They came to me asking for a simple court marriage. A few weeks later, on a headland in Wollongong with the Pacific behind them and a gale doing its best to steal my voice, Lovepreet and Gurpinder were married at sunset — with the groom freshly arrived from Canada, and both sets of parents and extended family watching live from India.
From a court marriage enquiry to a lighthouse
When Lovepreet and Gurpinder first got in touch, the plan was modest: a court marriage, nice and easy. I explained what a legal ceremony can look like — a registry-style signing, a small ceremony at home, or taking it somewhere with a view — and then I suggested what I suggest to a lot of Sydney couples who want something simple but special: have a look at Wollongong.
It's a little over an hour from Sydney, and the coast does the decorating for you. They took the idea and ran with it. A court marriage became a full wedding — ceremony, styling, photography and all — held on the headland beside the lighthouse, just before sunset.
A love story that began in a classroom in Punjab
This one starts at school in Punjab, on the Patiala side — a quiet, calm girl and a boy at the back of the class who, by all reports, was not a quiet student. They became friends, good friends, and life then pulled them to opposite sides of the planet: Lovepreet to Canada, Gurpinder to Sydney.
Distance didn't end the friendship; it deepened it. They shared every ordinary day across two time zones. In 2022 Lovepreet said the words — "I want to marry you" — from the other side of the world, and in 2024 he got on a plane to ask her properly, in person. This October he flew in from Canada once more, this time to stand beside her at the lighthouse.
That's why the lighthouse felt so right. A lighthouse doesn't chase anyone; it stands steady, in calm and in storms, so that those far out at sea can find their way home. For years each of them was that light for the other. Now they stand on the same shore.
A classroom in Patiala, an ocean, and a very long phone call later — here they were, at a lighthouse in Wollongong. — From the ceremony
Wind, family, and family dialling in from India
I won't pretend the weather behaved. The wind off the water was strong enough that I asked everyone to lean in close so they wouldn't miss a word — and honestly, it made the circle of guests tighter and the whole ceremony warmer. Nobody left. Nobody wanted to.
Gurpinder was supported by her Bhua and two of her cousins, and work colleagues drove down from Sydney specially to be there. Both sets of parents and extended family joined by WhatsApp video call from India, present for the vows, the rings and the moment they were pronounced married — which, if you're marrying across continents, is often the part that matters most. If you're planning something similar, I'll help with the run-sheet so family overseas know exactly when to be watching.
One celebrant, the whole wedding
This was a full Star Celebrant wedding: the ceremony itself, the decorations and ceremony styling, the legal paperwork and the signing, and — through my photography business Sydney Snapshots — the photos and a short highlights film of the day. One person to speak to, one plan, no juggling suppliers for what was a long-distance wedding to begin with.
After the ceremony: photos, then dinner
With the legals done and the certificate signed, we made the most of the light — a long golden-hour photo session around the lighthouse, the old cannons and the cliff edge. The celebration then continued at Asees Restaurant in Wollongong, which is exactly the right way to end a wedding day: good food, loud laughter and a very happy couple. A few more golden-hour moments are in the Instagram carousel.
What the guests said
▶ Two short films · tap to watch
A Punjabi guest on the ceremony
A Nepali guest on the day
"I loved the service. ❤️ He is organised and professional man. I would recommend him for legal marriage." — Lovepreet S. · Google review
"We came to Rohit from Star Celebrant, asking for a simple court marriage, and he suggested we look at Wollongong instead. We ended up getting married at the lighthouse just before sunset, and it was beautiful. Even with very strong winds, the ceremony went smoothly and we all enjoyed it. Rohit was well organised and professional, and he took care of the paperwork, the decorations and the photography, so we could just enjoy the day. My husband flew in from Canada, and both our families joined by video call from India. Rohit made sure they could watch everything, and he shared our story in the ceremony in a warm, personal way. Our guests, including colleagues who came from Sydney, said how good it was. Highly recommend Star Celebrant for a legal marriage or a full wedding. 10/10." — Guri M. · Google review
Thinking about a destination-style wedding near Sydney?
You don't have to fly overseas for views like these. The Illawarra coast is an easy day trip from Sydney, and I'm happy to conduct ceremonies at beautiful public locations — headlands, beaches, gardens — as well as at my own garden in Bella Vista. If you'd like the day you're picturing, but you're only booking a court marriage right now, that's often the best moment to talk — see how a legal ceremony works in Sydney and getting married in Australia.
Marrying at a public location in NSW?
Every wedding in Australia needs a Notice of Intended Marriage lodged at least one calendar month before the ceremony, and some public spots need a council permit or booking for a ceremony or setup. I'll tell you what your chosen location needs, and handle the legal side, so you can focus on each other.
Marrying from overseas, like Lovepreet? You don't need to be a citizen or resident to marry here — see how overseas marriages are recognised.
Common questions about coastal & destination weddings near Sydney
Can you marry us at a beach or lighthouse outside Sydney?
Yes. I travel for ceremonies, and Wollongong is one of the easiest and most scenic options within about an hour and a bit of Sydney. Tell me the location you have in mind and I'll advise on timing, wind and light, permits and what the ceremony needs on the day.
Can we turn a court marriage into a full ceremony?
Absolutely — that's exactly what Lovepreet and Gurpinder did. The legal requirements are the same either way; what changes is everything around them: the setting, the words, the styling and who's there. We can start with the legal basics and add as much as you like.
Can family overseas watch the wedding live?
Yes. Lovepreet and Gurpinder's parents and extended family joined by WhatsApp video from India. We plan a stable connection, a nominated person to hold the phone and a run-sheet, so no one misses the vows or the pronouncement.
Asked for a court marriage, dreaming of more?
Tell me where you'd love to be married and who needs to be there, near or far. I'll shape the ceremony, the setting and the paperwork around you.
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