wedding planning, wedding advice
Camille Abbott
How to Change Your Name After Your Wedding in ...

If you’re looking to change your last name after your wedding, but don’t know where to start, you’re not alone.

In my experience as a marriage celebrant, up to 90% of newly-married brides (and a few pioneering grooms and spouses) choose to change their last or family name after marriage and are super confused about how to go about it.

It’s a real process that can take around 8 hours over several days or weeks to complete. This is because every company or institution has their own unique process and is not legally permitted to share your details with anyone else.

The good news is, I can help save you a lot of time and even some money too.

Let’s get started!

How to Change Your Name After Your Wedding in Australia
real wedding
Camille Abbott
Alana and Peter’s McLaren Vale Micro wedding

Alana and Peter's wedding plans (like so many engaged couples worldwide) were thrown into disarray in 2020.

Between the NSW border closures due to COVID-19 and their original venue in Byron Bay burning down (true story!) Peter and Alana tried for a 3rd and final time to have a super low-key, no stress day just for them and their immediate family.

Something simple, but beautiful, elegant, but without any pretence.

Alana and Peter’s McLaren Vale Micro wedding
real wedding
Camille Abbott
Emily and Sam's Romantic Adelaide Hills Wedding

Sam and Emily make time to see their families, to share special moments together, and they love talk on the phone often. They wanted to bring this warmth and appreciation, that had always been shown towards them, into their wedding ceremony too.

With COVID border closures, the tyranny of distance and for those who'd passed away, some of their family were not able to be with us in person, so we incorporated them and their interests as much as we could through readings, a memorial and with a big smoochy kiss right down Alex's lens. 😅

Emily and Sam's Romantic Adelaide Hills Wedding
wedding planning
Camille Abbott
EVEN MORE unique wedding ceremony readings

I’m not one for fluffy and OTT poetry and I think it’s fair to say that the majority of my couples aren’t massive fans either.

But I do recognise how the power of a well chosen wedding reading in a ceremony can be instrumental in bringing about a feeling of gratefulness, humanity, and hope.

And a great reader who takes the time to deliver a quote, reading or poem with poise and intention can really lift a modern wedding ceremony above and beyond the ordinary.

But first, you need a great wedding reading.

Hopefully this post, along with 5 Wedding Readings That Aren’t Too Soppy and More Unique & Beautiful Wedding Readings For Your Ceremony, will help you to narrow down the search.

EVEN MORE unique wedding ceremony readings
wedding advice
Camille Abbott
5 wedding readings that aren't too soppy

What are your options if you want to include a reading in your wedding ceremony, but aren't a fan of Shakespeare and don't want to have 1 Corinthians 13?

The great thing about civil ceremonies in Australia is, apart from 3 sentences that I have to say from The Marriage Act 1961 and 1 legal sentence you have to say in your vows, the rest is completely up to you. The sky's the limit.

And you can make your ceremony even more meaningful by finding a reading (or two) that you LOVE - rather than something you think is 'just okay'. Readings can come from anywhere; lyrics from songs, quotes from movies or the words from your team's victory song (God help us all..)

Here are five of my favourites..

5 wedding readings that aren't too soppy

Festival of fun - Kat & Matt

Festival of fun - Kat & Matt

After almost 8 years as a celebrant in Adelaide, it's rare that I get the chance to visit a new wedding venue. But when Kat and Matt first met with me and told me about their ideas for an outdoor extravaganza of activities and dancing at The Oaks in Hahndorf (2202 Mt Barker Road), I was excited to check it out. 

It's a beautiful, undulating property with lots of trees, a little stream and several open grassed spaces for marquees. The owners are lovely and accommodating too which just added even more ease and goodwill into Kat and Matt's unconventional celebration. I mean, the confetti cannon fist bump when Matt collected Kat from the top of the aisle was just the beginning!

I could try describing their wedding to you, let alone the beautiful and generous people they are, but I think these shots by Akil Madan Photography do the job so much better than I ever could. Congratulations again, Kat and Matt ox.

Enjoy!

