Sam Lavery in Blackburn North, Victoria | Wedding planning service
Sam Lavery
Locality: Blackburn North, Victoria
Phone: +61 411 149 378
Reviews
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25.01.2022 This is one of my all time fav snaps from a ceremony I have done. To think that not that long ago weddings were a very serious and tense affair void of any chuckles, howls and cackles. Times have changed! On your big day your story is the focus, and this absolutely includes some moments like the one depicted in this snap ... Photo provided by the crafty and magical @rick_liston
24.01.2022 Making the bride and groom giggle is one of my fav things in the universe. This time however, it was a little bit different. This time I had the privilege of wedding my bestie and my sister in law. As this photo shows, it was a very relaxed and loose affair, laughs, tears, and super special. (That is the aim!) ... Congrats guys (welcome to the family Paul!) Superb photo thanks to the magical @flintstreetphotography Venue: @olivigna
24.01.2022 Happy Sunday! Here is a great shot from Pieta and Andrea’s big day. Man it is good to be back out there! Photographer @rick_liston ... Flowers @flowersofyarraglen See more
24.01.2022 A very kind review from the lovely Lois and Brett. I hope you folks are doing well and enjoying married life!
24.01.2022 Awesome people Awesome location This is all you need for a perfect wedding extravaganza A huge congratulations to the stunning Mel and Ev! ... Photo thanks to @saramarksphotography
23.01.2022 Laughter + happy tears = mission accomplished Photo taken by the super talented @ariaphotographyaus at the superb venue @acaciaridgewinery
22.01.2022 The fantastic Mel and Trent, a very good looking couple indeed. Had an absolute blast being part of their ceremony at Sorrento park! @ Sorrento, Victoria, Australia
22.01.2022 This is a thank you card I received earlier this year, however I want to take this opportunity to thank all my couples that have tied the knot with me at the helm and all the couples that have booked me to! I feel so lucky to get to work with such awesome people, it is the best part of my job and for that, I thank you! #couplesappreciation
22.01.2022 Credo - a statement of the beliefs or aims that guides someones actions. My credo you ask? Mine is really simple; putting together fun and authentic ceremonies that will keep you and your guests entertained, that is it!... Photo thanks to @bellemartinphotography
22.01.2022 No description needed. #celebrantassistant #bestfriends #cavoodle
21.01.2022 Some kind words from the phenomenal Cass and Chris. Thanks guys! Classy snap thanks to @jacobhestonweddings
21.01.2022 As weddings come to a close for 2020 I want to thank all of the couples I have worked with, you are all the best!!
20.01.2022 Some of you may be thinking, what the hell have you been up to during quarantine, Sam? Although becoming a professional gamer was a considered option, this hasnt come to fruition yet. Truth be told, I have been spending most of my days doing lots and lots of writing and script work for my couples who have weddings over the next 12 months. ... I take a great deal of pride in making sure these bad boys are full of laughs, tears and tell their story as authentically as pos. Other than this, I have been cooking up a storm daily using every pot and pan that is available like an 8 year old, which my wife loves
20.01.2022 Wowsers did it rain last night (and right now)! On the subject here is a photo of me with the awesome Lucy & Chada just after they tied the knot in their backyard wedding. (It should also be noted that I am aware I look like a cartoon character in this photo). These two set up a marquee the night before the wedding, worked incredibly hard to make it perfect. During the night it was destroyed by a crazy storm and Jumanji level rain.... When I rocked up they were still putting the finishing touches on a new marquee before guests arrived. I did what I could to help last minute in the setup. What I found amazing was they did all of this, with a smile on their face and with kids running around, amazing. In the end it was a really fun and intimate ceremony and I guarantee they enjoyed a good couple of much deserved drinks after this photo was taken.
