I Do with Darren

Home
Australia
Melbourne, VIC
I Do with Darren

Hello, lovers. I’m Darren, a Melbourne/Naarm-based marriage celebrant with a self-proclaimed knack for storytelling and bringing people together. Hi lovers.

I’m about celebrating all love for all couples. I’m a Melbourne/Naarm-based marriage celebrant with a self-proclaimed knack for storytelling and bringing people together. My journey into the world of celebrancy began when my best friend asked me to officiate her wedding in India back in 2023. The experience of sharing their story and witnessing their love was incredible. It felt like the perfect blend of my passions for storytelling and public speaking – a match made in... well, marriage! Something you’ll hear me say a lot - I believe everyone deserves the chance to declare their love - no matter who they love. I’m so thankful to the LGBTIQ+ community and allies who made same-sex marriage a reality in Australia. As someone committed to equality and inclusion, I’ve worked hard in my day job to create policies that make a real difference in the lives of LGBTIQ+ people.

…And I have some news! I’m engaged too (go us!), I can’t wait to marry my fiance Sean soon. When I’m not busy marrying fabulous couples or planning our wedding, you’ll find me in the kitchen, channeling my Italian mum and Nonna. My claim to fame is that Nigella Lawson replied to my photo of her Lasange… I’ve still not recovered. Food is my love language – my mini-labradoodle puppy, who joined our family this year, would agree. She’s always underfoot, hoping for a morsel to fall in to her mouth (I’m a messy cook). If you’re looking for a marriage celebrant who’s warm, organised and knows how to make people laugh, you’ve found your person. I’m here to craft a ceremony that’s uniquely yours, one that your guests will rave about long after the big day. Ready to say “I Do”, with Darren?

26/08/2026

Writers block got you stuck on your wedding vows? I got you.

Start with a blank page and brain dump. It doesn’t need to be perfect, it just needs to be you.

For more vow writing tips, follow my vow writing guide on my website.

vows

23/08/2026

Let me reintroduce myself for the newbies 👋🏼

I’m Darren, marriage celebrant, MC, and currently very much engaged myself (we got this bestie).

I’m here for the lovers planning their big day, who want a wedding ceremony that feels and sounds like them.

I get to know you properly, write your ceremony from scratch, guide you through the legal bits without it feeling boring, and deliver the whole thing with warmth and meaning.

I’m Darren, your friend at the front. 💍

19/08/2026

Legal-only doesn’t mean bland. Gemma & James wanted the day to feel like the truth of them. Married on the land that raised Gemma, with a feast grown on the property it was served on. Calm, certain, completely themselves.

This wedding was a vibe, along with the wonderful couple Gemma McLeod & Jim

📸 by Emotions + Math | Wedding Studio

16/08/2026

“How much does a marriage celebrant cost” deserves honest answers when you’re planning your wedding. It’s a wide range and depends on a number of factors. I’ve laid out what’s included in my packages - no mystery enquiry form to fill out.

10/08/2026

Engaged couples may not realise - you don’t need the Registry to have a legals only wedding ceremony. You can keep the simplicity of a registry wedding without having to queue at the Old Treasury Building. An authorised celebrant can do everything the registry does, except on your date, anywhere you want (music included).

03/08/2026

It rained all day before. It rained the morning of. And then Eliza & Michael’s wedding day arrived, sunny, warm, not a cloud in sight. Their secret? An Etsy witch and a buried sausage (a real tradition).

From where I was standing, Eliza & Michael’s story is one of big plans, big love and a labrador who is the centre of their universe (and a 10/10 good girl ring bearer.)

Couple: Eliza Smith &
Venue: Abbotsford Convent
Photos: Liz Barnes - Wedding Photographer

30/07/2026

New here, or been around a bit? Here’s the short version.

I didn’t set out to become a marriage celebrant and MC, it found me, one Saturday wedding at a time, until a redundancy finally forced the question I’d been avoiding: what if I stopped treating this like a side hustle?

So I’m going all in. This is the whole job now. Ceremonies written from scratch, every couple, every kind of love story. I fought for the right to be doing this for ALL couples long before I ever stood at the front of one. That part still matters to me more than almost anything.

Current mindset: fully booked brain, mildly unhinged about planning my OWN wedding (stay tuned), and very ready to hear your story.

Let me know - where are you at? Engaged, planning, or just here for the fun?

Address

Melbourne, VIC

Website

https://www.idowithdarren.com.au/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when I Do with Darren posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.