Sunny fun love - Nicole and Rick

Sunny fun love - Nicole and Rick

When your husband-to-be vows to protect, care for and love you just as much as he loves North Melbourne, you know you're special (and that he has a wicked sense of humour). 

Nicole and Rick have a wonderful attitude to life - they laugh with each other, at each other and regard the complexities of life with curiosity and enthusiasm. It was an absolute pleasure to get to know them a little over the months that we worked together on their ceremony. With Rick and Nicole being very clear about what they wanted, we created a gorgeous and very personalised celebration that all of their guests enjoyed as well. 

Photos are courtesy of Courtney of Macfarlane Photography.

Enjoy!

Freaking cool boho - Sarah & Ricky

Freaking cool boho - Sarah & Ricky

Picking my favourite wedding couple is like picking my favourite child. Except I only have one child, so that's infinitely easier..

Suffice to say that Ricky and Sarah are definitely in the top 460.  :)

They first met over 14 years ago and are still madly in love, which in my job, is a beautiful thing to witness and as a (relatively new) newlywed myself, affirming. It seemed like their entire circle of family and friends were touched by them too as demonstrated by the substantial use of tissues throughout their ceremony.

Their photos are courtesy of the lovely Emme Jade Photography.

Family love - Amy and Mark

Family love - Amy and Mark

I love when I am lucky enough to be referred to a couple through their friends. There's a better than average chance that I am going to get along really well, be able to have a laugh and create a really special, personalised wedding ceremony with them. Such is the case with Amy and Mark; I don't think they have many friends left who I haven't married!

Mark and Amy were married in October in the relatively little-known Meeting Hall of the Adelaide Town Hall with their adorable baby-girl, Hannah, included in the processional and the ceremony.

Photos courtesy of Elle DS Photography.

Enjoy! 

Amicus Strings

Amicus Strings

One of the most uplifting, and yet sometimes subconscious, first impressions a guest has of a wedding ceremony is conveyed via the music they're greeted with. The atmosphere live music creates at a wedding can be emotional, calming and magical.

Enter Amicus Strings; a professional string quartet founded in 1996 by Carolyn Lam. I've worked with the girls at several wedding ceremonies over the years and have admired their professionalism and polished performances. 

Carolyn and I got the chance to sit down for a chat last week about what sets Amicus Strings apart from other quartets and how couples CAN afford live music no matter what their wedding budget.

Short and sweet - Kailah & Ben

Short and sweet - Kailah & Ben

Ben and Kailah's wedding was held at the beautiful Glen Ewin Estate in the Adelaide hills. Like many of my couples when we first meet, they didn't have a clear idea what they were wanting for their ceremony. But as they were engaged in January 2013 and their wedding wasn't until late 2015, they had plenty of time to work it out.

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Thoughtful gift ideas for loved ones

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Thoughtful gift ideas for loved ones

I'm all for a minimalistic wedding; just the two of you, your nearest and dearest, some food, drinks and music. There are lots of traditions and new trends, that I seriously think should be given the flick. 

But I do believe that there is still room to thank people (like your Mum and Dad) for their love and support with a little token of your appreciation.

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Weddings with a social conscience - why it's cool (& easy) to give back

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Weddings with a social conscience - why it's cool (& easy) to give back

I've watched weddings change and evolve markedly over the last few years. Consider, for example, the relatively new (and 1st world problem) of coordinating unplugged weddings (ie. a ban on the social media upload of guests photos). 

One of the trends that I have noticed and think is super cool, is the concept of giving back in the planning stages, the execution (there's got to be a better way to phrase that) and/or clean-up of a wedding. And the best part is that you don't need to be a paid-up member of Greenpeace, chain yourself to a heritage listed building or march in the streets to make a difference.

Here are some of the great new ways you can share the love of your special day with those less fortunate.

Classic elegance - Miranda and Michael

Classic elegance - Miranda and Michael

Interstate and overseas family and friends converged on Ayers House Adelaide for Michael and Miranda's chic wedding ceremony and reception. The theme was elegant, yet relaxed which was emulated throughout their ceremony with their traditional vows and sprinklings of gentle humor. They are simply an utterly delightful couple.

Photos were taken by the lovely Carly from Stirling Photography.

Enjoy!