Laurie Gibbs Marriage Celebrant Ballarat in Ballarat, Victoria | Wedding planning service

Laurie Gibbs Marriage Celebrant Ballarat

Locality: Ballarat, Victoria

Phone: +61 414 598 677

Address: Ballarart East 3350 Ballarat, VIC, Australia

Website: http://www.ballaratcelebrant.com

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• Wedding planning service

25.01.2022 Hi everyone. I hope you are all going great and looking forward to the Christmas holiday season. Just wanting to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year. I hope 2019 is a wonderful year for everybody, full of fun, family, laughter and many happy adventures and of course lots more celebrations. Keep on celebrating always. ...Laurie

24.01.2022 Hi everyone. I hope you are all going fantastic. In between all the weddings, funerals and other celebrations, Sharon and I have been central in organising a very special milestone surprise birthday lunch celebration for her mum. Mum thought she was having lunch with a few of us, not 40 people in total. She didnt have a clue and was shocked to see her kids, grandkids and great grandkids all there, along with her golfing buddies and other special friends. We dined at The Ita...lian Food Project in Camden NSW and the service and meals were great. We were well looked after. Our daughter Julieanne made her a beautiful cake in the shape of a photo album and got a fellow cake maker to make two ferrets as Mum is right into her ferrets. (Designacakeforyou - on facebook) My Sharon has been working on this for almost a year and her stress level has lowered considerably post party. Keeping secrets from your mum is hard It was a fantastic lunch which Mum really enjoyed and she will be talking about it for a long while to come. Keep on celebrating always....Laurie #TheProject #designacakeforyou #birthdays #celebrations #theitalianfoodproject See more

23.01.2022 Hi everyone. I am still alive and kicking :). It is the quieter time of the year for being a Celebrant, but there are still lots of enquiries to respond too and of course the odd funeral or two, one of which was a very close friend who died quite suddenly. Always a very tough thing for the family to cope with and a tough ceremony to do when its someone you know so well. Sharon and I did get away up north for a while to catch up with our son, daughter-in-law and grandsons who... are now in Brisbane, along with catching up with other family, on the way up and the way down. Had a quick trip to Fraser Island for 5 days with Sharons sister Deb and hubby Ian and we havent been there since 1982. The resorts are much bigger and more resplendent, then they were back then. It was funny watching Deb, as we walked around, as she expected a dingo to come out and drag her off into the bushes at any moment. Just be sensible and they are not a problem. We also got to meet our latest great niece Madelyn, now about 4 months old, who has the most beautiful smile, that just melts your heart. I have a Wedding Ceremony to co-emcee soon with a Catholic Priest. The bride is Catholic, but the groom is divorced and so they cant get married in the church, but the priest is quite happy to do the Ceremony in a civil setting. I said to him - that was a very nice thing to do for the bride and groom, which will be the next best thing to being in the church. I will say only a few words and be a spectator for most of proceedings, except for a few official parts. Always something different, when you are a Celebrant. Keep on celebrating always.........................Laurie See more

22.01.2022 Hi everyone I hope you are all going fantastic. I had a backyard Memorial Service for Valerie recently. The family had already had a funeral service with a cremation following that service. With her ashes in a lovely urn set upon a decorated table on the back deck area, mostly family, along with a few friends joined together as a final farewell to a lovely lady. It was especially moving for one of her sons and some others who could not be at the first service and a chance fo...r them to say goodbye in person. Some great stories were shared and some emotional tears flowed as family members spoke about how special a woman she was. I was very privileged to orchestrate the service with her daughter and the family was very appreciative of my help and input. Something a little bit different but no less a wonderful service for me to be proud of. Keep on celebrating always. .... Laurie See more

21.01.2022 Hi everyone. We had a lovely wedding at The Mercure Ballarat. It was co-ordinated by a very good Wedding Planner - Bec Kennedy and she doesnt have any social media sites but can be contacted on 0429 332 915. It was a delight working with her before, during and after the Ceremony. (See attached photos) We were invited by the bridal couple to join them for lunch and so we got to see Becs work for the reception. She is thorough, dedicated and particular with even the most smal...lest of details, to make sure everything is right. So if you are planning a wedding and need some help, give her a call. Keep on celebrating always...........................Laurie See more

21.01.2022 This is our beautiful Kenyan couple. Married on Friday at home. Photos around The Botanical Gardens taken by Sharon.

