Melanie Lawson
weddings & Ceremonies
Let’s Plan Your Big Day, Stress Free!
Creating Meaningful Ceremonies for Life’s Most Important Moments
Hi, I’m Melanie Lawson, a Commonwealth-registered Civil Marriage Celebrant based in Oberon and proudly serving the Central West NSW, Blue Mountains, and Western Sydney regions.
Whether you’re planning a wedding, vow renewal, baby naming, funeral, memorial, or any other life celebration, I’m here to help you craft a heartfelt and personal ceremony that reflects your story, values, and style.
My approach is warm, flexible, and collaborative — I’ll guide you every step of the way to ensure your ceremony feels just right. Bring your ideas, use mine, or let’s combine both to create something truly special.
From intimate gatherings to grand events, Oberon is home to many stunning venues and function centres to suit your occasion.
Let’s bring your perfect ceremony to life.
Marriage
What the Law Requires
Ready to say “I do”? In Australia, before your special day, you’ll need to ensure:
Both partners must be at least 18 years old (note: exceptions apply for ages 16–18 with court approval when marrying an adult).
Neither partner is currently married, and you’re not immediately related (e.g., mother–son, grandfather–granddaughter, siblings).
Both of you understand what marriage means and freely consent to it.
A Notice of Intended Marriage is submitted at least one month before the wedding, through a Commonwealth-authorised civil celebrant or authorised minister.
For forms and more information, see the Attorney General’s website.
Your Ceremony—Your Way
Once the legalities are taken care of, the stage is yours! Whether you envision an intimate, relaxed gathering or a grand, elaborate affair, the choice is yours. While some formal wording is required to make the marriage official, you can personalise your ceremony with:
Your own vows
Meaningful poems, readings, or songs
Symbolic rituals like handfasting, sand ceremonies, or gift exchanges
What I Offer
My role is to guide and support you through the entire process, with flexibility and creativity, making sure legal requirements are handled seamlessly. You can choose how much control you’d like—whether you’d like to lead the design of the ceremony or have a structured springboard to inspire you. My marriage services include:
Managing all legal paperwork
Drafting a personalised ceremony in collaboration with you
Access to my “Ceremony Builder” workbook for inspiration and structure
Rehearsal session before your wedding day
Ongoing support via phone and email
Early arrival (at least 20 minutes prior) to set up and welcome your guests
PA system with music playback capability, and a signing table with chairs
A keepsake certificate and a copy of your ceremony to treasure
Lodgment of documents with the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages (and optionally, assistance to obtain your official marriage certificate)
Investment Guide
Every ceremony is uniquely crafted—and priced accordingly. As a guide, my fee for a full, personalised wedding ceremony (including all services listed above) is $750. Planning a smaller celebration—like an elopement or micro-wedding? I offer reduced rates, so please don’t hesitate to contact me for a personalised quote.
Ready to Begin?
Let’s craft a ceremony that reflects your story, vision, and love. Whether you’re planning an intimate moment or a memorable event, I’m here every step of the way.
E: melanielawsoncc@gmail.com
P: 0431 214 687
Life Ceremonies
Life Ceremonies with Melanie Lawson
Celebrating the milestones of life—both joyful and reflective—is an honour I hold close to my heart. As a Commonwealth-registered Civil Celebrant based in Oberon, I bring creativity, warmth, and sensitivity to every ceremony, ensuring it’s thoughtfully designed and personally meaningful.
Mark Life’s Moments, Your Way
Whatever the occasion, I’m here to guide you in creating a ceremony that resonates. Whether you’re celebrating or commemorating, the possibilities include:
Naming ceremonies
Renewal of wedding vows
Anniversary celebrations
Commitment ceremonies (for those choosing not to marry legally)
Significant birthdays
Gender reveals
Coming-out celebrations
Blending family ceremonies
Let your imagination take the lead—I’m ready to listen and help bring your vision to life. I also offer a free, no-obligation chat so you can get to know me and decide if I’m the right person to guide your ceremony.
Honouring Loss and Remembering Loved Ones
Life also brings moments of loss and grief, and I am honoured to support you through them. I can lead respectful and heartfelt funerals, memorials, and remembrance ceremonies—including ceremonies for pets.
What I Will Provide
No matter the occasion, you’ll receive comprehensive support and care, including:
Collaborative planning — helping you shape your ceremony’s structure
Custom drafting — personalised script developed in consultation with you
Ongoing communication — available by phone or email throughout the process
Optional rehearsal — to ensure everything flows beautifully on the day
PA equipment with music capability — for that perfect soundtrack
Keepsakes — a commemorative certificate and a copy of your ceremony text
Investment & Quote Information
Ceremonies are as unique as the stories they celebrate, so pricing depends on elements like preparation time, ceremony length, and equipment needs. As a guide, a full-service ceremony (as outlined above) starts from $600. Let me know what you have in mind—I’m happy to provide a custom, no-obligation quote.
Reach Out When You’re Ready
Whether you’re dreaming of a joyful celebration or planning a meaningful farewell, let’s connect. I’d love to hear your ideas and see how I can help design a ceremony that truly reflects your story.
