Helen Rutledge - Auckland Celebrant

25/05/2023

🎀 Pink Ribbon Breakfast 🎀

It was wonderful to join with celebrant colleagues and others in the funeral sector - Auckland Memorial Park & Cemetery, State of Grace Funerals, Auckland & Hibiscus Funeral Services Dil's Funeral Services Aroha Funerals - amongst others, supporting this important cause today.

Pip, Tina and Stephanie put SO much effort into creating a fun event - great food, great company, great craft activity (breast pin cushions!) ... and, best of all, lots of $$$ raised ! Thanks Pip!

24/04/2023

Honouring our dad, Ken Rutledge, and all others who have served our country.
We will remember them.

19/11/2022

I am extremely proud to be alongside these inspirational Life Members of Celebrants Aotearoa New Zealand. Celebrants Aotearoa is a wonderful source of support, affirmation and professional development for celebrants, and I love that CANZ also works so hard to promote awareness of the important role of ceremony in our country!

15/10/2022

What an honour to walk alongside others in their Baby Loss path at our Wave of Light Ceremony last evening. 💜

It was wonderful to be remembering and honoring baby losses ranging from 59 years ago to just 15 days ago ... and every decade between. 💜

Special thanks to Pip and James Auckland Memorial Park & Cemetery for their help in setting up their beautiful venue; Kelly Townsend for co-hosting the ceremony so beautifully; Kathrine from The Celebrant School for being a wonderful support in the background; Sands Auckland Central for your support ... and most of all a huge thank you to all who came along, and your willingness to participate in, and share your path with us. 💜
(Photo credits: Kelly & Kathrine)

09/10/2022

Today marks the beginning of Pregnancy and Baby Loss Awareness week. It culminates with a Global Wave of Light at 7pm on 15th October. A reminder that we have a ceremony at Auckland Memorial Park & Cemetery beginning at 6.30pm. We'd love to see you there. 💜

Today marks the start of Baby Loss Awareness Week 2022.
Join us in raising awareness and breaking the silence around the loss of a baby at any stage of pregnancy, after birth or as an infant 🧡💜

30/09/2022

October is International Baby Loss Awareness Month, with Baby Loss Awareness Day on October 15 culminating in an International Wave of Light.

Along with Auckland Memorial Park & Cemetery and fellow celebrant, Kelly Townsend - Freedom Through Connection , I am proud to be co-hosting a free Wave of Light Remembrance Ceremony with those who are grieving a baby lost during pregnancy or after birth. This will be a special evening of peace, love and remembrance to honour and remember all loved and longed for babies gone too soon.

Our ceremony will start at 6.30pm, and at 7pm people taking part will light a candle in memory of their babies, beginning what will become a continuous wave of light that starts in Aotearoa New Zealand and wraps around the globe ... as others around the world light their candles at 7pm local time.

Whether a recent loss or a grief that has been carried for years; whether you are a parent, grandparent, other family member or friend affected by pregnancy or infant loss ... a warm welcome is extended to all to attend this free event.

While we will have candles available, please feel free to bring your own candle to light.

You are welcome just to turn up, but we would love an RSVP, if possible, to help with catering and candles.

For more information or questions, please either phone or message Kelly or myself.

19/09/2022

What a wonderful opportunity for our community to honour Queen Elizabeth 11 at Auckland Memorial Park & Cemetery with Auckland & Hibiscus Funeral Services this morning. Norm Murray led a service with the perfect balance of great respect and a little light-heartedness. The gifts of marmalade for Her Majesty and memorial book marks for attendees were lovely touches. The beautiful morning tea (complete with cucumber sandwiches and scones, jam and cream) that followed the service was also appreciated! A big thank you to everyone involved in creating this event!

08/09/2022

03/09/2022

A fantastic resource for Fathers' Day

27/05/2022

What a wonderful Pink Ribbon Breakfast at Auckland Memorial Park & Cemetery yesterday! Fellow celebrants and CANZ members Kelly, Cheryl, Danielle, Jayne and myself ... along with a great group of women including Funeral Directors from Aroha, Dils, State of Grace and Forrests Funerals; staff from Harbour Hospice; and from Auckland Memorial Park were treated to a delicious breakfast and given goodie bags to take home! Thanks to the sponsors who ensure that all the funds raised went to this great cause.
A huge thank you to Pip and Tina who go above and beyond to ensure this annual fundraiser is such fun ... and to all the women who really enter into the spirit of it. The pink outfits were amazing ... special mention to the State of Grace Funerals and Aroha Funerals teams whose outfits were incredible!

