Vows Now - Marriage Celebrant

30/04/2024

Hi there! I'm Sarah Aird Civil Celebrant, and I'm the new owner of this page! Jo Hayes has decided to step back from marrying people - I think she deserves all the thank yous for her amazing 15 years of celebrancy! If you want to send Jo a message to thank her in any way, this post is the place to do it. She'll be thrilled to hear from you!

📷Happily Ever After Photography

15/12/2023

Can you believe we’ve reached a decade of Xmas Cards?
This year was a little different with the passing of Mum, Helen, so we adapted what we’d already photographed. We hope you have a wonderful Xmas with family and your new year is filled with health and happiness.
Big love from Jo, Paul, Norman and Sharon….. bloopers to follow later this week. 🩵💙

16/11/2023

I met Sian when she was 8 months old... and for me, just as it was for James, it was love at first sight.
I'm so happy that I got the honour of marrying her to Jimmy in their fairytale wedding at Chateau Elan on 11:11:23.
Sian and Debbie both made beautiful brides.

📸 Sarbo Studio.

14/11/2023

On 10/11/23, a minivan pulled into my driveway with 3 very confused children onboard.
I had met their parents at my son’s wedding and in my celebratory haze 🥂🥂🥂, suggested I would happily drive to Coffs Harbour to marry them. We prepped with paperwork, and loosely set a date or two. The angels aligned and they had to drive to Sydney…so they stopped in to my place and got married in my lounge room with their 3 beautiful children and a bag of lolly snake bribes by their side! Not sure if their wedding was better than Mya and Huxley’s imaginary play wedding complete with cat toy veil….you decide. Congratulations Ian and Nic. I’m so glad we met.

25/09/2023

Can you believe this was not a venue?!! Stephanie and Max married on Saturday surrounded by great friends at their amazing friends' home.
Fabulous photos by Elise at GypsyLove.Photography ❤ https://www.facebook.com/100063535004531/posts/780657290728764/?sfnsn=mo&mibextid=6aamW6

24/09/2023

How gorgeous was this backyard for Max and Steph's wedding yesterday.
Thank you GypsyLove.Photography for the reel.

See Instagram 'Ceremony' highlights from Gypsy Love Photography ()

29/08/2023

Way back in June, I celebrated the commitment of Dee and Hayden in the Aged Care Facility where they work, so their favourite resident could witness their nuptials. Fast forward to August and I had the pleasure of making their marriage legal in their fancy dress wedding at their home.
In 15 years of celebranting, this was the first time that I was asked if I could announce that they are expecting their fourth child, due on my birthday!! This is possibly my last chance to get a child named after me 🤣🤣🤣
Today it’s the bride Dee’s birthday, so let’s all welcome them to the Vows Now gang with a triple celebration! Huge congratulations and Happy Birthday Mrs M ❤️💜

03/08/2023

Happy 6 month-a-versary to and ! I’m off to do my first legal wedding since I married my son.
Photo: .with.mel
Venue:
Celebrant: Me!

12/07/2023

As I slowly start to wind down my Celebrant Business,it’s bloody flattering to know that in my 15th year I’m still being nominated for awards (even if it’s me nominating myself). Nothing wrong with a bit of self love…am I right?
If you’ve got nothing to do, please fling a vote for Vows Now in the Celebrant division of the 2023 Sassy Awards so I can go out with a bang!…and chuck a vote for Scotty Boyden in the MC division, because he’s my mate and he likes shorts.

http://thesassies.sassycelebrants.com.au/voting/

02/07/2023

I just discovered that had their Instagram hacked… then I discovered I hadn’t shared enough photos of that wonderful day in February when the incredible Mel and Pug from Enzo hosted my son and daughter-in-law’s wedding! We had the best day and it couldn’t have come together as well as it did without the help of the ninja wedding coordinators that kept the day running smoothly. Mel was incredible support for the very nervous Celebrant Mum when she warmed up the crowd and introduced my boys!
Celebrant: Me/Ryan’s Mum Vows Now - Marriage Celebrant
Venue: Enzo Hunter Valley
Photos: Stories With Mel
Suits: Rundle Tailoring
Pet Concierge: Wedding Paws
Music & DJ: Nick Read
Makeup: CHIC ARTISTRY
Video: Hello Sweetheart
Love Sign: Love Glows

21/06/2023

Mr P. was the guest of honour today when H&D held their commitment ceremony at an Aged Care Facility. Beautiful 90yo Mr P was so honoured to be asked to sign a certificate that he teared up. We were the fortunate ones as we got to meet him and his wife of 67 years and witness their enduring love.
My heart is bursting with happiness.

