Gemma the Celebrant

20/04/2024

🐈 Scroll for cats! 🐈‍⬛
It was last month, actually, but doing the social media thing is not a strength, so this will do.

are the reason I’m able to care for my intern, Penny, as well as the work experience kid, Podie. They have supported me unquestioningly with my elderly intern’s many health issues; they’ve helped me to keep the work experience kid from the dangerous life of a stray kitten, looked after her when she’s needed emergency care, supported her recovery and all her kitten medical stuff including desexing, worming, medicine, everything.

They do amazing work saving and rehoming animals, and you should all go donate to them too if you can… and/or adopt one of their lil pals if you have the capacity to give them a safe and loving forever home!

11/01/2024

I AM NOT A ‘COOL’ PERSON.
I have absolutely zero chill.
As Medina & Jose can attest, I’ll pretty much be bursting out of my skin with excitement when I get to marry you.

My emotions have always simultaneously run deep and sat right on the surface, and I’ve got my heart on both sleeves.

This has… not always been well-received.

I’ve spent a lot of my life trying to squash these parts of myself.
Plagued by debilitating self-consciousness, second-guessing myself, absorbing criticism and turning it inward, I have often felt I’ve had to hide my (naturally very big) feelings.

But here’s the thing:
I don’t squash it any more.
My big feelings and my truckload of empathy make me AMAZING at my job… and bloody excited to marry the people who -get- it.

Don’t be “cool.”
Be passionate.
Feel your feelings.
Enjoy the things you enjoy, unironically and unapologetically.

To quote my best friend, Dr. Taylor Alison Swift: “I don’t think you should ever have to apologise for your excitement.”

Tell me what makes YOU excited - because THAT’S what I wanna bring to your love party.

✨💖✨

Photo by the gorgeous .weddings, cropped for instagram

Lovers | 💚

Celebrant/MC |
DJs |
Venue & Food |
Photographer | .weddings
Flowers | .and.folk
Wheels |
Good times | Everyone!

05/01/2024

Authenticity. That’s what I’m chasing, and that’s what I want for you too.

"Every time someone steps up and says who they truly are, the world becomes a better, more interesting place." - Andre Braugher,
as Captain Raymond Holt

12/09/2023

It’s good to set expectations early.
✨❤️‍🔥✨
Celebrant |
Planner & Coordinator | .by.e
Venue |
Photographer | |
Entertainment | |
Florist I
Cake |
HMUA I &
Gown |
Suit I

24/05/2023

Finalistsayswhat?

CONGRATULATIONS to Gemma the Celebrant who has been announced as a FINALIST in the Civil Marriage Celebrant - Category for the 2nd ANNUAL Wedding Industry Awards – GREATER MELBOURNE.

WINNERS will be announced on Tuesday 16 May 6.00pm via a VIRTUAL PRESENTATION

Do not miss out on a Fun Filled Celebration of Excellence in GREATER MELBOURNE Wedding Industry.

Check your Inbox OR Spam Folder for your FINALIST email and be sure to DOWNLOAD your FINALIST LOGO ROUNDEL. + a Link to REGISTER OR by Booking @ https://bit.ly/41F4H5Q

12/04/2023

Back in “my office” tonight getting some script work done.
This office is a lot closer to than the office in my home, and the bar service is a LOT better.

11/04/2023

“At the bride’s instruction, anyone who isn’t having fun will be removed from the venue and given red cordial until they are prepared to participate appropriately.”

Brookleigh Photography

11/04/2023

LOOK AT THE PRETTIES!!! Ash, you’re phenomenal.

09/04/2023

Morning after snuggles with another happy couple… who have decided they are keeping me.

New record for longest I’ve hung around at a wedding (two nights total.)

Met so many people who are My People at this love party, and I’m ever so grateful to Wedding Planner + Stylist | Elizabeth] for fratchmaking* us.

*friend matchmaking (but also wedding vendor suggestifying.)

Celebrant |
Planner & Coordinator | Wedding Planner + Stylist | Elizabeth]
Venue |
Photographer |
Entertainment |
Florist I
Cake |
HMUA I
Gown |
Suit I

01/04/2023

Married “Josina” last night, and I want that party and those people every single weekend. What a lot of love and joy in the place - beautiful. Warm. Heartfelt. Next level partying skills.

Polaroid taken by the lovely 𝗠𝗘𝗟𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗡𝗘 𝗪𝗘𝗗𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗦] 🤍📸

Lovers:
💚

Celebrant/MC:


DJs:


Venue & Food:


Photographer:
𝗠𝗘𝗟𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗡𝗘 𝗪𝗘𝗗𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗦]

Flowers:and.folk

Wheels:


Good times:
Everyone!!!

