Jennifer Cram, Brisbane Marriage Celebrant

26/12/2024

THERE IS A VERY GOOD REASON ... If you want an extraordinary wedding ceremony, make sure you choose a celebrant who is super-knowledgeable about the legal requirements!

The legal requirements are
✨NOT just an add-on
✨NOT just a hoop ⭕️ To jump through
✨NOT just an inconvenience!

An in depth understanding of what is NOT required to make your marriage legal, together with the extensive knowledge that facilitates reading between the lines, can be a catalyst that opens your eyes to possibilities you never dreamed of.

Like the Next-Gen ReImagined wedding ceremony I now offer.

https://www.jennifercram.com.au/BLOG/the_reimagined_wedding_ceremony.htm

And PS. I'm acknowledged by my celebrant colleagues as being the person they go to if they have a tricky legal question! In fact, when I recently posted some info to the AFCC FB group that included a question mark in a quote, and FB notifications told other members that I'd ask a question, a long-standing celebrant responded that his first thought on reading the notification was "If Jennifer doesn't know the answer, we're all scr*wed!"

26/12/2024

Today is a huge sale day. Boxing Day. Hard on the heels of Black Friday. Discounts everywhere.

So why don't I go on sale?

1. The clue is in the pronoun. I'm not selling goods. Stuff you can take away and put in a cupboard because you own it. You can give it away. You can donate it. You can on sell it. None of those options apply to ME!

2. You don't buy me. You hire my focus. My knowledge. My skills. And, dare I say, a piece of my heart. The clue is in the pronouns again!

3. My regular fees are fair and realistic. No inflated markups.

4. I'm not a "conveyor belt" celebrant. Im not chasing quantity. I'm all for quality and time to give each couple my personal attention from first contact to after sales service.

5. Confidence. Yours. Because FOMO has not been part of the equation. You've got the time you need to check my website, read my blog, read hundreds of reviews, and get a real feel for who I am and the freedom my process gives you.

25/12/2024

The Paper Trail to "I Do" 💍

In the game of love, you need more than just a heartbeat and a smile! Turns out, living, breathing, and paying taxes is not enough proof that you're an adult. You also need a stack of official papers to prove you’re alive, unmarried, and over 18 before you can say "I Do!"📝💡

Here's to the hoops we jump through for love! 💖

24/12/2024

It's peak proposal season! Having said yes, are you ready to Imagine Your Dream Ceremony 💍✨

Picture this: the most magical wedding ceremony, led by someone truly special in your life. 🤗 Whether it's your best friend, sibling, or mentor, they can guide your vows in a heartfelt ceremony. 💖 Remember, the legalities can be handled separately, or you can have an authorised celebrant involved to take care of the legal paperwork and the legal part of the ceremony.

Creating a ceremony is an art, but it's one that can be learned! 🎓 With my book, "Ceremony Script: Inclusive Wedding", your loved one will have all the tools needed to craft a unique and memorable ceremony. It's both a flexible script and a masterclass, all in one affordable package. Your dream wedding, your way. 🥂

https://www.jennifercram.com.au/books.html :_Inclusive_Wedding

23/12/2024

Some fabulous wedding photos.

The photo was taken in the small town of Dungog in the Hunter Region.

23/12/2024

Oh Dear 😢

I've just had to ruin someone's dream of getting married (legals only) the first week in January by telling them that they have to give a month's notice.

Spread the word. It is only in exceptional circumstances (most of which are awful circumstances that I wouldn't wish on anyone) that permission might be granted to shorten that period.

22/12/2024

Honour the Past, Celebrate the Present 🌿💍

Your wedding day is a celebration of love and unity—a moment where you stand at the intersection of past, present, and future. 🌟

My book, "55 Loving Ways to Remember: A Definitive Guide to Including Those Who Have Passed in Your Wedding Ceremony and Celebration," offers heartfelt suggestions to honour those who have touched your life, whether their loss is recent or from decades ago.

Discover ways to include your loved ones in your special day without overshadowing the joy of the occasion. From subtle nods to cherished traditions, create a tapestry of memories that weaves the love of today with the cherished bonds of yesterday.

✨ Let their spirit be part of your forever story. ✨

Grab your copy now and explore meaningful ways to remember and celebrate. 📖💕

https://www.jennifercram.com.au/books.html

22/12/2024

Christmas Eve is a popular day for proposals/getting engaged. And why not. It is, after all, one of the most romantic holidays to propose (according to a survey that found 32% of people think that!)

BUT, is it EVER OK to propose on CHRISTMAS DAY?

