New national awards put Australia’s marriage celebrants in the spotlight

Australia's authorised marriage celebrants are being invited to step into the spotlight with the launch of the inaugural Australian Marriage Celebrant Awards.

Open to marriage celebrants registered in Australia, the awards feature 16 categories recognising excellence across ceremony craft, professional branding, business innovation, client experience, industry leadership, emerging talent and community contribution.

Australian Marriage Celebrant Awards Chairperson Ash Reynolds said the awards had been created to recognise the expertise, creativity and considerable preparation behind an exceptional marriage ceremony.

"Celebrants are there for the big feelings and the fine print," Mr Reynolds said.

"When it is done well, it can look effortless. What people do not see are the months of conversations, writing, planning, legal preparation and quiet problem-solving that allow everyone else to relax and enjoy the moment."

Mr Reynolds said the awards would help couples, venues and wedding professionals better understand the breadth of skills involved in modern celebrancy.

"A celebrant is part legal professional, part writer, part presenter and part producer," he said.

"We listen carefully, ask thoughtful questions and turn a couple's experiences, personalities and relationships into something that can be shared with the people who matter most to them.

"Occasionally, we are also the calmest person in a paddock while the weather, wildlife and wedding timeline all develop competing ideas. And sometimes we're warned that a fight might break out between two sides of a family!"

The awards are being organised and underwritten by Australian Marriage Celebrants Inc, a national not-for-profit association operated by volunteer celebrants for over 30 years.

Entries will be assessed by a panel of experienced celebrants and wedding industry professionals from Australia and New Zealand. The awards are not based on public voting, with the exception of a separate People's Choice Award.

"We are not looking for the loudest marketing campaign, the largest social media following or the person who knows how to rally the most votes," Mr Reynolds said.

"We are looking for substance. That might be exceptional ceremony writing, an inclusive approach, a beautifully designed client experience, a distinctive professional brand, an innovative business system or the ability to deliver an unforgettable ceremony in genuinely challenging circumstances.

"The purpose is not to reward popularity. It is to recognise thoughtful, skilled work and the celebrants who are setting a stronger benchmark for the profession."

Helping excellent celebrants stand out

The Australian Government's Register of Marriage Celebrants currently lists 10,844 Commonwealth-registered celebrants. The latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show that 120,844 marriages were registered across Australia in 2024. More than 80% of them performed by civil celebrants.

Mr Reynolds said those figures demonstrated both the importance of celebrants to Australian weddings and the commercial reality of operating within a large and competitive profession.

"Couples have an extraordinary amount of choice, which is a wonderful thing, but a genuine business challenge for celebrants," he said. "In a profession of more than 10,000 people, being talented is not always enough to be noticed. Credible industry recognition gives couples, venues and wedding suppliers a reason to pause, take a closer look and discover what a celebrant does particularly well."

Nominees, finalists and winners will receive official awards branding that can be used across their websites, social media, client information and business marketing. Winners will also receive a gift card in acknowledgement of their achievement.

Mr Reynolds said recognition could provide value well beyond the presentation ceremony.

"An award should be more than a trophy, a photograph and a nice night out," he said. "Being named a nominee, finalist or winner gives a celebrant a meaningful story to share. It can strengthen their professional positioning, support conversations with prospective couples and create new opportunities with venues and other wedding businesses.

"In an industry built on trust, personal connection and reputation, that clarity can be commercially powerful."
 

Created by celebrants, for celebrants

Mr Reynolds said the awards had been deliberately designed to remain accessible and focused on professional merit.

"These awards are not pay-to-play, and recognition will not depend on purchasing an expensive ticket to a lavish presentation," he said. "No one should have to buy a seat in the room before their work can be celebrated.

"The presentation will be held online, allowing celebrants from across Australia to participate without the cost of flights, accommodation, formalwear or a very determined search for a tax-deductible sequinned jacket.

"This is an initiative created by celebrants, for celebrants. The focus is firmly on meaningful recognition, credible judging and practical value for the people working in our profession."

 More than a microphone and a memorable voice

Authorised marriage celebrants carry significant legal and professional responsibilities, including ensuring marriages are conducted in accordance with the Marriage Act 1961. New Commonwealth-registered celebrants must complete an approved Certificate IV in Celebrancy and satisfy the Australian Government's requirements before appointment.

"There is a lot more to celebrancy than purchasing a microphone and practising how to say, 'You may now kiss'," Mr Reynolds said. "Celebrants need to understand the law, manage official documentation, communicate with people from all backgrounds, write confidently, present professionally and remain composed when plans suddenly change.

