About Liz

I am surrounded by L.O.V.E. and I literally live, breathe and love all things weddings!  I'm a Gold Coast marriage celebrant however, I am so very blessed to travel extensively for all types of ceremonies. Authorised by the Attorney-General's Department in 2004, I love what I do.  Who wouldn't want to spend their days getting dressed up, sharing in very special days filled with exciting, soulful and joyous occasions?

I've worked in education, high end fashion (and I sometimes still get to play in this arena) and former model.  I've compered many special events and appeared in TV commercials & films as well as voice overs for radio, so you can be assured my presentation, grooming and delivery are always a priority for your day.  As such, I have an extensive wardrobe appropriate for any event and if not, a girl can always shop - right? I also like to have fun, featuring in photo promos for the NRL Titans but I can't lie, my heart belongs to AFL having been a former coach.  

I've put my life experiences into practise completing my Certificate IV in Training and Assessment training my fellow celebrants in their compulsory Ongoing Professional Development Queensland wide.

I was privileged to have officiated at weddings streamed live to Japan from Palazzo Versace and others to Russia, England, Saudi Arabia, Canada & Iran.  I played a role in the secret celebrity wedding of Commonwealth Games medallist Geoff Huegill & his wife Sara at the exclusive Bvlgari Resort, in beautiful Bali featured in New Idea (please see below).  Many couples are choosing a small intimate legal wedding in Australia with a destination celebration overseas or avoiding the stress of 'weddings' and eloping and I'm increasingly being asked to conduct more of these celebrations for couples.

Marriage to me is a sacred and truly magical event but one that requires constant attention and nurturing as the years go by. Love should always be showcased and yet, is so infinitely fragile & immeasurable.  My husband and I married on my birthday in 1986 (yep, 30+ years!!) and we are very blessed to have two amazing young men who share our lives. I attended a surprise renewal of vows in Las Vegas in November (my very own) so the tables were turned entirely as I was completely clueless right up until I sat in the gondola floating along in The Venetian! 

                                       

Both boys had baby namings which was very unusual 26+ years ago and we celebrated our eldest son's wedding that I was the officiant for (see photos below) held at the beautiful Braeside Chapel, Merrimac.  My parents celebrate their 66th wedding anniversary this year and I obviously have big shoes to fill!  My aunt, Betty Debnam, is a celebrated cake decorator and another darling aunt was a bridal dressmaker, so you could say, weddings are part of my DNA and I'm simply carrying on the family tradition.

I am as comfortable conducting a small intimate ceremony in your home or backyard as I am in front of 200 people in a chapel.  I've enjoyed celebrations in so many diverse locations around Australia, too extensive to list here.  Even though I am a Gold Coast marriage celebrant, I happily travel Australia wide or overseas for your celebrations.

I'm the immediate past Vice Chair of the Coalition of Celebrant Associations Inc (CoCA), the peak representative body for Australian Celebrant Associations formally recognised and acknowledged by the Attorney-General and the Marriage Law & Celebrant Section.  I attended meetings twice yearly in Canberra and as such, was at the forefront of changes to the law nationally or in Queensland through Births, Deaths & Marriages.  I attended the Senate hearing in Melbourne on Same-Sex Marriage and am quoted in Hansard as saying '...for couples marriage is a rite of passage.  It is a pivotal and an emotioinal milestone in a couple's lives.  In getting married, they do want authenticity and a ceremony in their life that reflects them as a couple and their beliefs'.  

I was a panel member of the Subject Matters Expert Group updating training units with the Skills Council for aspiring celebrants in the new Certificate IV in Celebrancy and I am currently trialling the new online registrations for marriages in Queensland via the Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages.  I am former Vice President & current committee member of the Alliance of Celebrants Queensland Inc. (ACQ) and I've been Master of Ceremonies and/or presenter at their annual conference for the past five years with keynote speakers such as humanitarian Kay Danes OAM and Pip Courtney, ABC presenter.

I have been lucky enough to have met or worked with several famous and diverse people or sports stars for which I feel very privileged.  These include:

Celebrated Australian musicians such as Julie Anthony, Paul Kelly, John Farnham, Ricki-Lee, James Reyne, Pete Murray & Kirk Pengilly from INXS

Sports stars Yvonne Goolagong Cawley, Pat Rafter, Chris Judd, Layne Beachley (who gives me my daily mantra of positivity!), Stephanie Gilmore, Mick Fanning, Wally Lewis, Grant Kenny, John Eales, Luke Dwyer, Luke Bailey, Michael Diamond, Ken Wallace, Emma Snowsill, Sarah Carrigan, Drew Ginn, James Tomkins, Lisa Curry, Geoff Huegill (see photo's above), Jessica Schiffer, Loretta Harrop, Ben Cousins, Nikki Hudson, Jamal Idris, Mal Meninga, Rob de Castella, Glenn Lazarus & the late, great Ron Clarke AO MBE;

Actor/Comedians Paul Hogan (my family & I were extra's in Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles), the late Dick Emery, Col Elliott, Shane Jacobson & Cameron Daddo;

WWE/RAW Wrestlers John Cena & Kane;

V8 Supercar Drivers the late Peter Brock, Jim Richards, Russell Ingall, Shane Van Gisbergen, Rick & Todd Kelly, Tony Longhurst, Steven & Dick Johnson & David Besnard;

Indy/Champ Car Drivers Paul Tracy, Alex Tagliani, Will Power, Marcus Marshall & former NASCAR Driver & now V8 Supercar driver Marcus Ambrose; Formula 1, 2, 3 and Open Wheeler driver Gary Johns

President of Gran Canaria Spain, Jose Manuel Soria Lopez 

Prime Minister's Malcolm Turnball, John Howard OM AC, SSI, the late Malcolm Fraser & his wife Tammy; Queensland Premiers Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen, Peter Beattie, Anna Bligh, Campbell Newman;

Fashion Designers George Gross, Harry Who, Trent Nathan (a former employer), Collette Dinnigan, Gail Elliot, Carla Zampatti & Alannah Hill;

Authors Tara Moss, Australian poet Les Murray, Jim Schekdhar, Kay Danes OAM, Debbi Marshall & Frances Whiting;

TV Personalities Luke & Cody from House Rules/Queensland Weekender, Kochie, Eddie McGuire, Lavinia Nixon, Jamie Durie, Shelley Craft, Pip Courtney & Rhonda Burchmore;

Other notables such as June Dally Watkins, Deborah Hutton, the late great Bart Cummins (trainer), the late George Moore (jockey), Sir David Longland,  John-Michael Howson & Lady Sonia McMahon.  It was a thrill to receive a letter from Buckingham Palace for the Queen & Prince Philip's wedding anniversary. 

Things that I love: chocolate, warmth, hugs, the word 'cherish', ladybirds, fresh sheets, fresh flowers, sunshine, cooking, celebrations, music, silk, tea, reading, movies, bubbles, antiques, watching the footy (all codes), art, Christmas, the smell of gardenia's and an ever growing shoe collection!  I am a supporter of ACT for Kids (formerly known as the Abused Child's Trust).  

Rest assured though, my couples are my MIP's (Most Important People) I could ever hope to meet and I am privileged in sharing such a special time with you. So now you know about me...I'd love to know more about you and hear your story.  I also respect your privacy and show discretion as well as honouring different cultural differences, traditions and religions.  Some weddings are traditional, they may be themed or include special symbols as your wedding day is a celebration of your love and should be as individual as the two of you and I invite you to click onto my 'Ceremonies' page to see how I can help with other life celebrations and milestone events...

"People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did,

but people will never forget how you made them feel." 

maya angelou