Deanna McKeowen

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

My frequently asked question page has many of the answers to the questions that my wonderful couples have come to ask me over my years as a Whitsunday Wedding Celebrant.

Planning a destination wedding can sometimes offer a few more challenges than if you were planning your wedding in a location that you know well and many of these answers you will find on this page.

But if you have any questions that you can’t find the answer to here, then please feel free to contact me…I am always happy to help.

For Bookings & Availability
Deanna Mckeowen

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did you become a Celebrant?

I think it is the best job in the World!!!! I feel extremely privileged that my life’s journey has led me to this profession, and I treasure the process of getting to know my couples and sharing their love story on their wedding day.

How long have you been a Celebrant?

I have been an authorised Commonwealth-registered Marriage Celebrant since 2007

How many weddings have you conducted?

Since becoming a Celebrant in 2007 I have been fortunate to marry over 1500 couples so far.

How much is your Celebrant fee?

My celebrant fee depends on where you wish to be married so for more information on pricing and my availability please follow this LINK to contact me today

What is included in your Celebrant fee?

My celebrant fee includes, and is not limited to:

* Unlimited phone calls and emails to assist with legal documentation and to discuss your exciting wedding plans and Vows

* My services as an experienced, fully qualified, and engaging Marriage celebrant

* A very high level of service and responsiveness before, during, and after your wedding day.

* Use of my professional PA system with one wireless microphone for pre-ceremony music and use for the ceremony

* I will prepare personalised Vow Cards to read from if desired

* A ceremony planning form and guide to assist with creating a personalised, bespoke ceremony

* A white butler’s tray table for signing the marriage documents

What are the legal requirements?

Before you marry you must submit a Notice of Intended Marriage form to me at least one calendar month before your wedding date and no earlier than 18 months. A copy of the legal document form can be found here INFORMATIONWhitsunday Wedding Info

What documents do you need to see?

Original Birth Certificate & Drivers Licence OR Passport (Australian passport or Overseas passport), and if applicable, evidence that any previous marriage has been dissolved.

Can you help us write our vows?

Of course, I can help and I would be absolutely delighted and encourage this – as your Vows are the BEST part of the wedding ceremony!!! There is a legal sentence that must be included as per the Marriage Act 1961 and then we can include your heartfelt, personalised wedding Vows and promises,  that you will cherish forever. I can provide lots of ideas and help you along the way, providing feedback and guidance.

Do we need to memorise our vows?

You don’t need to memorise your Vows – you can repeat a few words at a time after me – or I can provide Vow cards. The choice is yours!!

How long does a Civil Marriage Ceremony usually go for?

Most civil ceremonies last between 20-30 minutes, depending on the content. The signing of the marriage documents can take up to 5-10 minutes, depending on photography and videography opportunities, during this time.

Do you have a PA system we can use at the ceremony? 

Yes, you can use my professional Bose PA system with a wireless microphone for the ceremony and there is no extra charge for this.

How can we book you?

Please check my availability by getting in contact today!

After the confetti has settled, what happens next?

I am required by law to lodge your wedding documentation with Births, Deaths and Marriages in the State that you were married within 10 working days. From there, the married couple can apply for the standard registered copy. You will need this registered copy to change your surname.

What My Couples Are Saying...

I’ve had the pleasure of working alongside Dee for the past few years, so I had high expectations when I booked her for my own wedding. She truly exceeded them in every way. Dee was exceptional—her professionalism and ability to manage unforeseen hiccups ensured everything ran so smoothly. I can’t thank you enough, Dee. You were spectacular, and I’m grateful to have you as a memorable part of my special day. 😘😘

On Saturday, I had the pleasure of attending my cousins wedding where Deanna officiated over the ceremony. As a guest (and also one of the go to family members for the day) I felt that Deanna went above and beyond to provide the best possible experience for not only the Bride and Groom; but also their friends and family. Deanna was kind, funny and above all else; is just a genuinely beautiful person who wants nothing but the best for her clients. It was such a delight to watch Deanna deliver the ceremony with such ease and professionalism. I would highly recommend Deanna to any future couples looking for a celebrant as she is just amazing at what she does. So thank you Deanna 🩷

Bianca Lee 16/09/2024

I cannot thank Deanna enough for the ceremony she curated for me! She was so helpful throughout the planning process & everything in the lead up to the big day was stress free. On the day she was beyond amazing. Her calm voice & friendly smile really made everyone feel comfortable and welcome. Thank you Deanna!

