I am am an Authorised Marriage Celebrant and JP living in the village of Branxton, Hunter Valley. I've been a very active Hunter Valley marriage celebrant since 2006, conducting marriages on a grand scale of 150 guests through to quiet elopements!

My services are highly regarded and have been positively covered in the media including Bride to Be, The Herald and the Sydney Morning Herald (feature on my elopement services).

I've conducted beautiful, individualised wedding ceremonies across the Hunter Valley - from Pokolbin vineyards, Barrington Tops wilderness, to Maitland riverside and gorgeous Hunter Valley wedding chapels.

I've also authored a book about how to incorporate readings into your ceremony to help make it your own. It also includes a selection of readings that I have written. You can download it for free here (pdf file 270kb).

Originally from Sydney, I have had a 30-year association with the Hunter Valley - I married a local!

I have received national and state awards in communications. You can be assured that you won't receive an "off the rack" ceremony that will leave you and your guests yawning (or worse - cringing).

My new words for weddings have been featured several times in Bride to Be magazine, and I regularly provide commentary to the media on wedding ceremonies.

My broad experience in media, presentation and public speaking ensures that your wedding ceremony will be just how you want it to be. I love working with people and my career achievements in communications are your guarantee that you're making the correct choice when you engage me as your marriage celebrant.

I am well qualified to work with you to write your perfect ceremony. I hold an honours degree in communications (writing major), a graduate certificate in tertiary teaching and a masters degree in journalism, so you can be confident in my abilities to deliver what you want. I am a lecturer in communication at the University of Newcastle.

In 1996 I was a finalist in the Australian/Vogel Award for novel writing and I've had numerous feature articles published, including in The Sydney Morning Herald and The Australian newspapers.

I look forward to working with you. Whether you prefer simple and short with just a few people in attendance, a large gala event or something in between, I would love to work with you to create your perfect wedding.

View Melanie James' official registration details

My home office is located in one of the vineyard region's most historic buildings, The Branxton Inn Arthouse (circa. 1843).

Branxton is centrally located amongst the vast array of Hunter Valley wedding venues and wedding services.