I practise what I preach, completing my Certificate IV in Training and Assessment training colleagues in their compulsory Ongoing Professional Development throughout Australia since 2016. I joined 5,499 wedding professionals for a huge wedding industry convention in Las Vegas in November 2018, bringing back a wealth of information, knowledge and contacts in the wedding industry. If a destination wedding is more your thing and your dream is to get married in Las Vegas, New York, Italy, Bordeaux, France, Canada or beautiful India, let me know as I can put you in touch with the right people. Many couples are choosing small intimate legals only elopement, minimony or micro marriage at my poolside backyard oasis, so contact me if this is more your style.
About Liz
L.O.V.E. I'm surrounded by it and all things weddings and I wouldn't have it any other way! I'm a Gold Coast marriage celebrant who travels from Tamborine Mountain to Toowoomba, Byron and beyond to legally marry couples anywhere at any time in Australia. I've been up in a hot air balloon marrying a gorgeous couple and within days, bringing another couple together on a bright sunny Christmas morning. We explored the City of Love and Lights, Paris & the South of France in May this year and went on an amazing trip through India in 2023 and of course, we stopped at the world's most recognisable monument to love - the Taj Mahal, not once but three times and posed at the world famous Diana seat. I happily spend my days dressing up, sharing in very special, intimate moments and getting to travel. I'm well known in the industry and have a reputation for impeccable and incomparable service. There's a reason why I've married so many wedding co-ordinators or get called upon at short notice to step in. If you want to see me in action doing just that - watch the video link below. I was called upon at very short notice by the couples wonderful photographer Toni from Doe & Deer Photography to help and my very first complete read through of the ceremony script was right there and then, as I delivered it. I printed out it the emailed copy with moments to spare, checked the legalities and jumped in the car (I hurriedly got ready while I waited for the paperwork to be sent through). I didn't write it but after checking the couples ID again to cover legalities, it was show time with heels firmly stuck in the mud as I couldn't move like I normally would! It's another reason to always choose professionals (and thank you so much to Geoff from Motion Art Weddings) who also answered the call to help but you be the judge if I did a great job or not.
Having worked in education, high end fashion and a former model, I've compered many corporate and special events, appeared in TV commercials & films as well as voice over for radio, so you can be assured my presentation, grooming and delivery are always a priority for your day. I have an extensive wardrobe to suit any wedding and if not, a girl can always shop! I get it's not just how I look but the delivery of those very special words as my voice, tone and delivery of your ceremony is important to me. I listen to what you want (and what you don't want) and make that a reality.
'Elegance is not about being noticed, it's about being remembered' Giorgio Armani
Whatever it looks like to you, a wedding to me is truly magic, a sacred and special event. I'm an empath, so for me, it's all about the feels whether you're sitting at my office desk saying your legal vows or standing in front of a few hundred loved ones, the angel sighs are the same - it's a physical feeling I have on the back of my neck when I deliver your ceremony. Sounds weird I know but it happens! Hubby and I married on my birthday in '86 (yep almost 38 years ago) and I had my very own surprise renewal of vows in Vegas 2017 when the tables were turned. I was completely clueless until I sat in a golden gondola floating along in The Venetian wondering who this woman was that rudely came and sat opposite me before handing me a huge bouquet of white roses with a smile bigger than Texas! Cue the tears...
On another trip to Vegas, we were both surprised attending the Wedding MBA, a mega convention of wedding professionals on a chapel tour organised by Las Vegas Wedding Connection as we were chosen for a renewal of vows at the Viva Las Vegas Wedding Chapel by none other than Beetlejuice complete with snakes resting over his shoulder. So, from the romantic to the quirky and both, so very me! (see photo below)
Both sons had baby namings which was very unusual 30+ years ago and I was the celebrant at our eldest son's wedding (see photo below) held at the beautiful Braeside Chapel, Merrimac and our youngest son's elegant wedding during COVID-19 at Pethers Rainforest Retreat with a minimony (see photo right). They recreated the day celebrating with loved ones at both the Cedar Creek Estate and Albert River Wines! Incredibly, my parents celebrated their 72nd wedding anniversary in May this year, so I have big shoes to fill. My aunt, Betty Debnam, was a famed cake decorator and another darling aunt, a bridal dressmaker, so you could say weddings are part of my DNA.
Whether your day is an intimate wedding in your home or poolside at mine, with 200 guests in a formal setting, I'm happy to help you say, 'I do'. I've enjoyed celebrating in so many diverse locations around Australia and overseas, way too extensive to list here.
