Hello, my name is Tegan, and I'm the celebrant behind Save The Date Celebrations. I'm so glad you're here! If you're getting married, then I will ask you lots of questions to get to know you and your story, so it's only fair you learn a little bit about mine. Here's a little bit about me...

​

What made you want to become a marriage celebrant?

I have always been obsessed with love. I'm a HUGE romantic at heart and a natural storyteller. My favourite films are '27 Dresses' and 'How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days', my favourite books are 'The Time Traveler's Wife', 'Where The Crawdads Sing', 'All Our Shimmering Skies' and 'Lessons in Chemistry', and I swoon over anything by Vance Joy or Boy & Bear. Some of my hobbies include asking people to tell me the story about how they met the love of their lives and watching surprise wedding proposals on YouTube. I love learning - and sharing - people's love stories, and being able to legally 'marry' couples is one of the greatest joys of my life.

​

I had thought about - and researched - becoming a marriage celebrant many times over many years before I attended two of my best friends' weddings in early 2021 and thought 'I could do that.' I hadn't been to many weddings as an adult, but I realised I loved civil ceremonies. A few weeks later, I went to a leadership conference and met a fellow English teacher/celebrant who encouraged me to sign up for my Certificate IV in Celebrancy. I enrolled the next day.

​

Another COVID lockdown struck, and I smashed out my 12-month celebrancy course in just over three months. After another three month wait, I was finally registered with the Attorney-General's Department and solemnised my first wedding in Glen Innes in February 2022.

​

What's your favourite part about being a marriage celebrant?

The people! The love! The venues! The vibes! Honestly, all of it. I have never been to a wedding I haven't loved.

​

What's the craziest/best/most interesting thing you've ever seen at a wedding?

People ask me this question all the time, and it's interesting because no two weddings are ever the same. Kids and pets always make weddings fun - I love involving your favourite little people or furbabies in any way I can - and in my experience, they make for some of the most genuine, heartwarming moments of your wedding day. I also loved seeing the drinks getting delivered to Georgie & Matt's ceremony on the front bucket of the family tractor, and the energy of Sav & Tim's guests when Sav came down the aisle and the whole crowd erupted in a spontaneous cheer.

​

What does marriage mean to you?

Growing up in Grafton, I was lucky to be surrounded by long, happy and successful marriages. My Mum and Dad married in their early twenties and were an absolute dream team raising my sister - with lifelong medical issues - and me - an anxious over-achiever. I believe that marriage is an important social institution, and weddings are the perfect opportunity to celebrate a couple’s lifelong commitment to one another as best friends, team mates and lovers. When my friends all started getting married in my late twenties, I realised just how special it is to be a part of such an incredible occasion and there is no greater joy than standing up the front of the aisle and watching two people come together as one. I hope I get my own wedding one day, but for now, I'm happy being the celebrant, not the bride.

​

Do you have a 'day job'?

Yes! I am a full-time English teacher. I studied in Armidale and started my teaching career in Glen Innes and Inverell before moving home to Grafton. I have dipped in and out of the online teaching space - even before COVID - and have spent the last two years working online full time. 

​

What do you like to do for fun?

I love spending time with my Dad, my seven-year-old Maltese Shih Tzu x Border Collie, Shilo or hanging out with my friends. I live a very active life - I love running and the gym, and I'm pretty obsessed with squash. In fact, I am even taking the NSW school squash team to New Zealand!

 

I don't stop very often, but when I do, I like curling up with a book and a cup of tea, watching trashy dating shows on Netflix or taking a long hot bath.

 

Do you travel?

Yes! I love to travel, and being able to see so much more of the New England, North West, country Queensland and North Coast as a celebrant has been such a treat! Prior to COVID, my life revolved around planning - or going on - an international trip once a year. I've been to the US, UK, Italy, France, Canada, Greece and most recently, New Zealand. I can't wait to do some more travel in the future - and would love for you to take me along to 'marry' you!

 

What sets you apart as a celebrant?

I believe your ceremony should be the best part of your day, and I have the perfect skill set to craft – and deliver – a heartfelt, personalised ceremony you and your guests will remember for many years to come. I have a lifelong love of writing, extensive experience public speaking and an incredible eye for detail. I've been published on Australia's largest digital media site, Mamamia, and spoken to crowds of up to 5,000 people. I am a natural storyteller - words are my love language - and I treat my couples as friends. I am the kind of celebrant you'll wish you invited to your reception.

​

What made you move back to Grafton?

I struggle in Grafton's hot, sticky summers and much prefer frosty winter nights by the fire in Inverell - I always joked that I wouldn't move back to Grafton until my parents were old and needed me to look after them, so the move back to Grafton in early 2024 was completely unplanned. After spending a week of my January school holidays in Queenstown, New Zealand, I returned home to Grafton to visit my Mum and Dad before I planned to head back to Inverell to start the school year. Unfortunately, the universe had other plans. The morning after I arrived home at Mum and Dad's, my Mum collapsed and passed away unexpectedly. My life changed in an instant.

​

Shilo and I have stayed in Grafton with my Dad, and I continue to travel to most weekends for weddings. I love country weddings, dirt roads and champagne, but I am excited to see a little more of the amazing coastline that I grew up on and marry more Grafton, Yamba and Coffs Harbour couples in the future.

​