'We are gathered here today...' celebrants conference starts
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Many couples want a celebrant, seeking a more personalised service and different locations. (ABC News: Giulio Saggin)
More than 130 civil celebrants from around Australia have gathered in Hobart for their annual conference.
They are members of the Australian Federation of Civil Celebrants - the largest professional body for celebrants in the country.
Registered celebrants now perform 64 per cent of all weddings in Australia, as well as other ceremonies including name-givings, funerals and even divorce ceremonies.
The Federation's president, Barry Sherwell, says the growing demand for civil ceremonies reflects society's changing expectations, with many couples seeking a more personalised service and different locations.
"I've done weddings in places like the National Railway Museum for a couple who were very much rail enthusiasts," he said.
"I've been asked to perform an underwater wedding, kitted out with the full kit even, so that you can communicate under water. So there are those sorts of things, the odd hot air balloon and so forth."
Civil celebrants say the growing demand for their services in Australia reflects a shift in social attitudes.
Mr Sherwell says the strong demand reflects more than just a decline in religious influence.
"Generally people don't just want a rote ceremony, that is delivered by rote.
"They want it very much about them, they want people when they hear their vows being exchanged, they want everyone to say that was just like George and Mary, that was just them.
"And the whole ceremony, we want them to go away thinking, saying, that whole sounded just like our couple."
