Craig Batchelor
Marriage Celebrant
I became an authorised Marriage Celebrant for two reasons because I love love and because it gives me an excuse to constantly top up my velvet jacket, bow tie and pocket square collection.
As a Marriage celebrant, MC & wedding industry professional, I know what couples want in a Marriage Celebrant. I also know what they don’t want too. They want someone who is organized, fun and warmly energetic, without being over the top. Someone who takes the time to get to know the couple personally whilst behaving respectfully and professionally. Someone who cares about the love, fun, and commitment they share and this will reflect in the marriage ceremony of the couple. What they don’t want is someone who arrives late, is generally unorganised, reads off a script, forgets peoples names, tells awkward jokes, and bombs all of your beautiful wedding ceremony photos.
As you’ve probably gathered, I’m not your average Marriage Celebrant, and I won't arrive at our first meeting with a bunch of generic readings I found online. I got into this business because I get so much enjoyment from being a small, but integral part of the biggest occasion in the lives of people I get to know well, and now call friends. I’m grateful for each opportunity to work with a couple, and together we will ensure that your ceremony is unique, thoughtful, sincere, moving and fun. Kind of like falling in love all over again! The ceremonies I create will have your family and friends still talking, laughing and crying about it at your Diamond Wedding Anniversary.
I’m here to help you create your dream wedding. Whether it's a fun, personal, heartfelt or more creative style of wedding that you're looking for, I am here to guide you through the process, legal aspects and make planning your special day effortless.
Creating dream weddings is a skill. I draw upon my many years of experience in the corporate world as an MC, and events management roles combined with a passion for public speaking, an eye for detail and a little flair.
I love meeting couples and unearthing your shared stories, heartfelt moments and your love for one another.
Throughout the preparations and on your wedding day, I bring a friendly mix of experience, warmth and life to make your day memorable for you and your guests.
I look forward to getting to know you
Much Love
Craig xx
Starting from $650
CONGRATULATIONS! YOUR ENGAGED! AMAZING!
Now the fun begins.
Your wedding is a big occasion in the story of your romance, so allow me to make it truly your own. I’ve been fortunate enough to be involved in weddings of every kind with people from every walk of life, giving me an insight into all the different ways people celebrate their love. Whoever you are and whatever you’re planning, I’d love to be involved.
I love LOVE, I love everything about it and seeing the love between a couple and presenting that to an audience gives me so much enjoyment. I am young, fresh, energetic and everyone's best friend. On your wedding day I'm the friendly face helping to calm your nerves and make sure your ceremony runs smoothly.
Couples choose me because they want their ceremony to be energetic, meaningful and on point. It’s pretty special to be involved in someone’s Wedding Day and I take it seriously, making sure its fun and full of smiles.
I hope you will choose me too and together we can create your perfect wedding!
Starting from $600
Enjoy an intimate elopement designed just for the two of you and avoid the stress and expense of a traditional wedding.
An elopement is a simple and private form of marriage, with few guests. I will help you create a romantic and personal occasion that's actually enjoyable to be a part of.
Your elopement ceremony may be simple and sweet but it will have genuine meaning and sincerity.
I meet to discuss exactly what you want for your elopement. I can also make arrangements via phone and email to keep things simple. Unlike a Registry Office wedding, I offer complete choice over the style, time and location of your elopement.
Marry how you want, where you want, when you want. Please yourselves, that's the joy of eloping!
Starting from $450
A naming ceremony can be for anyone at any age: the arrival of your precious bundle of joy, uniting of step or adopted children within a family, or an adult name change are all wonderful reasons to hold a naming ceremony.
Naming ceremonies welcome your bubba, officially introduce him/her to family and friends and recognise the significant role family, extended family, friends and the community play in raising this child.
It’s also an opportunity for parents and other significant people to declare their promises of love and support to the child, before family and friends.
I have many suggestions of what you can include in your naming ceremony to make it super special and I’ll happily guide you through the process in order to create the perfect ceremony for you.
