Jo Blakemore
Authorised Celebrant
Firstly huge congrats & welcome
to Paradise Ceremonies
My name is Jo Blakemore and I am an Authorised Celebrant in beautiful Mission Beach.
My job surely has to be one of the good ones?
Getting to know couples and families and helping to put together their life celebrations. I offer a range of ceremony packages to suit you best, for your best day.
Unique ceremony tailored to you
This is a beautiful part of the world, and a little piece of our paradise can be yours for your special day, be that a cool green rainforest canopy, long deserted palm-fringed beaches, manicured gardens or Great Barrier Reef islands.
I can also travel to fit in with your plans, so hit me up and I’ll pack a bag! With a little organisation and the right assistance, your wedding day can be all you want it to be.
I pride myself on being professional, friendly and sensitive to the needs of my clients so that you can relax and feel confident that I will guide you through the options ahead. Your perfect ceremony from idea to reality is relaxed, easy and fun. I would love to help you make your special day your perfect day, and I look forward to hearing from you.
Me…
My name’s Jo, I became an Authorised Marriage Celebrant over 10 years ago, and after a career break I’m blessed to be back doing what I love, arguably the best job in the world.
Originally from the UK, I lived in Sydney before venturing north to the tropics with my lovely husband. We raised our children here, and now have grandchildren close by to adore.
I love being a celebrant, it’s a joy and a privilege to be a part of the ceremonies I perform, meet new people and hear their stories. I am an inclusive marriage celebrant. I value diversity and respect my clients and their needs. I am in full support of equal rights in marriage. Love is love.
…and you
One thing I really enjoy about being a celebrant is getting to know you. Your story, your thoughts and wishes, likes and dislikes. All the nitty gritty to help me write a ceremony that is unique to ‘you’, a ceremony filled with love and sincerity, personal sentiments and soul that leaves you feeling seen, heard and acknowledged. Just one of the things I can do for you both to make your wedding day all you want it to be.
Wedding Packages
Bespoke Ceremony
- Face-to-face and /or zoom meetings
- Unlimited phone and email contact
- All legal obligations covered inc. completing and registering all paperwork with Births, Deaths and Marriages
- Creating, developing and writing your own tailored ceremony script
- Assistance with your personal vows
- Local travel
- Conducting a wedding rehearsal
- PA system with microphone and Bluetooth connectivity
- Table and chairs for signing the paperwork
- Presentation Certificate
- Early arrival at the venue for set-up, check-ins and pre-ceremony chats, before officiating at your own unique ceremony
Elopement Package
- Legals Only
- Midweek
- One face-to-face meeting
- Phone and email contact
- Local travel
- Short and sweet, simple wedding ceremony
- All legal obligations covered inc. completing and registering all paperwork with Births, Deaths and Marriages
- Early arrival at the venue for set up, check-ins and pre-ceremony chats, before officiating at your ceremony
Things to consider
Who else would you like to include in your ceremony?
Do you have a theme in mind?
Would you like an aisle? An arbour?
At weddings you’ve attended what did you like most?
Are you having a cultural element to your ceremony?
What time of day would you like to say ‘I do’
Where and when will the ceremony take place?
Will you enter together?
Are there children to be included?
Will you have music, live or recorded?
Are you exchanging rings?
For outdoor ceremonies, is there a plan b?
How will the bridal party and guest be situated/arranged?
High and low tide times for beach ceremonies
Do you need a council permit?
Happy Couples
I DO!
Testimonials
Dianne & Stephen
If we haven’t said so already, we would also like to say how happy we were with
our ceremony and with all the help that you gave us.
You were a delight to deal
with at all times, and this greatly helped the ceremony to be a very personal
and meaningful one for us.
We are so happy that you were our celebrant! We wish you all the very best in the future.
Bec
This is just a quick note to say thank you so much for the wonderful ceremony, you did such a fantastic job, and we were so pleased that we chose you to marry us. Everyone has commented on what a stunning backdrop and ceremony we had. I’m so happy it had a few personal touches for our guests. It was just a magical day and out of all of it the ceremony was my favourite bit, even though I had a playback the video to remember certain parts… it goes quickly.
You are truly lovely and talented in your profession and I can’t thank you enough for doing such a fantastic job!!! I wish you all the best, thank you.
Tanya & Anthony
Hey! How are you? Just wanted to write to you and say a BIG thank you for making our day so special. I had put a lot of research into celebrants in and around mission beach after attending a friend’s wedding earlier in the year and witnessing a monotone celebrant. During our first meeting with you, we both walked away feeling completely comfortable. Also, thank you for the twelve months of correspondence, I really appreciated it. Even on the topics that weren’t pertaining to the ceremony, you made the process so much easier. Our guests commented how lovely you are and we were very glad that we didn’t feel like we were sharing the day with a stranger.