20.01.2022 Good morning all! I just wanted to check in and say hello and give you a cheeky November update.. or should I say Movember update https://movember.com/m/samlavery?mc=1
20.01.2022 Happy Friday wedding dance vid from Niki and Edizs big day earlier this year at @acaciaridgewinery This is how I picture myself dancing in my head after a few drinks, when in actual fact it looks like i am falling down a flight of stairs. This groomsman could dance the house down and I remember he also made several references to Step Brothers in his speech which didnt go unnoticed. ... All in all a tremendous Day Happy Friday all! See more
20.01.2022 Ah yes, the old waiting game.. I will be ready! Also, with all this iso business its the perfect time to plan your big day. Drop by @valleylovespeninsula virtual wedding fair on the 17.05.20 from the comfort of your own home and check out some of the best vendors in the biz. #valleylovesweddingfair Its FREE!! @ Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
19.01.2022 Here are some super snaps from Sarah and Dan’s magical day at @logcabinranch It was my first time at this venue and it didn’t disappoint, it definitely offers something unique Perfect snaps thanks to @adaandivy_photography ... Venue @logcabinranch
18.01.2022 The post ceremony victory stance: I never get sick of seeing the pure elation couples experience at this point. Cue the music and cocktails
18.01.2022 Wednesday wedding fun with Marwa and Hamdouna at Hepburn Springs. On a side note, their accom was incredible, complete with large spa in the middle of the living room! A huge congrats guys! ... Thanks for the snap @wgphotoart
18.01.2022 Some kind words from the wonderful Ediz and Niki. Thanks guys Great snap courtesy of the supremely talented @ariaphotographyaus
17.01.2022 A happy snap from Sam and Billy’s big day earlier this year, laughs all around! I can’t wait to get back to this! Also, Happy Valentine’s Day! ... Photo thanks to @perlaphotography Venue @tatra_receptions
17.01.2022 Ok ladies and gentlemen, here we go, tackling the big issues in this video with the Top 5 wedding movies to watch. Let me know which ones I have missed! Could be a new segment @reel_features !!... . . . . . . #weddingmovies #celebrant #funweddings #funwedding #melbournecelebrant #filmreview #yarravalleycelebrant
16.01.2022 These great shots are from Niki and Eddys big day earlier this year at @acaciaridgewinery I had a ball being part of their day and working with such legendary suppliers in @ariaphotographyaus and @truestoryweddingfilms @ Acacia Ridge Vineyard Yarra Valley
16.01.2022 A couple of happy snaps from Rose and Brendans big day @_werribee_mansion_ late last year I dont know who took the great snaps, so if it was you let me know and I can tag you @ Werribee Mansion, Werribee
16.01.2022 One thing this current lockdown has given me, other than beard growth, is some time to reflect. When you tell people you are a celebrant a lot of the time they still connect it with religion or they think its a part time hobby. For me it is neither, Im not Father Lavery and this is my full time job. Over the years I worked many jobs, none of them felt right, there was always something missing, a void in job satisfaction that I couldnt put my finger on. I got married to my... beautiful wife in 2016 and had a close friend and great celebrant marry us. It was one of the best days of my life. It opened my eyes to the possibility of marrying people as a job, what a weird career, but I was intrigued by it. As soon as I did that first wedding, I was hooked. I knew it was what I wanted to do and weirdly it was something that fit my skill set which is a background in comedy and podcasting. Flash forward a couple of years and many, many weddings later and I still have the same love and passion for putting together fun, entertaining and authentic wedding ceremonies for, in all seriousness, the best people going around. In short, I wouldnt have it any other way. See more
16.01.2022 A video from Nicole and Daniel’s big day earlier this year, which I was lucky enough to be a part of! Awesome job by Rays Weddings!!
15.01.2022 Filming fun with the @valleyloves team this morning talking all things weddings! What a great bunch and cant wait to see the end product!
15.01.2022 Very excited to be a part of the @valleylovespeninsula online wedding fair. A heap of awesome suppliers at your fingertips for one day and it is FREE.. Planning a wedding? Come say Hi! 17.05.20 #valleylovespeninsula @ Mornington Peninsula
14.01.2022 I love the anticipation, love, excitement and vibe (to quote prolific lawyer Dennis Denuto) just before a ceremony. A group of your nearest and dearest all ready to have a great day and there to support you. Although things are a little different now, it will get back to business as usual and I cant bloody wait! It should also be noted that the majority of these fine folk were from Adelaide and boy did they love an Adelaide joke. ... If I am being honest when I found out almost all of them were from the city of churches whilst having a cheeky chat before the ceremony, the thought crossed my mind that a few of the in ceremony jokes at Adelaides expense could fall flat. It couldnt have been further from the truth, great sports the lot of them and they loved nothing more than to have a laugh and help celebrate Eliza and Tims day. Also, for the record my fav Adelaide joke is from comedian Sam Simmons Adelaide will be great when its finished P.s I like Adelaide
13.01.2022 After spending hours writing a script I never get tired of this type of reaction from couples, makes my day Happy Friday all, enjoy the sun, walk your dog, have a beer
13.01.2022 Melbourne turned it on today, which worked out splendidly well for Chandan and Dave’s wedding bash in the Treasury Gardens. A perfect day full of love, laughs.. and ducks
13.01.2022 This is a tiny snippet of video I took whilst being undercover at a surprise wedding. As a celebrant you must always have a back story, because guaranteed that one social butterfly will come up and ask, how do you know insert name. On this occasion I had taken on the identity of distant third cousin from Melton and was just about to be called up to start the ceremony. Surprise weddings can be the best when done well. It is so good to see the puzzlement and shock on peoples faces, that was exactly what happened this night. The venue mic wasnt great so we had to move very close to the crowd which actually added an intimacy and extra connection. It was casual, full of laughs and I think everyone in the room had a drink it hand throughout. The perfect day for Liz and Mick
12.01.2022 What a pleasure wedding these two legends this morning at The Topiary in South Melbourne. Bec and Shaun met playing competitive frisbee (which I didn’t know was a thing) over 5 years ago and now look at them, freshly married, that’s right! Enjoy the day guys and congrats!