20.01.2022 Hi everyone. I love how every wedding is so different. Not only with the interaction between myself, the couple as well as their family and friends, but just ho...w different the couples ideas are of how they would like the ceremony to flow and what the content should be. Sharon and Michaels recent wedding was beautiful. A very laid back and simple wedding and yet portrayed all the love and emotion that was clearly evident between them. Up the front of guests and family, it was just myself and the two of them and thats the way they wanted it to be. It is so important that as a Celebrant I provide the couple with all the resources and advice at my disposal, but in the end make sure it is the wedding ceremony they want it to be. It was the second time around for them both and watching them together I have no doubt that this time it will last forever. Keep on celebrating always...........................Laurie #freightbarballarat #ballaratcelebrant #weddings See more

20.01.2022 Hi everyone and I hope you are going great. I had my first same sex marriage recently for Dylan and Stephen and what a fantastic night it turned out to be. The two boys, Sharon and I and the venue manager were the only ones who knew that the Engagement Party they had organised, was going to turn into a Wedding. They had all their family and friends present and the room erupted in cheers and applause, when the penny dropped, as Dylan introduced me at the end of their speeches..., as their Celebrant for the night. It was a very personal ceremony for both of them who have been a loving couple for quite some time. I think their two mums have forgiven them for keeping the big secret and we involved them in the ceremony by asking them to look after the wedding rings till towards the end of the ceremony, when they came up and passed them over. So glad to be such an important part of celebrating the love of two wonderful people. Keep on celebrating always....... Laurie See more

19.01.2022 Hi everyone. There is not much to display currently, so I thought I would wind back the clock a little bit to November 2019, and remember when a beautiful couple Maria and Jairus were married opposite The Lake View on the foreshore of Lake Wendouree. They were both lovely young people, who were definitely in love and the beautiful Maria could not stop her infectious smile all during the Ceremony, with only their two witnesses and my Sharon in attendance. A lovely spot to get married in Ballarat and they invited both us to join them afterwards for lunch. Very chuffed about that honour !! Dont forget to keep on celebrating always ...... Laurie #ballaratweddings #lakeviewhotelballart #lakewendouree #marriagecelebrantsballarat

18.01.2022 Hi again. I should have started my next message in the Post area not the Comments area. Oh well - old age strikes again. Further to the Mercure Ballarat Wedding for Jodie and Steven. It was quite miserable on the Friday rehearsal and didnt look too flash on the Saturday around 11am either. The weather fairies did hold off the rain long enough for us to have the Ceremony They are a wonderful couple who met on-line, from two very different parts of the world. The internet has ...shrunk the world so much. It was a simple heartfelt ceremony filled with love and emotion - just the way it should be. The reception afterwards was a lovely affair at The Mercure and the food on offer was delicious and plentiful. Another wonderful celebration to be a part of. Keep on celebrating always........Laurie & Sharon :) #mercureballarat #weddings # love #ballaratmarriages See more

18.01.2022 Had a small, intimate and very simple ceremony on the weekend for a lovely couple, J and D who had not known each other for very long before deciding to get married. Sometimes in life, as is the case here, you just get the wonderful chance to meet the right person to spend the rest of your life with, a person that makes you happy and gives all the reasons you will ever need to live and enjoy life for many years to come. I wish for them all the happiness married life can bring.... The attached photo is of their fur family bridal party and for some reason I had their undivided attention when it came to Signing the book and certificates. Lotan would have signed with his paw if we had given him the chance. Youre got to laugh at the antics of animals. Keep on celebrating always. .... Laurie See more

