Beth Dunn Celebrant

11/07/2024

And another milestone for me - I am now a brand new National Executive board member of CANZ - Celebrants Aotearoa New Zealand!!!!

A huge thanks to my colleagues Karen Luff and Krissy Christensen for your faith in me, and your beautiful nomination & seconding statements 🙂

An exciting new chapter begins!

08/07/2024

https://www.celebranttraining.co.nz/

02/07/2024

With Celebrants Aotearoa New Zealand – I just got recognised as one of their top fans! 🎉

02/07/2024

I would be delighted to be nominated if you have appreciated my work with you.

https:wildhearts.co.nz/2024-vendor-awards/

27/06/2024

Matariki signals the arrival of the Māori New Year! It is a time to gather together and remember the past—those who have gone before us and the legacy they have left us with. It is a time to reflect on where we are as a community and where we want to be in the future. We wish you all a wonderful day with family and friends.

IMAGE: matariki.com

26/06/2024

Here for you in so many ways!

18/06/2024

I do many Winter Weddings and they are quite special !

Wondering when the best time is to get married? Can’t decide between a summer or a winter wedding? Here at Celebrants Aotearoa, we think any time of the year is the perfect time for a wedding! And our celebrants are ready to work with you, no matter what time of the year it is. So, don’t let the weather hold you back. We’ve outlined the pros and cons of a winter wedding versus a summer wedding to help you choose the best time. Read ‘Winter wedding vs Summer wedding’ on our blog here:
celebrantsaotearoa.co.nz/blog/winter-wedding-vs-summer-wedding

12/06/2024

When you work with a Celebrants Aotearoa celebrant, you’re working with a professional with experience in creating inclusive, family-friendly ceremonies. Having a Celebrants Aotearoa celebrant for your day, means you can spend more time with your guests to enjoy!

Here are five ideas for your baby naming ceremony:
- Signing a special naming certificate
- Creating a time capsule/memory box
- Planting a tree
- Having a guest book
- Making a video

Let a Celebrants Aotearoa member help you create the most beautiful baby naming ceremony.

celebrantsaotearoa.co.nz

12/06/2024

Beth has lots of ideas, when it comes to recognising family members who have passed away, in your Wedding ceremony.
Many couples want to acknowledge parents or grandparents or other missing family members, that they wish could have joined them on their Wedding day.
It may be that the influence they had on the couple’s lives , or the role models that they were of what a marriage looks like, is so important that it must be included.
This can be done in a variety of ways such as mentioning them by name, acknowledging their importance in the lives of the couple, using their photos on the signing table or on a memorial table in the reception area, or even lighting a candle in their honour during the ceremony, which burns throughout the day & night.
Or it may be an empty seat ,or a seat with flowers placed upon it as Bridesmaids walk up the aisle.
One of Beth’s Grooms had his Father’s favourite hat nailed to the Signing table. Another had his Dad’s favourite jacket hanging on the back of a chair, where he could see it throughout the Ceremony.
Several of Beth’s Brides have had a photo of their loved one attached to their bouquet in a small photo frame.
The acknowledgement can be spoken & explained or subtle and known only to the couple – the choice is entirely yours!

Beth Dunn Celebrant
https://weddingwhitepages.com/bethdunn/

09/06/2024

I often share photos of the couples I have had the privilege of marrying & today to celebrate my 40th Wedding anniversary thought I’d share some of my own 🥰🥰🥰

My beautiful Mother made not only my gown, but those of my 4 bridesmaids as well !!! 🤩🤩🤩

08/06/2024

Today in New Zealand, it is mine & Jim's 40th Wedding Anniversary!!

Our Service Ambassador (Waitress) at ATMOSPHERE in the Burj Khalifa, was super impressed and surprised us with this wee treasure!

She said we must have had so much patience & perserverance to have been married so long and she's not wrong.........

It will be our anniversary tomorrow here in Dubai, so we get to celebrate it twice!

We have chosen to share it in Dubai first with Adam, Ffi and Monty, before continuing the celebrations at home, on our return next week.

05/06/2024

Celebrating Pride Month with images of some of my beautiful LGBTQIA+ communities!

26/05/2024

Weddings cause a massive amount of waste. But planning a wedding and making it environmentally friendly can be daunting. You might ask, “Is it more expensive if sustainable?” Or, “Wouldn’t it be easier if I kept to my original plans? No one will notice.”