21/06/2023

You won't believe who's about to get back on the horse for a special commitment ceremony this morning....stay tuned for details later.

# ®

20/06/2023

It's Sassy Awards Season!
If I gave birth to you and subsequently married you, I'd love you to nominate me 🤣❤

It's time to nominate your favourites in the 2023 Sassies.

The Sassies were created in 2017 by the Sassy Celebrants as a way of having fun with award nights and recognises the amazing industry we work in, and the incredible people who make weddings magical every single day.

And they are back, in 2023 we'll celebrate the Newcastle and Hunter Wedding Industry at 48 Watt St and we need you to share the love.

🏆 Nominate your favourite wedding peeps using the link below.👇
🏆 If you're in the industry get your tickets now!

Nominations are open from today until July 2.

http://thesassies.sassycelebrants.com.au/nominations/

17/04/2023

The 3 hardest things about being the Celebrant for your son’s wedding…
1. Staying out of the background of his photos when you’re giving him “mates rates”
2.Teaching him to drive.
3. 14+ hours labor

It was such an honor to be asked to marry Melissa to my Ryan. It really was a fabulous day… the reception was a little blurry but I blame my pre-wedding nerves and some delightful Peter Drayton wines.

Huge thanks to….
Enzo Hunter Valley
Stories With Mel
Vows Now - Marriage Celebrant / Sassy Celebrants
Rundle Tailoring
Pronovias
CHIC ARTISTRY
Wedding Paws
Hello Sweetheart
Love Letters
Ascension Custom Creations
Nick Read
Natalie Newton Hair
Classic Limousines Newcastle
LuLu’s Gelato Company
MelRose Cakes

21/02/2023

OUT oF OFFICE.
Apologies if my replies are a little slow. I’m out of the NSW office for a while and I may not ever return 🌴🌴..
Available for legals only weddings in The Whitsundays from Bloomsbury to Bowen 🌴❤️..
📸

14/02/2023

Nothing says I love you better than Valentine’s Day Schnitties.
My holiday in QLD just paid for itself! 🌴❤️

11/02/2023

If you are looking to get married this year and want an incredibly extravagant wedding with 100% of the proceeds going directly to charity, my Celebrant friends Monty King - Celebrant and Holymatrimonty - Young, Fun, Marriage Celebrant are auctioning this wedding package THIS Tuesday, Valentines Day. Last year they auctioned over $70K value. You can bid over the phone.
The wedding date is July 28, 2023. It really is an opportunity to have it all with some amazing, generous Newcastle vendors supplying absolutely everything!

The 2 Montys Charity Wedding Event 2023 CONFIRMED! 🎉

Here’s what you need to know!👇🏼

We’ve teamed up with some local legends who have donated an entire wedding package with 100% of proceeds this year from the final bid going to Jenny's Place Domestic Violence & Homelessness Support

All you’ve got to do is be the highest bidder at the live auction this Valentine’s Day Peterson House and you could have the wedding of your dreams, but totally guilt free, as every single dollar you spend will be going straight to charity. 🙌🏼

Over the coming weeks, we’ll be dropping the names of the incredibly generous vendors who have donated to this years charity wedding so you can see just how epic this wedding will be.

The wedding is set for Friday July 28 (this year) Peterson House. That’s right… a FRIDAY WEDDING! You’d be hard pressed to find one of them this year, let alone at such a kick ass venue!

If you’re interested in bidding in the auction, please slide deep into our DM’s and we’ll keep you updated with all the info over the coming weeks.

04/02/2023

Pictured: The groom with his Mother pre-ceremony 💕

30/01/2023

2023 has just started and I already know this will be my favourite wedding of the year….
Once again, I’m totally biased, because my son Ryan is marrying Melissa at Enzo Hunter Valley and I’m their Sassy Celebrants!!
I seriously can’t wait to finish my work on the day, then party amongst Newcastle and The Hunter Valley’s best wedding vendors.
Photo credit to Stories With Mel who managed to get my grumpy son to absolutely beam in these photos.

19/01/2023

Coral + John
Married for a whole week!
Aren’t they a gorgeous couple?

