Melissa Halliday-Marriage & Funeral Celebrant of Newtown, Redfern and Glebe
My guess is that Melissa Halliday, a qualified lawyer, decided she was much better suited to bringing people together than dividing them in court. She was a High Distinction graduate of the International College of Celebrancy gaining a Diploma in the most demanding celebrant course which exists.
The end result is more important - she is a dedicated, experienced, professional celebrant, whose clients can’t get over their luck in having the services of someone so personable, competent and professional. (Dally Messenger III)
She is located at:
111 Darley Street
Newtown NSW 2042
Contact Details:
02 9519 6552
0425 213 338
Please call me to discuss your needs.
heartandsoulcelebrant@gmail.com
Qualifications:
I am a qualified solicitor.
BA (Hons) LLB Sydney University;
Dip Rem Massage (Naturecare College);
Dip IYTA (Inter Yoga Teachers Association)
I hold a Diploma in Marriage Celebrancy from the
International College of Celebrancy - there is no better training than this!
Melissa also works as a Funeral Director and Funeral Celebrant with Picaluna based in NSW- a brilliant , affordable alternative funeral company that walks with you every step of the journey and gives you so many options for celebrating a life in a truly meaningful way. See the website for useful info:
https://www.heartandsoulcelebrations.com/celebrant/ and https://www.heartandsoulcelebrations.com/funeral-director/
Ceremonies I do:
I perform Weddings, including same sex marriages, Funerals (for people and pets), Namings, Healing Ceremonies for Kids & Families after Parental Separation, Divorce or Death
My Other Websites:
www.heartandsoulcelebrations.com
“Ceremonies with heart and soul to celebrate life’s meaningful turning points”
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What I try to do:
Ceremonies with heart and soul to uplift the spirit & celebrate life’s meaningful turning points. You deserve a breathtaking day where the celebrant is warm, professional and inclusive of all invited guests and family and the ceremony reflects who and where you are in your life at this special time!
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My Vision:
My vision is to provide relaxed, professional and inspiring guidance in creating and performing a genuinely unforgettable ceremony with heart and soul that exceeds your wishes & intentions.
Having attended a few weddings where I cringed and felt so sad for the couple when the priest or celebrant mispronounced their names, made inappropriate comments or clearly hadn’t taken the time to get to know them or write a ceremony that matched who they were- I decided I could honour a couple the way they deserved in whatever ceremony they chose and that it would be something they could be proud of!
I really work hard to fulfil this intention by working with you so you are heard and your needs are met in whatever way works for you! It is your day and all about you, I simply want to facilitate that!
Creating ceremonies using your chosen rituals, music and poetry and combining these with words reflective of the heart and soul of an individual or couple ensures a unique, positive and unforgettable celebration for all concerned!
I bring a background in law, music, entertainment, yoga, volunteering and travel. Now celebrancy is my central passion! I am open-minded, non-judgemental and take special care to include everyone.
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My above-and-beyond-the-call-of-duty service includes the following:
- Warmth, professionalism and attention to detail so you can relax on the day
- A unique, beautifully crafted and totally personal ceremony reflecting your needs and personalities- no ceremony is the same! You get to keep a copy.
- Expertise- I teach marriage celebrants their professional development and have legal training so I am fully aware of all marriage legalities & requirements
- I will travel anywhere in Australia to do your ceremony although I reside in Sydney
- A no obligation first interview to talk you through the process
- My full support, advice and expertise through the whole wedding process
- Extensive resources to choose from including love poetry, rituals, Vows etc
- Specialist in multi cultural rituals and ceremonies
- Personal meetings (up to 3) prior to the wedding to finalise your ceremony
- A dress rehearsal or run through to ensure you are at ease on the day
- All legal documentation completed and sent to Registry for you (includes my skills as a lawyer in terms of explaining your legal responsibilities)
- Use of a professional PA (MIPRO)and microphones for readers etc
- Option of free live accapella singing by me during the ceremony (25 years experience as a singer/entertainer- bands, groups, tv, cruise ships)
- Working in with the theme of your wedding; appropriate dress as relevant
- I also perform interstate weddings and weddings that are sacred-spiritual eg yogic and am happy to marry you on a mountaintop or underwater!
- Transparency re fee disclosure and costs: you will only pay what is agreed
- The most memorable and magnificent Wedding ceremony you could imagine!
