Top 5 Celebrant Australia, Australian Wedding Awards
South Coast Wedding Celebrant: Funny When It Matters, Heartfelt When It Has To Be.
Chris Lee has married 200+ couples across the Illawarra, South Coast, Southern Highlands and Sydney. He writes every ceremony from scratch. No templates, no recycled scripts. A ceremony that sounds exactly like you.
A sample of how Chris sets the tone from the first word.
The Difference
What separates a good celebrant from a great one
Most couples have sat through a wedding ceremony that felt flat: the celebrant rushed the words, the script sounded borrowed, and the room waited politely for the part where they could clap. Chris runs his ceremonies differently.
A ceremony that sounds like you
No templates, no recycled lines you've heard at someone else's wedding. Chris builds your ceremony around how you met, the moment you knew, and what your relationship actually looks like. The guests who know you best will hear it straight away.
A room that stays with you, not the clock
Chris paces your ceremony to how your guests are feeling, not a fixed script read at one speed. Your room laughs and cries on cue, instead of waiting for the part where they can clap.
Nothing to manage on the day
A nervous celebrant makes guests nervous. Chris is confident and clear on the microphone from the first word, so you can stand there and get married.
What This Means for Your Day
Why 200+ couples trusted one person with this
Choosing a celebrant means choosing who sets the tone for the most important five minutes of your wedding day. You need someone who can hold a room, read your guests, and deliver your words with the right weight at the right moment.
Chris has 24 years performing live behind him. His background as the South Coast's most in-demand DJ and MC, plus his Top 5 Celebrant ranking in the peer-voted Australian Wedding Awards, is why your ceremony won't feel rehearsed, rushed, or generic.
Your story told properly. Your guests genuinely moved. One less thing for you to worry about on the day.
A fully licensed civil celebrant, so your marriage is legally watertight
200+ ceremonies of experience, so whatever your venue or vibe, Chris has done it well before
Same-sex and LGBTQ+ weddings warmly and enthusiastically welcome, with no assumptions in the script
Available across the Illawarra, South Coast, Southern Highlands and Sydney, so travel isn't a barrier
The Process
How it works, from first coffee to final kiss
No vague promises, no mystery process. Here is exactly what happens when you book Chris as your celebrant.
1
The coffee meeting
Chris sits down with you over a coffee in Wollongong, Bowral, or Kiama, or on a video call, and listens. How you met, what makes your relationship yours, any family dynamics that need handling with care, what you want people to feel when they leave. This meeting isn't about paperwork. It's about understanding you well enough to write a ceremony that could only belong to you two.
2
Chris writes the ceremony, you approve it
Chris writes your ceremony script from scratch. You receive a draft well before the wedding day, review it, and request any changes you like. Some couples want more humour. Others want Chris to dial it back and let the emotion breathe. It is your ceremony and you shape it. The legal wording is fixed by law, but everything around it is yours to decide.
3
The rehearsal
Chris attends your ceremony rehearsal, and it's not a formality. Where everyone stands, when the music starts and stops, how the processional flows: all of it runs smoother once you've walked through it the day before. Nervous couples become confident couples at rehearsal, and by the time the day arrives, the ceremony feels familiar.
4
Ceremony day
Chris arrives early, checks the sound, confirms the run order with your venue coordinator, and makes sure the signing table is set up correctly. Your guests feel a calm, confident presence at the front. When the music starts and you begin walking, Chris is ready, and the ceremony runs exactly as you rehearsed, with the real emotion added in.
5
Signing of the legal paperwork
After the ceremony, Chris handles the legal requirements: the marriage certificate, the NOIM (Notice of Intended Marriage, lodged at least one month before your wedding), and the registration with Births, Deaths and Marriages NSW. You focus on photos and celebrating; Chris handles the admin.
Where Chris Works
Venues across the region he knows best
Chris has performed ceremonies at venues across the South Coast and Southern Highlands, from Centennial Vineyards in the afternoon light to the gardens at Milton Park in a Highlands winter. That familiarity means fewer surprises on your wedding day.
Centennial Vineyards, BowralMilton Park Country House, BowralPeppers Craigieburn, BowralBangalay Luxury Villas, Shoalhaven HeadsCoolangatta Estate, ShoalhavenManning House, WollongongLagoon Restaurant, WollongongShoalhaven Zoo, NowraGrand Pavilion, Rocking HorsePrivate properties across the South Coast
Chris covers Wollongong, Kiama, Shellharbour, Dapto, Thirroul, Bulli, Nowra, Berry, Gerringong, Ulladulla, Huskisson, Jervis Bay, Batemans Bay, Bowral, Mittagong, Moss Vale, Robertson, Berrima, Bundanoon and Sydney. Travel fees are quoted upfront, so there are no surprises on the invoice.
Inclusive Ceremonies
Same-sex weddings are warmly welcome here.
Every couple deserves a ceremony as personal and joyful as their relationship. Chris has performed same-sex and LGBTQ+ weddings across the South Coast and Southern Highlands, and he brings the same care, enthusiasm, and commitment to every one. No caveats, no asterisks.
The Smart Option
Celebrant + MC + DJ. One person. One brief. $2,990.
When Chris runs your ceremony as celebrant, your reception as MC, and your dance floor as DJ, your entire wedding day flows without a single handover gap. No vendor miscommunications. No moments where the DJ doesn't know the ceremony ran ten minutes late.
