Anyone who has met Suzanne Riley will agree with me in saying this woman is a vivacious ball of positive energy, and she was born to do what she does.
Over the past 12 years as a marriage celebrant, Suzanne has married over 1000 couples and established herself as one of the Sunshine Coast’s most successful marriage celebrant. She has been recognised multiple times with bridal industry awards at local, state and national levels.
When she runs into couples whose weddings she has officiated in the past, Suzanne loves chatting and recalling the special moments of their wedding days.
Suzanne‘s greatest love is for latin dancing, her two beautiful daughters and the cutest little ball of fluff pooch alive. Now, let’s hear from the woman herself…
Suzanne, what past experience prepared you to become a celebrant?
Before I had my two daughters, I had a really exciting career in television in Melbourne. I worked as a producer, script writer and presenter and enjoyed all of the wonderful trimmings that went with the role. I couldn’t have dreamed of better training for becoming a Celebrant with my prior talents and experience really helpful… it also helped that I was always a little bit of a match maker and enjoyed the idea of romance and love. How perfect is that!
How is your celebrancy service unique?
There are so many factors that make my service unique. Every celebrant brings to the occasion their own personality, their voice, manner, style and vibrancy so of course there are really not two celebrants who are exactly the same. On a service level, celebrancy offerings range from the ‘walk in, marry you, walk out’ style of service right through to the most exquisitely written and personally presented ceremonies, where relationships are built and enjoyed and everything in between. I put my heart into every ceremony and treat my couples as I’d want myself or my children to be treated, this makes for every detail to be important.
What’s trending in weddings in 2019/2020?
Mooloolaba has new wedding gardens being allocated and opened mid year along the foreshore and this is so exciting as I’ve had lots to do with this project, so I’m predicting that Mooloolaba will become a siren on the wedding radar. We’re going to start seeing ‘share plates’ stacked with hearty food set in the middle of reception tables as we follow overseas trends loving this at the moment. Colours I think we’ll start to see the lighter shades of blue and green. Think Tiffany box only lighter, that’s my prediction. No matter what the trend though I think it’s always on trend to be an individual and do what your heart desires, even if it’s out of the box!
What’s something people may not know about you?
I love latin dancing and usually at least once a week you’ll find me at a Salsa night dancing, I have been dancing for a few years and love a dance called Zouk which is Brazilian. I’m also on the board of the Mooloolaba Chamber of Commerce and work as a volunteer on major projects for our sub region which I find challenging and fulfilling.
Images by Luke Middlemiss + LIfe & Love Photography + Images by Lou O’Brien