Testimonials: What Same Sex Wedding Couples Have Said
We have used Melissa for our commitment ceremony, both our daughters naming ceremonies and now most recently our wedding. Each time she has been an absolute joy to deal with, creating personalised beautiful ceremonies and being there with us through the process the entire way to make it perfect each and every time. It has never felt like we were just another job to her, she genuinely cares about her clients and it shows in her work. We cannot speak more highly of her!”
Sami & Amanda March 2018
“Having had our relationship judged by millions of people it was vital our celebrant be a long-time supporter of same-sex couples rather than a bandwagon-jumper. Melissa Halliday had already conducted same-sex commitment ceremonies before, which is what initially attracted us.
From our first meeting Mel was warm, friendly, professional and clearly experienced. We knew immediately she was the right one, although her fee wasn’t the cheapest. While we wanted our marriage to be low-key and informal, we thought it unwise to skimp on the celebrant.
On our wedding day Mel combined gravitas with fun and good humour, despite wet and windy weather that threatened to derail proceedings.
Thanks Mel – you helped make our day very special!”
James & Clinton June 2018
“We had the unique opportunity (with our situation in a same sex union) of working with you twice- once for our commitment ceremony in 2008 and our legal wedding in 2018. Both times people have marvelled at how articulate, warm and fun you were in conducting the ceremonies. The second time, it was your encouragement that caused us to get our act together so that we were able to have the ceremony at nearly the exact day that our original commitment ceremony was ten years ago. You worked very hard with us to tailor the wording and special parts of the ceremony to our personalities and style, while still producing a polished and professional occasion. We particularly appreciated your generosity in allowing us to use your beautiful bamboo garden to get married in, when we could not decide what we wanted to do. You are a sincere person who genuinely cares about people and the work that you do.”
Ana & Leisa June 2018
“Melissa, you're gorgeous! We felt your warmth and sincerity even before meeting you in person. You're so caring and your devotion is admirable. You listened to our story and helped us craft a wonderful ceremony. Your big heart, loving nature and collaborative spirit were a big part of what made this day so special. You were not only our marriage celebrant but a friend for life. We're so happy to have you on board. “
Jesse & Fahrettin Jan 2018
“Mel – you are so warm and beautiful and this reflected in the wonderful atmosphere you created at our wedding.”
Lou & Lizzie April 2018
Testimonials: What other Wedding Couples Have Said
“She was an absolute joy to work with when creating our ceremony and we feel so privileged to have had her be a part of our special day. From the start, Melissa was professional, warm, kind and welcoming. She walked us through all that we needed to do in a way that created calmness and made it a relaxed, fun and enjoyable experience. We greatly appreciated how flexible and adaptable she was with our requests to have a less traditional ceremony, and we felt that we ended up with the perfect ceremony that was authentic, honest and true to who we were as a couple. And on the day, Melissa delivered it perfectly, we had countless people comment on how beautiful our ceremony was. We thank you Melissa for making it so special and memorable for us. Thank you.”
Ollie and Michelle Feb 14 2018
“Thanks Melissa for helping to make our day perfect. Right from the start when we realised we had just a few days to lodge the forms for marriage, you went out of your way to make things easier for us. We loved working through the preparations with you and appreciated your gentle, guiding presence on the day. It was everything we could have hoped for and our friends and family are still talking about it glowingly. As my brother said “This is the wedding that we all would have liked to have had.”
David and Zinta March 2015
" I would just like to thank you again for what was a superb day, all your efforts were much appreciated!" Jilly & Steve (April 2010)
"Even though it was raining the day was perfect in everyway, the ceremony was beyond beautiful and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your gorgeous work. Everyone commented on how fantastic you were, and how original the ceremony was."
Angie and James (Nov 2008)
"Melissa you made our ceremony unforgettable...you are such a supportive breath of fresh air and came with such creative and inspiring ideas- thanks for transforming our day from merely magical to absolutely spectacular - your attention to detail and loving support the whole way through our wedding process was something we will never forget!"
Lora and George, married at the Great Hall, Sydney
Thank you for leaving us some beautiful memories of a very special day in our lives.
Ian and Val, Sydney
“We were both so very touched and thankful that you officiated at our ceremony,
your natural joie de vivre managed to capture our relationship and set the wonderful tone for the evening!”
Drew & Lee
