Marriages
Where To Begin? | Choosing A Celebrant | Choosing A Type Of Ceremony | Choosing A Venue
Personalising Your Ceremony | My Role In Your Big Day | Tool Kit | Useful Links & Associates
“What a day! You were a wonderful celebrant, a lot of guests raved about the ceremony suggesting it was emotional and romantic, there were quite a few tears around the place so I feel we all nailed it!
Thank you so much for marrying us!”
Bronnie and Nick
“We had so many compliments about the wedding ceremony, we are so grateful for your help and guidance with
our wedding.
We really did have the best day. Thank you so so much.”
Anna and James
“Bev, your professionalism
and care made our ceremony run smoothly. We were in the best of hands and didn’t need to worry about a thing.”
Tracey and Gerald
“Bev’s warm, motherly nature and her hard-case sense of humour were exactly what we were looking for in our dream celebrant.”
Kylie and Glen
“Thanks Bev, for your great support and guidance. Your warmth and experience and professionalism really shone through.”
Astrid and Manuel
Where To Begin?
Firstly, congratulations on your engagement! What a wonderful period in your life, one to cherish and enjoy. As you move towards confirming your relationship in a marriage ceremony, it can all start to become overwhelming.
Here are a few easy steps to get you under way:
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Decide what kind of wedding you want (large/small, casual/formal, indoor/outdoor etc)
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Talk to your friends about their experiences. What would they do differently? Do they have any recommendations?
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Set a budget, what can you realistically afford? (Stick to it)
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Get yourself a folder to keep notes and ideas in.
Choosing A Celebrant
Your celebrant should be someone you can talk to easily and someone you feel comfortable working with going forward. They should be experienced and a member of the Celebrants Association of New Zealand (CANZ). This association is the professional body that oversees celebrants and provides professional training and sets the standards in New Zealand for celebrancy.
While anyone can undertake the work and role of a celebrant, only those appointed by Births Deaths and Marriages can legally act as a Marriage Celebrant. I was first appointed in 2008 I have undertaken regular professional development. I joined the Celebrants Association of NZ and consider my appointment as a marriage celebrant a great privilege and one that I treasure every day.
Personalising Your Ceremony
Vows, Promises and Readings
There are literally hundreds of readings, vows and promises. I have attached a small selection for you to use as a base. You may select any of these or choose others as you desire.
Rituals and Customs
Many of our rituals and customs stem from Scottish Traditions. Some examples are 'Hand Fasting', 'Tying The Knot', 'Sharing the Loving Cup' (or 'Quaich Ceremony'),
the 'Warming Of The Rings' just to name a few. Also a very popular ritual at this time is the 'Mothers' Rose Ceremony'. It would be my pleasure to explain some of these
to you so you can choose whether or not you would like to include any of these in your ceremony.
Choosing A Type Of Ceremony
Traditional Ceremonies:
These usually occur either indoors or in a wedding venue centre. I meet with you on a number of occasions and together we write and create something magical to suit your needs. As a celebrant, it is the finest compliment when guests come up afterwards and tell me they thought the ceremony was wonderful.
I like to create Interactive Weddings where guests feel they are part of the ceremony not just at it. I don’t suggest they all dance and jump up and down but we do have ways of getting guests involved in a complimentary way that will help them remember your special day.
Registry Style Weddings:
Some people want a very simple and quick ceremony, but not necessarily in a Registry Office. I have the ability to conduct such a ceremony at the place of your choice. I will prepare a simple ceremony following discussions with you both and deliver it at the place of your choice. This no-frills wedding ceremony is suitable for very small weddings.
Casual Ceremonies:
Many people like to get married in the park or on the beach. I can theme a wedding to suit your destination.
Useful Links
Births, Deaths and Marriages - Department of Internal Affairs, New Zealand
CANZ - Celebrants Association of New Zealand
Associates
After years in the wedding industry I have worked with a large number of venues, photographers, DJ's and florists across Christchurch and Canterbury. I would be more than happy to discuss this with you if you are looking for recommendations.
Wedding Day Survival Kit
Be prepared... download this PDF to help your bridal party with their duties.
My Role In Your Big Day
Your wedding day should be fun, something you really enjoy and remember for all the right reasons. Let me help you create those magical memories. Whether you'd like me to write the entire ceremony or just part of it, that’s up to you, but whatever you choose, it will be your choice and it may just be that all you need is a bit of guidance along the way.
Choosing A Venue
Many people love getting married on the beach, in the park or a backyard. These can be wonderful, however it is important to consider Mother Nature does sometimes play a part with winds, extreme temperatures (hot and cold), and of course rain, so it is wise to have a back-up venue.
