NSW Central Coast Jane Gray

Many thanks to Jane for providing her profile

Central Coast celebrant Jane Ashmore Gray

Appointed September 2006 

I was born in Edinburgh and raised in the town of Musselburgh Scotland, where every Sunday all the family congregated at my grandparent’s home.  Adults and children alike would sit around the cosy fireside as my grandfather told some wonderful tales of days gone by, his words hovering on the brink of poetry. Some of the stories were short and humorous, but many were filled with fairy-tale beings, infused with the transforming magic of the imagination.

At aged twenty I married my childhood sweetheart Eddie and we emigrated to Australia to a brand new life in a country we knew little about. A life we love and would never change. I have co-owned a catering business on the Central Coast of NSW and enjoyed promotional and voice over employment. We have two lovely daughters both married and two darling grandchildren Ashley and Bailey who sadly live in Brisbane however with great airfare deals we can visit often.

I am a member of a Toastmasters and Probus clubs and I enjoy a good glass of red wine and fine food and I will never refuse a delicious Indian or Thai meal.

Actually I woke up one morning in May 2004 with the thought I would like to become a marriage celebrant having never given this a thought before. I read articles on aboriginal dreamtime, many religious ceremonies, witches rituals, and Celtic myths.

Spoke to many people asking them what ceremonies they have celebrated. From there I decided I wanted to learn much more and fortunately rang The International Collage of Celebrancy and have not looked back.

I feel most fortunate to have the most rewarding ‘position’ of being a civil celebrant. Looking back it may have been the magic of ceremony and family passed on to me by my grandfather that just came to the fore that May morning.

A most delightful processional for a wedding I conducted was in a chapel. The Chapel was very small and the bride had recently lost her father. The couple decided that the groom would walk with her. I suggested that the groom stand in place and allow the bridesmaids to walk and stand in their allocated positions and when his bride entered the chapel he walk towards her gently kiss her cheek or hand [I did not think this was the moment for any passionate kiss] and escort her down the aisle to where the bridal party were waiting…It was very romantic and moving and the wonderful little chapel added to moment. Not a dry eye in the house. The string quartet played as this was all taking place……

In five years time I hope to be as healthy as I am at this moment and conducting many more meaningful and special ceremonies.

Jane Ashmore Gray

Civil Marriage Celebrant  

Central Coast NSW

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