Following on from Part 1 of our Celebrant Series, we continue our conversation with Jamie and Cara from Brisbane City Celebrants—the much-loved duo who have helped hundreds of couples enjoy a calm, connected, and thoroughly joyful start to married life.
In this second instalment, Jamie and Cara share their expert advice on planning a smooth, enjoyable ceremony, plus their thoughts on modern ceremony trends that are growing in popularity. From private vows to surprise weddings, here’s what they’re seeing—and how Factory51 is the perfect place to bring these ideas to life.
What’s a great tip for couples planning a seamless, enjoyable ceremony?
“One of our biggest tips is to choose a Celebrant who allows you to proof and contribute to your ceremony wording. It may seem like a small detail, but it makes a huge difference.
To mitigate any risk of things not going to plan or plans being incorrect, we believe it’s so important to choose a Celebrant that encourages and allows their couples to see, proof, edit and contribute to their ceremony wording for a number of reasons:
- You know exactly what to expect on the day, in terms of how the ceremony flows, putting you at ease and allowing you to relax, connect with your partner and enjoy the timelessness of the moment.
- You have the opportunity to make any changes and edits, ensuring your ceremony is reflective of you as a couple, isn’t too long (or too short), tells your story in the right tone and simply ‘feels right’ to you.
- There will be no unwanted or awkward ‘surprises’ on the day.
- You can confirm any pre or post wedding announcements that you would like your Celebrant to make (e.g. If it’s an unplugged ceremony, or if guests are welcome to take and upload photos).
A Celebrant that has really listened and understood your vision for your ceremony, and has put thought, time and effort in to creating your unique personalised ceremony, would be excited to share this with you and would have no reason to keep your ceremony wording from you, or not allow you to make edits.
Last, but certainly not least, you can be assured that the Celebrant hasn’t got you mixed up with another couple and gets both your love story and your names correct!
Jamie + Cara, Brisbane City Celebrants
How familiar should a celebrant be with the wedding venue?
As Celebrants, we believe it’s super helpful to be familiar with the wedding venue, as knowing how the venue coordinate weddings allows us to work closely with the team to ensure everything runs smoothly and seamlessly on the day.
Factory51, with its stunning exposed red brick walls, private laneway entrance, and beautiful crystal chandelier, provides such a distinctive and atmospheric backdrop for ceremonies. Being familiar with the venue means we can work closely with the venue to coordinate timings, ensuring everything flows effortlessly from the moment guests arrive.
It’s always such a pleasure to work closely alongside Factory51 with the shared purpose to make sure that every couple’s ceremony feels personal, relaxed, and memorable, making the most of everything this wonderful venue has to offer.”
Laura Bradford Photography
What modern trends or ideas do you think we’ll be seeing more of in weddings over the coming year?
Here are some modern wedding ceremony trends that are growing in popularity as couples embrace doing their day, their way:
1. Late morning ceremonies + long lunch receptions
“Picture an elegant, yet relaxed long lunch celebration (with an optional after party for those keen to kick on!). Factory51 is the perfect venue for a long lunch reception! Think long timber tables with a delicious shared feasting menu, live music and a buzzing atmosphere.
If sunset location photos are on your ‘must do’ list – simply head out and get them at sunset and you won’t have any gaps, or have missed your meal or any of the precious time celebrating with your nearest and dearest between the ceremony and reception.”
2. Small, intimate ceremonies followed by a big reception
“This is perfect for couples who want a calmer start to the day. Holding a small ceremony with just your closest people helps ease nerves and creates a truly intimate moment. Then later, you can celebrate with your wider circle. We’ve seen couples really thrive with this format—relaxed, present, and enjoying every part of the day.
Factory51 works beautifully for this, especially because of its atmospheric spaces that suit both small gatherings and big receptions. One of our couples, Ellen and Luke, did exactly this, and their day was even featured on Junebug Weddings.”
Paperbark Stories (as featured on June Bug)
3. The surprise wedding twist
“Some couples are turning their engagement party into a surprise wedding—and it’s such a fun experience! If you like the idea of having a small intimate ceremony followed by a big reception, consider a surprise wedding. You can start the party and then reveal the news, or show your professional sneak-peek photos from your earlier private ceremony. Either way, it’s a fresh take on the traditional format.”
4. Private vows before the ceremony
“Sharing your vows is an emotional moment, but not everyone wants to do it in front of an audience. We’re seeing more couples exchange private vows during a ‘first look’ before the ceremony or while they’re having location photos taken later in the day. It keeps the moment deeply personal and helps couples express themselves without pressure. It’s definitely one of the most meaningful modern wedding ceremony trends we’ve seen.”
5. Couples walking down the aisle together
“Why not share the arrival together? Couples don’t always feel the need to have a family member walk them down the aisle or give them away, so this is a great alternative. It can reduce those pre-wedding nerves and adds to the excitement of the arrival. This option also works particularly well when couples have their location photos or a ‘first look’ photo shoot together prior to their ceremony.”
6. The wedding recovery catch-up
Another perk of Factory51 is the renowned onsite Italian restaurant, perfect for a post wedding recovery dinner and catch up the next day, where guests can re-meet, re-mingle and recover!
Elohim Studio Weddings
What’s your advice to couples exploring these new wedding trends?
“Our biggest advice is: do what feels right for you. Don’t feel pressured to follow tradition for tradition’s sake.
The best ceremonies are the ones that feel natural and personal. Whether that’s walking in together, writing your own vows, or inviting just a handful of guests—when it’s true to you, the emotion and connection shine through.
And of course, work with suppliers and a venue that support your vision. Factory51 is one of those venues where couples feel looked after and respected. It’s a team effort, and it shows in the final experience.”
Want a Ceremony That’s Truly Yours?
At Factory51, we love helping couples bring their wedding vision to life—especially when it includes the kind of thoughtful, joyful touches that Jamie + Cara are known for. Whether you’re planning something traditional or leaning into modern wedding ceremony trends, we’re here to support your dream.
💬 Get in touch with our Wedding Team today to arrange a tour or chat about your ideas.
👉 Contact Factory51 to start planning your wedding
Missed Part 1 of our Interview with an Expert?
Catch up on Part 1 of our Celebrant Series, where we explore Jamie + Cara’s journey into celebrancy, their calm approach, and why they love working with Factory51 weddings.