"We often work with a couple for many months before their wedding. Our job is to make the ceremony feel natural, personal and relaxed, but that sense of ease is usually the result of very careful preparation."

Mr Reynolds said Australia's diverse landscapes, communities and couples also gave celebrants unusual creative freedom.

"Australians will marry almost anywhere, from a ballroom or backyard to a beach, boat, farm or hot-air balloon," he said.

"Whatever the setting, the ceremony is the heart of the occasion. It is where the couple's story is shared, their commitment is made and their marriage becomes official.

"You cannot buy sincerity, personality or connection. A thoughtfully crafted ceremony can make a family backyard feel like the centre of the universe, and that is the kind of work these awards have been created to celebrate."
 

Recognising the many dimensions of celebrancy

The award categories have been divided into five areas.

Ceremony Craft Awards

The Ceremony Craft Awards recognise excellence in the creation, presentation and delivery of marriage ceremonies.

Categories include:

• Destination Ceremony Excellence Award, recognising celebrants delivering ceremonies in distinctive Australian locations, including coastal, mountain, regional, rural and remote settings
• Ritual Design and Innovation Award, recognising the creation or adaptation of meaningful ceremony rituals
• Excellence in Ceremony Writing Award, celebrating ceremony scripts with clarity, originality and emotional impact
•  Inclusive Ceremony Excellence Award, recognising accessible and inclusive ceremonies for diverse couples and communities
• Ceremony Style and Expression Award, celebrating ceremonies shaped by cultural traditions or an immersive creative vision
• Celebrant in Action Award, recognising celebrants delivering ceremonies in dynamic, unconventional or challenging environments
• Presentation Excellence Award, recognising professionalism, adaptability and a strong connection with the couple and their guests

Brand Awards

The Brand Awards recognise celebrants who communicate their professional identity with clarity, creativity and consistency.

Categories include:

• Celebrant Digital Excellence Award, recognising websites that combine strong design, useful information and effective performance
• Social Media Excellence Award, recognising strategic and creative use of social media to build engagement and generate client enquiries

Business Excellence Awards

The Business Excellence Awards recognise celebrants who have developed thoughtful, efficient and client-focused practices.

Categories include:

• Celebrant Business Innovation Award, recognising innovative systems, services and operational improvements
• Client Experience Award, celebrating a seamless and carefully designed client journey from the first enquiry through to the ceremony

Leadership Awards

The Leadership Awards recognise celebrants who strengthen the profession by supporting, educating and advocating for others.

Categories include:

• Celebrant Mentor of the Year Award, recognising an experienced celebrant who provides meaningful support and guidance to others
• AMC Leadership Excellence Award, recognising an Australian Marriage Celebrants Inc member who has made an outstanding contribution to the association and its members
• Celebrant Thought Leadership Award, celebrating individuals who advance the profession through ideas, education, advocacy and professional development

Recognition Awards

The Recognition Awards celebrate emerging talent, and the broader contribution celebrants make to Australian communities.

Categories include:

• Community Impact Excellence Award, recognising a celebrant who has made a meaningful and lasting contribution to their community
• Emerging Celebrant of the Year Award, recognising a celebrant within their first two years of practice who has made a significant early impact

Mr Reynolds said the range of categories was intended to recognise that professional excellence could take many different forms.

"There is no single model of a great celebrant," he said.

"One celebrant may be an extraordinary writer. Another may have transformed the client experience through better systems and communication. Someone else may be leading important conversations about inclusion, mentoring newer celebrants or serving a remote community where their role extends well beyond weddings.

"The awards allow us to celebrate those different strengths rather than pretending excellence always looks the same."

The Community Impact Excellence Award will recognise celebrants whose contribution extends beyond the ceremonies they conduct.

"Celebrants are often deeply connected to their communities, especially out bush," Mr Reynolds said.

"They volunteer, mentor, advocate, raise funds, support families and bring people together. Much of that work happens quietly, but it reflects the generosity and community spirit at the heart of the profession.

"We wanted the awards to recognise not only how celebrants conduct ceremonies, but also how they use their skills, experience and humanity to make a difference."

Celebrants may self-nominate for the awards, or nominate one another.

Entries close on 30 September 2026, with an online Australian Marriage Celebrant Awards presentation planned for late 2026.

Celebrants interested in entering are also invited to attend an online awards information session, please share.

Awards information and entries:

https://marriagecelebrants.org.au/awards/

Webinar registration:

https://marriagecelebrants.org.au/awards/events/australian-marriage-celebrants-awards-info-session/

MEDIA CONTACT - Jill Heaton, co-chairperson Ph 0457613883

ENDS