In Conversation With Sydney Celebrant Happily Ever Arthur
Sydney-based celebrant Scarlett Arthur, the creative heart behind Happily Ever Arthur, crafts ceremonies that feel alive, where playfulness and emotion move in effortless harmony. Guided by genuine connection, she builds her ceremonies from the quirks, stories, and heartfelt details that make every couple themselves. The result is a ceremony that feels heartfelt, light-filled, and completely, beautifully true.
Your ceremonies have such an uplifting, playful tone; how do you strike that balance between fun and heartfelt?
The best balance happens when the tone mirrors real life: laughter and tenderness, side by side. I take cues from the couple themselves; their story always shows me where to find the lightness and where to pause for the heartfelt. That mix creates a ceremony that feels effortless and deeply human. A space where people can laugh one moment and tear up the next.
What do you think makes a great ceremony truly memorable?
The most memorable ceremonies are the ones that feel like they could only belong to that couple. It’s less about choreography and more about energy. The laughter that wasn’t planned, the small glances, the way guests are drawn into something genuine. When everyone leaves saying, “That felt so them,” I know we’ve captured something lasting.
How do you go about getting to know your couples and their story?
I listen... properly. I want to understand how they interact, what grounds them, and how their love moves through the everyday. Through conversations and questionnaires, I collect the little details that define them: the quirks, the in-jokes, the side glances, the things they don’t even realise they share. Those are the threads that build the ceremony, something shaped with them, not for them.
What’s one part of your ceremony style that couples always comment on afterwards?
Couples often talk about how comfortable everything felt, that it sounded like them, not a script. Guests were fully present, laughing one minute and tearing up the next. The feedback I hear most is that the ceremony felt natural and deeply personal, balancing warmth and humour without ever feeling forced. That’s everything to me because it means the story truly resonated.
Can you tell us about a ceremony moment that made you stop and think, “this is why I do this”?
I recently did a ceremony where the couple, Amy and Jay, walked in together to Everything is Romantic by Charli XCX blasting. Midway down the aisle, Amy let out the biggest cheer and the entire room erupted with her. It was pure, contagious joy. In that moment, it felt like we were all tucked into this little pocket of the world, suspended in an unbreakable love bubble. Time stood still; everyone was completely present and overflowing with happiness. It’s moments like that that remind me exactly why I do this and make me feel very lucky to do what I do.
How do you bring authenticity into every ceremony, even after performing so many?
I treat every ceremony like it’s the only one that matters, because for that couple, it is. I never reuse scripts or lean on templates. I start fresh each time, with new energy, new emotion, new perspective. Authenticity comes from care, from empathy, and from being genuinely invested in their story and the feeling they want to create. That’s what keeps each ceremony unique, exciting, and genuine.
What kind of couples do you naturally attract?
Couples who want to do things their own way. They’re thoughtful, creative, and deeply connected. They value storytelling, laughter, and sincerity over structure. My couples are the ones who want their wedding to feel like them for every element of their day.
If you could describe a Happily Ever Arthur ceremony in three words, what would they be?
Heartfelt. Playful. True.
Visit happilyeverarthur.com.au
Instagram @happily.ever.arthur
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