victoria to meet some clients and get the Declaration of No Legal Impediment squared away. Having never been there before, I over-budgeted time for the trip and ended up arriving roughly half an hour early, before my clients had even come home. I decided to use the time to belt out a quick run-through of the wedding script, and it didn't take long after getting my folio from the car for me to spot these gorgeous creatures. With a literally captive audience and time to burn, I shot this little video to document the occasion before proceeding to rehearse. You might be surprised to hear it, but their feedback was invaluable for the main event the following week! #celebrant #civilcelebrant #marriagecelebrant #celebrantmelbourne #civilcelebrantmelbourne #travellog