Simple Weddings
Everything you need to know
Thank you for choosing me to be your wedding celebrant!
Here's some information which will be helpful for organising your wedding day.
Planning your Ceremony - step by step
01
Confirm you wedding details
Let me know the date, time and venue of your wedding.
02
Apply for your Marriage Licence
This is done through Births, Deaths and Marriages. More information here.
03
When you receive your Marriage Licence, forward to me
I then take responsibility for all the paperwork.
04
Personalise your ceremony
I’ll need some information from you. You can find all the options here.
05
Fill out the Form and send to me
I will use the information to personalise your wedding and send you a draft.
06
Plan how everything will work on the day
Ensure everything runs exactly how you want to be here.
The Legal Part
In New Zealand, the things you need to do to legally marry are pretty simple…
1. You need a Marriage licence at a cost of $150. You do this through the Births, Deaths and Marriages here. Go through Personalised Marriages to select me as your Marriage Celebrant. I recommend pre-ordering your Marriage Certificate at the same time (this costs an extra $33).
2. You need to be married by a Registered Marriage Celebrant.
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 – we can get creative!).
4. You need two witnesses (they can be anyone, as long as they fully understand what they are witnessing)
5. The two of you, your two witnesses and I, must all sign the marriage licence
6. After the ceremony, I am responsible for ensuring your marriage is registered.
Wedding Wording Options
The central part of a wedding ceremony can be divided into three sections. The Asking, The Vows and The Ring Exchange. Choose one from each of the options here
The Asking
Asking Option One
___ & ____do you wish to share your lives together, to look after one another and live together in your love forever?
We Do
Asking Option Two
I will now ask you, ___ and ___, do you have each come freely, and without reservations, to give yourselves to each other in marriage?
We Do
Asking Option Three
___ and ___, do you promise to honour and respect each other, to remain faithful in your marriage, to offer comfort and care during good times and bad, and to enjoy each other’s love and laughter throughout all your life together?
We Do
The Vows
Vows Option One
I, ___ take you ___, to be my wife/husband,
to have and to hold,
to love and to cherish,
for better or for worse,
for richer, for poorer,
in sickness and in health,
from this day forward,
for as long as we both shall live.
Vows Option Two
I, ______, take you _____ to be my wife/husband
To laugh with you in joy
To grieve with you in sorrow,
To grow with you in love,
To live with you in peace and hope,
As long as we both shall live.
We Do
Vows Option Three
I _____ take you _____
to be my husband/wife.
I promise to be your lover,
companion and best friend,
Your ally in conflict,
Your greatest fan,
and your toughest adversary.
Your comrade in adventure,
and your accomplice in mischief.
You are my equal in all things.
Vows Option Four
I, ____, take you, ___
to be my husband/wife
I take you to be my best friend,
my faithful partner
and my one true love.
I promise to encourage you, inspire you
and to stand beside you
through good times and bad.
I will forever be there,
to lift you up when you are down,
to laugh with you
and to love you
through all the adventures
in our life together.
Ring Exchange
Rings Option One
______, please wear this ring, and the world will know that I am yours and you are mine.
Rings Option Two
______, I give you this ring.
It is my gift to you,
A symbol of my belief in our future,
And of love and pride
that you are my husband/wife.
Rings Option Three
___ I give you this ring
as a sign of my promise
and as a symbol of my love.
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that.
Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”
–
Celebration of Life or Celebration of Love.
The Right Celebrant for You.
