It was very early on in my experience as a celebrant that I realised how easy it was to make people’s eyes sparkle with emotion and love to flow from them in our early engagement.

Throughout history, there has been a fundamental desire for others to bond through the art of storytelling and weddings provide a wonderful opportunity to do this.

At an interview, I love nothing more than to listen to stories that my couples tell me. I listen intently, lapping up everything they say and watching their body language as they reminisce. How they met, why they fell in love, how they arrived at their decision to be seated before me right there and then telling me some of their deepest secrets. Their openness and ability to tell me so much so quickly makes me feel honoured.

I am aware of  behaviour which is often punctuated with tactile and loving gestures, coy smiles, giggles. These delicate expressions between them bely their love but also demonstrate their excitement with the plans they are making … and their inclusion of me. I love to probe for more information and my enthusiasm breaks any barrier.

Warning, I am devious. It is with conniving pleasure and many years of experience in honing effective communication skills that I am able to extract these stories. The defining moment when I realise the connection that bonds these two people sends shivers through me and causes my flesh to goose bump. Love is a very powerful thing.

As I listen, there are ideas going through my head constantly about how I can help. It storyboard is forming.

That first interview getting to know a couple is so important to listen carefully. Gold nuggets about the love story are given. However it can be at any stage along the journey of helping a couple extrapolate their unique love story that – when it happens! This feeling suddenly overcomes me and I feel exuberant.

There is definitely a thrill that comes with learning about couples and grasping the powerful elements that drew them together. It is not dissimilar to the feelings of butterflies that are equated with falling in love.

Listening to their stories and memories is one of the reasons why my role as a civil celebrant is rewarding: I am reminded of what it feels like to fall in love –  over and over and over again.

This same feeling bubbles up when I deliver a ceremony too! My heart races and every atom in my being is charged. My feelings of connection to the couple I am marrying enable them to relax but at the same time, I enjoy watching them roll through the emotions of love and unity as I deliver the story we have all worked hard to perfect.

So much care and attention to detail goes into a script. I consider all aspects of the ceremony and weave these in with precise planning around timing and delivery. It is only once I feel jubilant about the script that I am ready to share it. And when I do I relish the response. I’ve never had a couple make anything other than minor changes. Most of the time it is spot on.

Such humble beginnings, often, from where the stories all began – yet this does not matter. Come the day of the ceremony, no one ever expects pompous frivolity, nor pious formality.

All they ever want to hear is a love story.