Shirley Hampson – Civil Celebrant

Shirley Hampson

Civil Celebrant

Making the Moments in Life Magical, Special with your own personal touch.

Work with you.

Personal touch.

Professional service.

About Shirley

I am a Gayndah based civil celebrant willing to travel anywhere in the State to perform your special ceremony.

I have been married since 1981 and believe in the institution of marriage; love, trust, honesty and friendship forming the basis of my successful marriage. I am the proud mother of three successful daughters (Amy – a teacher with Education Queensland and co-owner of HiTide Swim School, Sarah – a lawyer, Kate – a human resource manager).

I am a fully qualified teacher with Education Queensland, possessing a Diploma of Teaching (Business Education), Bachelor of Education (majoring in Accounting), Certificate IV in Assessment and Training and, in addition, Certificate IV in Celebrancy.

I am keen to share my expertise with you and encourage you to browse my website and give me a call if you are interested in any of my services that I have to offer.

Warm Regards,
Shirley Hampson.

Personal Touch.

I will provide examples of ceremonies and rituals, readings and ideas for you to choose the type of ceremony suited to you, to give your special day that personal touch.

Professional Service.

I will conduct a professional service to make your ceremony a special and meaningful occasion. I will provide a copy of your ceremony, along with a Presentation Certificate – whether it be a Marriage Certificate, Naming Certificate or similar.

Work with
You.

Your ceremony is an important and personal event in your lives and my aim is to make sure that you have the ceremony you want.

I take pride and delight in designing a memorable personalised ceremony to suit you, whether it be traditional, formal, informal, sophisticated or simple – I will work with you.

Personal, Professional and Unique.
Shirley is very professional, helpful and knowledgeable when assisting us in preparing for our ceremony. During preparation, Shirley was easily contactable, organised with required documents and flexible with time when organising meetings.

We highly recommend Shirley and her services to others looking for a celebrant.

 5/5

Wedding Ceremony

The institution of marriage is one of the most important commitments a couple will ever have to make.

The ceremony, the wedding vows chosen and the commitment they represent, are the very essence of the wedding day celebration.

Choosing a wedding celebrant to officiate your wedding ceremony provides you with the opportunity of freedom and choice to make this day a special day to remember.

I will personally work with you to create a ceremony that is everything you dream it to be. It’s your day and I will make it special for you!

Renewal of Wedding Vows

When a couple marry, they are committing themselves for life, so why renew one’s vows, you ask?

Renewal of wedding vows is a beautiful way of celebrating the continuing love and commitment between a married couple. They can be used to celebrate important anniversaries or other milestones throughout your life.

As a wedding celebrant, I look forward to renewing the wedding vows for my recently married couples in the years to come!

Commitment Ceremonies

Commitment Ceremonies are similar to weddings, but require no legal paperwork. These ceremonies are a public affirmation of the love shared between a couple.

Renewal of vows can be carried out by those whom:

Have had an intimate or eloped wedding and now wish to share a ceremony and celebration with their family & friends
Are celebrating an anniversary of their wedding day
Have separated and in coming back together wish to show their renewed commitment

You will be provided with a renewal of vows certificate as well as a copy of your ceremony as a keepsake.

Baby Naming Ceremonies

Celebrate the joy that your new addition brings to your life with a ceremony to celebrate the name given to your baby and introduce this new life to your family and friends. This ceremony gives thanks for the baby and expresses hopes and wishes for their future, often recognising the important role of Grandparents, Godparents or Guardians.

Non-religious Naming Ceremonies are available so children can decide their spiritual pathway when they are older. These ceremonies can also be used to welcome adopted or step-children into a family.

At the end of your ceremony you will receive a Presentation Certificate and a copy of your ceremony as a keepsake.

Funeral Ceremonies

Death is inevitable and everyone’s life is worth celebrating.

At a time when grief is utmost, there is just one phone call you have to make. I will work with families to ease the burden of their loss and organise a funeral service that is personalised and celebrates a life worth living. Religious, non-religious, graveside or church services are available.

Watch Shirley in Action

See Shirley in action as a celebrant at her daughter’s wedding.

Meeting with Shirley

First meeting

Quick meeting to introduce each other and make sure we are perfect for each other. You can visit my Office or I am willing to come to your home. Maybe even meet for coffee at your favourite coffee shop.

Ceremony Planning Meeting

Let’s plan a ceremony! At this meeting we will discuss the finer details of your ceremony and get to know each other better.

15-minute Paperwork Only Meeting

A Quick catch up for the paperwork and legals signing, so bring your birth certificates with photo ID, or other documentation that may be required. This will have been outlined for you at the ceremony planning meeting.

Rehearsal Time

Want to be reassured that the day will be perfect? Then let’s get together to rehearse the day and allow the opportunity to fine tune the performance!