Bree Patmore 12/09/2024

Although Deanna came highly recommended, we couldn’t have imagined a better wedding celebrant. She is professional, calm, capable and fun. Deanna went above and beyond and was a big part of creating the day we’d hoped for. Thank you x

Deanna has got to be one to the most beautiful people my partner and I have had an honour to meet. The wonderful Deanna officiated our wedding last week and oh my god she made the day so so special and perfect! I couldn’t recommend her enough to anyone who is after such a kind perfect soul to be apart of your special day.Thank you so so much Deanna for being the most amazing celebrant we could ever ask for. You exceeded all our expectations. ❤️❤️❤️

Jessica Green 20/08/2024

Deanna was absolutely lovely as our celebrant! She has such a calm, reassuring and warm demeanour that made for a beautiful ceremony!

Kate Brugman 22/07/2024

Deanna is a top class celebrant who we were lucky to have on our wedding day. She was considerate, kind and so extremely well organised that she put us at ease from the moment we made contact. Her knowledge of the administrative side is second to none, and I can say without a doubt that she made an already special day even better with her support and grace in helping us organise everything. What makes it even more special was that on the day she was as hyped as we were and helped add to the significance and joy of the happy occasion. She spoke to both of us pre-ceremony on the day to answer any and all last minute questions we had and she was extremely diligent in all communication after the ceremony. The ceremony was perfect in terms of what was said and her extensive experience shone through in spades. To Deanna directly - just want to reiterate how happy we were with our choice in you as a celebrant and you made an already special day that bit better! Thank you again so much and we are extremely grateful that we chose you for our wedding. All the best - Ryan & Megan !

Ryan Falls 15/07/2024

I highly recommend Deanna as your Celebrant, she is a lovely person with a lovely mannerism. I like how she was able to spark a conversation my our family members post wedding ceremony and celebrated with us. She has great communication and is able to assist with any questions you may have. She made our experience stress free, memorable and fun. Thank you Deanna.

Deanna was the most beautiful, quietly spoken lady who helped us so much for our amazing ceremony. The prompts & cues made the ceremony go so well. She made us feel so much at ease & we thank her so much from the bottom of our hearts.Vicki & Brett 24/4/24

Dee was absolutely amazing, she was so helpful through the whole process and reflected the love and happiness we felt on our wedding day. I’d highly recommend Dee as your wedding celebrant!!

Jayde Elms 14/05/2024

We were so privileged to have Deanna officiate our Wedding recently. From the moment we met her she put us at ease. Her calming, relaxed & yet very professional personality shone through. She walked us through our day and what to expect all the while the whole time telling us to just enjoy this moment & the day because it’s about us & the love we have for each other.Deanna you helped make our day as perfect as it was. So much love, tears & laughter shared between everyone. You had only met us a couple of times yet shared in our love like you had known us for years.I would highly recommend Deanna to anyone & everyone, she is truely amazing!

Thank you for being our celebrant on our special day! You made everything so simple from the beginning and we were able to complete all the necessary paperwork remotely and you ensured everything was organised! You made our ceremony warm funny and loving! Thank you again x

Laura Dobell 19/01/2024

Highly recommend Deanna! She was amazing on our special day. Guided us through the planning process and made sure everything was perfect and exactly how we wanted it. Super friendly and caring and very professional. We can't thank you enough! Loved every moment!

Hannah 14/12/2023

Deanna was an absolute gem! Her cheerful demeanour and warm presence added an extra layer of joy to our special day. She orchestrated the ceremony flawlessly, with a delightful touch of humour, making it truely memorable and a heartwarming experience. I highly recommend her for your happily ever after start!

Emma Wade 25/09/2023

Deanna is incredible at what she does! Right from the very start she made sure our day was exactly as we wanted. Her easy going approach and attention to detail made everything come together perfectly. Super professional and genuine. Couldn’t recommend her enough!! So grateful she was apart of our day !

