Putting the Elle in celebrant

I always dreamed of being a celebrant, but I knew I couldn’t speak words that excluded love. I wanted every ceremony I led to celebrate connection, equality and joy in its fullest form.

My journey

I’d always loved the idea of being a marriage celebrant, but I knew I would never be able to say the words that were legally required to be said in all marriage ceremonies up to 2017 - “Marriage, according to the law in Australia, is the union of a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life” (also known as The Monitum).

I could never speak those words in a marriage ceremony because I did not believe them - they were the antithesis of my own views on relationships and marriage. I have always had the privilege of having a diverse network of people around me having grown up in the Blue Mountains and spent my adult years in Sydney’s Inner West, and part of being an ally to the queer folx in my network was saying that I wouldn’t be part of the heteronormative nonsense that was an institution reserved exclusively for straight couples.

After a long-fought battle, Australia finally legalised same sex marriage in Australia in November 2017. I signed up for my Cert IV in Celebrancy that night, champagne glass in hand and perhaps a little full of happy lovey dovey vibes (and the aforementioned champagne, which led me to pay the entire course fee upfront on my credit card).

After years of training and (of course) the very disruptive COVID-19 pandemic, I finally achieved my goal of becoming a registered civil marriage celebrant in Australia in August 2022. With a few ceremonies under my belt and a goal of bringing my own unique style of inclusive celebratory fun to Sydney, the Blue Mountains and surrounds, I started Cellebrate.

I still feel so utterly stoked and privileged to get to say the current Monitum:

Marriage, according to law in Australia, is the union of two people to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life.

The union of two people. Any two people. From any walk of life, and any background, regardless of sexuality or gender. Love is love, and I am here to celebrate the shit out of it in all its glorious forms.

Elle is amazing and took no time at all to listen and fully understand us and what we wanted out of our special day. She helped us with vows and wrote a down-to-earth ceremony with plenty of internal references and jokes that worked perfectly with our family and friends. We couldn't recommend her more to anyone!

JASON & ALICE

So, tell us more…

How do ya celebrant, Elle?

My marriage celebrancy practice is a modern one, which means it is:

Digital as heck - let’s save some trees and printer-related stress and do as much of the legal paperwork and information gathering as we can online or on my iPad
Inclusive - everyone’s welcome, and I value diversity in my business. I am both a celebrant living with physical disability and chronic illness, and also a neurodivergent celebrant, so I’m very comfortable with accommodating whatever you need and having open discussions about curated inclusion in your marriage ceremony and on your wedding day
Flexible af - I love all things new and different, so bring on the non-traditional! Let’s get creative and do something with your marriage ceremony that truly represents you and your love. Also, please bring your dogs. Or I can bring mine. Let’s just make sure there are dogs there. I’ll even bring treats.

Marriage Ceremony Pack

My values

You have every right to choose a marriage celebrant that aligns with your values, so I’m spelling out my values here so you can see if we’ll be a good fit! It’s okay if we’re not the same, but you may wish to find a marriage celebrant who is more closely aligned with your own beliefs - everyone deserves the wedding day of their dreams, and being values-centred is the best way to make your day reflect you.

INCLUSIVITY

I will never discriminate against anyone on the basis of background, circumstance, gender, disability, neurodivergence or minority status. I’m committed to making all reasonable accommodations so that your experience is as joyful, comfortable, and meaningful as possible. If you need adjustments, simply let me know. And if you’re not sure what’s possible, I can guide you. As a physically disabled and neurodivergent celebrant, I bring both lived experience and compassion. My ceremonies always avoid language that excludes or disempowers, ensuring every person present feels valued.

EQUALITY

I believe that all people are created equal, everyone is worthy and deserving, and love is love in all its forms. My business as a marriage celebrant is carefully crafted to uphold equality in every way possible. Each ceremony I create is built on respect and inclusion, free from language that excludes or diminishes. You can trust that the words I use will reflect the values of equality, love and dignity. For me, this isn’t an afterthought - it’s at the very core of what I do.

CONNECTION TO COUNTRY

We are living on stolen Aboriginal lands, and sovereignty was never ceded. I grew up on Dharug and Gundungurra Country in the Blue Mountains, and now I live on Wangal land in Sydney’s Inner West, working throughout NSW. I honour the Traditional Custodians of every land I work on and reflect this in each ceremony. This is non-negotiable and is written into my Services Agreement. Caring for Country is also part of my role: I promise to leave every site untouched and encourage couples to choose sustainable options. Together, we show respect for the unbroken connection Aboriginal peoples have with this land.