Frequently Asked Questions

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There is only one Jay. I do things differently pre-wedding and on the day. 

I bring a fun, happy go lucky attitude; I know how to have the fun moments and add in the romantic and in all honesty I bounce off what the two of you bring from your lunge-room picnic notes to the vibe you are looking to create. 

I have many goals when it comes to your ceremony but one of the biggest is that your guests think we have been friends for years; with the level of detail that comes out during your ceremony. 

I could go on all day, but the best place to find out about me is my reviews 

https://abia.com.au/brisbane/celebrant/married-by-jay

Travel is a huge part of my role. I will go any where in Aus. However majority of my weddings are on the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba. 

No two ceremonies are the same, which is great for me as a creative. I use the lounge-room picnic notes that you provide me together. To create a one off ceremony that says "this is us". Yes I have a structure I work with but outside of the legal wording; it is all bespoke to you.

Once created I go over and over it with a mic in hand and edit it, so on the day if I need to look down I can pick up from where I left off and know the script.

When I first started I was like the rest with an iPad in hand and I hated it, swiping up and I even had one wedding where for no reason I could watch he battery disappear. Thank god for a plan B. 

But then I though what about children's books, they are fun, quirky and so I began selecting books that resembled my couples and it allows you to have a keep sake you can read to all of the big and little people in your lives. plus the ceremony is in there to. 

However it isnt for everyone so I do of course offer other options too. 

I do, the impact of the ceremony not only being heard is one thing but also the music, should you use it for that needs to be next level and so I invested in a BOSE S1; battery operated sound system that pumps. Plus your videographer can plug in and get the sound directly from the speaker.

Within your lounge-room picnic I get you to select 3 songs (you can have more) I then down load them onto my iPad and have them all categorised. I am always happy to run the music for you because I know what's going to happen when. 

Typically no, in the rare occasion that two weddings are in the same vicinity and one may be at 10am and the other 3pm. But 99% of the time I only conduct one.

Of course, so within your online portal is a great document to get you thinking about how to create your promises. I encourage you both to not share them with each other, they should be your own words as an individual coming together. But feel free to share timings so one isnt dramatically longer than the other; but if it is, who cares this is your moment. 

I am bad, in a good way for turning up early. I will typically be onsite 1 to 1.5 hours prior to the ceremony, because I like to be in the moment, check on you both, get set up and be around for guests as they arrive to make them feel comfy too. 

I sure do. I love it, with me MCing I add in reception planning. For me the time line is for the chefs and the behind the scenes. So it is nothing for me to work with you in ripping up the typical run sheet and re-creating it with you. 

The difference between uncle Barry playing MC and myself is I am with you all, all day; working with all of the suppliers and pulling leavers behind the scenes to make everything streamline. Believe me things happen and you would never be the wiser. I am also of course front of house guiding and running the reception for you.

I think out of 200+ weddings I have provided a ceremony once before the big day and that was in the very beginning. Because I thought was the done thing. But what I learnt was it took away from the experience of the two fo you. 

What I do; do though is email you a week out to double check a few elements before I go print, just incase anything has changed. 

There sure are; but there is only one Jay. I bring my experience, passion and everything I have to offer to your day. I am also full time and in that have to ensure I pay tax, super and a whole range of costs to stay up to date with the best equipment, suits and so much more. 

I'm not the cheapest but you get bespoke everything and no cut and paste. 

I love a good intro to the people who have supported you to this point. It is also a nice ice breaker before we begin and lets be honest later on at the reception speeches will be made. So feel free to get in first

Pre-ceremony, After a pep talk (phones etc.) I like to allow the person waiting to have some photos and interact with the guests because after that; it is no longer about them :-) I tee your photographer up prior. 

Then I love the moment everyone is staring that the person waiting and that little bit of silence. 

Once you have both arrived together, I like to give you a hit minute to say hello, check each other out, even hug. But dont kiss or we have to start again. 

Once that moment has happened I normally will take your bouquet away and let you both be in the love bubble holding hands. Then we begin. 

In a nut shell, I will welcome everyone into the space, share your love story and the things you have both told me in private about each other, your legal vows are exchanged and the personal ones you have written. 

The rings of course have a moment with a little repeat after me and then get ready to make out as I announce you. 

We step aside and sign and then I bring you back and wrap you both up, get everyone ready to cheer, throw cooked rice or rose petals and launch you both into the world and to the bar ready for hugs, kisses and photos. 

Anyone over the age of 18. You can either pre-arrange who they are and or I am always up for a lucky dip, where I hand out numbers pre ceremony (so they can win a meat tray) and you both choose a number. It adds a lot of fun to that moment of selecting your witnesses. 

Heaven forbid. I have a lot of celebrant friends who I can reach out to and give you the choice of who. I still take care of all of the ceremony elements and hand them over. So you still get a Married by Jay ceremony just delivered by a co-cele.