What are my fees?

End-to-end ceremony planning, the ceremony itself and all the required paperwork incurs a fee of $595 plus GST. This includes a non refundable deposit of $100+gst that is required at the time of booking to secure your date. If you change your date or cancel your wedding, unfortunately this deposit is non-refundable. The remainder is payable on, or before the day of your wedding rehearsal.

 

If your wedding is based out of Dunedin I may request basic travel expenses to be covered (usually fuel costs only) but I’m happy to discuss this with you – no obligations. Other services may incur additional costs, but again – let’s discuss.

 

Do I travel?

Yes! I’m based in Dunedin, but I’ve officiated weddings from the Mackenzie County to Stewart Island and everywhere in between. I’m more than happy to travel overseas also, however we’ll still have to officiate your wedding back in New Zealand for your marriage to be legally binding.

 

What else can I assist with?

You may wish for me to just be your celebrant, but I can also assist with seating, crowd control, group photograph organisation and reception master of ceremonies should you require it. I have enjoyed a fifteen year career in the hotel industry and have been involved in hundreds of weddings – I know what works and what doesn’t!

 

What’s the “normal” ceremony planning process?

I prefer to meet with you both for an initial, first meeting which takes about an hour (this can be done over Zoom if required also.) There’s no uncomfortable grilling, it’s just a casual chat for me to get a feel for the day you’re planning! From there we correspond on email or phone and I’ll put together a first draft of your ceremony which we will all agree upon in the weeks / month leading up to the wedding. We meet again to finalise content and conduct a half hour dress rehearsal prior to the ceremony at the venue. I ask that all wedding party members be present for the rehearsal, including speakers and parents of the bride and / or groom if they’re part of the ceremony. The venue will need to be made aware of this also please!

 

There seems to be so many rules for wedding ceremonies – what do you legally have to do?

During the ceremony before a marriage celebrant, and before at least two witnesses, each party must say the words "I AB, take you CD, to be my legal wife/husband" or words to similar effect. That’s it! Everything else is tradition and ceremony. Let’s get creative and make it YOUR day! Rings, kissing brides, till-death-do-us-parts, cakes etc are all traditions and can be embraced or ignored! It’s your choice and I’ll happily support whatever kind of ceremony you can dream up!

 

Can I help with the boring bits?

Absolutely! I’ll make sure that you’ve got all the paperwork and legal requirements you’ll need – I can walk you through it all. Please note that up to six weeks before the ceremony you must complete a Notice of Intended Marriage form. You can do this online, I'll provide you with the link. You’ll then be issued with the paperwork to complete on your wedding day, once signed I’ll take it away and ensure it goes back to the right place, leaving you to get on with your celebrations.

 

Can I hold a ceremony in a church?

That will depend on the church – some may be happy for you to use as venue hire only, others will prefer you use their minister or priest. Check this out before you get your heart set on the location! While I am not qualified to represent a religion, I have no problem with a wedding guest reading a prayer, saying a blessing etc. All are welcomed.

 

Can I hold a same-sex marriage?

Yes – I am qualified to officiate both marriages and civil unions. It would be my pleasure to marry you to whoever you love!

 

You're thinking of planning something a bit different – can I help you?

Let me at it! Wedding ceremonies usually take between 20 and 30 minutes, so it’s over in a flash! This is often the part that couples are most nervous about, mostly because it’s all eyes on you and there seems to be an overwhelming amount of “rules” to follow! That’s simply not the case however, and I encourage you to personalise it as much as possible. Do you want to incorporate your vows into the reception? Would you like to do them first thing in the morning followed by a full day of festivities? Would you like to involve every guest in your ceremony? The options are endless!

 

Thanks and I look forward to hearing from you soon!