Wedding Ceremonies

Your wedding day is a wonderful occasion, which can be made even more enjoyable knowing that your ceremony is personally and professionally arranged.

My aim is to work with you to create a wedding ceremony that reflects your own values and personalities to ensure that your unique marriage ceremony reflects your personal, spiritual and cultural beliefs and is all you ever dreamt it would be... and more!

It is your ceremony, not mine and I will assist you to ensure that your ceremony reflects your individual requirements and guarantee that all the legal requirements are met.

I will offer you an extensive collection of ceremonies to choose from, which are constantly updated and also a range of alternate ceremonies and I encourage you to contribute to your vows BUT this is not compulsory!

It can be as elaborate or as simple as you like, as formal or as informal - it’s up to you. Most importantly it should be special and memorable for you and everyone who comes to celebrate with you.

Handfastings

Handfastings are an ancient and beautiful ceremony that may incorporate Wiccan or Pagan beliefs. The term is derived from Old Norse dialect, hand-festa, "to strike a bargain by joining hands". Beltane, 31 October in the Southern Hemisphere, is a popular date on which a couple might choose to be handfasted. They are usually held outdoors in a natural setting such as a beach or forest.

The marriage vows taken may be for "a year and a day" which is traditional, a lifetime, "for all of eternity" or "for as long as love shall last". Whether the ceremony is legal, or a private spiritual commitment, is up to the couple.

Modern handfastings are performed for hetrosexual or homosexual couples, however in the case of homosexual couples the handfasting can not be made legal according to Australian Law.

As with many Neopagan rituals, some couples may use historically attested forms of the ceremony, striving to be as traditional as possible, while others may use only the basic idea of handfasting and largely create a new ceremony incorporating some of the rituals such as the knotting of the couples wrists, the loving cup and the jumping of the broom.

Belly Blessings

The Belly Blessing or Mother's Blessing Ceremony and also known as The Blessingway or Blessing Way Ceremony has been practised by many cultures around the world and dates back to pre Christian times. The Belly Blessing ceremony is akin to a Baby Shower. It is a very positive ritual, affirming that a woman will have a natural and beautiful birth experience.

The ceremony marks a woman's rite of passage. All the attending women pamper the mother to be during the ceremony. She will receive a foot massage, her hair brushed and adorned with flowers and if she wishes, a Plaster Belly Cast of her child to be. It is a ceremony of empowerment near the time of birthing. Within a circle of friends in a quiet, gentle, spiritual ceremony, those attending will celebrate sisterhood; welcome a new baby to earth and honour mother, birth, life and rebirth.

Baby Namings/Wiccanings

Baby Namings or Wiccanings are similar to a Christening where family and friends gather to bless the baby with well wishes and prosperity for their life.

There are many versions of this ceremony, which can be altered to suit yourself and your baby.

The planting of a tree is a popular sub ceremony as is the presentation of gifts to bring health and wealth by the Grandparents, God parents and/or legally appointed Guardians.

Life’s Rites of Passage

There are times in our lives, which we name as being most important in our lives, such as 13th, 16th, 21st, 40th, 50th birthdays, engagements and divorce just to name a few.

Ceremonies can be arranged to mark whatever passage of life that you wish to celebrate and announce to the world.

Croning and Saging Ceremonies

In days gone by, the crones (women) and sages (men) were the wise and respected matriarchs and the patriarchs of the community. Through living a full and long life, the elders were respected and sought out for their understanding of the human condition and honoured by their tribes. Today’s contemporary world views the crone and sage in a very different light.

A croning or saging ceremony is a wonderful way to empower yourself or the crone or sage within your life.

Funerals/Memorials/Final Passage rites.

The death of a loved one is always a time of sorrow and mourning but with the right celebrant to guide the service, it can also be a time to reflect and smile at the memories of the departed.

Michelle offers services tailored to you and the deceased regardless of what religious denomination you may have.

A final rite of passage is a Pagan ceremony which has its roots in the pre Christian celebrations of the dead. The Pagan belief that the soul is anchored to the living body via a thin silver thread is depicted within this rite. It is believed that when the body dies, the silver cord is severed allowing the soul to progress to the next plane.

Pet Funerals

We all love our pets. They are a part of our family and our constant friends. They are there when we get home to wag a tail, purr on our laps, or squawk a greeting. Yet, when they pass, we grieve for them and cry for our lost companions.

A pet funeral can be conducted at your choice of venue with reverence and love.