Wed By Kez – Ninja Celebrant

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You may not know this about me, but I am a ninja!

Not in the wikipedia sense of the word, save for one beautiful similarity. When it comes to wedding photography I am no where to be seen.

And thats the way, ah huh ah huh, I like it.

Too often at wedding ceremonies there is the Celebrant smack bang in the middle of the couple, and right at the heart of every photo their photographer will take. Sure photographer got skills, but shooting around a big melon like mine* ain’t easy!

So how do I avoid the lens?

Rare Kez Photo taken by Popcorn Photography

Well sometimes, I can’t! Especially when the couple have to do their vows or say something. However, for the majority of the ceremony I stand off to the side and slightly in front of the couple. I do this for two reasons:

  1. The photographer can frame me out of any photos easily enough
  2. If the couple getting married are looking my way, they are actually facing their guests and everyone gets to see the tears, laughs and love!

The other reason, although slightly less obvious, comes down to my approach to your ceremony. It’s not about me. It should NEVER be about the celebrant. It’s all about you.

I have horrifyingly been to weddings where the celebrant/ minister stands in the middle of the couple and gives a big ol’ opinionated speech about the couple. Normally including words like “When I met Name and Name I thought..” or “A good marriage is..”. You may not immediately notice what’s wrong with these statements, so let me tell you. 

No one, or at least a very few, gives a ***t about what the celebrant thinks at a wedding. 9/10 they have known the couple getting married for less than a year, they’ve met in person maybe two or three times, and sure, they have a business/familiar relationship but it’s not the “best-buds-since-Year-2” kind.  She/he is probably standing next to you with either the rings or some flowers.

Also, celebrants are not marriage experts. Sure, we marry people but we also have our own stuff going on in the background and that definitely doesn’t include knowing the secret to a good marriage and only sharing it on the wedding day. There are divorced celebrants, there are celebrants who have never had a long term relationship, there is a wonderful variety of celebrants with a plethora of unique, interesting talents and life skills but being a “marriage expert” is probably not one of them. Don’t confuse someone who can legally marry you, with someone who knows how to have a good marriage and make it last. 

So if you are looking for that celebrant who:

  • Won’t stand in your photos
  • Won’t lecture you on your relationship
  • Will do their job in a super professional and fun way and then just ***k off.

Guess what, you’ve found her! Now let’s talk

*It is true I have a big head. At 61cm I am well above the average human and destined to never wear dainty lady hats!

Kez is a Newcastle Marriage Celebrant. She has performed over 700 weddings across Australia but also can officiate baby namings, elopements, registry weddings and funerals. Kez is known to be loud and nerdy. http://wedbykez.com/

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