Celebrant (Australia) Celebrant (Australia) In Australia, celebrants are people who conduct formal ceremonies in the community, particularly weddings, which are the main ceremony of legal import conducted by celebrants. They may also conduct extra-legal ceremonies such as naming of babies, renewal of wedding vows and funerals. Officiating at a marriage requires that the celebrant be an authorised marriage celebrant under Australian law, but officiating at extra-legal ceremonies does not. Many Western nations permit celebrants who are not clergy to carry out basic, legal, marriage ceremonies. However Australia was the first nation whose government appointed non-clergy celebrants with the specific intention that they
Celebrant (Australia) marriage and the marriage ceremony... a marriage celebrant must maintain a high standard of service in his or her professional conduct and practice... a marriage celebrant must respect the importance of the marriage ceremony to the parties and the other persons organising the ceremony... give the parties information and guidance to enable them to choose or compose a marriage ceremony that will meet their needs and expectations... If requested by the parties conduct a marriage ceremony rehearsal... Ensure that his or her personal presentation is of an appropriate standard for the marriage ceremony, and respect the expectations of the parties