Frequently Asked Questions

How much is it????
A lot of people shop around on price. If you do this, please be sure to find out what you get for your money. The information in this section outlines what is included in Rose Ceremonies all inclusive fee and will answer many of your other queries. A professional celebrant should always be able to provide you with information via their website or a "wedding package" of information either by email or snail mail. Rose Ceremonies fees are about average and will be discussed with you on your first enquiry.

How much notice do we have to give to get married?
You must complete a "Notice of Intended Marriage" form, a minimum one month and one day prior to your ceremony. This form will be kept in your file until after your wedding at which time it is forwarded to Births Deaths and Marriages with the other documentation you will sign on the day

What do we bring to our first meeting with Rose Ceremonies?
Your Birth Certificate and Change of Name documents if applicable. Please also see question below re Change of Name.

If either of you have been married before, your Certificate of Divorce and previous Marriage Certificate if the Certificate of Divorce does not state your birth name. If applicable, late spouse's Death Certificate and your Passport or Driver's License for photographic identification.

A non-refundable deposit of $100. The deposit is only refundable if for some unforeseen reason Rose Ceremonies was unable to go ahead with your ceremony.

My fiancé has changed his name by Deed Poll? Is this going to be a difficulty?
New regulations state that when completing the Notice of Intended Marriage form couples must use the name exactly as it appears on their birth certificate unless they have changed their name through a previous marriage or have in their possession Change of Name documents.

Deed Poll is no longer accepted as proof of a name change. Note in Queensland, applications for change of name will only be accepted for people born in Queensland or born overseas.

If a Change of Name document is required, the Notice of Intended Marriage Form can be completed using the name on the birth certificate and then amended when the Change of Name document is received.

My fiancée is an overseas resident, can you assist us to obtain a Prospective Marriage Visa?
Yes - Rose Ceremonies can complete the Notice of Intended Marriage Form with you and supply a letter indicating their availability to marry you at a mutually convenient time, date and place. This letter is required to be lodged with the Application for a Prospective Marriage Visa.

What happens if we have to postpone our wedding?
The "Notice of Intended Marriage" form that you complete is active for up to 18 months from the date of signing. Your deposit will be held for your new date.

Is the deposit refundable if we don't go ahead for any reason?
No, this is a non-refundable deposit as time and resources will have been spent with you at the first meeting, your ceremony would be in preparation and your wedding date would have been held for you.

Can we bring our children to the meetings with you?
Children our welcome, but please remember it can take up to 1 ½ hours for your first meeting and little children will get bored. If you can't arrange a sitter, please bring some of their favourite toys along to the meetings.

Do we have to provide our own signing table, chairs and decorations?
No, Rose Ceremonies will bring a two person signing table, chairs, tablecloths and chair covers and decorations of your choice and set everything up prior to the commencement of the ceremony. Decorations include silver heart-shaped flutes, goblets, shells (ideal for beachside weddings), feather pen and silk flowers such as frangipani and roses, etc. This is all included in our fee. You are also welcome to provide your own decorations and mementoes if you wish.

Do we organize the pa system and a cd player?
No, Marriage Celebrants are required to ensure the ceremony is audible to all present. Rose Ceremonies have their own PA system and cd player which is provided free of charge. David, Elaine's husband of 24 years, is the "support crew!" If having recorded music, David is happy to bring the cd player and press play at the right moments!

We would like to get married in a park and we're concerned that our guests might go to the wrong wedding!
David will set up a sign in a suitable position with the first names of the bride and groom, the time guests should be assembled and a reminder "please turn off your mobile phones."

Do you charge mileage?
No, only in exceptional circumstances. Travel to the rehearsal and the ceremony is at no extra cost for locations between Brisbane and the Gold Coast including the Hinterland.

Can you help us write the ceremony?
Certainly, every assistance is given to prepare the ceremony of your choice however you can write your own ceremony and/vows (in addition to the wording laid down by the Federal Attorney-General) if you choose. Elaine has a library of suitable books to assist with the process.

We would like our ceremony to be a little different, can you help us with ideas?
Suggestions for your ceremony include Sharing of the Wine Ceremony, Rose Ceremony, Candle-lighting and Ring Warming. There are many variations and Elaine will be able to discuss these with you. Some couples "tie the knot" in the traditional way utilizing a hand-fasting or hand-binding ceremony. Other couples wish to incorporate their blended family in the ceremony.

How can we be sure the Celebrant's clothes will suit our theme and also not clash with the bridal party etc?
Elaine has a selection of Celebrant's clothes from which you can choose, to suit the formality or otherwise of the ceremony and to blend in with the colours of the bridal party and respect the colours of the Bride and Groom' mums.

We would like to do an "Order of Ceremony" booklet, do you provide these?
These can be provided in a suitable format so that you can have them copied or printed. You may wish to prepare a separate cover page or Elaine will help you with this also.

Do we get a copy of our ceremony as a keepsake?
Elaine prepares a keepsake copy of your ceremony on "rose" stationery. This can be kept with other mementoes of your day such as wedding and gift cards in a Treasure Box. You will then be able to renew your vows one day if you wish, using words similar to those you said on your wedding day.

If we have a rehearsal is there any extra cost for this?
Elaine will meet you at your venue for a rehearsal at no extra cost - this will ensure there is no confusion with the exact location of your ceremony, your entrance and recession will be rehearsed and if being "given away" or "presented" this will be practiced to ensure everyone knows what to do on the big day.

Do I sign the Marriage Certificate with my new married name?
No, all documents should be signed with the same signature.

How can we ensure our Certificate of Marriage doesn't go astray after the ceremony?
Rose Ceremonies has a policy that the Certificate of Marriage once presented to the newly-weds is given only to the person of your choosing for safe-keeping. This is arranged at one of our pre-wedding meetings.

Is the Presentation Marriage Certificate you give at the ceremony suitable for proving name change by marriage say for the bank, passport application, driver's license etc.?
It is recommended that after your wedding, application is made to Births Deaths and Marriages for the official marriage certificate. This is required for certain circumstances such as changing your name for your driver's license and applying for a passport etc. This is to reduce the incidence of identity fraud.

Do you have public liability and would this cover us as a couple in case of a claim?
Rose Ceremonies carries $5,000,000 of public liability insurance for incidents arriving from actions of the celebrant and does not cover the couple in any other circumstances. It's wise to investigate wedding insurance which is available in the event of an incident for which you might be liable and for unforeseen postponement, problem with venues, caterers, photographs etc.

We would like to do a pre-marriage education course, have you got details about the courses available?
Yes, all Marriage Celebrants are required to hold information on pre-marriage education or counseling services. A new initiative by the Government is the provision of Family Relationship Centres, 15 scheduled to open in 2006 and a further 50 in 2007 and 2008. Contact Rose Ceremonies for information or search www.australia.gov.au/familyrelationships

If Rose Ceremonies is your celebrant of choice, you are free to call either before or after your wedding if you would like assistance to locate counseling services.