Shirley Hampson was very professional but fun loving at the same time from the beginning of contacting her. Once I spoke with her on the phone we knew she was the celebrant for us.

She was always prompt and on time to meetings and had very useful information for us leading up to the big day. The ceremony was beautifully presented in front of our family and friends and it will be a day that we will never forget.

We look forward to the keeping in touch with Shirley as she has made a positive and happy impact on both of our lives.

 5/5

RECOMMENDED ASSOCIATED BUSINESSES

I recommend working alongside these local associated businesses to make your ceremony a day to remember.

Fees

Each and every ceremony that I perform is special in its own way.
My commitment is to provide you with an exceptional job at a reasonable price.

Each and every ceremony that I perform is special in its own way. My commitment is to provide you with an exceptional job at a reasonable price.

You will get this and more:

Obligation free meeting to discuss your ceremony and fill out the legal paperwork.
Preparation of your personalised ceremony.
Unlimited resources and communication about your ceremony.
Use of a good quality PA system.
Lodging official paperwork with Births Deaths and Marriages (including any fees applicable).
Officiating your wedding ceremony.
Travel within a 50 km radius (extra mileage costs will apply outside that area).
Meeting at the venue for a rehearsal.

My fees will be discussed and confirmed with you, in writing, prior to payment of your booking fee. A booking fee confirms your booking and is non-refundable. The reminder is due 14 days prior to your ceremony. Payments may be made by cash, cheque or bank transfer to my account.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a Celebrant do?

As your Celebrant, I ensure that all the legal paperwork is correct and submitted to Births Deaths and Marriages promptly.

I work with you to create a ceremony that will leave you both with the happiest memories. It’s my role to make sure that your marriage is legal.

What does a Celebrant charge?

There is no set fee for a Celebrant. The average Celebrant charges are between $450 and $1 000 for ceremonies.

Ensure you know what is included in your Celebrant’s fee. Do not choose a Celebrant on their fee alone. Meet the Celebrant and get to know them a little before deciding.

How far in advance do we need to contact a Celebrant?

You should call and make an appointment with me as soon as you have set a date for your wedding. You need to do this more than one month prior to your planned wedding date.

Do we have to attend any pre-marital courses?

All Celebrants are bound under the Code of Conduct to provide information to you on such courses and encourage you both to attend.

As your Celebrant I will give you a pamphlet titled “Happy Ever …. Before and After” which contains information for couples planning to marry in Australia.

What must we provide for our celebrant?

Original Birth Certificate and/or Australian Passport.

Non-Australian citizens must show their (translated) birth certificate or their current overseas passport.

Photo ID – current drivers licence or passport.

If you have been married before, you must provide evidence of the disillusionment of the previous marriage, ie. Death Certificate of previous spouse or divorce papers.

Where can we be married?

It is your choice where you would like to hold your wedding ceremony.

Please visit my Wedding Venues page for some suggestions.

Try to arrange a nearby indoor or sheltered venue as an alternative should the weather not be suitable for your outdoor venue on the day.

What are the legal requirements for marrying?

You will be legally married under the authority of the Marriage Act 1961. You must complete a Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM) which is valid for 18 months. This form must be given to me as your Celebrant at least one month prior to your wedding date. Click here to download your copy of the NOIM.

You must be over the age of 18 years to marry. Special requirements apply for younger people. See the Attorney Generals Website for more information on these requirements.

You must have two witnesses (over the age of 18 years) in attendance at the ceremony.

When the NOIM is completed, you must show me the following:

Original Birth Certificate and/or Australian Passport. Non-Australian citizens must show their (translated) birth certificate or their current overseas passport.
Photo ID – current drivers licence or passport.
If you have been married before, you must provide evidence of the disillusionment of the previous marriage, ie. Death Certificate of previous spouse or divorce papers.

Before the wedding ceremony, couples must sign a form called the No Legal Impediment to Marriage stating that they can legally marry.

Can I organise a “surprise wedding” for my partner?

It is a lovely romantic idea, but you and your partner must both be aware of and consent to your impending marriage. This is a legal requirement.

Are there any legal requirements for renewing wedding vows?

No. As this type of ceremony has no legal requirements, you are free to make any type of arrangements.

Will you travel to other locations outside the Gayndah area?

Yes, I do travel to and are willing to travel anywhere in Queensland. However, be mindful that over a 50 km radius, extra mileage may apply and there may be accommodation costs involved as well. Please contact me though and I can discuss these costs with you.

Now we are engaged, what do we do next?

Congratulations on your engagement!

Once you have set your wedding date or have an idea when you would like to marry, start looking for the right Celebrant to conduct your ceremony.

You can get in touch with me anytime and I am happy to meet with you to start a discussion about your wedding plans!

Contact Shirley

I’d love to hear from you and discuss your ceremony.

Please use the Contact Form, or contact me via one of the following methods:

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