Celebrants get creative to overcome wedding restrictions

Marriage celebrants are finding creative ways to stage weddings while COVID-19 restrictions permit only five attendees.

BY SIMONE KEALY

Marriage celebrants are trying to find new and creative ways to manage the recent COVID-19 restrictions that allow only five people to attend weddings.

Equality Marriage Celebrant Steve King said he is live streaming weddings on his Youtube channel, to allow for couples’ loved ones to be a part of their special day.

“I can look on there and see there are 115 views, so there are 115 people that saw the wedding that would not have seen it,” he said.

“They contribute to that by posting comments, ‘congratulations’, and stuff like that.”

“They’re delighted that they can actually share their joy under circumstances that would not allow that to happen,” Mr King said.

Celebrant Steve King said that live streaming weddings is a good compromise for couples. PHOTO: Facebook

As a celebrant, Mr King said he also had to introduce measures to keep himself safe.

“You keep well and truly away,” he said.

“[I] put on a pair of latex gloves, and then white gloves on the top of that, so it doesn’t look so intrusive.”

Mr King said he also has alcohol wipes to clean the pen that signs the marriage certificates.

Authorised Marriage Celebrant Sharon Munro said she has suggested to clients that they include the photographer as one of their two witnesses so that they can share the professional photos with those who were unable to attend.

Sharon Munro said, as a celebrant, it is important to be realistic about the situation. PHOTO: Supplied

“Have the conversation with [the photographer] and they should be able to step up and become one of the witnesses,” she said.

Ms Munro also suggested couples have a small wedding during the pandemic, then have a renewal of vows ceremony with their families when COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.

“We relive the whole ceremony again,” she said.

Patricia Yannopoulos and her husband Christos Babalis followed Ms Munro’s advice, having a quiet wedding on March 28 with their photographer as one of their witnesses, and will later have a renewal of vows ceremony with their family.

“Hopefully all of our family and friends can be there,” she said.

Patricia Yannopoulos said her and her husband, Christos Babalis, are both nervous people, so it was good in a sense to just have the two of them. PHOTO: Javid Jalvandi

Despite family not being able to attend, the couple did enjoy the wedding, and Ms Yannopoulos said her father walked her up the stairs of the house they were getting married in, but could not enter.

“It was still beautiful,” she said.