All You need is LOVE and a Great Wedding Celebrant

​All You Need Is Love -And A Great Celebrant!
I have had the privilege of being a Byron Bay celebrant for 12 years now and have performed
over 200 weddings and elopements.…and just like that fantastic Led Zeplin song that is “a
whole lot a lot of love” to have been privy to.
My inspiration for being a marriage celebrant rose from my affinity with love.
Love of love, love of people, love of connection, love of relationship, love of ceremony and
love of celebrating life in toto.
Oh yes ….and there was also the cringing hand over mouth experience of being a guest at a
friend’s wedding,that had all the magical ingredients except….
The scene was perfectly set for the wedding,the location was in a picturesque nook
overlooking the harbour in Sydney, the bride and groom were young groovers, and looked
breath takingly beautiful, standing there very much in love, with their favourite people in the
world gathered around them full of excitement and happiness for them.
Then the marriage celebrant arrived kafuffled in her hot crimson crepe suit and delivered the
ceremony as if talking to a kindergarten class whilst sporting a migraine, touting a lot of bla
bla bla that didn’t go anywhere near the radius of anyone’s heart.
People were disengaged, and a mixture of bored and perplexed…maybe even a wee bit
embarrassed.
I was quietly horrified for my friends, and took my own vows that day to become a
celebrant and to give marrying couples a ceremony that would be honouring, one that that
they would feel proud to be standing in, a ceremony that was in alignment with who they are
as individuals, that felt meaningful, joyful, sacred, interesting and engaging, that would open
people’s hearts, and no one present would ever yawn or think about a drink or checking their
phone.
Onwards and Upwards
Being a devotee of love, I view a wedding ceremony to be a very powerful moment in time,
and an opportunity that if nicely orchestrated can cast a lasting light on your path and journey
together.
So off I set on my journey to become not just a celebrant but a “great celebrant”!
Which is why I say
“All you need is love and a Great Celebrant”.
I did my training and began my career as a celebrant in Bondi and the Eastern suburbs before
migrating to the north coast, and becoming a Byron Bay Celebrant, which was fortunate as
Byron Bay happens to be a renowned wedding destination.
Many lovely couples from around Australia and the world, are drawn to get married in
Byron Bay because of the unique culture, spirit and beauty of this amazing place…and I find
the couples usually reflect those qualities in themselves….I can honestly say have never
encountered what people refer to as Bridezilla…in fact quite the contrare.

Part of the awesomeness of being a marriage celebrant, is that I get the privilege of meeting
and engaging with such a wide and wonderful array of couples in love.
I am honoured to say (and touched that my couples will testify) that in a very short space of
time we form a deep connection and sensitive bond …. (We are talking about their favourite
things, which is their love in all its glory, and each other.)
I feel gifted that I am able to create a platform of trust where a couple feel safe, open, and
comfortable enough to invite me into their heart space, so that we can translate and articulate

their individual love story, their dreams, intentions and quirkiness and create an awesome
wedding ceremony whereby they feel confident, represented relaxed and uplifted.
and when presented on their wedding day ….it sweetly rocks their world.
Shiney Lee Hensby -Byron Bay wedding Celebrant
http://www.byronbayweddingcelebrant.wedding/