It's a hard NO from me. Everyone is enjoying and celebrating Christmas Day with all its traditions, both personal and cultural, and then suddenly, it's all about you getting engaged. It's hijacking. And if the ring is also the Christmas pressie ... meh!

New Year's Eve, however, is a whole other story. Definitely OK to propose so you start the new year as an engaged couple.

And let's get over the idea that marriage proposals, and for that manner, marriage, is entirely in the gift of the male. First, it makes no sense in the 21st century, where marriage is by no means the only way for a woman to secure her economic future, and it makes even less sense now that the gender mix of a couple has no relevance on getting married!

https://youtu.be/PhwiGBrAq0E?si=lfILXxdL5g3oHxJ0
https://youtu.be/PhwiGBrAq0E?si=lfILXxdL5g3oHxJ0

Christmas on the Cobbles is gearing up to be as dramatic as ever this year. Corrie’s reunited lovers Daniel and Bethany will reach a festive crossroads as Da...

22/12/2024

I Do...to Staying on Budget! 💍

Wedding bells shouldn't sound like alarm bells! 🚨 Avoid the stress of a budget blowout by following the tips in my blog post "8 Simple Ways to Keep Within Your Wedding Budget." and keep your special day as stress-free and fabulous as you deserve! 💒✨

Read now and say 'I do' to smart spending!
https://www.jennifercram.com.au/BLOG/8_wedding_budget_tips.htm

21/12/2024

Celebrate Equality in Every Step 💍✨

Walking back up the aisle is a timeless moment of equality, free from gender role stereotyping. In my book, Fantastic Wedding Finales, I cherish this tradition while adding a twist of the unexpected!

Voted one of the top 100 wedding books of all time, this guide offers innovative ideas for your wedding, whether a Next-Gen ReImagined Wedding ceremony, or a contemporary take on the traditional wedding.

Are you ready to transform your wedding exit into a vision of complete equality and creativity? Grab your copy today!

https://www.jennifercram.com.au/books.html

20/12/2024

On your wedding day you're looking forward to being happily married at the end of the day.

A good part of that is marrying happily. Which really does not mean being hot, bothered, and cranky! But it's hard not to be those things on a stinking hot day. And the weather gurus are telling us that this summer is going to be a scorcher.

Beating the heat depends largely on your planning. But it also depends hugely on what you do on the day!

I explore both of these in my blog post https://www.jennifercram.com.au/BLOG/10_ways_to_beat_heat.htm

It all comes down to the 9 things in the graphics, and to the overarching principle: be Realistic!

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20/12/2024

Heads up!

I don't want to be pessimistic at this wonderfull time of the year, but I paid some overseas suppliers this morning and the exchange rate between the AUD and GBP is the worst it has been in 10 years!
Don't put off any purchases on your wish list for to long.
There is a national living wage adjustment due in the UK in early 2025 combine this with the 10% drop in the $ and prices will increase considerably again

19/12/2024

Confronting heads up from Sister Boniface Mysteries Christmas Special 2024 ...
Set in the 1950s.

Man being questioned (after his wife is murdered) over irregularities in a bank account:
"It was my account in name only. Of course married women can't have bank accounts. But (wife) dealt with all the finances. All I did was sign the cheques."

Bo so long ago! And why I am so dedicated to eliminating from the marriage ceremony words and choreography, inherited from earlier times, that suggest a power and privilege imbalance between a bride and a groom.

19/12/2024

Reimagining Your Wedding Ceremony starts with the Processional.

Say "I do" to inclusion! 🌈✨ Dive into "Perfect Wedding Processionals" for a treasure-trove of ideas about how to add an original touch to your grand entrance.

By rethinking tradition, starting with integrating the processionals, the Next-Gen ReImagined Wedding Ceremony paves the way for partnerships built on balance and respect. 💍💖

Let's step forward together, celebrating love in all its forms. 💐

https://www.jennifercram.com.au/books.html

18/12/2024

Love Needs No Permission
In the world of marriage, some traditions are leftovers from when women had fewer rights. Let’s break it down: you don't need dad's okay, no clergy consent required, and in Australia no government stamp of approval either. Love is an equal partnership, and it stands strong without permissions. 💍❤️

18/12/2024

Don't let a little rain dampen your spirits on your big day! 🌧️💍

☔️ It has been pouring in Brisbane, with flooded roads and dark, stormy skies, but that's no reason not to embrace every drop! Remember, rain on your wedding day is a sign of good luck, so let the love wash over you. Here's to a marriage filled with laughter, love, and the occasional splash of rain! 💕🌧️And a great plan B in place!

Read my blog about rain and luck
https://www.jennifercram.com.au/BLOG/rain_on_your_wedding_day_good_or_bad_luck.htm