What the package saves you
$510 compared to booking celebrant, MC and DJ separately at $3,500
Hours of briefing three different vendors who have never met each other
Three sets of contracts, invoices and payment schedules
The anxiety of three different people arriving on the day and hoping they all talk to each other
The moments when one vendor doesn't know the run sheet has changed
What's included
Pre-ceremony planning meeting (as many as you need)
Custom ceremony script written from scratch
Rehearsal attendance
Full ceremony performance and legal paperwork
All MC duties: entrée, formalities, speeches, cake cut, farewells
"Chris was our celebrant, DJ and MC — the right amount of serious, the right amount of humour. He made me feel calm from the moment we met, and our guests commented on how good he was all through the day."
Alanna M.
Wedding Ceremony, Celebrant
"Got married in the Southern Highlands and Chris DJ'd and did Special FX. He kept the vibes going all night — all our guests commented on how good the music was. The first dance clouds and fireworks added that special touch."
Jessica F.
Wedding, Celebrant & MC
"Chris 100% nailed the vibe. We had the best night of our lives dancing and singing with all our guests. I've been getting compliments ever since — the dance floor was packed all night."
Keely & James
Wedding, Celebrant, MC & DJ
Gallery
Ceremonies from across the South Coast & Highlands
Complete Your Day
Other Services Couples Book Alongside Their Celebrant
Most couples booking Chris as celebrant also lock in one or more of these for the same wedding day.
Wedding celebrant fees in NSW typically range from $800 to $2,500 depending on experience, travel, and whether rehearsal attendance is included. Party Central offers celebrant services individually or as part of the Celebrant + MC + DJ package from $2,990 — one person who knows your story from ceremony to last dance.
What does a wedding celebrant actually do?
A wedding celebrant performs the legal marriage ceremony, handles all required paperwork including the Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM), writes or helps write the ceremony script, and officiates on the day. Chris Lee is an authorised marriage celebrant registered in NSW who has married over 200 couples across the South Coast, Illawarra, and Southern Highlands.
Frequently asked celebrant questions
How far in advance should I book a celebrant?
Book 9 to 12 months out if you can. Saturdays in spring and autumn across the Southern Highlands and South Coast go first, and Chris takes only one ceremony per date. If your wedding is closer than that, get in touch anyway. Cancellations happen, and he may still have your date open.
What does a celebrant do at a wedding?
A civil celebrant is the person legally authorised to marry you under Australian law. Chris does more than the legal minimum: he tells your story, sets the tone of the room, and guides your guests through the ceremony. He also handles the paperwork, including the Notice of Intended Marriage, the marriage certificate, and the registration with Births, Deaths and Marriages NSW.
Can I write my own vows?
Yes. Personal vows are often the moment guests remember most. Chris will walk you through what makes vows land: specificity, honesty, and the right length, then help you shape yours if you want a hand. Traditional vow language, or a mix of personal and traditional, works too. The one fixed requirement is the legal monitum, a short statement of legal intention that every Australian marriage ceremony must include.
How long does a wedding ceremony take?
Most run 20 to 35 minutes. Length has nothing to do with how moving a ceremony feels; the right words at the right pace beat padding every time. Add personal vows, readings, unity rituals, or other inclusions and it can stretch past 40 minutes. Chris will talk pacing through with you while writing the script, so the timing suits your venue and your guests.
What's the difference between a civil celebrant and a religious celebrant?
A civil celebrant is registered with the Australian Government to perform legal marriage ceremonies, with no religious affiliation and no religious content unless you ask for it. A religious celebrant, such as a minister, priest, or deacon, performs ceremonies inside a religious tradition. Civil ceremonies can still be personal and meaningful. Chris is a civil celebrant.
Do you do rehearsals?
Yes, and Chris attends in person, included in every booking. Rehearsals usually run the afternoon before the wedding, for 30 to 45 minutes. Chris walks the wedding party through the processional, positions, cues, and order of events, so nobody is guessing on the day.
Are same-sex weddings welcome?
Yes, without reservation. Chris has performed same-sex and LGBTQ+ weddings across the South Coast and Southern Highlands and gives every couple the same care and commitment. He tailors the language, vows, and references to reflect who you both are, with no assumptions and no ill-fitting templates.
What happens if you get sick on the day?
Worth asking, even though most couples don't think to. Chris works with a network of trusted, experienced celebrants across the region. If a genuine emergency ever stopped him performing your ceremony, he would personally brief and arrange a qualified celebrant to step in. In 24 years and 200+ ceremonies, that has never happened, and he still keeps the backup plan in place.
Can you do the ceremony at our venue of choice?
Yes. A civil celebrant can legally perform a marriage ceremony anywhere: a vineyard, a beach, a garden, your backyard. The venue doesn't need to be a registered marriage venue. Chris covers the Illawarra, South Coast, Southern Highlands, and Sydney, and quotes travel fees upfront for anywhere outside his standard zone.
What is the legal process for getting married in Australia?
There are two main legal requirements. First, you must lodge a Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM) with your celebrant at least one month before the ceremony. Chris handles this with you well in advance. Second, on the day of the ceremony, you must say the legal monitum vows (a short declaration required by law), and two witnesses must be present. After the ceremony, Chris completes the marriage certificate and lodges the registration with NSW Births, Deaths and Marriages. You receive your official marriage certificate from the registry in the weeks following the wedding.
How far in advance should we book our wedding celebrant?
As soon as your date is set. Chris takes one ceremony per day, and the South Coast weekends across October to April are usually booked out six to twelve months ahead. A 25% deposit secures your date.
Can we write our own vows or ceremony script?
Yes. Chris builds every ceremony around your story, not a generic template, whether that means your own vows word for word, a script he drafts with you, or a mix of both.
Ready to Book?
Check your date before someone else does.
Chris only takes one ceremony per date, and popular South Coast and Southern Highlands dates book out 12 months in advance. Send your details for a no-obligation quote. Chris replies personally within 24 hours.
