Testimonials
Here are some testimonials, kindly written by some past Brides and Grooms; their marriage officiated by Johanna Hayes Civil Marriage Celebrant of Vows Now. Scroll down to read out about their weddings and find out how fabulous it can be to Get Just Married®
You may find that a fuss-free Vows Now wedding is right for you too?
Esther and Dong – Married, Vows Now, Central Coast
“I was so glad and relieved to have had such an understanding and a lovely Celebrant. My husband feels the same way! We were so thankful that you could provide us with witnesses and thankful that you made our special day as hassle-free as possible!
A lovely Celebrant with an understanding of every matter has made our special day truly ‘simple’ – just the way we wanted! Celebrant was always keen to provide the needs and wants preferred for the wedding. Thank you for your kindness and support.”
Greg and Cassandra – Married King Edward Park, Newcastle
“Thank you so much for your services. We could not have asked for a better celebrant. Our day was perfect thanks to you!” ^TOP
Troy and Wendy – Married Vows Now Office, Point Clare
“Johanna made us feel very comfortable and inviting. We recommend her highly”
Thanks Troy and Wendy. It was a pleasure helping you marry in my garden. I was delighted that the weather was perfect so we could capture such a great backdrop. ^TOP
Tom & Jacq – Married Girrakool Picnic Area, Somersby
“Johanna provided a simple, warm and intimate ceremony, that was also humorous in the right places, conducted professionally, yet personally. Her communication with us during preparation for our wedding day was excellent and we liked that she understood our vision for our day.
Thank you Johanna for going the extra mile with us. Traipsing through the bush, over creeks, clambering over boulders and fighting fallen tree branches. Wonderfully memorable Thank you so much, Tom & Jacq.”
(Note from Johanna: NEVER before have I been so pleased to discover a pair of ‘crocs’ in the backseat of the car. We certainly went off the beaten track for this wedding – I will NEVER be able to find the exact same spot and that makes our hike even more special. It makes it slightly funnier that the celebrant needed a hand from the Groom to carry the bag across a creek, yet the bride did the entire bushwalk with an 18 month old on her hip!) ^TOP
Deb and Greg – Eloped at home – 29th February 2012
“It was an absolute pleasure having you as our Marriage Celebrant … you were so very professional, your communication was excellent and you were always easy going and bubbly. We have been recommending you to everybody!…
A BIG THANK YOU to you Johanna, for performing our intimate secret wedding ceremony on 29th February 2012. After 23 years together we couldn’t have wished for a more wonderful and perfect day … no fuss, dressed casually, on our back deck, overlooking our gardens with our surprised parents present to witness our vows. The day was everything we always wanted, but never expected we could have had.
Also thanks for taking some photos on the mobile … they were greatly appreciated. Although our parent’s surprise and happiness was greeted with comments like “at long last” and “finally legal”, our children, family and friends were equally surprised when they received their SMS and photo. They are still sending their wishes and sharing in our happiness.
Many thanks for the bottle of bubbly too … we plan to sit and enjoy it during our month long honeymoon.”
Congratulations Deb and Greg. ^TOP
Debra & Phillip – 11/11/11 Sensory Gardens The Entrance North
“Johanna, your bubbly personality and professional attitude at our wedding was first class. You made us feel so special and nothing was a bother to you. Johanna you made it a day to remember, with your infectious smile. Also a big thank you to Paul for his kindness and taking photos of our wedding. Great job.
We are so glad we chose you to be our Marriage Celebrant. You are a very special person, because of you our wedding day was perfect. Our family and friends kept saying how wonderful you were. Your attention to detail was flawless. We wouldn’t hesitate in recommending you to anyone looking for a special marriage Celebrant. Many, Many Thanks Johanna.” Debbie & Phil 11-11-2011 ^TOP
Dave & Cindy – Family Wedding – Koolewong Foreshore
“Johanna, your service from start to finish was professional, honest and above all full of kindness! The ceremony was exactly what we were looking for and we have already recommended you to our friends. Your down to earth approach to getting “just married” made us feel comfortable and that we weren’t just another number! Well done and thanks so much.” Mr & Mrs T. ^TOP
Mick & Manda – Secretly eloped – Gosford
“Fabulous! Loved it! We were stoked!!! Kids loved it. Even provided cameras for our mini paparazzi!! Magic celebrant. Thanks Jo!!
