How to Include an Acknowledgement of Country in Your Wedding Ceremony (With Examples)| Perth Marriage Celebrant
- Carina Quinn
- Jul 9, 2023
- 4 min read
Updated: Nov 11
Kaya, legends!!
Wanju to my blog — and to one of my favourite topics to talk about.
I’ve travelled to many countries around the world and celebrated their First Nations people and acknowledged the richness it adds to their countries history and future, and yet didn’t fully understand the vibrance that our first nations people add to the tapestry of our Australian story – how bloody ignorant!!! Don’t get me wrong I am and will always still be learning more, I certainly don’t know all the things.
What I do know, is that I’m so grateful that we are picking up this momentum and celebrate the rich history of Australia this land we call home. An I'm extra grateful that we’re seeing more and more couples honour this connection to Country in their wedding ceremonies. I was privileged a few years ago to educate myself through a short course at Curtin University in relation to the Noongar People, it was a wonderful insight into the traditional owners on the land I call home and the thriving society and rebuilding the rich culture they have held onto for thousands of years. It gave me a deeper appreciation for the thriving culture that has existed here for tens of thousands of years. That knowledge has become an important part of how I create ceremonies — because understanding Country helps me celebrate your story with even greater meaning.
Why So Many Couples Choose to Include It
Your wedding ceremony inclusions are always your choice! I’m pleased to say that 99% of my couples want an Acknowledgement of Country to lead their ceremony and some even find it essential and critically important.
99% of my couples want an Acknowledgement of Country
Why it makes sense ?
An Acknowledgement of Country gives a sense of context – everyone is here for something special, something different to just your average day out; a very important ceremony in your life and for your loved ones to be a part of. It is rightfully becoming the norm at special occasions and within public life.
An Acknowledgement of Country can be big or it can just be a nod as a show of appreciation for Traditional Owners and the continuing connection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to Country. It differs to a Welcome to Country which is performed by a local Aboriginal person, more often than not an elder. It adds a serene and beautiful sense of peace and modernity to your ceremony.
How It Fits Naturally Into Your Ceremony
Weddings are a big deal! TWeddings are emotional, meaningful, and deeply human. They connect us to the traditions of love, commitment, and storytelling — and adding an Acknowledgement of Country ties that human connection to the land beneath your feet.
Often, my couples tell me things like
“It just felt right. We knew our people would feel comfortable here.”
And that’s where an Acknowledgement fits perfectly — when you’re already feeling grateful for the place, the season, and the people around you.
I often blend it naturally into the moment — while talking about the weather, the surroundings, or the spirit of the place. Whether it’s rolling hills, riverbanks, tall trees, or a rooftop with a view, it can connect the beauty of your setting with the story you’re about to tell.
It adds depth, reflection, and an awareness that your love story is part of something much bigger — the ongoing story of this Country.
Is it political?
I guess in some circumstances it still feels like a very political stance to have this at your very personal ceremony. I can assure you in your ceremony it’s a tribute to the culture that shaped the land we’re lucky enough to live, love, and celebrate on. It’s an acknowledgment that your story — your love — is now part of a much older, richer one.
It’s not heavy or preachy. It’s meaningful, inclusive, and authentic.
Examples of Acknowledgements You Can Use
‘So just as the season of Djilba brings with it life and new beginnings as the earth warms up it is also the new beginning for you as a married couple if you are getting married in the months of August and September.’
Perhaps your getting married in Freo or Matilda Bay where…
‘Along the banks of the Derbarl Yerrigan/ Swan River or where you are standing many have stood before you for tens of thousands of years in ceremonies not too dissimilar to the modern day wedding as this spot right here historically was a meeting spot.’
Or maybe the emphasis for you and your celebration is having…
‘All your people together dancing and singing just as the Whadjuk people of the Noongar Nation have done on this land for thousands of years.’
‘…We are currently in the Noongar season of Birak. The warm weather is fully fledged. Afternoons and evenings are only cooled by what we over here in the West call the Freo doctor or as the sea breezes from the South West flood over us.
Traditionally this was burning time of the year for Noongar people. They would burn the country into a tapestry of varying colours and textures. So different from what we can see at this moment but also similar and it plays a part in the reason we are on this gorgeous roof top. It was especially chosen as the perfect combination of both new and old, the gorgeous tapestry of Perth is on full display…’
(For a full breakdown of ceremony flow and placement, check out The Anatomy of a Modern Wedding Ceremony.)
So let’s make a kick ass ceremony!!! Include an AMAZING, THOUGHTFUL & INSIGHTFUL Acknowledgment of Country and kick into your badass love story and get you hitched!
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Carina is a Perth based Marriage Celebrant living in the beautiful Swan Valley. She focusses on fun relaxed, charismatic wedding ceremonies staying true to her naturally bubbly and vibrant personality. Get in touch with her via her blog or email.
0417 923 760
Perth, Western Australia
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