16.01.2022 Hi everyone and I hope you are all going fantastic. I had a lovely wedding recently at The Mercure Hotel Ballarat for Rachel and Anthony. The venue was one of the lovely indoor rooms at The Mercure and worked well as the weather was very cold and ordinary on the day. I must give a big well done to Justin the brides priest, who was gracious enough to do a religious based Ceremony for our couple. He did a heartfelt Ceremony which meant the world to our wedding couple. My Shar...on filmed the whole event on face time for 97 year old grandma who lived in regional Victoria and couldnt attend. Sharon said she saw that grandma had the biggest smile on her face as she was able to be a part of the whole Ceremony - very special !! I was for the most part a spectator stepping in where required to do the legal bits and having the privilege of presenting our couple with their Marriage Certificate at the conclusion. It was great working with Justin and ensured that the couples day and wedding was just how they wanted it to be. Love this job. Keep on Celebrating always...... Laurie #MercureHotelBallarat #Weddings #Ceremonies See more

16.01.2022 Hi everyone. I have been busy with some weddings. Also had a few funerals to do, for lovely people all in their 60s. Far to young to depart this world, especially when I fall into that decade bracket as well. However much better news......... Yesterday was our 42nd wedding anniversary. We met on January 13th, I proposed on March 11th and we were married on October 2nd, all in 1976. I certainly scored big time and was very lucky to meet my gorgeous Sharon and even more lucky ...that she said YES ! I think she got the raw end of the deal, having to put up with me for all those years. :) She has a loving heart, a beautiful soul and lots of patience thats for sure. Two children, four grandchildren later, plus extras of course, we have a wonderful family, whom we love with all our hearts. I sincerely hope all my past and future brides and grooms have as much success,love and longevity in their marriages as well. Marriage is not easy, you have to work at it and above all always communicate. Dont stress over the little things, they really dont matter in the end. We look forward to many more years to come. Keep on celebrating always...... Laurie See more

15.01.2022 This last weekend saw a lovely Ceremony held at the home of R and A out in the paddock where they live at Cambrian Hill. It is always so special when a wedding is held at the couples own home. Mother Nature of course was very co-operative and the day could not have been any nicer for their wedding. As two sons stood proudly with their dad as he married the love of his life the beautiful R. Friends and family shared their wonderful day and then later had the reception on the... back lawn behind their home. Every ceremony is special to me and this one was no different surrounded by a loving family. Keep on celebrating always........Laurie See more

15.01.2022 Here I am at The Mining Exchange at The Affordable Wedding Expo today. Come down and check it out and say Hi. Keep on celebrating always. ..... Laurie

15.01.2022 Hi everyone. I had a stand at the first Ivory Haus Wedding Fair on Sunday, held in Ballarat. What a great event and so well run and organised by Laura and Elise from Ivory Haus. The venue- Mercure Ballarat in Main Road, was perfect for the event and provided a fairly open but intimate atmosphere both inside and out. There were quite a lot of people through the doors and mother nature was very kind allowing for outside displays and a beautiful Fashion Show on the deck in the ...afternoon. A great variety of stands provided just about everything an engaged couple would be looking for. Keep an eye out for next year. I think it will be even better. Well done Laura and Elise. I was very happy to be a part of it all. Keep on celebrating always. ......Laurie #ivoryhaus #weddings #mercureballarat #marriageceremonies See more

14.01.2022 Hi everyone and I hope you are all well and life is good. Just had a surprise wedding to do on Tuesday night with Sue and Graeme. They are part of group of Drivers and Rally Car owners participating in the 2018 Kidney Kar Rally. A wonderful cause and rally which raises money to support the Kids Camps, allowing children affected by kidney disease to have fun while going through treatment. They hadnt told their fellow rally members and so the surprise was set for 7pm, just b...efore their official dinner began. I have no doubt it was a great night, made even more special by all their family and special friends present, who rallied around them in a show of love and support on the night. I salute them all for their amazing efforts to help the kids and a special salute to Sue and Graeme, a great couple whom Im sure, look forward to continuing their great life together, now as husband and wife. A very special wedding to be a part of. Keep on Celebrating always...... Laurie See more