Great attention to detail. Very, very professional. Couldn’t have been more helpful and intuitive about our wishes. So kind, fun and appropriate. Great with us. Great with our kids. All your little touches and thoughtfulness made our special day an event truly memorable and exactly what we wanted. Intimate, fun and meaningful. A perfect wedding!! Thank you!” Manda, Mick & kids. ^TOP
Toni and Chris – Eloped – Japanese Gardens East Gosford
“To marry the man I adore seemed simple enough until the hype of modern day weddings overwhelmed me. Then I spoke to you instantly you put me at ease, articulating the simplicity I was looking for.
Thank you Johanna, your knowledge and advice allowed Chris and I to trust all the “important” parts were taken care of – leaving just the fun, love and laughs up to us…
The warmth and attention you showed my family on the day was above my expectations, my little ones speak fondly of you as do we.
Thank you for laughing with us xx” Toni & Chris – 8.8.11
(Photo credit: Lisa Lent Photography)
Wendy and David – Eloped – Romantic weekend, Saratoga
“Our ceremony was beautiful and we loved it. You have a special gift, do not lose it. We had a lovely day and we thank you so much. We can’t thank you enough, we had a beautiful ceremony and our parents thought you were delightful & lovely, you made our marriage (elopement) perfect.
Thank you so much we will remember this day with pride and happiness. You made it perfect.
(David & Wendy B.)”
^TOP
Alie and Steve – Small, Fun, Family Wedding, Newcastle
“It was so wonderful to have Johanna perform our wedding ceremony. Steve and I wanted an intimate, simple and family focused ceremony and Johanna really delivered. Johanna gave us some great ideas on how to make sure our kids were part of the day, and even organised special certificates for each of our children to sign! We wouldn’t change a thing about our secret wedding – we had fun and were able to write our own vows which made the day so special! Johanna is professional and organised which made the whole ceremony relaxed and enjoyable. For couples considering getting married without the stress of a traditional ceremony, having Johanna as your celebrant is a fantastic decision.”
Emma and Phillip – Eloped at Vows Now
“Where to start? Johanna is lovely. From our first contact via email to waving goodbye as newlyweds, we could not have asked for a better celebrant. She is polite and professional, yet laid back enough to keep you at ease, and displays genuine interest in your ideas and makes you feel important and included. She has a wealth of knowledge for all things wedding related and makes sure you are both aware of everything you need to know. She was more than happy to alter our ceremony after our initial plans fell through, and after the loss of a family member pushed our secret elopement date back further, Jo was very accommodating. Thank you for making our marriage so special! Eloping rocks.”
<3 e&p
You can read more about Emma and Phillip’s ‘Real Wedding’ here
Julie and Mick – Surprise Wedding at a Birthday Party
“After enquiring with a few different celebrants in our area we found from your first email to us that you would marry us the way we wanted. You made us feel very comfortable from our first meeting and gave us the input that we wanted for our special day. We found your fees very reasonable even though you had to travel from Gosford (to Kings Langley).
Our ceremony was truly friendly, professional and many guests commented on how nicely it was done. A BIG THANK YOU JOHANNA. We would certainly recommend your services.” Julie & Mick
Karen and Ben – Secretly Eloped, Wamberal Lagoon
We were comfortable sharing our ceremony with Johanna. We would recommend her to anyone. Outstanding!!
Thank you for all you did!! Small intimate ceremony, no fuss, just what we wanted. We had a bit of a laugh on a fantastic day that will be remembered forever (especially the gumboots with hot pink on top!) Haha, love Johanna! Karen and Ben H.
Martha and Daniel – Secretly Eloped, Terrigal
“Fresh, drama free, excellent, casual and professional. Johanna was the perfect Celebrant for our special day. Very glad and always prompt to assist us. We are really happy with her and her services. Thanks Johanna !!” Daniel & Martha H.
^TOP
Rachael and Paul – Surprise Wedding, Jesmond
Rachael and Paul surprised their guests when their Engagement Party turned into their Wedding Day. You can read all about how they revealed their secret here.
“You were great. You made our ceremony the way we wanted it… just the legal stuff. Others wouldn’t let us, so I thank you so much for that” Mr & Mrs S.
Penny and Gary – Married at Japanese Gardens, East Gosford
We would both like to say how much we appreciate everything you have done for us. After speaking to many celebrants in the lead up to the wedding, you certainly stood out as the most approachable and easygoing of the lot! It made our decision of who to ask to share our special day, a very easy one.
Your help with the preparation (right up to a few days before), and patience with our questions was wonderful. On the day the ceremony was exactly what we wanted, and it really set the tone for a lovely, relaxed and enjoyable day for us both.