08/05/2022

After a wonderful 14 week sailing adventure circumnavigating the South Island, I am delighted to be back celebrating marriages at weddings and commemorating lives through funerals. I especially love ceremonies in my local community. How fortunate we are on the Whangaparaoa Peninsula to be able to marry with backdrops like this one from today's wedding at Manly!

27/12/2021

Just to let you all know that my celebrancy is "on hold" until April 2022 while we sail around the South Island of New Zealand with Sail South for Summer Rally .

I look forward to sharing your celebrations on our return.

(Picture credit Laurie Brunot; Photo credit Nicola Edwards)

18/10/2021

15/09/2021

This is a great summary of the role of a funeral celebrant ... and reinforces to me why I love being one! 💖

What does a funeral celebrant do?

⭐A funeral celebrant officiates at funerals, burials, cremations, memorials and the scattering of ashes. Yet, their services provide so much more than that. They bring their compassion, wisdom and experience to the family at a time of sadness, tenderness, reflection and sometimes trauma.

⭐A funeral celebrant will work with the funeral director, listen deeply to the tales of your loved one, help with the order of service and eulogy. Most importantly, a CANZ celebrant’s expertise will ensure they deliver a service that will honour your loved one and your family’s wishes for the ceremony.

⭐However, what makes a celebrant unique is how they hold space. They will ensure the ceremony runs smoothly and honours your loved one, so you and your family can focus on saying farewell while being supported by your friends and family.

⭐Read here to find out more about what a funeral celebrant does:
https://www.celebrantsassociation.co.nz/blog/what-does-a-funeral-celebrant-do/

⭐Find a CANZ Funeral Celebrant to lead your loved one’s funeral and create a beautiful ceremony designed around your wishes.

https://www.celebrantsassociation.co.nz/vcanz-professional-pathways/find-a-celebrant/

14/09/2021

VIRTUAL FUNERALS / MEMORIAL SERVICES DURING COVID TIMES … A REAL OPTION

As New Zealand and Australia continue to have restrictions affecting our ability to join together to commemorate, mourn and farewell our loved ones, we are turning to technology to assist us.

In 2020 I attended professional development opportunities with Wendy Haynes Celebrating This Precious Life - Honest Conversations about Death and Dying (Australia) and with The Celebrant School(NZ) to support me in developing both the confidence and competence to lead on-line funerals and memorial services. Wendy’s “On-line Funeral and Memorial Guide” was an invaluable resource for me as I began to offer this option for families who were unable to meet in person.

My most recent on-line memorial was for a good friend. It was planned as a large ceremony in a community venue, but with NZ’s sudden lockdown, it was changed to a fully on-line event. It was attended by some 150 people from all over the world and we all lit a candle at the beginning and toasted our friend with a “time appropriate” drink at the end. The ceremony combined words, song, photos and video from many family members and friends ... all of whom were able to fully participate from their homes in New Zealand, Australia, and USA.

Here is some of the feedback I received:

“The memorial service captured Y - a Wahine Toa, partner, mother and friend to many - perfectly and everyone was involved -just so seamless right to the end”

“Please pass on my thanks to Helen for the way she ran a very heartfelt and warm Memorial Service for Y. I feel computers can often be seen as an impersonal way of communicating with people, although on this occasion, Helen encouraged and enabled a warm, heartfelt service, that I felt privileged to be part of.”

"The memorial service was a warm connecting gathering in which Y was well celebrated and remembered. Zoom, I didn't think you could do it. I have a lasting visual memory of 100 lit candles in a 100 rooms around the world honouring her spirit and joining us together; somehow silencing the physical distance between us.
I also felt it put us all on the same footing - especially so for her family overseas who, unable to travel, might have felt more excluded had the planned live ceremony been able to go ahead."