I proudly attended the Senate hearing in Melbourne in 2017 on Marriage Equality and quoted in Hansard as stating '...for couples, marriage is a rite of passage. It is a pivotal and an emotional milestone in a couple's lives. In getting married, they do want authenticity and a ceremony in their life that reflects them as a couple and their beliefs'.
I was a panel member of the Subject Matters Expert Group updating training units with the Skills Council for aspiring celebrants for the Certificate IV in Celebrancy and I trialled the new online registrations for marriages in Queensland with the Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages. A former Vice President / committee member of the Alliance of Celebrants Queensland Inc. (ACQ), their Master of Ceremonies and/or presenter/organiser of their annual conference for many years introducing and organising many keynote speakers.
I have been lucky to have met or worked with so many fabulous and famous people. How many celebrants can say they've sung with Paul Kelly AO & Julie Anthony or sat alongside Kate Miller-Heidke and Pete Murray for dinner and lunch respectively? No, I'm NOT a singer - just in the right place at the right time and more than a few stories to tell.
Celebrated Australian musicians such as John Farnham, Ricki-Lee, James Reyne & Kirk Pengilly from INXS
Sports stars Evonne Goolagong Cawley, Pat Rafter, Chris Judd, Layne Beachley (who gives me my daily mantra of positivity), Steph Gilmore, Mick Fanning, John Eales, Drew Ginn, James Tomkins, Lisa Curry, Geoff Huegill, Jessica Schiffer, Loretta Harrop, Nikki Hudson, Mal Meninga, Rob de Castella & the late, great Ron Clarke AO MBE and many more;
Actor/Comedians Paul Hogan (my family & I were extra's in Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles), Joe Davidson, the late Dick Emery, Col Elliott, Shane Jacobson & Cameron Daddo;
WWE/RAW Wrestlers & actor, John Cena & Kane;
V8 Supercar Drivers the late Peter Brock, Jim Richards, Russell Ingall, Shane Van Gisbergen, Rick & Todd Kelly, Tony Longhurst, Steven & Dick Johnson & David Besnard;
Indy/Champ Car Drivers Paul Tracy, Alex Tagliani, Will Power, Marcus Marshall & former NASCAR Driver & now V8 Supercar driver Marcus Ambrose; Formula 1, 2, 3 and Open Wheel driver, Gary Johns;
The King of Mandawa, India, Maharana Shri Rajendrasinhji Khushalsinhji;
President of Gran Canaria Spain, Jose Manuel Soria Lopez;
Prime Minister's Malcolm Turnball, John Howard OM AC, SSI, the late Malcolm Fraser & his wife Tammy; Queensland Premiers Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen, Peter Beattie, Anna Bligh & Campbell Newman;
Fashion Designers George Gross, Harry Who, Trent Nathan (a former employer), Collette Dinnigan, Gail Elliot, the late, great Carla Zampatti & Alannah Hill;
Authors Tara Moss, late Australian poet Les Murray, Jim Schekdhar, Kay Danes OAM, Megan Norris, Debi Marshall & Frances Whiting;
TV Personalities Sam Mac from Sunrise, Reggie Bird x2 winner of Big Brother, Luke & Cody from House Rules/Queensland Weekender,Kochie, Eddie McGuire, Lavinia Nixon, Jamie Durie, Shelley Craft, Pip Courtney & Rhonda Burchmore;
Other notables such as the trail blazer and original influencer June Dally Watkins, Deborah Hutton, the late great Bart Cummins (trainer), the late George Moore (jockey), Sir David Longland, John-Michael Howson & Lady Sonia McMahon. It was a thrill to receive a letter from Buckingham Palace for the late Queen & Prince Philip's wedding anniversary.
Things that I love: chocolate, hugs, the word 'cherish', ladybirds, fresh sheets, fresh flowers, sunshine, cooking, celebrations, silk, tea, an eclectic reader & live music fan, avid movie buff, bubbles, travel, antiques, weddings, watching the footy (all codes), art, Christmas, the smell of gardenia's and an ever growing shoe collection! I am a proud supporter of ACT for Kids (formerly known as the Abused Child's Trust).
Rest assured though, my couples are my MIP's (Most Important People) I could ever hope to meet and I'm privileged in sharing such a special time with you. So now you know about me...I'd love to hear from you and listen to your unique story so click onto my 'Ceremonies' page to see how I can help with your wedding, baby naming, life celebrations or milestone events or go to my 'Home' or my 'Contact' pages.
"People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did,
but people will never forget how you made them feel."
The beautiful Alana & John 28.2.22