12.01.2022 Some wedding fun with Milly and Ed today at the Woman’s peace garden in Kensington. Awesome people and I have no doubt they are enjoying some post ceremony drinks as I write this. Something else pretty cool happened as we finished the ceremony. (Swipe across to see pics). We heard a voice from one of the houses that backs onto the park. We all turned around to find a woman asking the couple to come to the fence. She was offering her well wishes, congratulations and a gift (I ...think it was a bronze jewellery box type deal, but I could be wrong). What a lovely gesture and beautiful random act of kindness. It was also the perfect way to cap off the ceremony. In what has been such a weird and challenging year, it was really cool to see something like this Congrats Milly and Ed
11.01.2022 To put it simply, I love this photo. It captures that magical energy and anticipation as a bride walks down the aisle ( and just before I open my big mouth ) Photo taken by @rick_liston for Alana & Beau’s big day
11.01.2022 Sometimes the unexpected occurs on couples big days. Like the time a passer by decided to chain their bike to the fence in the background of Jac and Als Sandringham foreshore wedding. It is public property, sure, but really?? There is quite a stretch of coastline to do this. This cyclist was the Keyser Soze of chaining bikes to fences, they were in and out, no one saw a thing. In the end, Jac and Al had a laugh and went with it, absolute champs! On a side note, I do now always carry bolt cutters @ Sandringham, Victoria
10.01.2022 Fiona and Alan got married in a library at @racvclub Melbourne. A really cool space and such a fun bunch of people ready to laugh, cheer and party I was lucky enough to hang around and MC the night which was incredible, plus I look like I am addressing the United Nations (scroll across for pic ) Congratulations!!... Awesome photos thanks to @rosa_photography_melbourne
09.01.2022 Big shout out to my wife, my lifer, my quarantine partner, my hummingbird (points for Con Air reference) Victoria is the best and has been such an amazing support to me through everything, but especially running my own business. She also puts up with all my hyper-active outbursts during quarantine and for that, I thank you, my love. ... Couldnt do it without her. (Man Im going to get some brownie points when she sees this post) First photo thanks to the fantastic @weddingsnappermelbourne @ Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
09.01.2022 Great weather, perfect backdrop and two legends tying the knot! Thanks Merryn and Ryan! It was a bloody delight being part of your big day... Photo thanks to the talented @jessemather Venue: @elmswoodweddings
09.01.2022 Is it the fact that I have the privilege to meet and get to know so many interesting and outstanding people over a couple of cheeky drinks? Is it being trusted to capture and communicate your story, put some jokes in, put some tears in, bounce ideas, until it screams undeniably to you. Ensuring you are in love with the words. Being a support to you and helping in any way possible in the lead up to the BIG day. To give you confidence.... The pressure and responsibility to step up to the plate, perform, make your ceremony an absolute winner and be mistaken for one of your besties Or is it when I get to sit back and watch that elation that washes over couples as they sign the marriage certificate after the ceremony. That surreal floating on a cloud endorphin induced splendour you will feel. The answer...its all of them, and that is Why, ladies and gentlemen. Happy Friday!!
