My job is to capture authentic moments. I am obsessed with the energy of a wedding day, what it feels like to be there and what the photos will feel like years down the track. I have learned very quickly that the entire tone of a wedding is set in the first 20 minutes.

Who sets that tone? Your celebrant! The celebrant is the person who lays the foundation for the entire day. Fortunately, you do not have to fly anybody in because we are blessed with the absolute best marriage officiants right here in the Hunter Valley.

They have to handle the legal bits but they also bring the energy. As a photographer, I am watching everything. I see the behind-the-scenes moments, the nervous anticipation and the exact second that energy shifts from anxious to pure joy. That shift, that magic, is almost always led by an amazing celebrant.

A great celebrant creates a moment so full of energy, laughter and real emotion that, selfishly, it makes my job of capturing those moments an absolute dream. When your ceremony is electric, your photos and film are electric. It is that simple.

Finding the right person is everything. To help you out, I have put together a list of four of the best celebrants I have been lucky enough to work with in the Hunter Valley. These are people who have genuinely impressed me and, in one case, someone I hired for my own wedding

Married by Case – For Bright Bubbly Energy and a Calm, Steady Hand

Let’s add the wonderful Casey from Married by Case to this must-have list.

Casey is just one of those people who is pure positive energy. She is bright, she is bubbly and she has this incredible talent for making a ceremony feel full of smiles and just easy.

What I appreciate from a photographer’s perspective is how she mixes that fun energy with a truly calm and steady hand. She knows exactly how to keep you both present and in the moment, handling all the legal bits and logistics so you can just focus on each other. There is no stress, just pure good energy.

Plus, as a visual person, I love that she is highly conscious of your aesthetic. She is a total pro at blending in or standing out if you want her to, making sure the whole scene looks perfect for your photos.

Casey is perfect for the couple who wants a ceremony that feels bright, happy and personal, led by someone who is chill. You can reach Case here.

CC Celebrant – For a Ceremony That Is Modern, Fun and Genuinely You

Introducing the wonderful Claire Considine, the driving force behind CC Celebrant.

Where do I even start with Claire? Every time you see her name on a run sheet, you know it is going to be a brilliant ceremony. Her superpower is her ability to make a ceremony feel incredibly personal, totally modern and just plain fun.

She is a storyteller at heart and she has this amazing way of weaving your personal story into the ceremony in a way that is authentic to you. She is one of those people who is just so effortlessly warm and organised that you cannot help but feel relaxed in her presence. Above all, she is a very proud LGBTQIA+ ally, just like me, dedicated to making every couple feel celebrated, safe and seen.

Claire is perfect for the couple that wants their ceremony to be packed with laughter, happy tears and heartfelt moments that feel entirely authentic to who they are.

You can reach Claire here.

Married by Dom – The Ultimate Hype-Woman (Who Married Me!)

Okay, so I might be a little biased on this one but for a very good reason. Dom was the celebrant for my own wedding.

When you work in the wedding industry, you see everyone. So when it came time for my wife and me to tie the knot, we knew exactly who we wanted. Dom is, without a doubt, the ultimate hype-woman.

Her energy is absolutely infectious. She is funny, she is bold and she is fabulously and proudly gay, which is a huge part of her amazing presence. She took the time to know us, she guided us through our vows and she set the most amazing party atmosphere that kicked off the rest of our day. I cannot recommend her enough.

Self-described as “super gay”, Dom is an incredible LGBTQIA+ advocate who champions inclusive, joy-filled weddings for every single couple. Dom is perfect for the couple that wants their ceremony to feel like the true start of the celebration, creating a big, lively and unforgettable party.

Sweet Basil Celebrant & Styling – For Chill Vibes and Flawless Aesthetics

If your dream aesthetic is less big party-starter and more relaxed, warm and down-to-earth, then you need to meet Emily from Sweet Basil Celebrant & Styling.

Emily is just one of those genuinely lovely and warm people. She brings a wonderful, calm energy to the day, making everything feel easy and stress-free. Her ceremonies are always so heartfelt, drawing everyone in to focus purely on the connection you two share.

But here is what makes her offering truly unique and an amazing option for so many couples. Emily is also a professional stylist.

This is a massive advantage for simplifying your planning. She crafts your ceremony and she can style it too. This means your arbour, your signing table and your aisle details all work in perfect harmony with the story she is telling. You get one person and one vision for the whole ceremony.

As a photographer, this is incredible. It creates a truly immersive, beautiful and cohesive scene that is an absolute joy to capture. Emily is perfect for the couple that wants a relaxed, heartfelt and beautifully styled ceremony and loves the simplicity of having their celebrant and stylist all in one.

You can reach Emily here. Note: she is currently exclusively doing weddings at Emilio’s in Newcastle and Warner’s Bay.

Sharon Toner – For Timeless Elegance and Grounding Warmth

If you are looking for a celebrant who brings a sense of classic grace and deep experience to your day, Sharon Toner is an absolutely wonderful choice. Sharon has this beautiful ability to make a ceremony feel incredibly significant while keeping the atmosphere entirely relaxed. She speaks with such warmth and clarity that every single guest is completely captivated by your personal story.

From where I stand behind the camera, having someone like Sharon leading the ceremony is a dream. She brings a grounding presence that instantly settles any nervous energy. Because she is so confident and poised, couples naturally relax into the moment. This allows me to capture the most beautiful, unscripted reactions and genuine tears of joy without any awkward stiffness. She also knows exactly where to stand to give you the perfect framing for your first kiss.

Sharon is perfect for the couple seeking a refined, deeply romantic and beautifully delivered ceremony guided by a true professional with a heart of gold.

You can reach Sharon here.

So, Who Will You Choose?

Your celebrant is the person who will stand with you in one of the biggest moments of your life. Whether you click with Claire’s modern fun, Dom’s infectious energy, Casey’s bubbly personality or Emily’s heartfelt romance, you truly cannot go wrong with any of these incredible Hunter Valley celebrants.