Happily Ellie After

Elizabeth Smyth, known as Ellie, is a warm and down-to-earth marriage celebrant creating relaxed, heartfelt ceremonies filled with love, laughter, and genuine connection. Based on the southern Gold Coast, Ellie has built a reputation for crafting ceremonies that feel unmistakably personal — ones that sound completely like you, because they are.

Originally from Mexico, Ellie brings a unique perspective to her work. She came to Australia for university, met her husband, and decided to stay. Now a mum of four, she’s deeply embedded in the Gold Coast community whilst maintaining her warm, bilingual approach to ceremony creation. This multicultural background means she specialises in bilingual Spanish-English ceremonies, making her an ideal choice for couples wanting to celebrate their story in both languages.

Ellie’s approach to ceremony is refreshingly authentic. She believes every couple has a unique love story worth telling, and her role is to translate that into words and moments that resonate with your guests. Whether you’re planning a big celebration, a beachside elopement, a backyard gathering, or something completely unconventional, Ellie works closely with you to ensure the ceremony feels meaningful, joyful, and entirely yours. Her philosophy is simple: it has to sound like you, or it’s not ready.

Her service offerings are comprehensive and flexible. She creates personalised wedding ceremonies, elopements, micro weddings, legals-only ceremonies, vow renewals, baby naming ceremonies, buddy-up ceremonies, and fully custom ceremonies complete with love stories and carefully curated playlists. No two ceremonies are the same because no two couples are the same. Ellie takes pride in tailoring each experience to match your vision and values.

The process with Ellie is designed to be stress-free and enjoyable. It begins with a relaxed conversation to ensure you click and discuss what kind of ceremony feels right for you. From there, Ellie guides you through the legal requirements, including the Notice of Intended Marriage lodgement. She handles the paperwork so you don’t have to worry. The planning phase is completely customisable — some couples want every detail crafted from scratch, while others prefer a lighter touch. Ellie adapts to your needs. On your wedding day, she arrives early, conducts your ceremony with warmth and professionalism, manages all legal signing, and then lodges everything officially so you can simply enjoy being married.

Serving the Gold Coast, Gold Coast Hinterland, Tweed Coast, Byron Bay, Brisbane, Scenic Rim, and Tamborine Mountain, as well as surrounding areas across South East Queensland and Northern NSW, Ellie is also available for Australia-wide travel and international destination weddings. Whether your celebration is in your own backyard or on the other side of the world, she brings the same level of care and personal attention.

Ellie is known for getting genuinely attached to her couples. By the time your wedding day arrives, you’ll have chatted extensively, and she’ll have invested herself in making your ceremony exceptional. She’s honest about this: she experiences what she calls ‘post-wedding break-up syndrome’ after events, having formed real connections with the couples she works with.

If you’re looking for a celebrant who treats your ceremony as a meaningful celebration rather than a transaction, who understands the importance of authenticity, and who can guide you through every step with warmth and expertise, Ellie is ready to help create something truly special.