Starting from $650
What lovely way to say “I LOVE YOU” after years of marriage.
Renewal of Vows or Reaffirmation of Vows has become popular in recent years ~ from a one-year anniversary to fifty years of marriage. It can be anytime, and a beautiful way to express your love and commitment to your lifelong partner. Some couples who have been married overseas choose to celebrate their marriage by renewing their vows with their family and friends here in Australia.
A Vow Renewal Ceremony is a beautiful way for you and your loved one to reaffirm your commitment and love for one another, either before family and friends, or in a private ceremony.
You might want to renew your vows on a special anniversary, or celebrate reconnecting with your partner after a difficult patch or separation.
Perhaps you want to celebrate your marriage with a reaffirmation ceremony if your wedding was very small and private, if certain special people were unable to attend, or if there was something about your wedding that did not live up to your aspirations.
Whatever your reason for renewing your vows, I would love to help bring to life a meaningful ceremony that celebrates your enduring love and commitment.
Starting from $650
Commitment Ceremonies are a celebration of the bond of love between two people.
A commitment to a loved one is a one of the most meaningful moments in a persons life.
Some couples decide to celebrate this commitment with a simple private ceremony. Others decide to have a large celebration to ask their family, friends and coworkers to come together to recognise the relationship. However you decide to celebrate this moment, it is important to take some time to reflect on your feelings, your love for each other, and your commitment to each other.
Your ceremony should be a natural extension of you and your partner. I will work with you to make your special day as traditional, as romantic, as relaxing or as quirky as you like. Nothing would thrill and delight me more than to be part of your special day! I have a great sense of humour and fun and can’t wait to hear all your exciting, creative ideas.
Starting from $400
Every stage of life is special and should be celebrated. There comes a time in everyone’s life when we gather to honour the life of our loved ones. Saying goodbye to someone you love is one of the most difficult things most of us ever have to do. I will work with you to create a heartfelt service that draws on your traditions and rituals, beliefs and values that will invite people to reflect and to remember. Funerals are an expression of a life lived and together we will create a space and ceremony that pays tribute to your loved one. The planning required for this is emotional and tiring. You want someone who can make it easier. If you want someone who is able to take your memories and your stories and share them with all those who have come to celebrate the life and times of your loved one, I am the funeral celebrant you need.
As your Funeral Celebrant I offer you my experience, support, empathy and compassion to help you get through this especially hard time. I will work closely with you, your family and your Funeral Director, to create a beautiful and personalised ceremony that honours your loved one and celebrates their life.
Reviews
"The World's Best Celebrant Ever!" - Alex and Lauren Clifford - November 2018
"Thanks for everything, you were amazing and so many people said how great you were. Our families both said what a lovely job you did at the ceremony. Thanks again!" - Jackson and Rachael McLean - April 2019
"You are perfect and amazing as a celebrant and MC. Thank you a million. You are so informative, organised and fun. Ho lucky we were to have you. I wish we could do it all again! It was the best day ever. We could not have imagined it without you" - Adam and Caitlin Breen - March 2019
"There is no better celebrant and MC out there than you. Thank you so much for everything you did for us. We could not have wished for a better ceremony. You made us feel so relaxed and comfortable knowing you had it all under control. Our guests are still talking about how much fun you are. Our ceremony was personalised and perfect just for us! Thank you again. We will never forget it." - Mat and Sinead McEntee - October 2019
Contact Craig
Upon submitting this form Craig will be in touch with you direct to chat about your ceremony.
To Schedule a Meeting or Book Craig, please enter your Ceremony Details by selecting the Ceremony Region, entering your Ceremony Date, Time, Venue & Location and any other details in the Additional Message to Craig box.
When booking your Celebrant via Celebrant Connect Australia you are automatically protected by the Celebrant Connect Emergency Backup Program, This will ensure that your ceremony will go ahead as planned with a backup Marriage Celebrant if your chosen Celebrant is prevented from attending your ceremony due to an emergency.