Gary mumbled something about the lovely bottle of champas you gave us being unsuitable for his red wine tastes, but I’m not sure what the rest of the sentence was, as unfortunately the cork popping from the bottle drowned him out 
Hannah and Dean – Married at Branxton
Dean and I honestly could not be HAPPIER that we chose Johanna to be our Celebrant. She did a great job. It was a nice, sweet, simple ceremony – just what we wanted. She was very informative and explained everything really well to us. We are a young couple and Johanna lokked right past that, unlike others, and that just made everything so much more comfortable. She made everything so stress free just knowing she had everything sorted.
Thank you so much Johanna, you made our ceremony absolutely wonderful, exactly how we imagined it and we can’t thank you enough for it! Most definitely recommend you to anyone and everyone! 
Thank you,
Dean & Hannah C.
Michael and Samantha – Married at Sunrise, Pearl Beach
“You were amazing. From ceremony location to vows, you helped every step.
Thank you Johanna, you made our day so wonderful. You calmed my nerves and thought of everything! No request was too much, even though our ceremony was so early. We are over the moon, and are so grateful to you for your help!” Mr and Mrs O’Rafferty
Rachel and Peter – Eloped – Vows Now Office
Thankyou so much for our perfect elopement! It was absolutely my dream-come-true unconventional marriage ceremony! Every time we look at the photo’s you took, we grin big-time. We had absolutely no idea, until we found you, that a wedding really could suit a non-traditional couple like us to a tee.
When we tell people how we dropped into your office to sign the last papers before our small ceremony that was planned for the following week, then decided to JUST get Married right there and then, in t-shirt and shorts, with your hubby and his mate as witnesses, we LOVE the reactions!!!
Honestly, people are just gobsmacked! But one thing they all end up saying is ‘That is so YOU GUYS’ and that is what was so awesome about our marriage. It was EXACTLY the way we wanted it to be. Spontaneous, a bit naughty, quiet, MEGA-casual, intimate and three fun minutes we’ll remember for the rest of our lives!!!
I recommend you to everyone I know who even hints at a wedding. Getting married? I say. Have you thought of eloping? I know this celebrant who can create a lifetime memory, marrying you, YOUR way.
Thanks again,
With love and hugs,
Rachel & Peter Keerie
Alysson and Michael – Married – Killcare Heights NSW
Johanna is a celebrant that My Husband and I would recommend to everyone wanting to get married. She made us feel so relaxed and we just enjoyed every minute of our special day, it was one of the best days of our lives and Johanna made it so special because it was everything we had ever dreamt of. I don’t think our day could have gone off any better than what it did and it’s all thanks to Johanna for making it what she promises it to be a fuss free wedding! Thanks so much for being a part of our special day and for being such an easy going ‘friend’ celebrant.
Monica and Brian – Eloped- Pearl Beach NSW
“My husband and I are so thankful that we found Johanna, she made our day so happy and stress free for us. After just one meeting with her we knew we had found ‘the one’. I cannot recommend her highly enough”
Photos by Nicole at Simone’s Photography
Jeanette and Darren – Married 10:10am on 10/10/10
“We were very happy with the marriage ceremony and we wish to say thank you for making “our special day” a “special day”.^TOP
Glad to have been a part of your day!
Sandra and Daniel – Eloped – Hunter Valley NSW
“Johanna was the perfect Celebrant for us. She made everything easy and straight forward and helped us to relax and really enjoy the day. I would recommend her to anyone!”
Photos by Photography on Hermitage
Carlie and Tim – Married Norah Head NSW
“Johanna is professional, helpful and extremely friendly. She acts like a friend rather than a stranger and made our wedding day much more special – as well as simple and fuss-free as we wanted!” ^TOP
Tara and Jarrad – Married at their home Central Coast NSW
“We are so full of gratitude to Johanna from Vows Now. She listened to what we wanted and delivered a ceremony that was unique, romantic and exactly what we’d dreamed of.”
Photos by Lee-Ann Bevan Photography ^TOP
Natalie and Chris – Married Vows Now Office Gosford NSW
“You are an easy going, humorous and well presented woman who does a great job.
Many thanks! We recommend that you don’t bring the in-laws “ ^TOP
Themis and Beth – Married at Terrigal NSW
“We were thrilled to have you as our celebrant. We had spoken to a few celebrants before we met you and all of them made us feel bad for not wanting a long theatrical ceremony – like we were ripping our guests off! You encouraged us to do things our own way and made us feel as comfortable and relaxed as possible.” ^TOP
Images courtesy of Precious Memories Photography
Dale and Ronnie – Married at Brighton Beach VIC.