14.01.2022 Hi everyone. It is so nice looking back on weddings already done. Allison and Jarratt had a lovely wedding day in December last year, in their parents backyard. I really think sometimes that a family property is even more special a place to celebrate your big day, than a paid for venue. It was a lot of work for all involved, but the day was beautiful weather wise, not as beautiful as the bride of course, or as handsome as the groom, and the setting was very romantic, resultin...g in the Ceremony being perfect for them both. I will never tire of seeing the heartfelt looks of love in the eyes between special couples, as they hold hands and show everyone how much in love they are, as they celebrate their wedding day with family and friends. Love being part of special days like this !!! "Keep on Celebrating Always"............Laurie #ballaratweddings #homeweddings #ballaratmarriages #marriagecelebrantballarat See more

13.01.2022 Hello everyone. For some reason my comments with the photo album didnt publish. Ill blame the computer - not me :) The wedding was between H and J who were both born in Kenya and both born with beautiful smiles. It was a Simple Ceremony in their backyard with the Grooms sister and partner present, along with my wife Sharon. Simple words, spoken with love and devotion. Some weddings are huge affairs and yet this small gathering was just as special. We had a lovely lunch tog...ether at The Yacht Club on Lake Wendouree afterwards and then my lovely Shaz played photographer for the afternoon and got some amazing shots of the wedding couple in The Botanical Gardens. Keep on celebrating always...... Laurie See more

11.01.2022 Hi everyone. I hope you are all going great. There are so many wedding venues out there, some of which cost a lot to use, but sometimes the parents property works out beautifully. Some fancy bits and pieces for the ceremony area and a fantastic marquee setup make the day truly something to remember. Of course the weather fairies have to co-operate on the day and when they do the happy couple wind up with a day and evening full of love, fun and memories to last a lifetime. Keep on celebrating always. ....Laurie

10.01.2022 Hello everyone. Wedding venues are so diverse and can be anywhere. The theme behind them in the couples minds can be just as varied. In this case the Lethbridge Cemetery where some of their relatives can be found, but they also liked the idea of a new beginning in their life together, in a place where other lives had ended. Nice extra touches were the get-away Harley motor bike with home-made coffin inspired trailer attached which held all the flowers for the bridal party a...nd the skull inspired wedding cake. It all just suited the bride and groom so perfectly and all their family and friends loved it. #weddings #venues #marriage Keep on celebrating always. ...Laurie See more

07.01.2022 Hello again. Two posts in two days - what is going on with me ??? This is about another beautiful wedding for Marie and Richard. What a lovely couple they were, with a wonderful relationship story and they even asked Sharon and I to stay back and join in the reception, which was really nice. Ceremony and Reception were held at The Kingston Showgrounds and luckily the weather fairies were in a good mood, providing a beautiful afternoon and evening for their wedding celebrati...on. It is extra nice when you can remain and then you get some nice compliments from the guests about how they really enjoyed the ceremony. Reassures me that I must be doing something right !! Marie and Richards smiles said it all as they became husband and wife and Maries dad even had tears in his eyes as he and his own lovely wife (Maries mum and dad of course) escorted her to the grooms side. I love my job, because its not just a job, it is an honour and pleasure to be such a wonderful part of a couples wedding day. Keep on celebrating always..............Laurie See more

07.01.2022 Hi everyone. I hope you are all travelling along nicely and life is really good. :) This month marks my 10 years registered as a Celebrant and what a wonderful and fulfilling ride it has been and still continues to be. I have had numerous joyful weddings, special naming days, some of which were the children of a couple I had previously performed a wedding ceremony for and a lot of funerals. They all in their own way present different challenges, but all result in me being ver...y proud of the service I provide and the help I have given to lots of families, not only in times of joy, but also in times of sadness. It makes me feel very special when I receive sincere compliments and heartfelt thankyous after I have performed a ceremony for them. I look forward to many more years of providing care, compassion and guidance, through my skill and experience, to many more families in the future. Keep on Celebrating Always........... Laurie See more

