We recently had the pleasure of chatting with bubbly Brisbane marriage celebrant Brendan Anning. Keep reading to discover his top tips for crafting memorable ceremonies and beating wedding day nerves!
If you’re on the hunt for a professional, charming, and relaxed Brisbane celebrant who understands how to create a stress-free, fun, and meaningful vibe, then Brendan Anning is your guy. Brendan has 15+ years of celebrancy experience and loves performing ceremonies that perfectly capture and celebrate your love by creating a fun and relaxed atmosphere.
Easy Weddings: Hi Brendan! Tell us a bit about yourself and why you became a marriage celebrant.
I’ve been performing wedding ceremonies for over 15 years, with my first being my cousin’s wedding, and from there, other friends and friends of friends asked me to perform at their weddings. From there, I found my calling!
A wedding ceremony is a massive celebration, and I was born on New Year’s Eve, so I like to joke I was born to celebrate and be a celebrant! I think love is the most important aspect of life, so conducting ceremonies is always a total blast. Love should be cherished and celebrated as much as possible. I really enjoy meeting new people and hearing stories of how they met and fell in love.
How would you describe your celebrancy style?
My style is full of fun while remaining relaxed and organic. I try not to read scripts; instead, I MC an epic celebration! Warm and friendly is my natural style.
What should couples consider when searching for their celebrant?
Couples should make sure they share a great connection with their celebrant first and foremost, and excellent communication is key. It can be nerve-racking reading your vows on your wedding day, so you want a celebrant who you trust and who puts you at ease and creates the most enjoyable ceremony possible.
What do you love most about being a celebrant?
Seeing the smiling faces of the couple and their friends and family and feeling the excitement. I also love hearing my client’s stories of how they met and the journey they have been on bringing them to their marriage.
How do you find inspiration for your ceremonies? And how do you make each ceremony unique and memorable?
I ask a list of questions to my couples to formulate their unique and meaningful ceremony. I like to start each ceremony by getting the crowd to give a big cheer of excitement for the couple. This sets the scene for the rest of the ceremony and lets everyone know we are here to have fun and celebrate their love.
Do you have any advice for couples dealing with wedding day nerves?
I encourage couples to be as prepared as possible for the day, but once the day arrives, let go of all expectations and just enjoy it! I like to remind them they are doing this to have fun and not to feel nervous. I also remind them that excitement and being nervous are basically the same feeling, so choose to be excited!
What does a wedding day look like for you?
I spend the morning focusing on the ceremony, printing the paperwork and wedding notes etc. Then I get ready— I’ve got to dress to impress! Then I drive to the location and where I take time to check in with the couple (separately, of course!)
I love meeting the friends and family before we kick off the ceremony. After the ceremony, I always check in with my clients and wish them a massive congratulations, and we even grab a selfie sometimes!