Bek Gallagher 10/09/2023

We had the absolute pleasure of having Deanna as our wedding celebrant, and I cannot recommend her enough. From the moment we met her, we were immediately drawn to her warm personality and lovely sense of humour. One of the things that impressed me most about Deanna was how easy she made everything. Planning a wedding can be overwhelming, but Deanna's calm and organised approach reassured us throughout the entire process. She took the time to really listen and get to know what really mattered to us, ensuring that our ceremony felt personal and reflective of our love story. If you are looking for a wedding celebrant who brings a lovely sense of humour, makes everything easy, and tailors the ceremony to your personalities, Deanna is the perfect choice. Her positive energy, professionalism, and genuine care for us as a couples shone through every step of the way. We are forever grateful to have had her be a part of our special day.

Jason Maddock 23/08/2023

Deanna was absolutely faultless! From the moment we met her we felt comfortable & at ease. Deanna offered constant communication, professional & personalised advice. She was fun, modern & honest, and felt like family on our wedding day. Highly professional & highly recommended.

How lucky are we to have had Deanna as our celebrant.Deanna went above and beyond to make our day perfect, and we honestly cannot thank her enough. She was professional, kind, accomodating, a breath of fresh air on a day where things change sporadically. We would recommend her over and over.11/10!!

Deanna is very professional, authentic and personable- she’ll make you feel comfortable and at ease with her beautiful nature, warm personality and wicked sense of humor.

When Deanna married both Tracey and I on Long Island resort nearly 13 years ago , we could not have asked for a more professional and well presented person to oversee our marriage vows We are both indebted to her as a person and a professional and would highly recommend her to any aspiring brides and grooms out there considering on taking their vows

Bill Gilmore 31/03/2023

I have worked with Deanna at our wedding venue since 2011 and her professionalism is faultless. Deanna’s ceremonies exude heart felt warmth and joy with happy tears and laughter often emanating from the gathering. Whilst also being impeccably presented, her calm and unflappable demeanour provides reassurance for even the most nervous of couples. One thing I have personally recognised, is Deanna’s friendly interaction which makes each guest feel as though they are very much part of the ceremony.

Tanya Watts 31/03/2023

Highly recommend Deanna as a celebrant.

Hedley Heale 30/03/2023

We used Deanna for our wedding back in 2012. She was amazing, funny, accommodating and just a genuinely lovely person. Highly recommend and will definitely use her for my next wedding!

We cannot thank Deanna enough for our beautiful day. Deanna took the time to make our ceremony so special. Not only was Deanna warm and caring but she was beautifully presented and spoke so well. It was a lovely ceremony and we received nice feedback from our guests about how warm and welcoming Deanna was. Thank you from Mick and Adele

Adele Smith 03/01/2023

We had Deanna as our celebrant and I must say that I could not have had a better ceremony! Deanna is such a beautiful, kind and well spoken celebrant and I felt very connected to our ceremony and remember it as such a beautiful part of our wedding day. Chosing a celebrant is very important as you should feel comfortable with them at the main part of the day and I couldn’t have been more comfortable with her during the planning and on the day.THANK YOU DEANNA! Xx

Deanna was exceptional! Deanna made the ceremony planning process so easy and worked with us to get a style we were looking for. She was so professional and well spoken, and the ceremony ran smoothly. Every easy to talk with and nothing is any trouble including getting your vows done at the last minute! Highly recommend Deanna!!

Holy Moly! You haven't met a wedding celebrant until you have met Deanna! Deadset the nicest person that actually cares about your wedding, her personality is next level and soooo professional.I had zero clue what I was doing in terms of weddings but Deanna made EVERYTHING flow, gave us fresh ideas to use, made sure I knew what to do & say also what not to say in my vows haha (foot in mouth stuff) and made me a comfortable and confident groom in the process!She is so calm and knows how to welcome all our guests to ensure they feel included with her well spoken words and effortless presentation.Deanna, from the bottom of my heart & Erin's heart we thank you for making our day that extra special. We couldn't have had the magical day we had without Deanna and her support.

Deanna was lovely, professional and helpful every step of the way! The day went very smoothly. She is an excellent celebrant.

Alex T 06/09/2022

Additional Information

If you are looking for additional information About me or details about our Terms and Conditions or Privacy Policy pages then you will find links to all of this information and more in the page footer below.

Here are some links to some Helpful Links to Important Wedding Information.

I would also like to thank the wonderful photographers whose photos are featured on this website: Justin Blank PhotographyBrooke Miles PhotographyNadine Kemp PhotographySummer Rain Photography, Timeless Images by Vanessa, Feather & Finch Photography, Rolling Portraits Photography, Simon Hutchen Photography. and 3rd Dimension Media.

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