07.01.2022 Had a lovely Naming Ceremony for Khaseema last week. It was a privilege to perform, as it was the second one I have done for the family. The first being little Grace, who is a little bit older now and full of mischief. It was a casual but lovely event held in Grandmas backyard, with family and some close friends present. It is a lovely way of welcoming a new person into their family and into their wider community of friends. Little Khaseema was well behaved and looked cute a...nd beautiful of course. It is really nice being a special part of a family and relied upon to perform meaningful ceremonies for them all. Keep on celebrating always.... Laurie #namingdayceremonies #babyceremonies #ceremonies

06.01.2022 Hi everyone. There are so many wonderful poems and readings that are suitable for a Wedding Ceremony. Sometimes the Married Couple pick a selection from my little collection I show them or the Bride and Groom find something else which suits them, their relationship and Ceremony. It is a great way to include other special people in the Wedding Ceremony. Below is a very simple one, but with a very heartfelt message.... All I Have to Give by Cara Stanfield.... Youre the first thing I think of, each morning when I rise. Youre the last thing I think of, each night when I close my eyes. Youre in each thought I have, and every breath I take. My feelings for you are growing stronger, with every move I make. I want to prove I love you, but thats the hardest part. So, Im giving all I have to give, To you I give my heart. I hope you like it as much as I do. Keep on Celebrating always....... Laurie

06.01.2022 Another wonderful wedding was with Teagan and Tom at Kirks Reservoir. It really is a very pretty venue and again the weather fairies were nice to us at Ceremony time. Our groom selected a Roger Daltry song to begin the Ceremony, as it expressed just how he felt about his bride. He even sang to her as the song played which was a lovely thing to do. A touching moment for her to remember in the years ahead. Weddings are so much fun to be a part of and it makes me feel lucky and privileged to orchestrate them. Keep on celebrating always ............Laurie

03.01.2022 Hello everyone. Yes I am still alive :). I have been speaking with couples recently about their future marriage plans. It is always so nice initially getting that contact and then eventually getting to meet them and generally starting the process of preparing their wedding ceremony. Each Bride and Groom is different, has different ideas about what their Wedding Ceremony should include and how it should flow. Thats the great part of being a Celebrant for me, ensuring that th...e Wedding Ceremony is exactly what they would like it to be, while taking away some of the stress involved on their big day. And afterwards getting positive feedback from not only the Married couple but also often their parents and their guests. When people let you know they truly enjoyed the Ceremony you orchestrated, that makes me smile every time. So keep on celebrating always...... Laurie See more

03.01.2022 Hello everyone. I know I have not posted for quite a while. Bad boy that I am :( We had a holiday in Tassie and luckily only recently got back to the mainland on the ferry. We were a bit worried for a while about getting back !! I hope all the brides and grooms out there are coping as best you can with venue and other cancellations and now weddings of only the 5 essential people allowed.... I am here to help in any way I can, whether you are an existing couple I have met already, or a couple looking for answers about what they need to do in these crazy times. I am busy ringing and rearranging ceremonies at the moment to accommodate my couples who have celebrations coming up this year and early next year. Postponing is not a problem and the best way to ensure that you still have a wonderful celebration with family and friends, albeit a little bit later than previously organised. Hang in there everyone and we will manage to get through it all and then get on with life and all it has to offer in the future. Till then take care of yourselves, stay safe and healthy.... Kindest regards, Laurie & Sharon :) See more

