The Rebels Guide to Wedding Planning

When you hire a wedding vendor you're not just booking a wedding vendor or creative, you're explicitly choosing someone's taste in their craft.

Ever heard that the bride’s family pays for everything while the groom’s family just shows up with a cheque for the booze? Yeah, that’s old-school.

There’s a fourth, lesser-known option for name changes after marriage in Australia – creating a completely new family surname together.

Our guest list meant a lot of different things to us when we reflect on our 2012 wedding. Here's how we got it from 200 to 45.

If you’re researching wedding ceremony outline and trying to figure out what actually happens at a wedding, this is for you.

What’s the difference Between a Micro Wedding, Mini Wedding, Small Wedding, Intimate Wedding, an Elopement? What about a standard wedding size, XL, Galatic?

One little word can change the whole direction of your vows and make them more heartfelt, more pointed, and better received.

A wedding isn't an exercise of putting lipstick on a pig, it's the two of you getting married, and that's already awesome.

How much should you give? Choosing a wedding gift shouldn’t feel like prepping for a tax audit, but here we are. Wondering if $50 will make you look stingy?

The ceremony is the best part of the wedding, but we could afford to make some cuts. Here's my easy hit list of things to drop.

Get married in Tasmania’s national parks legally & beautifully. We’re licensed to help you elope responsibly in wild, stunning places.

Ignore the traditional wedding planning checklist and focus on what matters most to you. This checklist is focused on joy and ease, not stress.

When people ask me what’s the most important part of a wedding, I always say the ceremony. It’s the bit that makes it real — and the person running it matters.

Timing a wedding is like cooking a steak – too short and it’s raw, too long and it’s tough. You want it just right so everyone leaves with a big smile.

Aussie couples, here’s what a celebrant actually does, how it differs from a priest, and why 82% choose celebrants for their wedding day.

The only wedding planning method you need and why everything you think you "must" have is optional. Welcome to the wedding revolution!

Most people don’t know this, but I was the celebrant on the very first season of Married at First Sight on Channel Nine

There’s no such thing as a perfect wedding. Something will go wrong—probably. But none of them have to ruin your day. I spoke with the Daily Mail about it.

Trying to pin down a standard price for a celebrant? It hinges on experience, prep work, and the magic they bring to your day—not an industry-set fee.

Why wedding photo apps don’t work—and what to do instead to actually get the reception photos you’ll want to keep.

Learn how to MC a wedding reception with confidence. Professional tips on planning, mood setting, managing speeches, and keeping guests entertained

Ten fresh, story-driven ceremony ideas (plus three classics) from celebrant Josh Withers—think bespoke scents, 360° light, VR vows, drone sky vows and more.

You don't need a wedding reading to make your ceremony awesome, but Dr Seuss doesn't hurt. This is an excerpt and edit from the book, Oh The Places You'll Go.

If you think a wedding ceremony needs to go for an hour, this one’s for you. I'm taking a leaf out of TED's book.

Vows aren’t “that one tradition that just won’t go away”, they’re the entire point. Here’s why tradition isn’t the enemy, and why we need better stories.

A rulebook for the weirdos, romantics, and professionals who believe the ceremony should be the best part of the wedding

My philosophy of encouragement over education in your ceremony is about creating joyful celebrations that look forward to your married future

A behind-the-scenes look at my conversation with the Wed.Co Podcast, where we discuss script-free ceremonies, creating meaningful moments, and the ceremony.

Discover why wedding ceremonies often go unheard and how to make yours memorable. Take wedding ceremony inspiration from Yoda's distinctive speech.

How to create foolproof wedding playlists with this simple system. Tips from a professional celebrant on helping your designated music person nail every cue.

At the end of the day, a great ceremony, like a great song, should make you feel something. And that's all I need to know about everything.

More couples are choosing to save their personal vows for a private moment. As a celebrant, I understand the appeal but want to explore what this means.

A text from a friend sparked my reflection on what actually creates a memorable wedding day. It's not the venue, styling, or even your celebrant.

Wondering how a marriage is consummated? Find out the truth from a marriage celebrant's perspective, along with what actually matters legally.

Publishing this for the next current affair TV journalist that comes to ask about why weddings are sooo expensive

Nothing is expected of you at your wedding except for you to be wonderfully you, so your wedding ceremony layout can represent that

Ever wonder why some couples seem to float through wedding planning while others get bogged down in drama and stress?

How could you walk down the aisle if your father couldn't be there? Here's some thoughts on making your way down the aisle with dignity and class.

Celebrants and officiants say the darnedest things that they don't have to say. This is the list of things celebrants could just stop saying.

How to plan an intentional wedding that stays true to your values and vision, without the unnecessary pressure.

A few reasons to not book me as your celebrant ... but also ... if you're ok with this I'd love to be your wedding celebrant in Australia!

Budgeting for a wedding and choosing a date should be the same activity. This is my guide to the Withers Wedding method of paying for a wedding.

Are you preared to get weird and nerdy at your wedding in 2025? Here's a bunch of weird and awesome ideas I thought of.

I've heard a number stories, received complaints, witnessed events, featuring fellow wedding vendors over the last few weeks about my fellow vendors.

The number one tips from Josh on making your spouse cry in the marriage ceremony because you're exchanging personal vows

Wedding planning is more than just a budget, it's the manifestation of your intentions, taste, culture, and personality

Express your friendship and relationship in a meaningful way, not a stressful way, by uninviting the bridal party and just have them as guests

Ignore this blog post if you'd rather get down to Milli Vanilli. But if you want some sage advice for wet weather backups, this is your jam.

From wine-leaking cups to face-smacking machines, these centuries-old wedding traditions prove that getting married has always been wonderfully weird.

Your perfect wedding venue looks amazing in photos, promises everything you want, and the price is right. Ask these eight questions first.

If you approach your wedding traditions with intention really beautiful moments can occur and you might appreciate these gaelic traditions.

You get to choose the traditions you celebrate in your wedding, choose them with intention, and if that means handfasting, let's do it

Start your wedding day right for good vibes and good photos, choose accomodation that suits the vibe for the day

Wedding reading about love, life, and the little things that matter most. An excerpt from All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten by Robert Fulghum

Make Saint Valentine Proud and get married on the day he died trying to protect and celebrate marriage for all

Waiting for a couple this afternoon, I feel down an Internet rabbit hole of wedding industry websites.

An open letter to all wedding guests on how to attend a wedding like a boss, how to be the best cheerleader, and a best friend!

I'm not going to lie. I was eating KFC and had a blog post idea. Here's my secret 11 herbs and spices for a great wedding.