“Love is a beautiful thing, and to be a special part of one of the most important days in peoples’ lives is just amazing.”
As the founder of Always & Forever Civil Celebrant, Laura Mae Kijurina has established herself as a wedding celebrant dedicated to helping couples create personalized wedding ceremonies. Laura’s foray into the world of wedding celebrations was encouraged by her late husband, who nudged her to pursue celebrant training. This set her on a journey toward her calling.
From Admin to Dream Weaving
A typical day for Laura involves wedding administration including script writing, paperwork and connecting with vendors when she wears her celebrant hat. Her after-hours are filled with fun activities like walking dogs, honing her cuisine skills, gardening and spending quality time with friends. However, her primary focus remains on envisioning and orchestrating distinctive wedding ceremonies for her clients.
Laura’s affinity for imaginative celebrations was the catalyst for her celebrant services. She states, “I am your Celebrant beyond your ceremony helping make your dreams happen.” Her emphasis on collaborating with couples to manifest their ideal weddings has struck a chord with her clients.
Personality and Personalization
As a celebrant, Laura has had to contend with extensive competition, with numerous options available to couples on the central coast of New South Wales. She tackled this obstacle by specializing in smaller, more intimate weddings. Her niche of micro weddings has helped her carve out a unique space in the market.
Beyond strategic positioning, Laura’s friendly persona plays a key role in attracting clients. “I have a personality that makes people feel at ease,” she shares. By blending amiable energy with made-to-order ceremonies, Laura delivers exceptional services that capture the essence of each couple.
Connecting Across Cultures
As an expat from Canada now based in Australia, Laura can easily connect with international couples tying the knot down under. Her unique background also enables her to relate to those embarking on second marriages. These experiences allow her to infuse customized details into her ceremonies.
Laura credits her late husband for motivating her to push boundaries and achieve success as a celebrant. She also acknowledges the mentors who have guided her journey. “I have married many couples since I started and I am grateful for the mentors I have had to help mold me.”
Micro Weddings – Her Signature Offering
In an already crowded marketplace, Laura managed to make her mark by focusing on smaller, elopement style weddings. “By specializing in one thing, MICRO Weddings, I was able to make my mark and be unique,” she explains. Beyond cost savings, her micro weddings allow couples to focus on their intimate celebrations without getting overwhelmed by large guest lists and elaborate planning.
Laura’s friendly personality coupled with her niche offering has struck a positive chord across New South Wales’ central coast. She is now looking to ramp up her business even further. “Grow Grow Grow – one day at a time,” she says, summing up her expansion plans.
The Key to Sustained Success
For Laura, turning passion into profit has been about loving what you do. “If you love what you do, no matter how much work it may be, you continue to do it because you enjoy it,” she states. This mantra has kept her going even when overwhelmed. Her advice to others facing burnout is simple – “Rest and relax but don’t quit.”
As she continues serving more couples and planning distinctive weddings, Laura is motivated by the prospect of people acknowledging her work. “To hear someone say: “Oh you are the Laura-Mae they are talking about” keeps me excited and pushes me forward,” she shares. With a passion for celebrating relationships and a commitment to grow, Laura Mae Kijurina is set to make her mark as Australia’s premier micro wedding specialist.
To learn more about Laura, visit her website here.
Published by: Nelly Chavez