“The memorial was very uplifting and informative - so appreciative of the healing and nurturing atmosphere conveyed so beautifully with all your efforts!”

~~~~~~~~~~~~

So … while it is heartbreaking not to be able to get together in person, a virtual event has become a real option … and, as unlikely as it seems, it can feel very personal!

04/08/2021

09/05/2021

THINKING ABOUT AN ELOPEMENT?
Here's a quick read ...

What is an elopement?
And why would you do it?
Find out what you need to know about planning an elopement in this week's blog on CANZ website.
Find a celebrant who is experienced at facilitating and officiating an elopement ceremony.

https://pos.li/2imm97

26/04/2021

ANZAC DAY 2021
I was delighted to be back in Beachlands to lead the Community Anzac Day 2021 Service. The highlight was watching Esme Peters, aged 101, lead the Australian and New Zealand flags into the service. Esme joined the WAAFs in 1943 to honour her pilot brother who had died, while serving overseas, 3 weeks before Christmas 1942. Esme was the only surviving service person from WW2 at the service, and it was wonderful to honour her and the other women and men who have served, and continue to serve, our country.

The theme for Anzac Day this year was ”Service and Sacrifice”, with a particular focus on the role of women who have served. I was impressed by the Beachlands and Maraetai School pupils’ presentations reflecting on the theme … and was also touched by the words by former Australian Prime Minister, John Gordon, and shared by the guest speaker, John Riddick …

"What can we do? Individually it may not be much. But we can at least think on the problems which are in front of us, and be ready to act on our thoughts if the opportunity arises. We can try to best reason out how we may best take our place in the family of nations, and how we may best provide a full and satisfactory life for all our citizens.
We can practise tolerance and understanding. And we can be ready always to defend against attacks, either from within or without, the political freedom, the measure of freedom which we already have.
It will be hard. Without the spur and urgency of a war, it will mean a constant effort from all of us. But I am going to call on your imaginations.
I want you to forget it is I who am standing here. And I want you to see instead Bob Davey. And behind him I want you to see an army; regiment on regiment of young men, dead. They say to you, burning in tanks and aeroplanes, drowning in submarines, shattered and broken by high explosive shells, 'We gave the last full measure of devotion. We bought your freedom with our lives. So take this freedom. Guard it as we have guarded it, use it as we can no longer use it, and with it as a foundation, build. Build a world in which meanness and poverty, tyranny and hate, have no existence.' If you see and hear these men behind me - do not fail them." (John Gorton, 1946)

Thanks to the organising committee – Laura, Margaret and Fred - for creating two great opportunities for the community to commemorate and remember … and to reflect on these words.

The youth in the area, including Te Puru Scout and Pohutukawa Coast Guiding Groups, were a tribute to their community at these events too!

Lest We Forget.

20/03/2021

REMINISCING ONE YEAR ON!
When Angela & Jarrod’s friends sang this gorgeous personalised song for them as part of their wedding ceremony one year ago today, who knew that:
a) Lockdown was looming in 3 days;
b) A global pandemic would mark their first year of marriage; and yet
c) They’d be performing to a full house at Harlequin Musical Theatre’s production of Grease on their first wedding anniversary?! (Directed by George Everts 😊)
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY Angela & Jarrod!!
Grease photos credit: Matt Maingay Photography

23/10/2020

REGISTRY WEDDING AT HOME?
Did you know that you can have a Registry Wedding at any location agreed upon by you and your celebrant … including at your home? I recently married this lovely couple at their home, which, as you can see, was beautifully decorated to match their theme. Thanks to the beautiful bride and groom for sharing these great photos from their wedding day!

26/09/2020

UNPLUGGED CEREMONIES - Great advice from Kouki Photography NZ!

Here are my 6 Reasons to have an Unplugged Ceremony.

07/09/2020

PLANNING A SMALL & INTIMATE WEDDING?
Whether it’s a Registry Wedding or a Personalised Wedding, here’s some good tips!

Smaller, more intimate weddings are becoming the new normal, with lockdown restrictions and COVID-19 changing the way we do ceremonies.

But that doesn’t mean missing out on time-honoured traditions and meaningful rituals. At CANZ, our celebrants have continued to deliver honest, personal ceremonies with integrity and competence despite the impact COVID-19 has had on how ceremonies are conducted.