Photos: 3L Photography + Film
Venue: Heaven Gardens Wedding and Events
Celebrant: Vows Now - Marriage Celebrant

17/01/2023

No need to feel nervous John.
I've got your back! ❤

Thank you 3L Photography + Film for capturing John and I, doing some of our finest acting as we kicked off 2023 with a gorgeous tiny wedding for Coral and John at Heaven Gardens Wedding and Events in front of just 4 guests.

30/12/2022

Call me biased, but this was my favourite wedding of 2022.
I had the honour of stepping in, last minute, to be when my son married his beautiful wife.
Venue:
Celebrant:
Photography: .krystal
Videography: .films
Groom Suits:
Hair and Makeup:


Flowers:
Celebrant/Mother of Groom Gown:

16/12/2022

Chris and Mick….16+ years in the making.
Married in about 3 minutes ❤️ Live streamed to New Zealand!
Congratulations!
®

16/12/2022

We hope everyone has a wonderful KISSmas and you get plenty of time to celebrate life with family and friends, because you can’t get enough…. No, you can’t get enough.
2022 has been a fabulous year for us, we married off one son Jacob, gained a fabulous new daughter Temiqua and are preparing for our final wedding in February 2023 between Ryan and Melissa, then we are free to rock and roll all night, and party everyday in our Whitsunday apartment 🤘

I was made for lovin' you, baby You were made for lovin' me Paul. 😻🎄

29/11/2022

Hands up if you’re excited for The Sassies Awards tonight? 🙌❤️



📷
®

01/11/2022

CELEBRANT LIFE UPDATE:
Today's post is a long one. Strap in if you care, or scroll on.
TLDR: Happy Anniversary Boys! I'm winding down my Celebrancy to divide my time between home and paradise.

Two years ago I married Ben and Luke. I was living away from my darling husband and caring for my terminally unwell Aunty. Their wedding was the only one of 25 bookings that I didn't transfer to other Celebrants as I was excited to have a day in Port Stephens and to work with Lisa Lent Photography. The boys had already had a few hiccups with their plans and I didn't want to be the one to pull the rug out from under them too.
We had a lovely day.The boys ran late, their wedding party had begun the night before, and we married them in front of their friendship rainbow on the beach. Lisa took some fabulous photos and that was that.... or so I thought.
I became friends with Luke and Ben on Facebook, and quietly stalked their activities. They announced they had bought a new apartment late last year, and in a strange coincidence, I had been looking at the same apartments!
Fast forward to now and my 14+ years of Celebrancy bought me a property in the same complex in FNQ! The location is country, by-the-sea, so you get the best of both worlds...beauty and peace. I will be taking on very limited NSW wedding bookings as I will be splitting my time between here and there. I am fully comitted to marrying existing bookings as well as my son in February and my psuedo daughter in November 2023, but aside from that I have nothing planned. I'm still going to maintain my Celebrant registration, but I will only be taking future bookings that align with my Get JUST Married® trademarked style. The wind down is happening and my introverted heart can beat again at it's own pace. I'm here for now, but paradise awaits....Maybe you'd like to wed in The Whitsundays? I'll be there for Valentine's Day 2023.
Happy 2nd Anniversary Ben and Luke!
Thanks for being involved in my course correction. You are proof that there is a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow

25/10/2022

Today is 7 months since I my younger son's wedding and in 103 days I get to do the same (but different) for my eldest son!
Two family weddings within 11 months... Woohooo!

Marriage Celebrant: Me Vows Now - Marriage Celebrant
Photography: Clarity Photography by Krystal Dempsey
Video: Love Party Films
Venue: Gledswood Homestead & Winery
Bespoke Suits: Brent Wilson
Celebrant gown: Ascension Custom Creations
Flowers: Annie McBlooms
Hair & Makeup: Pamela Nolan Makeup Artist
Bride and freshly squeezed daughter-in-law:

18/10/2022

I have been nominated for my Celebrant work in The Sassies 2022.
Vote here: sassycelebrants.com.au/theSassies/voting
I’d love you to vote for me Johanna Hayes - Vows Now - Marriage Celebrant so I can prove to myself that I’ve still got it after 14+ years in business.

I *will buy you a pony.

*wont.

Celebrating the Best Hunter Wedding Businesses

16/10/2022

It's Sassy Award Season!
Vote now for your favourite Hunter Wedding Vendors.

*cough* Don't forget to vote for your most loved Vows Now - Marriage Celebrant

Vote here:

Celebrating the Best Hunter Wedding Businesses