**tweddings

20/03/2023

I’ll be donating a portion of any payments this month to because trans kids exist, and trans rights are human rights.

(Image Description: A pale pink and blue background with stars on it. Text reads "This month I'm supporting," and in the centre of the image is the Transcend logo with the words ‘Supporting transgender children and their families.’)

20/03/2023

Remember the infamous dog that ripped bride ’s dress before even the group photos were taken? And I had my sewing kit handy, so I mended the dress there and then?
Well, THIS is that menace. I JUST discovered that she has her own instagram account.

Go follow .like.a.sunday.morning - but please send no hate her way, only belly rubs and positive reinforcement.

(Yes, I AM doing a bunch of posts tonight so I can hit 222 to sit nicely alongside my 1234 followers. Whatever gets the social media motivation going, I just gotta roll with it.)

19/03/2023

Babadaba babababa baaaaaadababa bababada!

13/03/2023

“Why are you always so nice to me?”
“You’re an idiot,” he said. “I’m in love with you.”

I -literally- fell off my chair when Warren & Rach told me this moment of their story. These two are so gloriously besotted with one another that I could quite happily listen to them talk about each other and their lives all day long!

Married at the beautiful Montsalvat, and giving the most earnest and heartfelt answers that any of my I Do questions have ever received.

Newlyweds:van.ryn 💛 .pollard

Celebrant:
Gemma the Celebrant |

Venue:
Montsalvat Arts Centre |

Photographer:
Lauren Marshall |

Music:
Castillo Strings |
Mezz Coleman |

Flowers:
Hailey Paige |

My roadie for the day:
Jacqueline Cherry | .celebrant

07/03/2023

Nobody was hurt, but a kid did miss his violin lesson, which I’m sad about but maybe he was glad about? Idk. Today might’ve been the day he unlocked virtuoso status, and we’ll never know.

QUICK UPDATE

I am okay, but I was involved in a vehicular collision today

As far as I can tell, I’m physically uninjured, but I am still in shock, so we’ll see how the next day or two go.

I need to take it slow this week and just prioritise being okay. I will still absolutely deliver on your amazing ceremonies, my gorgeous couples, but I may need to step back from emails and things while I give myself some space to recover and figure out what’s next now that I don’t have my beautiful little car.

If there’s anything urgent, please text me. 💜

06/02/2023

YAS. QUEEN.

What an excellent, fun and attractive group of humans.

Stars of the show:⁠
💖 ⁠
⁠
Celebrant & MC: ⁠
Venue: ⁠
Food: ⁠
Photos: & ⁠
Videography: ⁠
DJ: from ⁠
Photo booth: ⁠
Florist & Event Hire: ⁠
Entertainment: &

24/01/2023

The 26th is no date to celebrate when Aboriginal people are still incarcerated at enormously inflated rates thanks to a racist “justice” system.
That’s why this month I’m donating a portion of any business earnings to

22/01/2023

Those giddy happy in-love grins. 🤎

Couple:
Venue:
Photographer:

13/12/2022

Some VIP* content for you.

*Very Important Pupper.

Photographer: Karen Brothers .brothers.photography .hepburn
Celebrant:
Videographer:
Catering:
Makeup
Hair: Natalie Gori
Marquee: Macedon Ranges Party & Equipment Hire

02/12/2022

🥹 When something so delightful is written about your work, by someone in the wedding industry who you admire a whole lot, you share that s**t everywhere you can.

I’d heard good things about Emma Leeson] before we worked together on this love party, and the experience itself was even better.

Emma went above and beyond to make Hannah & Beau’s Celestial/Batman vision come to life, and when I emailed her pre-wedding to tell her all the weird and wonderful stuff I’d been planning, she jumped right on board with my shenanigans too!

She even reached out to for a little extra magic in the form of surprising the couple with a gorgeous moon backdrop for the ceremony.

I love working with people who are as excited about a wedding as I am, and I love when people in this biz really show what is all about.

Thanks, Emma Leeson] - It was a damn good time working with you, and I’m keen as custard to work together again!

"This ceremony took fun to a whole new level! There were more Simpsons references than your heart could handle, a hidden surprise under every chair, and a scavenger hunt that had everyone out of their seats before Hannah and Beau had even said I do. 🌙"

*I like mustard, but I like custard better.

28/11/2022

Going down memory lane and came across this stunner! what a babe you are!

Photographer: Karen Brothers .brothers.photography .hepburn
Videographer:
Catering:
Makeup
Hair: Natalie Gori
Marquee: Macedon Ranges Party & Equipment Hire

⁠

21/11/2022

Couple of my DREAMS. 😍

Photos by the glorious , cropped for instagram.

