Easy Weddings Marriage Celebrant Hunter Valley

Craig Batchelor - Celebrant & MC

5.0  ( 31 reviews ) · Sydney, Newcastle, NSW Central Coast · Show Phone
Craig Batchelor - Celebrant & MC SupplierHero Marriage Celebrant 369 +

OVERVIEW

I became an authorised Marriage Celebrant for two reasons because I love love and because it gives me an excuse to constantly top up my velvet jacket, bow tie and pocket square collection.

As a Marriage celebrant, MC & wedding industry professional, I know what couples want in a Marriage Celebrant. I also know what they don’t want too. They want someone who is organized, fun and warmly energetic, without being over the top. Someone who takes the time to get to know the couple personally whilst behaving respectfully and professionally. Someone who cares about the love, fun, and commitment they share and this will reflect in the marriage ceremony of the couple. What they don’t want is someone who arrives late, is generally unorganised, reads off a script, forgets peoples names, tells awkward jokes, and bombs all of your beautiful wedding ceremony photos.

I became a marriage celebrant because I get so much enjoyment from being an integral part of the biggest occasion in the lives of people I get to know well, and now call friends. I’m grateful for each opportunity to work with a couple, and together we will ensure that your ceremony is unique, thoughtful, sincere, moving and fun. Kind of like falling in love all over again! The ceremonies I create will have your family and friends still talking, laughing and crying about it at your Diamond Wedding Anniversary.

I’m here to help you create your dream wedding. Whether it's a fun, personal, heartfelt or more creative style of wedding that you're looking for, I am here to guide you through the process, legal aspects and make planning your special day effortless.

Creating dream weddings is a skill. I draw upon my many years of experience in the corporate world as an MC, and events management roles combined with a passion for public speaking, an eye for detail and a little flair.

I love meeting couples and unearthing your shared stories, heartfelt moments and your love for one another.

Throughout the preparations and on your wedding day, I bring a friendly mix of experience, warmth and life to make your day memorable for you and your guests.

I look forward to getting to know you
Much Love
Craig xx

About

I’m Craig Batchelor. I’m a young business owner with a lust for life. I have a great love for dogs, all types of sport, the ocean and outdoors. I also love love. How good is this thing that makes you talk in a dorky voice saying things you swore you’d never say. I’m pretty passionate about how much I love love which is why I became a celebrant. Your story – and your love – is like none that have come before and so your wedding day should beam and scream you, which I would love to create.

Mr Craig Batchelor

Owner


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FAQ

Your Marriage Celebrant must receive a completed Notice of Intended Marriage form at least one month before the wedding. You can give it to your celebrant up to eighteen months beforehand and it still remains valid during that period. Contact me discuss your Notice of Intended Marriage form 

Prescribed authorities, which are usually at your Local Court or Registry officials can shorten the required period of notice if they are satisfied that the circumstances prescribed in the Regulations are met.
There are five categories of circumstances set out in the Regulations.

  • Employment–related, or other travel commitments
  • Wedding or celebration arrangements, or religious considerations
  • Medical reasons
  • Legal proceedings, and
  • Error in giving notice.

Shortening of time is not automatic. Contact me to discuss shortening of time and how I can help you. 

Your original Birth Certificates and a current photo ID or a passport are required for both parties. If you don't have a birth certificate then just a passport and current photo ID is sufficent. 

If either of you have been previously married, then you must provide evidence of the termination of the marriage. This can be in the form of an original of your final divorce papers or a Death Certificate (if you have been widowed).

Please ensure that all the documents you provide are the originals, and if the originals are not in English, then a qualified interpreter (NAATI interpreter desirable) must have translated them.

You can’t have a surprise wedding for your intended spouse. Both of you need to be fully aware that you are getting married.

However, you can have a surprise wedding for your guests. 

Your wedding day is a once in a lifetime moment - you want it to be perfect, and finding the right celebrant that fits your vision for the ceremony is absolutely critical.  The only way to find the perfect celebrant is to contact them and meet with them in person, starting with celebrants that have websites, media and recommendations that resonate with you.

Don’t settle for a celebrant that you’re not comfortable with.  A good celebrant will:

  • Inform you of the legalities of a civil marriage
  • Explain all the paperwork required
  • Give you plenty of ideas and tips for planning before your big day
  • Listen to your ideas and seek to integrate them into your wedding ceremony
  • Make sure your wedding day is memorable and stress free.

In terms of my experience as a wedding celebrant, I can offer couples a fresh, youthful and personable approach to wedding celebrations.  My speciality is being able to customise and tailor ceremonies that will reflect the unique personalities of the couple.  

