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Pre-marriage education – everything you need to know

Pre-marriage education – everything you need to know

by Joshua Withers | Aug 28, 2014 | Wedding blog, What makes you different?

Pre-marriage education is nothing like Robin Williams dished out in License to Wed, but most people think it’s weird, scary or for people in big trouble, so I asked connie a bunch of questions.

What makes Made with Love different?

What makes Made with Love different?

by Joshua Withers | Jan 23, 2014 | What makes you different?

Every now and then I’ll sit down with a friend in the wedding business and ask them “what makes you different” because there are so many wedding businesses around. Hopefully this blog post, and others, help you find the right people to help you...
What makes Black Jacket Suiting different?

What makes Black Jacket Suiting different?

by Joshua Withers | Jan 16, 2014 | What makes you different?

Continuing my series of asking my friends in the Brisbane wedding business what makes them different, today I sit down with a young guy starting a new shop, blazing a new path in menswear. Introducing Ryan Fisher and Black Jacket Suiting. What, or who, is Black Jacket...
What makes Beautiful Weddings different?

What makes Beautiful Weddings different?

by Joshua Withers | Dec 5, 2013 | What makes you different?

This is another post in the ongoing series of “What makes you different?” where I interview wedding industry legends about what makes them different. Who is Beautiful Weddings? Beautiful Weddings is Nicole and Justine and a team of really cool people that...

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Recent Posts

  • The “I now pronounce you woman and husband” thing doesn’t mean anything
  • A whole lotta heart in being your celebrant
  • What a traumatic year
  • Lean on me, I’ve been here longer than you
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Why is #CraigMcLachlan’s one hit wonder, Moaner, trending online tonight?

From Josh Withers's Twitter via Twitter for Mac

Wedding planning pro tip: Choose a wedding vendor team, then a date, instead of spending your whole life trying to find a team available on your date.

From Josh Withers's Twitter via Micro.blog

@danilic Is this Dan, or a cockroach?

From Josh Withers's Twitter via Twitter for iPhone

If you inserted a MYST CD-ROM into your computer sometime in the early 90’s and found yourself entrenched in the wonder that was MYST, then this Soundcloud is going to do something to your nostalgia. robynmiller.net

From Josh Withers's Twitter via Micro.blog

The editorial team at @AppleNewsAU are struggling with the idea that I really don’t care about celebrity news pic.twitter.com/bvRI2g3hoQ

