Could you plan a wedding in a month? Meet the Wollongong celebrant who can help you do just that

Does planning a wedding in 31 days sound impossible? Not to Wollongong celebrant Lauren Kayle.

After switching careers from gym owner to celebrant two years ago, she’s become passionate about finding creative ways for people to celebrate their love without breaking the bank.

At first glance they might seem like very different businesses, but they had so much in common she didn’t even need to change her business name.

“I had some changes in my life and I needed to reassess where I was going,” she said.

“I’ve always loved love, and now I’ve been a celebrant for two years, it’s my happy place.

“My gym was called ‘Live Committed’ – what could be more perfect?”

It wasn’t the only thing that was transferrable.

Like any good business owner, she took a look at the landscape before finding her niche.

Weddings have changed post-COVID, with many couples opting to spend less or organise smaller-scale celebrations.

And if you’ve ever tried to plan one, you know providers of everything from the venue to decor can be booked out more than a year in advance.

For low-fuss lovers, or couples whose celebrant has fallen through, Lauren offers a 31-day celebrancy package.

For less than $400 you can get married to your favourite person with a small group of loved ones in Wollongong’s Stuart Park.

“The pandemic changed a lot of things and people are really getting back to what’s important,” Lauren said.

“Plenty of people are struggling financially at the moment, and some people just want to reduce the level of stress around planning a wedding.

“I love being part of people’s special day and I wanted to create a way that people can celebrate their love together.

“The 31-day package is really simple: it’s the 30 days’ notice of intent to marry, paperwork, identity checks and we’re good to go.

“It’s been really popular, for lots of different reasons. Some people already have kids and just want to be married, some people want to celebrate they’ve found their soulmate without making it into a big event, it’s intimate and it’s beautiful.

“On your big day you want to feel unique and special and like someone cares, and that’s what I give.

“The market might change but love remains constant!”

Lauren said many couples from boujie backgrounds had chosen the 31-day package, and couples from Sydney had come down to take advantage of the unique offering.

Lauren’s passion for connecting people goes beyond her role on couple’s big day.

At her gym, and now as a celebrant, she champions collaboration between local small businesses.

“We’re all in this together, we all have the same goals,” she said.

“I’m always happy to refer to local photographers, stylists and makeup artists. To do well, we need the people around us to do well.

“It needs to be about community.”

If you’re looking for a celebrant in a hurry, head to www.livecommitted.com.au.