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Southern Highlands Wedding Celebrant
Josh Withers, Southern Highlands wedding celebrant, voted best in his class.
I'm Josh Withers, a full-time celebrant creating custom ceremonies across Bowral, Berrima, Mittagong, Moss Vale, and Kangaroo Valley since 2009. No templates. No reading off iPads. Just honest ceremonies created from scratch.
TL;DR
What kind of celebrant is Josh?
No Scripts, All Craft
Every ceremony created fresh for you. 18 minutes, delivered without reading. Southern Highlands couples deserve better than 'insert names here' templates.
Ceremony-First Philosophy
The ceremony isn't something to 'get through' before drinks. It's the moment we breathe your marriage into existence — whether that's a winery in Bowral or a barn in Berrima.
Professional + Real
Quick replies, clear communication, professional Bose audio gear. I work regularly across the Highlands — Bowral, Mittagong, Moss Vale, Bundanoon, and down into Kangaroo Valley.
Awesome wedding celebrant Awkward celebrant
Hilarious Solemn
Laid-back Buttoned-up
Modern Traditional
Short & sweet ceremony Boring & long ceremony
Quietly spoken Charisma
Reads from script Speaks from the heart
My philosophy: The marriage ceremony can be, and should be, the best part of your wedding.
What's Included
Everything you need for a Southern Highlands ceremony that matters
Since 2009, I've married over 2,900 couples across 24 countries. Here's what Southern Highlands couples get.
Custom Ceremony
Created from scratch for you. No templates, no recycled paragraphs. Your ceremony is a one-time conversation about something important — whether that's a Bowral winery or a Kangaroo Valley escarpment.
Professional Audio
Bose speakers and Rode microphones. Everyone hears the ceremony clearly at outdoor venues like country gardens, vineyards, and barns, and your videographer gets pristine audio.
Legal Authority
Commonwealth-registered marriage celebrant authorised under the Marriage Act 1961. Also licensed in USA and Canada. Your ceremony will be emotionally resonant and legally solid.
Travel Included
Bowral, Berrima, Mittagong, Moss Vale, Bundanoon, Kangaroo Valley — travel is included in packages for ceremonies across the Highlands.
Flexible Planning
As many conversations as you need — coffee in the Highlands, video call, whatever works. No unnecessary meetings or homework assignments.
18-Minute Format
Long enough to be meaningful, short enough to keep everyone present and connected to what matters.
How it works
Enquiry
Check my availability for your Southern Highlands wedding date and choose a package. We will start getting to know each other.
Legal paperwork
At least one month before your wedding, we complete the Notice of Intended Marriage together — in person or via video call. I will guide you through it.
Ceremony conversations
Coffee in Bowral or video calls to explore your story, values, and vision. I will create a ceremony that reflects who you are as individuals and as a couple.
Your wedding day
I deliver your ceremony with professional audio, calm presence, and no script — creating the moment that anchors your celebration.
From couples who loved their wedding
"First of all, a huge thank you for this unforgettable wedding. We are so glad we had Josh Withers as our Celebrant at Uluru. Before the wedding he was available to us at almost any time of the day or night. He guided us with a lot of patience in far away Germany through all the forms we had to fill out for our wedding. He also took time to address our fears and concerns that come with making such a decision. The wedding day itself was absolutely wonderful."
Bernie & ChristianeEloped at Uluru
"Josh is a truly wonderful celebrant who will make you feel at ease from your first meeting. Josh has an exceptional way with words and delivered the ceremony of our dreams. It was heart felt and intimate (exactly what we wanted) and I would recommend him to anyone wanting a ceremony that is the opposite of cooker cutter style. His words come straight from the heart (and are not read from off an iPad!) and having him as our celebrant was the perfect intro into marriage. Forever grateful we chose Josh!"
Carissa & JackDestination wedding
"From our very first coffee catch-up to discuss the potential of having Josh as our marriage celebrant, we knew we were in safe hands. Josh's attention to detail, and thorough care for his craft culminated in a heart-felt speech during our ceremony, and having our guests eating our of the palm of his hand as he MC'd our reception. We had extremely high expectations of all our wedding vendors, Josh went above and beyond, and throughout the night we had numerous guests approach us to compliment Josh's fun, entertaining and passionate disposition."
Lui & HayleyWedding
Ready for a Southern Highlands ceremony that matters?
Less 'dearly beloved', more *you*. Let's create something meaningful together.
Blog Posts
View all posts »Real advice for couples who believe marriage is worth doing right.
Your favourite people are already in town — don't waste that
The single biggest regret couples share after the wedding isn't about the cake or the playlist. It's that the whole thing was over too fast.
All the different wedding sizes explained: Micro Wedding vs. Elopement vs. Wedding
What’s the difference Between a Micro Wedding, Mini Wedding, Small Wedding, Intimate Wedding, an Elopement? What about a standard wedding size, XL, Galatic?
I don't ask you to say I do, usually
Cuties call the ceremony the "I dos" bit of the day, which is cute, but it's actually not required and in many of my ceremonies I don't do it.
My Friends
Southern Highlands Wedding Vendors
My friends in the wedding industry that I trust and recommend in the Southern Highlands
Bendooley Estate
Venue
Southern Highlands, Sydney
Bendooley Estate is a stunning venue that offers a blend of rustic charm and elegance, with picturesque gardens, a tranquil lake, and the iconic Book Barn, making it an unforgettable setting for any wedding.
The Elopement Collective
Elopement Company
Hobart, Tasmania, Brisbane, Southern Highlands
We created The Elopement Collective to give couples the freedom to get married in a way that feels effortless, intimate, and deeply personal—without the stress of a big wedding. Britt leads the charge with impeccable taste and heart, and together we craft beautiful, meaningful elopements around the world.
Luke Fletcher
Photography
Sydney, Southern Highlands
From New York to New Zealand, Iceland and all around Australia, I have had the joy of working with my mate Luke across the globe, and his ability to capture the essence of a wedding day with authenticity and flair is unparalleled. His fun-first, stress-never approach ensures every couple feels at ease, resulting in candid and timeless photographs that truly reflect the joy of the occasion.