Registry weddings are becoming increasingly popular with couples who simply want to get married. A registry wedding is a legal ceremony, where a couple can legally register their marriage, without the need for a large celebration or a lengthy wedding planning process.

There are lots of different reasons why couples may choose to do this – perhaps they are having larger cultural ceremony, or celebrating at a later date. Whatever your reason, having a simple legal registry wedding is a good, cost-effective way to get married.

You can come to my home in Takanini (or I will come to you, if you are close by), and we can complete the legal paperwork and I will register your marriage. You can apply for your marriage licence here. Give me a call to discuss on 021 140 6632.

In New Zealand, the things you need to do to legally marry are pretty simple…
1. You need a Marriage licence. You do this through Births, Deaths and Marriages. Click here to begin your Marriage License application.
And it costs $150
2. You need to be married by a Registered Marriage Celebrant – thats me folks!
3. During the ceremony, at some point you need to say “I AB take you CD” to be my husband/wife – or words to that effect.
4. You need two witnesses (and they can be anyone!)
5. The two of you, your two witnesses and I must all sign the marriage licence
And that’s it!
The rest of the wedding is completely about you. That’s the bit I can help with, and together we can create a personal, vibrant and meaningful ceremony that you will remember forever.

You can apply for your Marriage License online.

Click here to begin your application

Getting married outdoors with beautiful open vistas makes for a great day – unless it’s WINDY! Be prepared for this. If you have a veil, a couple of strategically hair clips can be the difference between no hassles verses a great big swirling mess. As can an extra dose of hairspray. Be prepared!

If you have lost someone you were close to, not having them with you on such a special day can be really tough and although they can no longer be there in person, they are certainly with you in your heart. It can be nice, during your ceremony to take some time to acknowledge those special loved ones. And there are several ways to do this, lighting a candle, having a photo of them present, carrying something of theirs on your person and of course, in the words of your ceremony.

Those we love don’t go away
They’re still beside us everyday
Unseen, Unheard, but always near
Still loved, still missed and very dear

Like most women, I’m a sucker for a great pair of shoes, and lets face it, sometimes practicality simply is not a consideration.  It seems like a funny part of the wedding for a celebrant to talk about, but I have watched some lovely brides suffer.

Comfortable shoes are important! If you are one of these incredibly fortunate women who could walk a marathon in stilettos, then you have my admiration and envy! But do remember, you are going to be standing for a very long time, and aching feet can really take away a lot of your enjoyment of the day. So can having white silk stiletto heels sinking down into the dirt. So do give the practicalities some thought (as boring as that is), and be kind to your feet!

They happen. Even in the middle of summer. Even in the middle of a drought!
So be prepared.
While you may have the perfect outdoor spot in mind for your wedding, it’s always a good idea to have an indoor option planned out (when you apply for your marriage licence, they will want to know your plan B address if it is different to the first one).
The great thing about a rainy day wedding is there is the potential for some really amazing and totally different photographs than you would get otherwise (check out this gorgeous one of Zach and Maria) and also, it’s a perfect opportunity to cuddle up to your new hubby/wife! At the end of the day, if you get to marry the person you love, then everything has gone perfectly.
And do remember, should you wake on your wedding day to grey skies instead of blue, do remember, a good marriage is more than just weathering the storms, it’s learning to dance in the rain!

With the “Wedding Season” (aka Summer) well and truly over, why not consider a winter wedding? We can still get those incredibly beautiful clear days that are simply amazing, over. It just means everyone has to wrap up a little warmer.
Without the high seasonal demands placed upon venues, celebrants etc, you can take your pick. And there are so many gorgeous capes and coats out there to keep you nice and toasty! And think open fires, candles and cosiness!
The main concern, of course, is that the weather is more unpredictable, and a really good wet weather option is definitely to be recommended. Always remember, when planning an outdoor wedding and applying for your marriage certificate, that BDM will want to know the address of your proposed wet weather venue, if it is different from your first choice.
It’s definitely worth some consideration. Got any questions? Want to run some ideas by me? Give me a call on 021 140 6632.

While organising your wedding, you need to decide whether to ban the use of smart phones, cameras and social media, particularly during the ceremony.

In many ways, social media is great. You get to see lots of images that you may not have seen otherwise, but on the minus side, ‘family photographers’ can get in the way of the actual professional photographer who is trying to do a good job for you. Also, you have no control of what photos go up on Social Media or how soon they are there.

If you want your guests to be sharing the moment with you, rather than viewing it through a camera or phone lens, then do give it some thought. There is no right or wrong, but ‘unplugging’ weddings is gaining a lot of popularity. Ultimately though it is completely up to you.

Daylight Savings has begun (woohoo!), and the Wedding Season is on it’s way. Bring it on! Here are some really cute quotes about love and marriage

“I have known many happy marriages, but never a compatible one. The whole aim of marriage is to fight through and survive the instant when incompatibility becomes unquestionable.” ―G. K. Chesterton

“Love without truth is sentimentality; it supports and affirms us but keeps us in denial about our flaws. Truth without love is harshness; it gives us information but in such a way that we cannot really hear it.” ―Timothy Keller

“Forgiveness is not a feeling; it is a commitment.” ―Gary Chapman

“The happiness of married life depends upon making small sacrifices with readiness and cheerfulness.” ―John Selden

“There is no more lovely, friendly or charming relationship, communion or company, than a good marriage.” ―Martin Luther

“A happy marriage is the union of two good forgivers.” ―Ruth Bell Graham