Mid West Weddings – 3 Ceremonies They Perform Which You Might Not Know About
/Barry Lance from Mid West Weddings is a local celebrant based here in Geraldton and has become a popular choice for couples who are getting married. We caught up with Barry where he discussed a bit about him, his business and 3 other ceremonies he performs as well as wedding ceremonies.
How long have you been doing weddings for?
Barry has been doing weddings for over 30 years in any location requested. Barry has been all over the Midwest, including Perth, Kalgoorlie, Monkey Mia and even locations outside of WA, including Tasmania and Bali. Whatever location your wedding is being held, Barry Lance is happy to conduct it.
What types of ceremonies do you do?
When is comes to wedding services, Barry does the whole range and his services are available to everyone. While the vast majority of his work is devoted to weddings, he also performs several other ceremonies.
Renewing vows: At a renewal ceremony, you have the same options as you would at a wedding ceremony. The ceremony can be as varied as you like and you don’t need a new marriage license or bring in your original. Renewing wedding vows is a beautiful ceremony and is a popular choice.
Naming of children: A naming ceremony is an exciting and important experience for some parents and is a special occasion. Some parents who wish to hold a naming ceremony want to celebrate the birth of their child, which is an intimate experience and can be shared with family and close friends.
Commitment ceremonies: Commitment ceremonies are the perfect alternative to marriage for same sex couples (who under current Australian laws are not permitted to marry). Couples exchange rings, write their own vows and sign their own Vow of Commitment Certificate. Commitment ceremonies are also a good idea for couples that wish to get married overseas and can’t take their wedding papers with them.
Do you sometimes liaise with other wedding services and planners?
While some celebrants do cover additional roles for weddings, this is not a common request and one that Barry does not do. However, being in the business for over 30 years, Barry has a wide range of connections with other wedding businesses, including photographers, venue hiring, catering, florists and much more. So he certainly has a long list of recommendations for your convenience.
How long is your waiting list?
This is a difficult question to answer, because in order for a couple to book a celebrant, they must sign a Notice Of Intended Marriage (NOIM) document, which is valid for 18 months, meaning you can’t technically book over 18 months in advance. When signing the NOIM document, you are required to pay a deposit and you can then pick a date that is available. Although 18 months is technically the waiting list, Barry is more than happy to make a ‘verbal agreement’ booking with couples that wish to book past 2017. Although it is not an official booking, Barry will hold spots for couples until further notice or until it is time to sign the NOIM document.
Do you have any advice for couples when it comes to planning their wedding?
It’s easier said than done; but the best thing to do is just to relax and try not to stress too much about planning and don't overwork yourself. It's the golden rule. Barry is here to make your special day a fun and memorable celebration. Barry also goes over the 3 steps for organising a celebrant for your wedding.
- Step 1: Meet with your celebrant and sign the noim document. You can then go over ideas for your wedding, have a look at sample vows and pay your deposit.
- Step 2: Signing of the Statuary Declaration document stating that there’s nothing impeding your marriage to your partner. You can then look at the draft form of the ceremony and you have the opportunity to make any changes if need be. You will also pay the remaining balance to the celebrant.
- Step 3: This involves the rehearsal to make sure nothing goes wrong. This makes sure that everyone knows the general layout of the venue everyone and where and when to stand. A rehearsal is optional, though.
Barry is nearing his 500th wedding this year and does roughly 40 weddings and ceremonies each year. If you’re looking for a celebrant for your wedding or special occasion, phone Barry Lance, who is here to help make it a stress free and memorable occasion.
Phone 0438 454 213