Are you searching for a passionate, bubbly, and experienced celebrant for your Brisbane wedding? If so, let us introduce you to the lovely Sian Lavater, who uses her signature warmth and gentle direction to craft beautiful, bespoke ceremonies.
In this article, we chat with Sian Lavater of I Do Colourful Celebrations to get the inside scoop on all things weddings. Keep reading to discover all of Sian’s top ceremony tips and see why Brisbane couples love her so much!
Based in Brisbane, Sian Lavater is a warm and vibrant marriage celebrant who specialises in creating fun, modern, and truly personalised wedding ceremonies for all kinds of couples. A complete breath of fresh air, Sian officiates ceremonies with passion and confidence and will have your loved ones laughing and crying (for all the right reasons).
Easy Weddings: Hi Sian! Tell us a little bit about yourself and why you became a celebrant.
When the hammer came down on same-sex marriage rights, I was right there watching in anticipation, and that sealed the deal for me. While I’m CIS, so many of my friend group were impacted by this decision, and once I got started, it was something I just couldn’t put down.
Who doesn’t want to be part of someone’s best day of their life!? Every wedding is unique, and so are my ceremonies. I love that I get to tailor every word for each celebration.
How would you describe your celebrancy style?
It depends entirely on the couple. The ceremony is always about the couple and never about me. I’ve been formal and demure and loud and proud. I’ve been dressed as Captain Marvel and all in beige to sink into the background — but however it turns out, no one wants to hear about the celebrant — no one knows them! The couple should be the focus for the whole day, and I never miss a beat when it comes to that.
What should couples consider when looking for a celebrant?
FIT! Fit is everything. Interview more than one celebrant and know you have the person that is going to marry you. Don’t settle. Don’t let price be the only contributing factor. Often the price difference between an experienced celebrant that you gel with and a cost-effective one is a couple of hundred dollars — if you go with the less expensive option and they aren’t a good fit — you and your guests will know. Everyone remembers a bad ceremony. It’s probably the lowest cost difference you will have in your whole wedding to get something of quality. Invest in you!
Read Sian's Glowing ReviewsWhat do you think are the key ingredients for a memorable ceremony?
Oh my! The celebrant really has to know the couple, but particulars are making sure that you tell that couple’s story in exactly their voice and vibe. It needs to sound just like them, not some stranger writing about people.
It has to sound like the words they would say to each other. Sweeter things won’t come from anywhere else! The celebrant must listen to how they sound as a couple and echo this precisely in the ceremony.
Do you have any advice for dealing with wedding day nerves?
Yes! There are so many things you can do to get over these little moments, but having your other person on text is wonderful, but have a cut-off time so you can focus on yourself.
If you’re not a traditionalist, make sure that you both know you can text each other to tell one another how you are feeling. Expressing how you are feeling goes a long way. Then you’ll both know how excited each other is!
On a side note, I am a meditation teacher, so I have many breathing and focus techniques that I use when my couples need them. That being said, it’s also important to remember that nerves and excitement go hand in hand, and not all butterflies are bad! The wedding is a huge day, and emotions will be all over the shop, but I’m there every step of the way.
What does a wedding day look like for you?
I’m so glad you asked! I do one wedding per day. A lot of celebrants do multiple, especially in peak season.
When I do a wedding, I have nowhere else to be, so my couple on that day are my sole focus. I can be at their venue of choice at whatever time they want, but if they have no preference, I usually arrive about an hour before the ceremony to set up, talk to the venue manager, do a sound check, meet with the first side of the wedding party, welcome guests, then when the second party arrives, I go and meet them, check all is in order, and we get started!!!!
After the ceremony, I make sure the photographer has every shot they need, and if invited, I stick around. If not, I go and lodge all the paperwork and make the marriage LEGAL 🙌🏼
I love weddings HARD, and it’s my happy place. I only do 80 a year and never double-book. Make your special day as unique as you are 💕