From Josh Withers's Twitter via Twitter for iPhone

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The biggest mistake I see people make in wedding p The biggest mistake I see people make in wedding planning is with added, unnecessary, unimportant, complexities. Every extra moving part is a part that can and might fail. Every added expectation is one that might not get met. Every unnecessary addition to the run sheet is one extra possible stress fracture. Keep it beautifully simple and elegant. Like Lucia’s dress, photographed by @bulb.creative for the @elopementcollective in Noosa.
*Record scratch* *Freeze frame* Yup, that's me. Y *Record scratch* *Freeze frame* Yup, that's me. You're probably wondering how I ended up in this situation. This is March 2009 in Townsville, about 2-3 years after one aunty’s boring-ass wedding ceremony that convinced me to become a celebrant, and I’m about to perform my first wedding ceremony, for her sister, the other aunty. I’m not legal yet, that doesn’t happen until May 14, 2009, 12 years ago yesterday. But at this point I’ve been on radio for a few years, and I knew a thing or two about communicating. I knew nothing about creating an epic marriage ceremony, and none of my hair is grey. How’s that ceremony script as well, I’m holding it so proudly like it’s the only thing stopping me from being a terrible celebrant. But I felt that this was the best photo I could make to commemorate the occasion, a mirror selfie with my iPhone 3G and my ceremony script. I’ve come a long way in my 12 years and my mirror selfies are much more on point now, my hair has much to answer for though. If you’d like to hear more about that journey and why I post like I do on social media, sharing my story like I do, then come and do your celebrancy ongoing professional development with me and the team at the @celebrant.institute - tomorrow/Sunday morning from 10am I’ve delivering a topic on social media marketing, you’ll love it. Register at www.celebrant.training.
When I was a kid there was a TV commercial with a When I was a kid there was a TV commercial with a Jamaican sounding jingle about holidaying in the Whitsundays that sang “send my mail care of Airlie Beach, cause I don’t care, I’ll be out of reach!” This is Terri & Ramon #marriedbyjosh out of reach with the @elopementcollective & @tessashannonphoto outside of Airlie Beach
Wedding traditions are not evil. They're not bad. Wedding traditions are not evil. They're not bad. They've been demonised for so long, and misunderstood for even longer. Traditions are our way of saying "people like us, do things like this". There's no single list of things that "wedding traditions" incorporate. It's an extremely personal, individual, and meaningful term. For example, in my house it's a deeply important family tradition that once our two daughters are asleep at night, we reintroduce ourselves to each other, try and talk about life and business and other adulting things, then we rush to bed because we're pooped. Seriously though, tradition is the backbone of what family even is. Britt and I have a whole list of ritualistic things we do together as a couple and as a family that lead us through or days, weeks, months, and years. It's how we signify that things are important, and that people are valuable. So it is with wedding traditions. Traditions are unique, weird, little things that help you interface with the fact that you're getting married. Whether it's getting ready together or apart, or having a bridal party or not, or having a parent walk someone down an aisle or walking in together, or drinking tea with your family before you wed, or holding the ceremony under a wooden structure that symbolises that your marriage is a home with its four walls open to the community and the roof open to heaven, these - and the ten million other things that could come up on a Google search - are not rules or laws, but interfaces, ways and means for us to understand what's happening in our lives, and ways for us to communicate what is important to us and our community. If anyone is telling you that there's a tradition you have to, or must not, do, flick them the middle finger and just do you. This is your and your partner's wedding and the only traditions you need are the ones that say "people like us do things like this". This is Taylor and her dad, just before I saw them, photographed by @megankellyweddings at @byron.crystalbrookcollection planned by the pro team at @forloveandliving!
Me and three of my fans - Will and Kristy, and the Me and three of my fans - Will and Kristy, and the one @roamingredgen obviously had installed in @thecalilehotel’s terrace roof for me. "Kristy and I had the best day - our elopement was relaxed, beautiful and very personal and we couldn’t have imagined having it any other way. Josh, Britt and Tara were organised, friendly and incredibly accommodating. In the month prior, they consistently checked in to make sure we were up to date with the plan and comfortable with all the arrangements. They ensured that this process was smooth, despite not being able to meet up in person beforehand (Kristy and I live in WA) and throughout the March/April lockdown in the week leading up to our day. Our photographer Tessa made us feel comfortable whilst taking photos and her edits were beautiful and turned over within a few days." Kristy & Will #marriedbyjosh at the @thecalilehotel with the @elopementcollective + @tessashannonphoto and @gwenfloralco
I remembered today that I was supposed to be in Ic I remembered today that I was supposed to be in Iceland last week for an elopement. Sometimes it’d be nice to forget what could of been. This is my resting Iceland face. You can see that I’m very excited and overly happy, but also really cold.
Wil & Mark // “The best wedding celebrant! Josh Wil & Mark // “The best wedding celebrant! Josh put me and my partner at ease from our first meeting, guided us through the wedding essentials, and most importantly presided over the ceremony with fun and warmth.” Thank you 🙏🏻 Elopement at @montdusoleil with the @elopementcollective plus @michaelbriggsphotography making photos, @bulb.creative making a film, and @northst made the blooms
The epitome mother. You’re the best @hellobritta The epitome mother. You’re the best @hellobrittanyjane xx
In the beforetime I married people in Yosemite and In the beforetime I married people in Yosemite and they were really nice and it was the first time in my life I’d ever been tipped like the waitresses in the US sitcoms. Calvin and Catherine married by me plus the @elopementcollective & @bulb.creative
Hey wedding industry people, Stop calling our cli Hey wedding industry people, Stop calling our clientele “bride”. You look stupid and you drag the whole industry down to your stupid level. Brides don’t plan weddings and brides don’t get married. Couples do. Grooms do. Spouses and partners get married. Sometimes two grooms do. Sometimes one bride and one groom. Sometimes even, and you should sit down for this one, two brides do. Enough with “it’s the brides day” or “Hey Brides” in a social media post, or on your website, or calling an award system “Bride’s Choice” or “Bridal Awards” or calling it the “bridal industry”. It’s 2021, join the rest of us here in the future where couples get married and a wedding isn’t “one perfect day” but an honest celebration of two people getting married. Phot of me having ‘pinions by @michaelbriggsphotography
Looking for a wedding deal? Mention this post to g Looking for a wedding deal? Mention this post to get my photobooth for free when you book me for your wedding on a package that has me at your reception. That’s cash straight in your pocket.