02.01.2022 Hi everyone and I truly hope you are all surviving ok during these very unusual times. I am in the final stages of putting together a Wedding Ceremony for Pete...r and Michelle who due to lots of circumstances, have been waiting for a long time to finally get married and have decided to go with the small restricted wedding with the intent of having a big family and friends celebration later on, when all the restrictions ease and they can have lots of people in their backyard. Other brides are carefully "watching this space" as their plans were made for later this year and I hope with all my heart that their day will go ahead as they have planned. Otherwise we will postpone the big occasion, until the restrictions are lifted on the amount of people you can have attend your wedding. Its all so hard for everyone at this time, but if we "stay the course" we will all get through it together, safely and as quickly as possible. My heart goes out to the families of the deceased, whom I have done the funerals for recently. It is so hard only being able to have a total of 10 mourners at a funeral, when most of the time the respective chapels would be filled with loving family and friends, to give someone a loving and respectful send off. They unfortunately cant be postponed. Another sad aspect of these troubling times. Stay safe and healthy everyone and "keep on celebrating always" - well as much as you can at the moment !!! All the best - Laurie See more

01.01.2022 Here we are already in February 2019. How do the weeks fly by so quickly. I have had some lovely weddings and some sad funerals already. It is great fun though catching up with couples who are booked for later dates this year now the Christmas and the New Year craziness has settled a little bit. The anticipation and excitement of what lies ahead for our bridal couples is infectious and I love being such a special part of all that. Keep on celebrating always. ....Laurie

01.01.2022 Had a beautiful wedding at Eurambeen Historic Homestead just out of Beaufort for Cara and Adam. All their combined young family were involved in the bridal par...ty and the weather wasnt playing nice to start with, but did clear so we could stay dry and finish the ceremony. Little son Gabe stayed with his mum and dad (bride and groom) and said he just wanted to go home. :) Cara did convince him to stay a bit longer, as they had to get married. Well little Gabe had a great time playing around his mums gown, as well as under her gown while the ceremony proceeded. You just have to appreciate the innovative and playful mind of a three year old. Cara and Adam had been through more than most in their life together and after I told their story, I called for a round of applause from family and friends for Adam and Caras resilience and devotion for one another and the reaction was thunderous to say the least and well deserved. Another wonderful love story celebrated between two very special people. Keep on celebrating always...........................Laurie As a footnote it is amazing how many beautiful homesteads are tucked away in rural Victoria.The owner of the property told me there were several more in the not too distant area. A symbol of the prosperity of the 1860s era. Eurambeen is a credit to the owners hard work and ongoing restoration. #eurambeenhomstead #weddings #marriage #ballaratcelebrant See more

01.01.2022 Hi Everyone. It has been a while since I have been in contact and I blame myself for being so slack. We had a lovely wedding for Lauren and Dan at Mt. Mitchell Estate in Lexton. We had been good friends of Laurens for quite some time, so it was a real pleasure performing the ceremony for them. It was a warm and windy day but the location under the trees provided some shade for the bridal party and guests. Our little flower girls didnt really walk in a straight line on the ...big day and our first bridesmaid eventually overtook them on the walk in. However they did look very cute as they wandered all over the place- everywhere but down the isle through the seats. Lauren looked beautiful as she made her way across the grassy area escorted by her two brothers and then Dad took over and led her to Dans side for the Ceremony. Another wonderful wedding to be a part of. Keep on celebrating always............ Laurie #wedding #ceremony #marriage #mountmitchellestate #love #celebrant See more

01.01.2022 Leasa and Bens Wedding was a perfect day in The Ballarat Botanical Gardens near "The Kissing Tree as it is known. The day went off without a hitch and everyone enjoyed being a part of their Celebration. They are such a lovely couple and Sharon and I were even invited to the follow up bbq at their house on the Sunday - Very special !! Keep on celebrating always............ Laurie

01.01.2022 Hi everyone. I have a couple of surprise Wedding Ceremonies coming up in the next few months. Now dont panic fellow Celebrants, the couples know they are getting married :) They are both so different from one another, but both wanted to get married and thought this way would be a fantastic way of celebrating. For one of them not too many people know at all and with the other, most of the family knows, but there will be a whole lot of surprised guests on the night. Although s...pecially organized function nights to start with, it will be so much fun surprising everyone when i get to announce what is really happening - a Wedding !! Another special part of being a Celebrant. So keep on Celebrating always - Laurie See more