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Hi! My name is Jacqui Patterson but I am better known as The Champagne Celebrant. I love weddings and marrying couples. I am passionate about being a Wedding Celebrant around Byron Bay, Tweed and Gold Coast and look forward to every Wedding, like it is my first...
I'm a full time celebrant, a very passionate one. Doing weddings gives me deep satisfaction just from making two people so ecstatic on the most important day of their lives. What an incredible high! The raw emotion, the excitement and the flood of genuine feelings gets me every time. When the bride and groom are buzzing, I am resonating with them. Tears, laughter, anxiety, joy – bring it on!
The wedding ceremony sets the vibe for the whole day. A ceremony with real impact will be talked about for years to come. It's so worth putting on a great show. Great Ceremony = Great Occasion = Great Memories.
My Experience
I understand what it's like planning a wedding. I was in the same position as you a few years ago! Planning your wedding is no mean feat and everyone wants their say. It's your wedding so remember, the choices are yours. Do yourself a favour and make it about the two of you. Everyone else has or had the opportunity to plan their own wedding. I strive to make sure you enjoy yourselves first and foremost. I take my responsibilities as a Celebrant seriously, so let me worry about the ceremony and the legals. Your job is just to be the STARS of the show and bask in the joy of it - that's all. It's all about the two of you. Funky, Fun, Fabulous or full of feeling, you call the shots. Oh and by the way, I don't do sermons.Whether you engage a wedding planner, your mother or you are doing it all yourself, keep in mind that you are not restricted to any of the classical or religious handicaps. Don't get me wrong, I still get choked up when I see the groom catch his first glimpse of his bride as she is led up the aisle by her dad (or mum or ?). Do your homework and talk to a few Celebrants so that you can get a feel for the one that is right for you. I am always up for a chat and enjoy helping out where possible. |
To any couple out there wanting to get married I highly recommend using this couple as they will certainly make your special day one to remember. X" Samantha & Kevin
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You were such a fabulous celebrant and we could not have wished for anyone better. Plus your husbands photos were AMAZING! So special to have them on facebook for those to see who couldn't make it. We have been to a wedding since ours and it just reiterated to us how much of an important part a celebrant is to a wedding. You had the right look, tone of voice, seriousness, positivity, fun and comedic personality to add to our wedding day. Numerous people commented on how great a celebrant you were! Thank you for presenting such a fun and personable ceremony. We have, and will continue to recommend your services! Warm wishes, |
 Hi Jacqui, We knew from our first meeting that you would be the perfect Celebrant for us - easy going, fun and full of positive energy. Your input, ideas and suggestions helped make our ceremony modern, trendy, relaxed and personal - everything we wanted. We found you and Gary to be friendly, funny and casual whilst still being very professional. Thank you both for being such an important part of our special day . Aaron and Krystal. |
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"Would just like to say how amazing Jacqui Patterson "The Champagne Celebrant" and her husband Gary are at making a special day so awesome. Not only are this couple professional,friendly and amazing at what they do , they are also 2 of the most beautiful people I have come across and I now consider them friends.
Hi Jacqui.... A HUMUNGOUS thank you for creating such a special day at Fig Tree on Sunday 6th May 2012! 
My Delivery
My delivery is personalised for each couple and is about your journey since meeting.
I revel in the wording of each ceremony so will be asking lots of questions to ensure it's very YOU. My ceremonies are designed to echo the way you are, the way you live and the way you love.
My pledge is 'YOUR DAY, YOUR WAY' so no matter what I write for you, the final cut is at your discretion and no surprises.
As your Celebrant, I am generous with my time and a handy local directory when it comes to wedding suppliers.
Do's and Don'ts
"Everyone will be making suggestions and pushing you to do it their way. Though I urge you to make your own choices, I do say plan, plan, plan. The events that stick in my memory the most, are the ones that have been thought out. Imagine the bride is walking up the aisle and no-one knows how to work the iPod for that special tune that she wanted to play. It happens."
"I befriend my couples. I support them fully all the way and I am only a phone call away. If you don't know the Byron, Ballina, Lismore area and need ideas, I can help steer you in the right direction - I'm a 5th generation local so I know my way around. Also, see some thought provoking ideas on my Celebrant Says page."
Style
From Barefoot to Bonza, Elopement to Eloquent it's your opportunity to do your own thing. This is where you can be as subjective as you like.
The most basic ceremony usually starts with the entry of the bride or someone (or not), continues with the an intro and the sharing of the story about the bride & groom, a reading, poem, song (or not) by others, the legal component, vows (or not) by bride & groom, signing the marriage register by bride & groom, declaring you Mr & Mrs, then you can update your Facebook status! Of course you have the final say on what we do. Order is totally optional. See my Champagne Wedding Package page
Remember the Champagne Celebrant's Celebrants Vow - 'It's Your Day, your Way!'
The Entry or Not
Whether you make a grand entry (or not) is something you can have fun with. There are so many permutations and you can start by pondering who is going to make the entry – bride, groom, both, no-one or maybe the local brass band on the back of the fire truck.
You could be first there and enjoy watching the guests make an entry. Mingling and a glass of bubbly can do wonders for the nerves and might just be your cuppa tea. There is no reason why you can't arrive first, last or in a cauldron of soup. The only limitation is your imagination.
Then there is the ‘how’ to make an entry. On foot, by limo, by horse, by parachute, by boat and the list goes on.
Music
Live music can be the ultimate but make sure you listen to it before booking and secondly make sure it can be heard. The beach typically drowns out anything which is not amplified.
iPod’s make music selection a breeze and you have instant selection and quality control.
The main thing is if you want the show to be ‘you’ then play music that you like.
There is no sense playing a mind-numbing Symphony or Jimmy Hendrix if it’s not your groove.
The Words
First, I ask you a bunch of questions about how you met, how you started your relationship, the proposal etc. I also provide you with a booklet of typical ceremonies, vows and poetry some more ideas. Then, I work up a personalised script for you with as much input as you want.
It is entirely up to you how much you involve yourself with the wording and format of your ceremony. When you OK the final version, we are set to go.
Involving Others
It’s quite engaging involving friends or family to participate in the ceremony. Whether it is a reading, playing an instrument, singing (can they really sing?), juggling dinner plates or some snappy acrobatics, it stamps an element of originality on your ceremony and goes down a treat.
Or you may even have an act yourself - Worth a thought.
Vows
Marriage vows or ring vows or not. It doesn't have to be a magnificant delivery - you can say them quietly to yourselves and keep everyone guessing (did he say he would cook something?) or bellow it out on the microphone. You can write your own as simply or convoluted as you want. You can pick them up off the net or out of the reference material I provide.
Or you can choose to give it a wide berth.
Assuming you want to proclaim your feelings for each other, there are a multitude of ways we can do this - you can read your vows off a card or repeat them after me. Lots of different iterations. No panic with this. Blurting them out from memory is not easy if you feel under duress, so think thrice about this.
Even though public speaking can make you nervous and emotional, remember, a few tears and a show of emotion is acceptable and come to think of it, probably expected.Mr & Mrs XXX!!
Then before you know it
"I now introduce to you for the very first time -
Mr & Mrs XXX"