The Big Day
Congratulations on embarking on this significant step in your future together. You’ve found each other, made a plan, perhaps booked a venue, and now looking for the right person to help you with your marriage ceremony.
Whether your wedding is grand, intimate or somewhere in-between, traditional or non-conventional, themed or simple – it’s a beautiful celebration of love and friendship, a day to cherish forever with joy.
Your love story is conveyed uniquely within a personalised ceremony crafted in a tone that reflects who you are and respects your style, guiding you through the transition to married life in an atmosphere fuelled with joy and excitement. While the exact words may fade, it is the emotions they stir and the memories that remain.
How do we begin?
First Contact
We identify the desired ceremony, the date, the venue and the time. Organise a no-obligation meeting or a referral to one or more celebrant colleagues. Discussion regarding fees and payments takes place once the brief is clear.
Face-to-face meeting (Personalised or Elopement)
We begin by meeting in person or via Video Chat. You tell me about yourselves, your relationship and your vision for your wedding day, including what you don’t want. While we get to know each other, I’ll explain the general outline of a ceremony, offer suggestions on how we can incorporate people and your ideas into your ceremony and go over the legal requirements. I require confirmation that I’m your celebrant within seven days of the meeting, with a non-refundable deposit.
Second meeting (maybe included in 1st meeting above)
This meeting is the primary preparation stage of the ceremony, allowing us to share ideas, reflections and preliminary plans from our first meeting. Resource materials, e.g., readings, vows, etc., may be provided.
Ceremony Design
Using the information from our second meeting and some questions I ask you to do together, I will weave your story, beliefs and values into a Draft ceremony. This will be emailed to you for reading, checking, approving or editing, ensuring you receive the content you want and feel comfortable with. I’m available in person, via phone, email, or Video Chat throughout this process.
Final meeting (Optional – usually Video Chat)
This meeting is close to your Wedding Day, providing an opportunity to reconnect personally. We go over all the relevant details of the day, including checking timings, fine-tuning your ceremony if needed, finalising which family and friends are doing what, and deciding if you want me to print out any words for you onto cards (e.g., your vows). We also talk about social media.
Your Legal Documents should be available at this time, and we can confirm your identities—one less thing for you to worry about on the day. This informal, private meeting means your rehearsal will flow much more smoothly.
Rehearsal (Optional – Personalised)
This is the crucial fun part of your ceremony planning. You get to experience how it will be on the day and can overcome some of your nervousness and worries.
As none of the ceremony words are spoken, I mentally rehearse the choreography of the entire event – the way you will enter, where everyone will stand during the different parts of the ceremony, what happens during the signing and how you will exit in celebration mode.
Your bridal party or some of them will be able to attend. Your MC, readers, those with specific tasks, and parents are all welcome. It’s a fantastic opportunity to calm nerves and enjoy a fun time before the big day.
I can easily organise another option if you cannot hold your rehearsal at your venue.
The Big Day
All that planning comes together, making for one of the best days of your life. I arrive at least 45 minutes early to check in with all the key people (venue manager, close family, MC, readers, musicians, photographer/videographer) and ensure the ceremony setup is perfect. Once the Groom and his team are standing up front, I help keep the Groom comfortable and relaxed. I conduct your ceremony in a warm, engaging manner for both of you and your guests. I’m mindful of the Photographer and ensuring magic moments aren’t missed and anyone who shouldn’t be there isn’t included.
After the ceremony, I’ll look for you both for a photo with me before I head off. I’ll pass your Copy of the Particulars to whoever you have chosen for this important task, and I will photograph my Copy and email it to the Registrar. Then, a Marriage Certificate can be issued and sent to you by post.
Lastly, you will be emailed a copy of your ceremony if you wish.
Please don’t hesitate to Contact me if you’d like to know more.
Aotearoa Wedding
Travelling from overseas?
If you’re considering having your wedding in Aotearoa/ New Zealand, there are many beautiful venues available, both indoors and outdoors. Set against our breathtaking scenery, these venues offer stunning backdrops for your ceremony and celebration.
Whether you’re planning an intimate wedding or organising a “Return to NZ from overseas” wedding – I’m the Celebrant for you!
How does the planning process work?
I’ll work with you using video chat as our primary communication until you arrive in the country. Together, we will design a unique, personalised ceremony. I’ll also assist you with the legal requirements for getting married in New Zealand.
If you have no family or contacts here, I can arrange flowers, a hairdresser, a makeup artist, a cake, and suitable accommodation (for a small fee based on the amount of work required). I can also provide two witnesses (a legal requirement) if your wedding is going to be a romantic affair for just the two of you. Alternatively, if it’s a larger wedding, I can suggest a wedding planner, too.
When you fly home, even if your name hasn’t changed on your passport, you’ll know that your “KIWI Wedding” was a fantastic kickoff to your married life together.
Please don’t hesitate to Contact me if you’d like to learn more.
Elopement/Registry Weddings
Are you keen to get married but on a tight budget? Do you seek something more unique and meaningful than a registry wedding?
If this sounds like you, or if you need to get officially married now and are planning to celebrate with family and friends later, a simple yet heartfelt, intimate ceremony might be the perfect choice.
I’m a full-time Validated Celebrant and can offer registry or private elopement-style ceremonies. I uphold the same professional standards for all my ceremonies; however, there won’t be extensive consultation beforehand in this case. Your ceremony will be uniquely tailored to both of you based on the responses to a brief questionnaire I’ll run through with you and your specific requests. I’ll also guide you both through the legal requirements of a marriage.
This service is available within the Greater Auckland area and beyond. Travel outside the Greater Auckland area will incur an extra fee.
Please don’t hesitate to Contact me if you’d like to learn more.
Note: Registry Ceremonies have specific conditions as noted on the website https://www.govt.nz/browse/family-and-whanau/getting-married/
Celebrant Cheryl 