Paul Cochran Marriage Celebrant

About Paul Cochran Marriage Celebrant

Paul Cochran is a Melbourne marriage celebrant whose promise is to guide couples confidently from a first casual meeting over a coffee right through to the end of the ceremony. He aims for ceremonies that are relaxed, fun and truly about the two of you, with just the right amount of formality to mark the significance of the moment. Couples, he says, love his relaxed, easy going style and his attention to detail.

Paul books only one ceremony on your wedding day. He arrives around an hour early to set up, greet guests and liaise with the venue coordinator, so there is no rushing off to another wedding if you are fashionably late. He also brings an experienced roadie at no extra cost: his wife Deb, who runs the sound system, calms nervous grooms, wrangles flower girls and page boys, and coordinates with venue staff, photographers and videographers.

Unlike many celebrants, Paul is happy to compile and play your chosen music before, during and after the ceremony through his portable PA with wireless microphones. At your first meeting he walks you through his information pack of readings, ring exchange wording, music ideas and rituals such as handfasting, rose ceremonies, sand ceremonies, ring warming and the quaich, and he encourages you to write your own vows. Afterwards you receive three handcrafted copies of your ceremony and a personalised Unity Candle.

Planning meetings can be held at his home or yours, as many as you need, with unlimited phone, text, email and video contact, and couples coming from overseas can start planning by Skype or FaceTime. Paul also conducts vow renewals and commitment ceremonies, each with a presentation copy of the ceremony and a certificate. His site notes that he supports marriage equality and keeps up professional development through membership of a celebrant association.