In Conversation with Married By Tori
Married By Tori is known for ceremonies that feel both beautifully composed and deeply felt. With a calm presence and a modern, romantic sensibility, Tori creates ceremonies that honour each couple’s story with intention, warmth and authenticity. Her approach is less about performance and more about connection, crafting moments that feel timeless, personal and quietly unforgettable.
For those new to Married By Tori, how would you describe your approach to celebrancy and the kind of experience you aim to create for couples?
My approach to celebrancy is elevated yet deeply personal – a balance of elegant, romantic storytelling with modern sensibilities that reflect who each couple truly is. I see every wedding as a unique love story to be honoured with intention, warmth and authenticity. From our very first conversation, I centre connection, listening with care and curiosity so that every word spoken in your ceremony feels meaningful, considered and unmistakably you.
I aim to create an experience that feels calm, intentional and beautifully held – where the process is intuitive, guidance is thoughtful, and the ceremony itself becomes a moment that feels both timeless and deeply true to your relationship. Whether it’s a grand celebration or an intimate elopement, I craft ceremonies that celebrate love in all its forms, with genuine openness and respect for all couples. My goal is always the same: to hold space for your love in a way that feels elegant, authentic and profoundly memorable.
You bring a warm, relaxed and intentional style to ceremonies. What drew you to become a celebrant, and how has your background shaped the way you work with couples?
Becoming a celebrant started with a very simple realisation: I love moments that bring people together, and I care deeply about how those moments are held. While on maternity leave, I attended a close friend’s wedding and had a real lightbulb moment. Watching the ceremony unfold, I could see how powerful it is when the words, the pacing and the presence are done well – and I knew instantly that this was something I wanted to be part of.
Before celebrancy, I spent eight years as a Business Manager in the media and advertising world, working with major brands at Channel Nine and oOh! Media. That time gave me two things I use every single week now: confidence speaking in front of a room, and the ability to read people quickly and intuitively. It also taught me how to communicate clearly, stay extra organised, and keep things feeling calm and considered – even when there’s a lot happening behind the scenes.
On a more personal level, I’ve always been someone who values real connection. I’m a mum first, a wife, and someone who genuinely enjoys getting to know people and what matters to them. That combination – professional polish and genuine warmth – is what shapes the way I work with couples. I want them to feel at ease, understood and completely present, knowing their ceremony is in safe hands and truly reflective of who they are.
Connection and storytelling feel central to your ceremonies. How do you get to know couples in a way that allows you to tell their story so authentically?
It always starts with creating a space that feels relaxed and unforced, which is why I prioritise meeting my couples face to face. I’m less interested in ticking boxes and more interested in understanding how a couple feels together – the rhythm of their relationship, the moments that shaped them, and the little things that matter just as much as the big milestones. When people feel at ease, the real story naturally begins to surface.
I take a very considered, conversational approach to getting to know my couples. Through thoughtful questions, shared conversations and time spent intentionally listening, I build a picture that goes beyond how they met or what they love about each other. I pay attention to tone, humour, values and the way they speak about one another – those details are where authenticity lives.
From there, my role is to translate their story with care and intention – gently elevating it with a romantic, poetic touch that still feels grounded and true. I’m not there to perform or over-embellish, but to shape their words and experiences in a way that lands beautifully in the room. What unfolds is a ceremony that feels honest, balanced and deeply personal – one where couples hear themselves reflected in the words spoken, and their guests feel genuinely connected to the story unfolding in front of them.
You’re based in Melbourne but also lead destination weddings. What do you love most about taking a couple’s ceremony beyond Australia?
What I love most is the opportunity to craft a ceremony that is entirely intertwined with a place that feels meaningful or simply unforgettable. Destination weddings bring a different energy – each location offers its own story and a unique way to reflect the couple’s personality and love.
Being part of that journey, whether it’s a grand celebration or an intimate elopement, allows me to translate a couple’s story in a way that feels both elevated and deeply personal. There’s a thrill in balancing the elegance and romance of the day with the unexpected magic that only a particular place can bring. In the end, the ceremony becomes more than just words; it becomes a seamless part of the destination itself, creating memories that feel entirely theirs.
Plus, I get to drag my little family along for the ride, turning work trips into our own little adventure we won’t forget.
Many couples talk about feeling at ease with you from the first meeting. What do you do to cultivate that sense of calm and trust in the lead-up to the big day?
This one is a little hard to articulate. I think it’s part instinct, part intention, and a lot about connection. I fully trust that the couples I’m meant to work with will find me, and often, it’s immediate – we just get each other. From the very first conversation, I focus on truly listening: understanding their dynamic, noticing the little things they love about each other day to day, and the way they communicate. Those details guide how I shape their ceremony. At the same time, I balance that connection with the practical side of things – organisation, clarity, and reliability – so couples can feel completely at ease knowing every detail is considered.
I prioritise meeting couples face to face whenever I can. Sitting together, sharing conversation and letting the connection unfold naturally helps couples feel seen and comfortable.
I think trust and calm come from genuine presence and really caring about the experience. When couples can relax into the process, the day itself becomes less about logistics and more about being in the moment – and that’s when the ceremony truly feels effortless, authentic, and theirs.
Your celebrancy blends professionalism with genuine heart, what do you think sets Married By Tori apart from the rest?
I’d say what sets me apart is that couples genuinely feel like they’re in safe, capable, and relaxed hands – someone who ‘gets them’ from the very first chat. I’ve had couples tell me they felt instantly at ease, like they were planning their ceremony with a friend who also happens to be obsessively organised (in the best way).
I care about the little things – how they laugh together, what matters to them day to day, the tone they want for their ceremony – and I make sure every detail reflects that. At the same time, I bring light-heartedness and warmth, without ever stealing the spotlight or turning the ceremony into a performance. It’s always about them and their story.
Couples often tell me that the process feels effortless, calm, and meaningful, and that it shows on the day. Guests notice the flow, the authenticity, and the way the ceremony genuinely tells the couple’s story – and that’s the experience I aim to create every single time.
Looking ahead, what do you hope couples remember most about their ceremony with you, long after the aisle has been walked and the celebrations end?
Quite simply, what I hope they remember is the feeling of being fully present with each other during the ceremony. The way the room seemed to pause just for them, the discreet smiles, the little glances that said everything words never could.
I want them to remember that sense of ease of showing up fully as themselves, because they knew I was holding the space, taking care of the details, and that nothing else mattered in that moment except each other.
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