You've probably been thinking about your wedding throughout your life. You'll have planned the dress, the venue, and even the reception. However, one important factor that's often neglected is the ceremony itself, and the Melbourne marriage celebrant who will officiate.

Since the choice of a celebrant is something which must be done as early as the venue and other arrangements (due to a busy wedding season) and can have a big impact on the tone of your wedding, it's something to think about early in the process of planning your wedding. Begin by contacting several celebrants around Melbourne and learning about them. That will allow you to choose the one who's most compatible with you as a couple.

Most couples know about what they don't want in their wedding - they're aware of traditional vows they don't want to include, an atmosphere that doesn't work with what they feel their wedding should be, and other aspects that aren't right. However, when it comes to specifics that couples do want, they may have more trouble figuring things out.

That's where a good marriage celebrant can help. He or she can talk to you about common options, legal requirements, and church rules if it's a religious ceremony. It's important to feel like you're on the same wavelength with the celebrant you choose.

In the past, there wasn't a lot of choice between celebrants. Church officials were common, and you usually chose someone to officiate who was from your immediate area. Now, you can explore a much wider area, and there are many more celebrants available throughout Melbourne.

Not sure where to begin? Your local telephone directory could be a place to start, though it won't tell you what others think about a given celebrant. You can ask friends and family who they have used for their weddings; or you can use the resources at a wedding directory site, such as www.truebride.com.

We maintain a directory of celebrants, which you can sort by post code. If you're willing to expand your search some distance from Melbourne itself, choose a wider range. If you prefer a celebrant who's close by, you can select ranges as small as three kilometers.

There are rating systems, as well. These are recommendations by couples who are also using the site. Like any online rating method, five stars won't guarantee you the perfect celebrant, and no stars at all doesn't mean the celebrant isn't any good.

Instead, use these ratings as a guideline to tell you where to start. There are many marriage celebrants, both civil and religious, available in the Melbourne area. Some of the ones with the best reputations include John Byrne, Theresa Bullock, Father Michael Potter and Marianne Macartney.

Make sure you take the time to talk to a potential marriage celebrant in Melbourne and find out his or her positions and personality. This is someone you should feel comfortable around, and a good celebrant should be willing to answer all your questions without hesitation. Take a little time to look around in the Melbourne area, and you'll be certain to find the right person to officiate at your ceremony.