Lovers & Adventure Buddies | 💖

Celebrant
Gemma the Celebrant |
Roadie
Leish Camilleri
Photographer & Videographer
Katie Maree Images |
Caterer
Pizza Pawn Food Truck |
Makeup Artist
Ma.Ra Hair and Makeup | .ra.makeup
Hannah's Dress
And The Veil |
Event Styling
Astrid Styling |
Moon
True Romance Photo Booth |
Reception DJ & Florist
DIY | DJ Hannah’s iphone
Florist
DIY | Hannah

26/09/2022

Looking forward to summer. 🌊🍦💜

Lovers: 💘

Celebrant:
Photographer:
Hair: colour .hairbyshana
Hair style + make-up:
Dresses:

19/06/2022

Smiles and laughs all round.

Can’t believe it’s been almost 4 months since I got to marry & !

Photo by the spectacular Melbourne Wedding Photographer | Photography Coach and Mentor] (who we love) and cropped for socials

🖤Vendors extraordinaire🖤
Celebrant:
Venue: .wool.mill
Event photographer: Melbourne Wedding Photographer | Photography Coach and Mentor] Videographer:
Band:
DJ:
Event planning:
Food:
Cake:
Flowers:
Bride’s HMU: Jessica Strazds Hair & Makeup]
Bride’s Dress:
Bridesmaids’ makeup:
Bridesmaids’ dresses:
Hair: Jessica Strazds Hair & Makeup] &
Suits: Hugo Boss

27/05/2022

Just got home from a late night dinner meeting with my favourite couple, after they surprised me with a super sweet and thoughtful custom gift ordered from my favourite candy heart queen & wreath-makin’ machine, …who is the person who brought us together in the first place!

B&C know I’ve been having a rough trot lately, and would have been totally fine with me showing up for our meeting in my slippers.

This is the absolute dream: a couple who encourage me to “be as extra as you want with the ceremony,” who I click with so well that I can be completely authentic if I’m feeling loopy, or honest if I’m feeling s**thouse, and with whom I never have to paint on a business face.
Somehow, in spite of this, they wholeheartedly trust me to do an amazing job for them anyway.
What I’m saying is, with them I can be both miserable and magical. Oh, yeah.

I’m so excited for these toit nups… we’re going to have SO. MUCH. FUN.

01/05/2022

May 17th is International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT), which is why this month I'll be donating to Rainbow Door!
❤🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤🤍💖
Rainbow Door is a free, specialist LGBTIQA+ (Le***an, Gay , Bisexual, Transgender and Gender Diverse, Intersex, Q***r, Asexual, BrotherBoys, SisterGirls) helpline providing information, support, and referral to all LGBTIQA+ Victorians, their friends and family. Through advice, referral and support from an experienced LGBTIQA+ peer, Rainbow Door will help all LGBTIQA+ people navigate the system to access the supports they need. Think of it as a community-run one-stop shop to point you in the right direction for the help you need.
⁠
is run by

(Image Description: A pale pink and blue background with stars on it. Text reads "This month I'm supporting," and in the centre of the image is the Rainbow Door logo.)

20/04/2022

Wedding pros, what are some things that pop up in your life and remind you of specific couples?

Every time I hear The Cranberries now, I think of N&S.
I might need to send them voice memos every time now? Maybe? I don’t know how long the impulse will last but I loved imagining N’s thousand-watt smile when I did yesterday! 😅

Photographer: Karen Brothers .hepburn
Videographer:
Catering:
Makeup
Hair: Natalie Gori
Marquee: Macedon Ranges Party & Equipment Hire

11/04/2022

My laptop died on Friday, and then my phone took it as peer pressure and jumped into the sink, so it’s dead now too.

Please be patient with me this week as I try to sort out all my s**t! 😩

04/04/2022

April 2nd was Autism Acceptance Day*, which is why this month I'll be donating to Yellow Ladybugs!

Yellow Ladybugs is an autistic-led non-government organisation who are dedicated to the happiness, success and celebration of autistic girls, women, and gender diverse folks. They believe that autistic individuals of all genders deserve to be recognised, valued, accepted and supported."

*You may have heard it being called 'Autism Awareness Day,' but many Autistic folks are pushing for Acceptance rather than Awareness. Being aware that Autistic people exist doesn’t actually help anything - but acceptance does!

(Image Description: A pale pink and blue background with stars on it. Text reads "This month I'm supporting," and in the centre of the image is the Yellow Ladybugs text logo with yellow ladybug image.)