Through continued professional development, they have adapted and are able to facilitate smaller weddings and online ceremonies where screens are shared with absent friends and family. Regardless of the platform, CANZ celebrants continue to provide ceremonies that honour and include others in the ceremonial space.

Take a look at these top tips for planning a small, intimate wedding, then get in touch to find a CANZ celebrant in your region.



http://ow.ly/JbKA50BgxoG

13/08/2020

Looking forward to helping to create memories in our new Gulf Harbour neighbourhood! Thanks to Karthiga Kanesha for the beautiful photo of Fairway Bay.

13/08/2020

12/06/2020

Choosing a celebrant? Here are some questions that you might like to ask me ..

Choosing the right Celebrant for your ceremony can be challenging. To help you find the right one, we've compiled a list of 7 questions we suggest you ask at your first meeting.

1. How much do you charge and what is included?
2. Do you have a PA System?
3. What would a ceremony look like?
4. What do you wear to ceremonies?
5. How many ceremonies do you do on one day?
6. What happens if you are sick on the day?
7. Are you available for our ceremony date?

You may have other questions, so feel free to private message us or leave a comment below and we'll be in touch to answer your questions.

http://ow.ly/3pKX50zW8D8

02/06/2020

My “go to” and favourite venue for Registry weddings is reopening! Looking forward to Friday weddings with the bonus of lunch at Butler’s Pantry!

We are so excited to announce that we are reopening on Tuesday 9th June. We can't wait to see you all again!

06/05/2020

A REGISTRY WEDDING – IS THIS FOR YOU?
The combination of COVID-19 and the closure of all Registry Offices in New Zealand has many couples thinking about Registry Weddings, and how they look in today’s climate. Many pre-conceived ideas about them are being challenged, and couples who had already been planning this option are thinking “So, can we actually have a Registry Wedding if the Registry Offices are closed?”

Here is my simple Q & A …

Can we?
Yes, you can still have a Registry Wedding … and having been part of a trial in 2018/19 and 2019/20 where celebrants took the role of Registrar, I can attest to the joy inherent in Registry Weddings.

Why?
It’s usually not about saving money (though of course it can be) - couples choose to have a Registry Wedding for many reasons. It may be that they plan a big cultural celebration either overseas or here in New Zealand, and want the legalities completed; it may be that they “just want to get married” and that a big celebration is not their thing; it may be that their families are from different religions or cultures and that the Registry wedding simplifies decisions; it may be that an intimate wedding with those closest to them is exactly what they want; it may be that COVID-19 restrictions make this look like a great interim option, with a big celebration when travel restrictions are lifted. And as many other reasons you might think of!

What? When?
Registry Weddings follow a set script as provided by The Department of Births, Deaths and Marriages (BDM). It does not allow for personalisation apart from saying your own vows if you wish. Registry weddings are only available on weekdays and the venue is agreed upon by the celebrant and the couple. There are limits on the number of people who can attend. There is a set fee for the celebrant of $90 in addition to the licence fee. If you prefer to have a personalised wedding ceremony or want to get married on a Saturday, Sunday or Public Holiday, you should choose another option for your ceremony.

How?
BDM have devolved the responsibility for Registry Weddings to a group of VCANZ celebrants. Couples apply for their licence on line and choose “Registry Wedding” … and at the end of the process choose a celebrant from a list of celebrants in their area. I am very happy to be on that list, and am available for Registry Weddings in the Greater Manukau, Papakura and Gulf Harbour communities.

Any More Questions?
Send me a message or call me to talk about your options.

Photo Credit:
This beautiful photo was taken at a lovely intimate family wedding, where the couple chose a simple, standardised … but beautiful … ceremony.

24/04/2020

ANZAC DAY 2020
As I stood at my gate at dawn, along with so many other New Zealanders and Australians, I was deeply moved hearing the Last Post, The Ode and the Reveille echoing around Beachlands. I had been looking forward to leading our community ANZAC Day service today, so was extremely happy to be able to honour those who served in this small, but significant, way.

07/04/2020

Welcome to my Celebrant page ... my "Lockdown Achievement #1".
Many thanks to the lovely couples who have generously shared their wedding ceremony photos for my Cover Photos💕

07/04/2020

07/04/2020

04/04/2020