E: melanielawsoncc@gmail.com
P: 0431 214 687
Happy Clients
Melanie was incredibly helpful from the moment we first contacted her, right through to our beautiful wedding day. She was always there to assist with anything we needed, understanding our needs and wants to make our ceremony extra special. That was most definitely accomplished 😊. Thank you, Melanie. Corinda
Our experience with Melanie as our marriage celebrant was the perfect antidote to the inevitable stress of weddings. After meeting in person, we discussed various drafts for the ceremony over Zoom and email; she made it easy at every juncture and kept us calm when other responsibilities piled up around us.
The ceremony itself was thoughtful, personal and well-read. The rehearsal involved just the three of us, allowing us to surprise our family and friends with individual touches, both of Melanie’s offering and of our own design. Many people found the ‘warming of the rings’ particularly touching, but our favourite element was the way Melanie prioritised acknowledging country and the long-standing history of the lands on which we newlyweds were married, live and first met.
Thank you so much for your care, calm and sense of perspective, Melanie.
~The Bennetts
I came across Melanie through a Google search. What a fantastic find! I arranged for Melanie to officiate the Surprise Wedding Vows Renewal for my parents on their 50th Wedding Anniversary. From the first video chat, I knew she was the perfect person to officiate this special occasion I was creating for my parents. Melanie was very welcoming, warm, friendly and professional from start to finish. She made the whole process easy, communicated promptly and welcomed everything that we wanted to do without any fuss. Melanie, I cannot thank you enough for the perfect Vow Renewal Ceremony. My parents said it was perfect, and you were wonderful, making the occasion even more special.
My sister and I thank you for helping us create a perfect morning for our parents. Elizabeth Keen & Ali Rice
We are so, so glad we chose Melanie as our celebrant. She made the entire process incredibly easy and seamless, and she listened to us, helping us achieve exactly what we had hoped for. James & Bree
Melanie was the celebrant for our wedding in January. Could not have asked for anything else in a celebrant. She was able to accommodate our requests and adapt quickly to any changes that occurred in the process. Not having to worry about the quality of service we were getting from the celebrant took a huge amount of stress out of an already stressful day so I could not recommend Melanie highly enough.
Melanie is an amazing celebrant; we couldn’t have chosen better for our wedding. Her down-to-earth and personal approach made everything feel so easy and straightforward, and we could really see that putting together our ceremony was meaningful to her. Highly recommend! Alina
So happy that we went with Ceremonies by Melanie for our wedding, we have been recommending her to all our friends and family!
Mel made our day run smooth and stress free. She would check in on us and had great communication leading up to the big day as well as making the paperwork side of marriage easy.
Mel really took the time to get to know us during our meetings, which made her opening to our ceremony beautiful and personal. Mel even dressed to match our colours/vibe which made for beautiful photos ♥️
It’s Going to be Perfect!
Let’s Plan Your Ceremony!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can we write our own wedding vows?
Absolutely! While a legal vow is required during the ceremony, you’re welcome to add personal declarations of love, promises, or wishes for the future. I can inspire you, but the most heartfelt vows come directly from you.
What is an elopement (micro-wedding)?
An elopement, or micro-wedding, is an intimate ceremony with just the couple, celebrant, and witnesses. However, it’s not spontaneous—Australian law requires a one-month written notice to your celebrant.
How many people are needed at a wedding?
According to Australian law, you need two adult witnesses plus the celebrant—so the minimum group is five people (the couple, two witnesses, and the celebrant).
What kinds of venues are available around Oberon?
Oberon and the surrounding areas are home to many charming country wedding venues — perfect for both intimate and grand celebrations.
How much notice is needed before the wedding?
You must give your celebrant at least one month’s written notice using the official Notice of Intended Marriage form.
How far in advance should we book?
To secure your preferred date, it’s best to book your venue and celebrant up to 12 months ahead. The Notice of Intended Marriage remains valid for up to 18 months after submission.
Can we get married overseas?
Yes — your marriage will be recognised in Australia if it’s legally conducted under the laws of the country where the ceremony takes place. Note: An Australian celebrant cannot legally officiate overseas.
What’s the difference between a memorial service and a funeral?
A funeral typically occurs soon after someone has passed away, whereas a memorial service may take place later, even on an anniversary of their passing.
Where can a funeral be held?
Funerals can be held in chapels, churches, crematoriums—and can also take place outdoors or at cemeteries. If you’re considering a public space like a park or beach, bookings may be necessary.
What are the rules for scattering ashes?
Scattering ashes in public spaces or on private land may require permission from property owners or local councils. However, there are generally no restrictions for waterways.
How long is a typical ceremony?
Weddings: Around 20 minutes
Funerals: Typically 30–40 minutes
These are guidelines—the ceremony length is always tailored to your preferences.
Do we need permission to read copyrighted material?
You typically don’t need specific permission to read from songs, poems, or books you own during your ceremony. Most celebrants, including me, hold a copyright licence that covers this use.
How far do you travel?
While I’m based in Oberon and primarily serve Central West NSW, the Blue Mountains, and Western Sydney, I’m happy to travel further afield. I’ve officiated ceremonies on the Central Coast, in Darwin, and along Sydney’s coast and waterways.
Still Have Questions?
Please don’t hesitate—contact me! Whether by phone, email, or a friendly chat, I’d love to help make your ceremony uniquely yours.
E: melanielawsoncc@gmail.com
P: 0431 214 687
Acknowledgement
I am privileged to live and work on the traditional lands of the Wiradjuri, Dharug and Gundungurra people. I acknowledge and pay my respects to Elders past and present. I recognise the deep and abiding role of ritual and ceremony in First Nations culture.