Dale and Ronnie had put off getting married for 14 years. Like many people, life and kids came along and marriage wasn’t a priority. They decided to bite the bullet and get married. They wanted a simple, fuss free ceremony as soon as possible – only hiccup was that I’d be in Melbourne when that was possible. I wanted to help Dale and Ronnie to Get Just Married®, so they suggested meeting me in Melbourne. Too easy! They bought the kids away for a weekend holiday, had a brief legal ceremony at Brighton Bathing Boxes and I managed to get the St Kilda Football Team to turn up in Speedos at their nuptials! (That’s how I recall it)
“Absolutely fantastic, everything we wanted, the footballers were a nice added bonus… Dale said if he knew it could be this easy he would have done it years ago!… Johanna, we couldn’t have asked for more. We will never enjoy another wedding the same, in our opinion this is the way to go. Everyone was so happy for us and we never upset anyone and it was exactly how we wanted it. Thanks to you, Paul, Natalie and Graeme.”
And a big Vows Now Congratulations to you too Dale & Ronnie! ^TOP
Alan and Natalie – Married at Killcare NSW.
Nat & Alan chose Bells at Killcare for a simple, intimate elopement with Nat’s parents as witnesses. It was an honour to be invited to celebrate such a special day with a lovely family in a glorious location.
“Thanks Johanna for being a part of our day. We appreciated your very prompt, professional, warm and genuine support leading up to the event, and your great sense of humour on the day. It was very important for us to choose a Celebrant who truly understood and celebrated our decision to elope in a quiet, personal and private manner and you were the perfect Celebrant for the job! Thanks also for colour co-ordinating your outfit on the day, we’ve had lots of positive comments about how great we all looked in purple! You have a FABULOUS smile!”
Congratulations Mr and Mrs R.!
Images courtesy of Precious Memories Photography ^TOP
Bob and Kathleen – Married in Vows Now Office Gosford NSW.
This won’t be a wedding that I’ll forget in a hurry! I shared my birthday with Kathleen and Bob’s wedding day. Bob doesn’t like fuss, so Kathleen organised their wedding to be a simple ceremony at the Vows Now office on their way to a relative’s wedding. They kept their nuptials a secret and decided that if family conplained that they didn’t get to celebrate with them they’d tell them “Yes you did! You just didn’t know it!” We provided the witnesses and Kathleen’s daughter was the gorgeous attendant for her Mum. Bob wore his best thongs for the day. I LOVE a comfy groom and boy does he have a happy bride.
“Johanna, everything was perfect, simple, professional and clear cut… just how we wanted it. Your help beforehand was great. Thank you again for all you did. I loved your office, it was a great place to get married and a great backdrop for pictures. And thank you for the champagne. Bob doesn’t drink, so I had it all for lunch with my fish and chips.”
Congratulations Mr and Mrs K. and thanks for my surprise birthday present. ^TOP
Tina and Antony – Married at their home Central Coast NSW.
Tina and Antony married on their back veranda with just a handful of guests. It was an honour to be asked to marry them in their own home, not only were the bride and groom more relaxed in familiar surrounds, it provided a gorgeous backdrop with Antony’s special home-grown roses decorating the bridal party.
“Both being second time ’round, we loved it for the simplicity and friendly atmosphere. Without all the fan-fare it was a much more sincere and heartfelt ceremony. Thanks. As far as your contribution, you were just what we needed. Genuine, easy going and still business-like. Well done.” Mr W. and Mrs R. ^TOP
Kryssie and Jason – Married at Penrith NSW.
Kryssie and Jason wanted to get married, but they didn’t want any of the guests at Jason’s 40th Birthday Party to know. Enter Johanna of Vows Now dressed as the “Cake Delivery Lady” who accidentally delivered a wedding cake! Rather than embarrass the cake lady or create a fuss, Jason asked Kryssie if she’d like to get married? Boy did she ever! Lucky for them the cake lady was also a Celebrant. You should have seen the look on the faces of the wedding guests. Have a look in the photo and you’ll note Jason’s Mum on the left.. after the ceremony she told me that she didn’t have a clue what was going on. She loved the surprise! (Phew!) You can watch a video and read more about Jason & Krystina’s wedding here
“A great day was had by all thanks to Johanna. She goes above and beyond all expectations. Everyone who attended really enjoyed the ceremony & the ‘surprise’. We definitely recommend using Johanna Hayes to anyone who is thinking about getting married” Mr & Mrs M.
