Marriage Celebrants - Caz McCallum
- Business: Northern Rivers Celebrant
- Location: Byron Bay, New South Wales
- Experience: 9 Years
- Profile: Northern Rivers Celebrant
- Website: www.northernriverscelebrant.com.au
1. Introduction: What's your story?
My name is Caz McCallum, but I call myself Northern Rivers Celebrant so couples looking for a celebrant know exactly where I am based. I became a celebrant mid-2016 after having retired and moving to a macadamia farm in Alstonvale, with my husband. While I love working on the farm, it's not a full time occupation. Interestingly I saw a celebrant in action early that year and was so impressed with her story telling capabilities, I decided to sign up with Rose Training. Within 6 months of completing the online course, I was a registered civil celebrant and have been happily marrying couples ever since. The wonderful thing is that no couple is ever the same. Their stories, approaches and personalities are all unique and my goal is to give them the wedding ceremony they have dreamed of. To be honest, meeting happy people whose focus in totally on the future is so much fun. And to be chosen to marry them, is an absolute honour.
2. What's your experience as a marriage celebrant? How many weddings have you done?
I have performed just over 100 marriage ceremonies, as well as performed renewal of vows and commitment ceremonies besides. Covid really interfered with lots of weddings I had booked. Some of them decided to scale down their guest numbers, so we could meet the maximum of 5 (me, the bride and groom and their two witnesses alone). Some of them were sad to not be able to have family present. On Anzac Day a few years ago, one young couple live streamed the ceremony back to Turin, Italy where the bride's parents got all dressed up and, with family and friends, watched as G and C married on Christmas Beach. It was close to midnight in Italy but a sunny, clear beautiful autumn day here. I've performed weddings in all sorts of places as well. As mentioned already, beaches are popular. We are spoiled for choice here in the Northern Rivers. Other couples choose to get married by the local lighthouse, in a community hall, at an amazing range of brilliant venues like Summerland House; by dams, like Clarrie Hall or Rocky Creek Dam; by lakes and rivers; on headlands with brilliant ocean views; in local parks and on family farms. Most recently, I'm finding more are choosing to have the ceremony in their backyard garden; and if it rains, indoors. It's totally up to the couple if a particular place has history for them or special appeal; and I'm prepared to work with them wherever they choose.
3. How far in advance do couples need to secure your services?
Generally people tend to get in touch shortly after they get engaged. But when they choose to marry varies hugely. On average, bookings tend to be made 4 to 12 months before the chosen date. Others choose to get in touch up to 2 years before the set wedding date. Of course we can't sign any paperwork until less than 18 months before the ceremony date, for that's the currency limit of such documentation. Mind you, I recently booked a ceremony on 30th November for a wedding ceremony on 30 December 2024. That is really cutting it fine, for a Notice of Intended Marriage has to be signed and witnessed by an authorised person at least one full calendar month before the marriage can take place. But we will manage to achieve this short timeframe, for everyone's schedule is different.
4. How would you describe your ceremony style?
I like to think my ceremony style is engaging, entertaining, laid back and informal. My sense of humour is well developed and when couples choose me for their wedding, we've already spoken - so they can gauge whether happy with my approach and certainly not shy in front of a crowd. To be honest, there has rarely been a wedding at which I've officiated where a parent, or other relative or good friend, hasn't approached me afterwards and said how much they enjoyed the ceremony. One father of the bride even put in writing in an email how much he appreciated my telling C and G's love story. He said he learned so much more about their meeting and falling in love; and that he and his wife were totally entertained and impressed with the wedding; and loved hearing other guests chuckle.
5. What are your fees for a wedding?
In 2024, my legals only wedding fee (short and sweet) is $450. I currently am offering that same fee for 2025 weddings if booked before 31 December 2024. If the bride or groom plans to change her / his surname, I offer to order at the time of marriage registration the Official Certificate of Marriage (OCM) for an additional fee of $95. Or if funds are tight, the bride and groom can order the OCM themselves at a later date, for a little less. A free optional extra in any of my legals only ceremonies is the ability for the bride and groom to write a vow statement to read on their special day, before repeating the mandatory vow. This means the ceremony doesn't come across as an anti-climax and is beautifully personalised.
For a standard wedding ceremony, which includes any extras the couple might want e.g. a hand fasting ritual, my 2024 fee is $560. Again, if the couple wants me to order their OCM the same fee applies. Likewise, any 2025 ceremony booked and confirmed before 31 December 2024, will be charged the 2024 fee.