Not just a celebrant, I’m the ringleader of the Not just a celebrant, I’m the ringleader of the party, the backbone of the event, the captain of the wedding - on and off the high seas. Me, MCing @courtneylouise79 and @zac_grumpo’s wedding on #sydneyharbour photographed by @pabslab
Review // Michael and I are so happy we decided to Review // Michael and I are so happy we decided to elope with the @elopementcollective; our day was so relaxed, stress-free, and pure magic in the Californian Redwoods in the Otways and a day we will treasure for the rest of our lives. We're so grateful to have had both Josh as our celebrant and our amazing photographer @michaelbriggsphotography, thank you for making us feel so comfortable and like we were just hanging out with old friends. We couldn’t recommend them anymore and a huge thank you to Tara for organising the finer details of our day from our wedding timeline to my beautiful florals from @shes_a_wildflower, and always answering every and any questions we had. thank you again from the bottom of our hearts we wish we could relive it all over again. Love the Cirelli's
Being married is so much better, so much more impo Being married is so much better, so much more important, and so much more enjoyable than getting married. Don't get me wrong, getting married is a heck of a lot of fun. Between growing as a couple as you plan this epic event, getting all of your favourite people in the same room for the first time, saving and investing more money than you might of spent before, and figuring out how people like you celebrate things like this, it can be a wild and fun ride. But the whole reason you're here is to be married. That's your North Star, the reason you've got a celebrant is to take you over that threshold from not married to married. The reason you've got a venue and caterer is because when people like you get married, you have a crowd like that, and a crowd like that would be a better crowd with some food and drink. The reason you've got hair and makeup, suits and dresses, flowers and styling, is because when people like you hold events like this we bring a level of class and charm in our clothing, in our surroundings, in our very existence. The reason you've got a photographer and videographer is because when people like you celebrate meaningful and important events you value the record of that, you value art being created. We're not doing all this shit because that's what happens at weddings. We're doing it because we value it. Thank you for valuing us as we create your wedding.
☕️ Can I tell you a funny story about Hudsons ☕️ Can I tell you a funny story about Hudsons coffee and your wedding? Maybe 15 or almost 20 years ago I flew to Melbourne and it was my very first business trip and my first time in Melbourne. I was flying down to help the CEO of the radio company I worked for get some tech gear working in his office. I’ll never forget landing at Melbourne Airport and walking down the stairs to see Hudsons Coffee. I imagined that business travellers as they left the airport would get a coffee from this Hudsons coffee, because that’s what business travellers did, and I really loved the idea of travelling for work. That coffee the barista handed me tasted so sweet, and it had nothing to do with the actual taste of the coffee, it had everything to do with the experience. If you’re not aware Hudsons actually makes fairly poor coffee, but because I was so entrenched in the idea of being a traveller, the coffee tasted so so sweet. There’s something about how something feels trumping what’s actually going on. It’s almost like how something feels, the vibe of the thing, matters. That’s why I don’t read your ceremony from a script. Because I believe that how a ceremony feels is more important than the script, and that looking down into a page and reading the words off it can affect the vibe of my ceremony. I prepare myself and work hard so I can present your ceremony without a script, so you get an awesome ceremony AND it feels good. Imagine how good that first Hudson’s coffee would’ve been for me if it was actually a good coffee too! That’s how I want you to feel with your ceremony.
Family business. Over the years I’ve heard the Family business. Over the years I’ve heard the term “family business” thrown around a lot, usually describing why someone supports a small business over the multinational that’s just come to town. Luckily for us though there are no multinational corporation celebrants - the closest we’ve got is @marriedbyjake but I’ve got dirt on him to hold him at bay. The truth is though is that we are a family business in the business of family. We are a family of four, me and @hellobrittanyjane plus our two girls, and when we’re with emailing, on the phone, or with you in person that’s time away from our family so we can invest in yours. When you invite me into your wedding or Britt into your elopement through the @elopementcollective, you’re buying into our family and investing in yours . You’re investing into our and your vision and heart. I truly believe that great marriages make for great families, which build great communities, which makes for a better world. So I don’t mind stepping away from my family to build yours, if it means the world is going to be in better shape because we, and you, decided to love. My family photographed by @beczacherphoto
You might get your peaches out in Georgia, and you You might get your peaches out in Georgia, and you could get your weed from California, but whatever you do, be a badass bitch and don’t get your wedding vows from Google. Get them from the source, yourself. You’re really good at making your own vows, anyone else’s vows won’t feel right.
Your friendly reminder that I’m a triple threat. Your friendly reminder that I’m a triple threat. I make epic marriage ceremonies, and I make a @greatreception like MCing the reception, DJing it, and bringing my photobooth (which made this photo), plus I like holding a pro camera and sometimes do that if I’m not doing the other things. And I do these things all over the globe, like, I’m literally posting this 10km in the air above the Hunter Valley at 8am. This has been my wedding advertisement for the week.
A moment of mullet appreciation at Marie and Tom’s wedding today at @highchurchbrisbane
If you’re in Circular Quay this afternoon, the p If you’re in Circular Quay this afternoon, the playlist is mine. Just married Courtney and Zac aboard a boat in Sydney Harbour and now we do it like it’s 1999.
Before I’m your celebrant I’m @hellobrittanyja Before I’m your celebrant I’m @hellobrittanyjane’s husband, Luna and Goldie’s dad, and this really nerdy bloke who reads technology and gadget news like a kid eating cake. I’m just a simple bloke who loves his fam. My favourite thing to do after the two girls are asleep is to scroll through my RSS news reader or read on my Kindle while Britt watches Big Bang Theory. Luna and my favourite thing is to go for a walk on the beach at Snapper Rocks, whilst Goldie and I just smile at each other. And sometimes I leave the house to marry people. Since Goldie was born on March 2 I’ve done that 33 times because Covid through a few spanners in the 2020 wedding plans of so many. It’s a weird year to be in the wedding industry. I’ve never been so busy while the current revenue didn’t match activity (because we were paid 1-2 years ago), and I’ve never been so unavailable as last year’s couples are on dates that new couples want, but I’ve never been so grateful to pull on my Blundstones and create your marriage ceremony. This is my world, photographed by our friend @beczacherphoto. Thank you for having me at your wedding, elopement, and reception.
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