A Life Celebrant - Lou Szymkow
OVERVIEW
Are you looking for someone to help you make your big dream day come true? One that everyone will enjoy but especially you? Do you want to have FUN?
Well, I’m your guy. Lou, - Lou Szymkow.
I’m a Life Celebrant with over 40 years of experience in public life and creating ceremonies to ensure that it is uniquely and authentically your own; an enriching, memorable and fun experience.
We can confidently work together to ensure your ceremony will be exceptional. It is all about you and your wedding ceremony.
I’m also more than happy to travel at your convenience. I work toward Marriage ceremonies celebrating your individuality and choices, while carefully including the legal requirements needed for your wedding.
About
I love what I do.... and so do my couples & their families. The most frequently heard words after one of my Ceremonies is "that was beautiful" and "we had so much fun" I make it easy for you, I listen to you, and work with you., and I add my own unique touches to your ceremony to make it uniquely yours. I want your Ceremony to be one that you and all of your guests will enjoy and will remember
Mr Lou Szymkow
Marriage/Civil Celebrant
Videos
FAQ
Give me the date and location, I will advise immediately.
I typically will accept only one booking per day to ensure you have my full and undivided attention.
I have been involved in Celebrancy in one way or another for over 30 years but only registered as an Authorised Marriage Celebrant in December 2015. I have performed to crowds from 8 to about 5000, from backyards to major venues.
I mentor a large number of other Celebrant across Australia and have acess to incredible resources so am sure to be able to assist in almost any circumstance (though can't deep sea scuba dive anymore).
Free free to ask any questions or even have a look at my webpage where I have answers to well over 220 wedding questions, (some of which are a bit curly), so don't be afraid to ask me. You may also occassionally here me on radio interviews.
All my prices are freely available on my website but let's have a chat about where what and when you need with any inclusions, to make your ceremony perfect, and then we can finalise your investment amount.
I typically spend around 20-30 hours preparing your ceremony and about 4 hours afterwards (more if editing a video for you). You will find I am very reasonably priced given the work I put into each and every ceremony and the level of support you will receive.
I have over 300 wedding questions answered on my webpage, so feel free to throw any questions at me
You may scan documents to me but I will still need to sight original evidence of eleigibility, date & place of birth, and a photo ID before the ceremony in order to make certain your marriagewill be valid under Australian law.
I have over 200 wedding questions answered on my webpage, so feel free to throw any question at me ??
I have a list of over 400 songs on my web page that you might like to consider and you can of course play your music through my PA but depending on the size of your wedding party, it is always best if you appoint someone else to specifically manage the music so that I can concentrate exclusively on your Ceremony without distraction.
I can of course run your music remotely from my ipad placed on a stand to one side but do you really want that distraction?
So yes, I can manage your music if necessary but it is always best if someone else does.
I have over 200 wedding questions answered on my webpage, so feel free to throw any question at me or explore the questions already answered ??
As a part of my ongoing personal improvement & development, I usually place a video camera on an unattended tripod so that I can review my each and every performance as a Celebrant. Sometimes guests stand in front of the camera or bump it and so the it is not always a perfect result. It is certainly not of the standard that you would expect if you hire a videographer who will endeavour to get the very best angle and close-ups, but I am always happy to provide a free copy of the video to you.
I have over 300 wedding questions answered on my webpage, so feel free to throw any question at me ??
Certainly do!
As the Sth Coast Regional Coordinator for the Association of Marriage Celebrants, and a member of several other associations, I have access to many Celebrants but have a particular connection to select Celebrants on the South Coast and Penrith to the Blue Mountains,
January 2021
December 2020
A Life Celebrant - Lou Szymkow
Thanks Abbey. Was an incredible privilege to be a part of your incredible day
July 2020
A Life Celebrant - Lou Szymkow
Such an amazing day with so much happening. It was a privilege and honour to play a part
October 2023
A Life Celebrant - Lou Szymkow
It was such an incredible joy being a small part of your day. Retelling your love story was such a privilege as I have never seen so many tears of happiness from an entire gathering. It was wonderful and amazing
September 2022
A Life Celebrant - Lou Szymkow
It was such a joy to be there :).
Expert Advice
As a wedding professional, A Life Celebrant - Lou Szymkow offers expert advice to help couples plan their perfect day. Ask a question or read their expert advice.
Get Expert AdviceShould I change my last name?
Is it the norm?
A Life Celebrant - Lou Szymkow
That is entirely your choice and is no longer the 'norm' strictly speaking because many couples are keeping their original names.
Once you marry in Australia, either party can take the other's surname or you can join with a hyphen in either order.
You can start using your new name straight away but banks, insurers and the passport office etc. will want to see a copy fo your Offcial Marriage Certificate from the BDM (so not the legal one issued at your ceremony).
You will still be free to revert to your birth name at any time unless you go through a legal name change, which is different from a change of name by marriage.
If you marry overseas, though, you will have to go through a legal name change and cannot then revert to your birth name without another legal name change.
Officate a wedding
Hi There, I have a general question. My best friend is getting married in 15 months and the couple asked if I could officiate. Now, I was honoured but looking at it in a practical sense, I have reservations. eg the course, costs and ongoing registration. Let alone the nerves about doing this right, without messing it up. Besides this isn't going to be a side career going forward. However, I'm keen to make it happen in some fashion or another. What is the bare minimum officiate input from a celebrant? Can myself and family to bulk of the vows and readings etc? Any advice would be helpful. Regards Angelo
A Life Celebrant - Lou Szymkow
Sure can!
It is an easy task and an Authorised Celebrant of choice can guide you and the couple through it all. The couple have to complete a Notice of Intended Marriage and hand that to an Authorised Celebrant 1-18 months before the wedding (so get that done now), and the Celebrant will explain what has to be done & said and what cannot be done or said. The Celebrant has to meet with each party to the marriage for a private individual meeting to verify consent and sign a Decelartion of No Impediment to Marriage which is witnessed by the Celebrant. At the Ceremony, there is a little of a brief legal intro, following which, as long as the Celebrant can see and hear all, family and friends can pretty much take it from there. The couple have to say certain words (vows) to each other and the Celebrant just steps back in the signing of the Certificates. The Celebrant will of course, advise and assist all along the way to ensure everything is acceptable and will then register the marriage.
Can a Celebrant from NZ legally marry you in Australia?
My partner and I live in Australia but I originate from NZ. I want my pastor to officiate our wedding and wanted to know if we can get married over here in Australia if he is our celebrant?
A Life Celebrant - Lou Szymkow
Easily done.
The Pastor cannot perform a legal Australian Ceremony BUT the pastor can conduct a ceremony with an Australian Authorised Marriage Celebrant present who can guide the Pastor on what can and can't be done and the Authorised Celebrant just steps in when needed at the start and at the signing. As long as the Authorised Celebrant can hear and see everything, especially the legal vows, there wedding should go smoothly.
Ther are a few simple bit that have to be done, the most complex of which is the Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM) which you have to complete, sign and hand to a Authorised Celebrant, 1-18 months before the marriage and that Celebrnat will later meet you each in person for private and individual confirmation of consent, You also have to sign a Declaration of No Impediment to Marriage before the ceremony but that takes only a couple of minutes. Once all that is done you are free to marry ina Ceremony lead by your Pastor. Easy, as I said
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A Life Celebrant - Lou Szymkow
Thanks Rhy-ann. I had ball. Was so much fun and such a pleasure to play a part in your incredible day