If you visit my website you will clearly see my fees upfront. I should also mention that my fees include a total return trip allowance of 120kms to cover the Notice of Intended Marriage meeting and the wedding ceremony. If I have to travel further than that total for the signing and the wedding, an excess travel fee will apply.
All of these facts would be confirmed in any agreement provided to couples wishing to engage my services. I promise you, NO costs are hidden in small print.
To cover my increasing costs, my plan is to increase my fee slightly from early January 2025.
6. What do you wear when you officiate a wedding?
My presentation is always professional. However, depending on where the wedding is to take place, I dress accordingly. For example, if the ceremony is on a beach and it's some distance over the sand or boulders to reach it, I will wear casual shoes at the very least. Smart casual is the way I usually dress, unless the bride and groom are preparing to dress very formally. I always ensure I look like a professional and avoid loud colours that might clash with the bridesmaids' gowns, flower colours or even the groom and groomsmen's suits or shirt colours. Living in the Northern Rivers means definite seasonality has a role to play. If you look at the photos on my website www.northernriverscelebrant.com.au you will see how I've presented at past weddings. I'm also amenable to wearing a particular colour. For example, I recently officiated at a renewal of vows (ROV) ceremony at Mooloolaba. The bride had awful memories of the celebrant who had married her and her husband 20 years before. Apparently she wore a loud coloured dress with further vivid splashes of colour in her hair. I was asked to wear white or cream for their ROV, with which I of course complied.
7. How many pre-wedding sessions will the couple need to have with you?
I only have to meet with couples in person once before the wedding. Before that I usually have at least one, often 2, comprehensive phone conversations or online meetings via Zoom or MS Teams. Also, in order for me to work on their personalised script for the standard ceremony, I send couples a questionnaire with 30 questions. I tell them they can write as many or as few answers as they choose and not together. Interestingly it's often the telling of the same story that can create the source of humour for the ceremony. It's always my goal to have guests nodding and saying things like, "I can imagine that." Or, "Really?" as they burst out laughing. I only share what the bride and groom want me to ... so that's why sometimes the editing process can take a while. But when they are fully happy with what I plan to say, and they have written their vow statements (if that's what they choose to do), we're good to go. Ideally that process is completed well before the wedding date, so there is less pressure or stress close to their special day. I don't believe rehearsals are necessary. But if the bride and or groom are nervous and want it, and it fits within the 120km limit, then I will work in with them.
8. Will you be able to create a personalised ceremony?
Always my ceremonies are written from scratch for couples. Occasionally couples might like a certain poem I have used before e.g. about the symbolism of a wedding ring, but repetition is not a feature of my script writing. Every couple is different and their love stories are amazingly varied. For the standard wedding, the couple's love story and why they have chosen to marry is shared before the formal part of the ceremony. It can be brief, light-hearted or as serious and detailed as they wish. As with the legals only ceremony, personalising the ceremony in a unique way is achieved through the reading of vow statements before repeating the mandatory vow. To assist with that process, I always share samples with couples to get them started. If they aren't sure of how to improve its readability, I'm more than happy to assist with honing and polishing. I was once a high school English teacher, so that's an easy, fun exercise for me. Of course those vow statements are kept secret from partners! I print them, insert them in vow cover sheets and hand them with a microphone, if required, to the individuals to read on their special day. Rarely does the bride not cry; and often the groom does the same ... or at least has to gulp for air a few times.
9. Are you available to travel if needed?
I like driving so have no issue with driving outside my local area. However, my standard fees include round trip total travel of 120 kms, covering the initial meeting to sign the Notice of Intended Marriage and the Declaration of No Legal Impediment (there and back) + the return trip for the ceremony. This seems to be perfectly fine for local couples in Byron Bay etc. If I have to travel further due to the choice of venue or some other reason, I confirm this is the case both in the original signed agreement and via email. Any excess travel charge would be agreed and paid before the ceremony. One couple recently were adamant they wanted me to travel to Mooloolaba for their ceremony, and agreed to the excess travel charge because I had been upfront with them about this from the beginning.
10. What is your cancellation and/or refund policy?
In the simple agreement couples sign, it clearly states that if a ceremony is cancelled close to the ceremony date (timeframe specifically nominated in the agreement), and the celebrant could otherwise have made another booking, there would be no refund payable. The actual dates are nominated in the agreement. If the wedding is cancelled up to a month (or as noted in the agreement) before the ceremony, the booking fee alone would not be refunded.
Mind you, what I usually offer couples is an alternative date or two, to assist in rescheduling. Often circumstances might have changed and they have no other option but to postpone. I can definitely work in with that and would be happy to assist to make their dreams come true.
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