Dum dum de dum, dum dum de dum! It’s wedding season!

How do I know this...? Well, I have three wedding invitations lined up in front of me as we speak. Well, two paper invites, and an email invite, really. Fortunately for my wallet, they’re from three couples who move in separate social circles, which means one brilliant thing - I only need one dress! (Dress dramas to be related in a separate blog post, there's just not enough room here!)

Amazingly, all three are having civil ceremonies, no church weddings here. I am a little sad about that though, as I absolutely adore the dogma and stained glass windows of organised religion. But I can appreciate that having a civil ceremony means you can do away with the Amen and Glory be to God mantras. (Keep the Hallelujah’s in though, I love them!) You also get to choose who marries you, and I am using marry as a verb here. I’ve always thought that having some wrinkly old priest or father, or worse, a celibate, droning never-married old priest or father officiating over your ceremony would be a little odd. I mean, they wouldn’t get hitched but they’re happy to tie others together? Hells no.

I would much prefer a cool, young, fashionable, witty type, throwing in a few asides, and perhaps taking the mickey out of my husband-to-be. (I’ll let you know when I find one. Obviously.)

So I present to you, a cool, young, fashionable, witty type who could never drone, and is quite good at taking the mickey out me. Meet Dene. The Young Celebrant. She’s uber-fun. She wears many hats. Amongst them, she is a popular radio host, RAW practitioner, Obama campaign volunteer, cute chick... and wedding celebrant.

If you’re planning on taking the plunge, and you’re the type of bride (or groom - do boys even read me?) to get inspiration from blogs rather than the classified ads in the back of the Southeast Advertiser, then Dene might just be the right celebrant for you. Her website is here.

I can't promise that she won't show up to her first meeting with you with a large hot chocolate, an infectious laugh, a big smile and a funky knitted hat though!