Cindy and Richard – Married at Gosford NSW.
Cindy & Richard wanted a quiet wedding with a memorable date. They chose to Get Just Married® on New Years Eve. No fuss, kids at their feet; Mum and Dad became Husband and Wife in a short legal ceremony. In a special romantic touch, Cindy and Richard bought each other’s wedding rings in secret. As they exchanged rings it was the first time either had seen their new wedding band.
“Thank you Johanna – It was perfect! 
”
Georgina and Mo – Commitment Ceremony, The Entrance Beach NSW.
“What is there to say apart from thank you? The service was one of a genuine nature. Even exchanging thoughts and ideas with Johanna over the internet created a feeling of fun and laughter. During these exchanges it felt as if we were talking to a friend instead of an official. Never did it feel like you were ‘just doing your job’ the day was as planned – just a group of friends celebrating the love and commitment Mo and I have for one another. Our friends were more than impressed with your genuine happiness for us both. When our Government finally sees the reality of two souls being joined together as one in marriage doesn’t mean male and female only, we would love nothing more than for you to officiate our further declaration of love for one another through the bond of legalised marriage. With heartfelt thanks George & Mo”
Congratulations Mrs G and Mrs M!
Images courtesy of Precious Memories Photography ^TOP
Corinna & Jeremy – Married Tulloch Wines, Pokolbin, Hunter Valley NSW.
“A truly perfect day from start to end! We didn’t realise that getting married could be so relaxed and so much fun until we met Johanna. We desperately wanted to avoid the fuss, stress and traditions that are presumed a given. We were blessed with so much positive energy, laughter and smiles which Johanna was supplying in bucket loads and carried us on a wave of joy. There were some early pre-wedding nerves, but when Johanna arrived, we felt like our best friend had arrived, a sentiment which was also shared by our guests. We would highly recommend Johanna and the “get just married” approach to any couple considering tying the knot. Don’t stress, be blessed, on the day you marry your best friend. Thank you Johanna “
Congratulations Mr and Mrs H!
Images courtesy of Precious Memories Photography
Sam & Coby – Married at Point Frederick, Central Coast.
“Thank you very much for all you did for us, you really helped us to make the day we had wished for. In our opinion you went above and beyond and we really appreciate it.”
Congratulations Mr and Mrs H! ^TOP
Richard and Anatta, Married at East Gosford, NSW
“Excellent service delivered with thought and care. We will remember forever!
Thank you to Johanna” Congratulations Mr and Mrs W! ^TOP
Adam and Anne, Married at East Gosford, Central Coast NSW
“Thanks for making our wedding both easy and special. We sincerely appreciate your kind and competent manner Thanks for everything. It was a pretty busy period for us and you made the ceremonial part less stressful and more enjoyable than it could easily have been. Thanks also for the album and champagne and for providing an amiable atmosphere leading up to and on the day.” ^TOP
Daran and Trinity, Married at Point Frederick, Central Coast NSW
“In a private ceremony for just the two of us and a handful of witnesses, Trinity and Myself tied the knot on Monday 8th of June. The weather did us a favour and the rain stayed away from the cemetary at Point Frederick long enough for the celebrant, Jo from Vows Now, to ask if we did. Needless to say we did. We then threw cost to the wind and had lunch at Iguana Joes (the only place open on the Queens Birthday) at my friend Karl’s expense. Following that we did what any newly married couple would do… Got matching tattoos!”
Emma and Simon, Married at East Gosford, NSW Central Coast
Wedding ceremonies don’t get more relaxed than Emma and Simon’s. Keen to avoid fuss, they opted to exchange vows on the Jetty at my home. We all wore jeans for their simple, casual ceremony. It was great!
Congratulations Mr and Mrs S.! ^TOP
“Our wedding ceremony was exactly what we wanted – short, simple and to the point. In a very casual and relaxed atmosphere we became husband and wife with the minimum of fuss, flounces and frills! Johanna provided us with an idyllic location, fantastic witnesses and ensured any pre-wedding nerves were quickly eased. Our wedding couldn’t have been more perfect.” Simon & Emma S.
Emily and Trent – Married at Dover Heights, Sydney.
What a gorgeous couple! Emily and Trent secretly eloped. No one knew of their wedding except their good friends Marc and Amy who kept their secret and witnessed their Marriage.
Congratulations Mr and Mrs A.!
Their really casual, relaxed ceremony took place in the Dudley Page Reserve. Trent kissed his bride,and the best man was heard to say “Wow! That’s the best wedding I’ve ever been to!”
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