My wife and I have been married for over 42 years and we have 2 grown children.
Through the learning and application of the principles of marriage; by trial and error, love and forgiveness and lots of hard work, we have an awesome marriage today.
We believe that a good marriage, like a good wine, gets even better with age, and also that a good marriage provides the best foundation for success in every aspect of a couple's life.
That is why we have a passion to not only help engaged couples have the most memorable wedding day possible, but also for them to get the very best in preparation for their marriage.
But it all starts with selecting the right celebrant.
If you are getting married then CONGRATULATIONS. You are about to enter into the most wonderful relationship that can exist between a man and a woman. If you are ready to choose a celebrant, then let me help you.
I believe that, as an engaged couple, you are unique and special and embarking on an exciting journey towards your wedding day and a lifelong marriage. I also believe it is very important to choose a celebrant who can best prepare you for that journey.
Should you choose to let me help you make your wedding day as special as you need it to be, this is what I want you to know:
My goal is to help you get married and help you stay married.
I really want you to get the most from your wedding day and more from your marriage.
Before making a decision on who your celebrant will be, consider the following:
- Any celebrant will help a couple become legally married. That’s their “job”
- Most celebrants will do what they can to help ensure your wedding ceremony is memorable and enjoyable
- A good celebrant, however, will focus on you , work closely with you and make you feel that your wedding and marriage is just as important to them as it is to you
But it is when the excitement of the wedding day has faded and the realities of marriage have set in, that the true value of your celebrant will surface. It is then you discover whether or not they have given you something of lasting value. Research is showing that the better prepared a couple is before they get married, the better the chance of their marriage relationship lasting. Good, practical and relevant pre-marriage education is an excellent way for an engaged couple to prepare for the lifetime reality of marriage which is meant to follow the fairytale excitement of the wedding day. Dr Phil McGraw of the "Dr Phil Show" said,
"The outcome of a marriage is established long before the couple walks down the aisle."
I totally agree.
Pre-marriage education is not offered by every celebrant because:
- It is not requested by every couple
- Very few celebrants feel they are properly qualified
- Not every celebrant is willing to invest the time
What will you do?
It is very important to meet your celebrant.
I meet every couple before they decide to engage me as their celebrant. The purpose of this meeting is not only for sharing information but also to see if we can connect at a friendly level. In my experience I have found that the better the relationship I have with the couple before the wedding , the more relaxed, intimate and fun the wedding ceremony becomes. I always encourage the couple's involvement in a series of pre-marriage coaching sessions.
People will take out insurance for their most valuable possessions ie house, car, or their lives.
Doesn’t it make sense to take advantage of the right pre-marriage preparation as “insurance” for your most valuable relationship - your marriage?
What is the next step?
Make an appointment with your celebrant and discuss your wedding requirements. Ask plenty of questions. You need to spend enough time with them to determine whether or not you can make a “connection” and trust them to guide you into your forthcoming marriage. Not every celebrant is suitable for every couple. It is up to you to do your homework and make the right choice. It is then up to your celebrant to make the journey to your marriage as real, relevant and fun as possible.
If you decide that I am the one to perform your wedding ceremony then please be assured that I will not only do what it takes to ensure your Wedding Ceremony is all and more than you have hoped for, dreamed of, or imagined but also I will do whatever is necessary to prepare you for a lifelong, enjoyable marriage.
I look forward to hearing from you both.
Congratulations again on your decision to marry!
Rev John Catling