09.01.2022 What a great shot of two absolute legends. Geez Melissa and Vishal looked tremendous They also left me a super kind review, thanks guys! Photo thanks to the talented @hayleyhickmanphotography @ Quat Quatta
08.01.2022 Should we do personalised vows I hear you ask? Great question, I generally say yes, if you feel comfortable doing that. God knows it can be a bit daunting, what to say, how long do they have to go for, my partner writes like Hemingway and will blow me out of the water. These are all very normal concerns. The good news is that I can help. In my time as a celebrant I have seen my fair share of personalised vows, I have seen what works and what doesnt. I offer all my couples the option of bouncing ideas off me and I am happy to go over them to make sure they a top notch (if you want me to!). I have put together some example docs too, its all part of the service and its free! So dont fret over vows, I have you guys covered :)
08.01.2022 Sometimes in life things arrive at the right time, big or small. Just today I received a card from a great photographer and fellow wedding vendor @ariaphotographyaus she is also the very talented woman behind @valleyloves It is a great reminder that it is sometimes the little things we can do for each other that can put a smile on someones face, and that is exactly what happened this morning whilst consuming my coffee. It is also a reminder that we are crazy overdue for a ...cheeky drink and a laugh!! Thanks a bunch Sharne and Nat xx
06.01.2022 I am so excited that weddings are opening up more and more with the relaxing of restrictions! I have missed them oh so much, it’s awesome to be back out and about. However, most of all I am thrilled for all the couples with weddings booked or who are planning a wedding. You guys have gone through wedding planning HELL this year! To see that things are stabilising with some normality returning, well, it puts a smile on my face and I hope on yours too! Happy Monday and see you folks out there!
06.01.2022 Happy couple = Happy celebrant, it’s that simple
06.01.2022 A huge happy wedding anniversary to these two legends, Chris and Annabelle. Their big day was an absolute belter, very fond memories hope you folks are well!
05.01.2022 What a weekend of weddings! It all started with these two, Sean & Sarah, two of the best going around! After a postponement, they then encountered Friday’s monsoon weather, this didn’t matter, this party was happening! And party is what they did Congratulations!!... Vendors on the night (awesome peeps) Video @jacobhestonweddings Photo @elkandwillow Venue @jackrabbitweddings
04.01.2022 Sending Monday good vibes to the wedding vendor community. What a bloody awesome bunch and incredible community to be a part of. I hope you are all having a productive, fun and fulfilling Monday! Photo thanks to the awesome @rick_liston
03.01.2022 A great snap of Katie and Jason from last week. I’m not going to lie, this photo looks like it is from the future, amazing! Photo: @javeleephotography Venue: @jackalopehotels
03.01.2022 Happy Tuesday everyone. This a shot from one of the last weds I did before this craziness. In the worlds of philosopher Jerry Springer take care of yourself and each other . (You can tell Im watching daytime telly)
02.01.2022 That just married feeling with Merryn and Ryan at @elmswoodweddings Awesome photo by the talented @jessemather
02.01.2022 Clouds, storms, rain, blistering heat, category 5 cyclones, oh and perfect sunny days. All of these can rear their head for good or bad on your big day, its what happens next which is important. That moment of decisiveness, making the call to run the gauntlet or go to your plan B inside option. In recent times, one great example comes to mind, the wedding of Mel and Trent. It would be hard to find two more relaxed and genuine people. They had chosen the Sorrento foreshore ...as the location of their big day. The sea was angry that day, ladies and gentlemen. Just about every weather system threatened. I rocked up an hour before Go Time and Trent (groom) was tossing up between their dream location of having it right on the foreshore, or alternatively in a rotunda near by, which would provide some shelter. They had to make a call. After extensive browsing of weatherzone and other related apps, it was decided we were running the gauntlet, there was a window of atmospheric relief that would suit the ceremony timings perfectly. Once a call is made I am backing my couple in, we are doing this thing. We got through the ceremony unscathed and smiles all around. Was it windy? sure, did it rain? No. In the end, a great call was made and a terrific day was had, well done guys! @ Sorrento, Victoria, Australia See more
01.01.2022 Here are some snaps of the marvellous Cass and Chris from a different time. A time of free flowing hugs, high-fives and drinks (I guess the drinks are still free flowing now ) @thebarnwallington offered the perfect backdrop, whilst @jacobhestonweddings performed some magic from behind the camera in what was a spot on day and one to remember! @ The Barn, Wallington
01.01.2022 Smiles all round, and why the hell not!? Pieta and Andrea looked tremendous, had perfect weather and they just got married! What’s not to smile about It should also be noted that @riverstoneestate looks absolutely immaculate, boasting PGA tour level lawn, well done! Thanks for taking the snap @rick_liston and for the 5-10 bonus selfies
01.01.2022 Better late than never, but one of the weddings I was a part of a little while back features in @offpeakweddings issue 5 (starts on page 17) I hold very fond memories of that day. The driveway to this Yarra Valley property was literally 10kms long. Doubt started to creep in as to if I was on the right track and profanity was thrown at google maps, which at this point was as confused as me. At this very moment and on the precipice of navigational panic the hills opened up r...evealing an absolutely stunning backdrop to what would be a super fun ceremony with cracking people. I had the privilege of working with a great team including photographer genius @rick_liston who captured the day perfectly (check the photos in the article ) (Link to article in bio)
