Isaac & Nina

COURTYARD WEDDING

20 FEBRUARY 2021 - COSSARS WINESHED

Isaac and Nina took Covid restrictions in their stride - no longer able to have the Fiji beach wedding they were hoping for, “Take 2!” was instead held in the beautiful courtyard at Cossars Wineshed. The vintage couches and festoon lights set the scene… and it was utterly gorgeous.

Throughout Issac and Nina’s relationship, they have learned that true love is not a fantasy, but something that they must consciously choose every day. As well as everyday adventures, they have experienced the hardship of family loss, and the joys of parenting together - and are stronger for it.

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.

Isaac and Nina’s ceremony was full of laughter. We all cracked up when Isaac had to dash from the ceremony to find a forgotten page from the handwritten vows… and when I asked Matthias for the rings, but he had cooler things to do and had disappeared to play (Alyssa shouted for him at the top of her lungs and he came running!).

These two were some of the nicest people I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting. I just know that you will have a beautiful marriage xx

AROHA NUI,

Vic xxx

Photographer - Cassandra Kovacs Photography

Venue - Cossars Wineshed

Matt & Steph

GARDEN WEDDING

23 JANUARY 2021 - BRAMBLE GROVE, KAIAPOI

Matt and Steph were married at the lovely Bramble Grove in Kaiapoi. I was so excited to finally get a chance to visit and I was not disappointed! The intimate backyard setting complete with an outdoor bar had a relaxed atmosphere that the guests absolutely loved.

One of my favourite parts of Matt and Steph’s ceremony was chatting with Matt and his groomsmen beforehand… hearing how the morning had been, doing a final run-through of the script, and calming those pre-ceremony nerves. I love it when a groom acknowledges and allows himself to express his emotions in the lead up to one of the most significant experiences he is ever going to share with his future partner. And who could blame him for being completely overwhelmed with love? Steph was glowing… honestly, the only word I can use is ‘radiant.’ Her smile throughout the day was simply the best and Mel from Mel’s Moments captured her perfectly. The photos speak for themselves.

“Steph, as I stand here with you today, I feel like the luckiest man in the world. I want nothing more than to share my future with you…”

“Matt, you are everything that I could ever dream of in a man. You are my lover, my best friend, my protector, my soulmate, and my home…”

A few other highlights…

• The most gorgeous wee flower girl and ringbearers - such a great way to include children in their special day!

• Finally meeting Mel. I was so grateful that she looked after me in the heat - what an absolute gem.

• One of the guests approaching me after the ceremony and saying how much he had enjoyed it. He explained that he struggles with his hearing but had found my delivery clear and easy to understand. I was touched that he took the time to come and chat - it really meant a lot getting positive feedback.

Thank you both so much for sharing your special day with me xxx it was magical.

AROHA NUI,

Vic xxx

P.S. Get in touch if you want to know more about the ‘Shoe Game!’ (pictured above).

Photographer - Mel’s Moments

Venue - Bramble Grove

“Vic, you were amazing. We really couldn’t have asked for a better celebrant. Thank you sooo much for making the process very easy and answering all of our emails and questions. Thank you very much for all the hard work you put into making our day perfect. We didn’t have to worry about a thing - you had everything covered.”

— Matt + Steph

New Zealand Marriage Celebrants

Learning a little bit more about Marriage Celebrants…

Only those persons appointed by the Registrar-General as Marriage Celebrants and whose name appears in the List of Celebrants in the New Zealand Gazette have authority to solemnise marriages in New Zealand. I was excited to become registered as an Independent Marriage Celebrant on 5th June 2019 and later, to join the Celebrants Association of New Zealand (CANZ).

Why should you book a CANZ member as your Marriage Celebrant?

CANZ members create and facilitate ceremonies and rituals which respond to the diverse needs and values of New Zealand individuals, families and communities. In engaging a CANZ celebrant, you are gaining the assurance of employing a celebrant who belongs to the national professional body, a celebrant who has passed the association’s Code of Ethics and Professional Standards test, and a person who, more often than not, is committed to ongoing professional development with a strong network of fellow celebrants to call on if needed.

So, what is VCANZ?

CANZ has introduced a celebrant validation process known as VCANZ, which is a structured recognition of celebrant training, experience and professional development based on the CANZ body of knowledge. This gives couples additional certainty and greater comfort that a CANZ celebrant meets the professional standards of competency required for celebrant work. Also, only validated celebrants can legally perform Registry Ceremonies, no longer held at Births, Deaths and Marriages offices. I received my VCANZ status on 3rd June 2020 (and I cried LITERAL TEARS of joy!!!).

Why are Registry Ceremonies being held in the community?

Vaughan Millar  (Senior Advisor at Services and Access - The Department of Internal Affairs) tells us more through a short history about the concept of validated CANZ celebrants performing registry ceremonies.

Like most change these days, it started with the Internet. In this case, marriage licence applications could be completed fully online from October 2018, which resulted in less walk-ins to a public counter. Other than signing declarations, the only other major work for the 47 registry offices was performing registry office marriages. With 10,000 appointed marriage celebrants, it made sense to give couples more options and a better customer experience by making better use of this pool of talent. It also provided an opportunity for more work for celebrants. Over the following 12 months the groundwork began to enable the outsourcing of registry weddings to celebrants in the community. 

On 1 July 2019, the registry celebrant service was launched with 59 celebrants signed up in areas outside the centres where BDM had large offices – Christchurch, Wellington, Manukau and Auckland. The next step was taking advantage of the Wellington BDM office move early in 2020. The last day registry wedding ceremonies were held at the Wellington counter was on Friday, 31 January 2020 and on 1 February 2020, that work was handed over to VCANZ celebrants. The plan was to move registry office ceremonies in Christchurch, Manukau and Auckland to validated CANZ members on 1 December 2020 – similar to the process that had been successfully executed in Wellington. However, due to Covid19, this date was brought forward to early March 2020.

As of 12 May 2020, there are 129 registry celebrants spread across the length of New Zealand - BDM are out of the business of performing registry marriages, now sitting entirely with celebrants (including yours truly!).

What does this mean for YOU?

A celebrant is a deeply personal choice - someone who can connect with you and capture the essence of your true self. Their role is to share your story, encompassing your values and beliefs in a way that reflects your relationship. One of the most significant moments of my own wedding ceremony was when our celebrant, Sally, blessed us in te reo, grounding and connecting us to a particular place and time. For you, it may be a reading or a song, maybe a funny anecdote - your ceremony should be uniquely yours. In ten or twenty years time, you may not remember the exact words, but you will remember the way they made you feel. As a validated member of CANZ, and a lover of people and their stories, I am committed to creating something beautiful with you xx

AROHA NUI,

Vic xxx

*Please note: You can find out more about the different ceremonies I provide here.