I recommend booking your celebrant as early as 18 months before your intended wedding date.   Two months prior to your wedding date is the recommended minimum time to book your celebrant.  By law, the latest you lodge your intention to marry is one calendar month before your wedding.

I encourage as much input from all my couples for their ceremony - after all it is your wedding!  The Australian Marriage Act 1961 has a few legal requirements that must be said in the ceremony, but other than this, I am more than happy to incorporate your ideas, and involve whomever you want in your ceremony.  

If you are unsure of what to include in your ceremony, I am here to provide plenty of ideas, suggestions and resources!  I will guide you through the process and discuss what works and what doesn’t so that we create a memorable ceremony that is unique and tailored to reflect both your personalities as a couple.

Yes, if your ceremony is going to be outdoors.  I highly recommend a Plan B option in the event of poor weather to take away the stress and last minute panic.  Ensure that your alternative venue is indoors.

 

Yes, I highly recommend a rehearsal preferably 1-2 weeks from the big day.  A rehearsal will help to ensure your actual wedding day is as stress free and enjoyable as possible.  I attend the rehearsal as part of my standard fee.  

A rehearsal allows everyone involved in the wedding ceremony to run through the placement and roles of people; to get an idea of how the music and microphone system will sound; and to go through the ceremony to get a feel for how long it will take.  Also, the rehearsal would be an ideal time for the couple to sign a Declaration confirming that there is no legal impediment to your marriage.  Please note that if it is not possible to do the rehearsal at your intended venue, an ideal alternative would be a place that resembles the characteristics and size of the actual venue.  

 

No need to worry about this. I will register and order your offical marriage certificate with Birth Deaths and Marriages on your behalf within 24 hrs of the ceremony taking place. Once I recieve it I will then post it to you. 


31 reviews 5.0 Write a Review

December 2021

We can’t thank Craig enough for everything he’s done for us leading up to the wedding and on our Special Day itself. We’ve loved Craig’s positive & upbeat personality from day one and he brought that same energy at our wedding as both our Celebrant & MC. Everyone loved him as our MC… And we loved what he put together for our ceremony. Craig is always so patient with my millions of questions and very prompt at getting back to us always. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for being part of our Special Day. I’m so glad I found you on Easy Weddings, and like you said, hopefully this will be the start of a great friendship! Xx If you’re looking for a celebrant/MC, look no further - Craig’s the one!

Charlene B.

July 2021

How do i even begin to Describe Craig. From the moment we met him both myself and now husband felt so comfortable with him not only being our Celebrant but also MC. He was amazing! He took the time to read our story and add it to the ceremony, also contacted our wedding coordinator to get a layout of our reception, times and speech orders. On the day it was more like he was a part of our friends and family. He backed us up with our decisions on having to use wet weather options and was willing to fight for us if we wanted it outside in the rain :). He also took care of us during the reception even to the point of filling up our glasses when empty. I cant thank him enough for everything he did and would recommend him to everyone.

Alysha B.

April 2021

The moment Andrew and I spoke to Craig we knew instantly that we wanted him to marry us. He listened, gave suggestions, shared ideas and most importantly - he got to know who we are individually and who we are as a couple. This commitment to his role helped make our wedding so full of love, laughter and perfectly customised to us. Nothing was ever too much hassle, no question ever went unanswered, no phone call/text was ever too much. Craig ended up taking on so many roles at our wedding - from celebrant to MC to covid Marshall to being our advocate at the venue - all to ensure Andrew and I had the perfect wedding day. Craig goes way above and way beyond and we recommend him in a heartbeat. We are so thankful for you Craig and are proud to say we have made a lifelong friend.

Hannah K.

September 2024

Exceeded all expectations, he put his heart and soul into creating our perfect day and night!! He killed it! Craig was absolutely amazing and we now have a life long friend.

Larissa B.

April 2024

Where do I begin with Craig? From the moment my husband and I spoke to Craig via video chat for our initial meeting, we instantly felt like we were talking to a friend. My husband is generally on the more reserved/ quiet side, but Craig made us both feel so so comfortable. We knew we were in good hands. Communication was easy and Craig was always super responsive. He helped us with any questions we had, ceremony related or not and gave great advice/suggestions. Craig personalised our ceremony and gave our guests insight into our love story in such a beautiful, fun and light-hearted way. It was exactly how we wanted it. So many people raved about it and thought we must have been friends with Craig for years! People laughed and they cried. I couldn't wipe the smile off my face. Craig is an absolute vibe and a beautiful human; I cannot recommend him highly enough!

Ashley G.


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