An eco-friendly wedding doesn’t mean extra work or more money. And deep down inside, none of us want to add to the endless waste.

Going the sustainable route is becoming more common.

More wedding services in New Zealand are starting to cater for the more eco-conscious. We even have celebrants who focus on eco-friendly wedding ceremonies!

Read more on the blog, here: celebrantsaotearoa.co.nz/blog/ten-unique-ways-to-create-an-eco-friendly-wedding

23/05/2024

Getting an invitation to a wedding is special. The couple marrying have planned their guest list and it includes you! Weddings these days come in all shapes and sizes, however some things never change. Rocking up to a wedding has some do’s and don’ts. Read our blog for 20 tips on how to be a great wedding guest.

celebrantsaotearoa.co.nz/blog/how-to-be-a-great-wedding-guest

16/05/2024

I have attended two of these and they truly are special occasions.

Let’s embrace living wakes/funerals! Here’s an excerpt from a recent blog on our website: “We sat in the oncologist’s office digesting the news. Treatment had not worked as hoped and so there we were now looking at palliative care. This I knew plenty about, so we walked out together and went into the city, calling in to our favourite bar overlooking the river. The conversation went like this:

"What do you want to do most over the next few months?"
"Plan everything well so no-one is left with a mess."
"What are you most distressed about?"
"Leaving everyone behind and missing the only decent party I will ever have."
"Why will you miss it?"
"Well I’ll be dead."
"How about you hold it before you die then?"

Read the full blog here:
celebrantsaotearoa.co.nz/blog/embracing-the-living-wake

11/05/2024

And especially to those of us who have lost our beautiful Mothers.

Here's to all the mothers and mother figures in our lives this Mothers' Day.

'Mothers hold their children's hands for a short while, but their hearts forever.' - Author unknown

01/05/2024

24/04/2024

We will remember them ..........

In Flanders Fields
By John McCrae

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Anzac Day in New Zealand is marked throughout the nation to remember and honour those who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations and the contribution and suffering of all those who have served. ‘Lest we forget’.

Arohanui Aotearoa.

22/04/2024

Lovely to receive feedback, after a Celebration of Life Ceremony I took yesterday, for a much-loved Wife, Mother, Mother in Law and Nan-Nan and friend.

"Kia ora Beth,

Thank you for your great work yesterday.
Dad's sister Ruth, thought you were a friend of the family!
Which in my mind, is a huge compliment .
It is a skill to craft an understanding of a family dynamic,
on just one meeting.
Ngā mihi nui
Louise

22/04/2024

Beth enjoys guiding you with the wording you wish to use, when you exchange your Wedding rings.
If you would like her to, she can also craft some introductory words about the significance of Wedding rings and what they represent. She will provide options for you to consider, or assist you to write your own words as well – if required.
She will walk you through the process at your rehearsal of how you will do the exchange and point out tips for making sure that it is captured beautifully by your photographer.
She also has for your use, a really cute Ring Security kit which is always richly enjoyed by the Wedding party and guests alike!

Beth Dunn Celebrant
https://weddingwhitepages.com/bethdunn/

18/04/2024

Congratulations to all my same-sex couples who I have married over the last 8 years!! 🥂🍾😍

17/04/2024

Cantabrians are urged to share their wedding photographs or images encapsulating romance with a New Zealand Portrait Gallery exhibition currently...

17/04/2024

What an exciting opportunity!

Not only are we looking for 'Real Weddings' for our next issue of Canterbury Bride, we're looking for 'Real Elopements' too ✨

♡ REAL ELOPEMENTS CALL OUT ♡

Did you elope in the last year? Or perhaps you, or someone you know, is about to tie the knot this wedding season... If so, we want to hear all about it!

Any elopement held from January 2023 is eligible to be featured, so jump over to our website (link in bio), download our real wedding submission form and send it to us at [email protected] ♡

We can't wait to share your elopement with our Canterbury Bride readers!

Tag someone you think would look great as our next Canterbury Bride cover star!

16/04/2024

I am now a Validated member of the Celebrants Association which allows me to now officiate Registry Weddings & Civil Unions!

15/04/2024

Delighted to have met gorgeous Laura and wonderful Nathan who I married in February this year!

One of their Groomsmen, is an old and dear friend of my daughter, so that was pretty cool.

"From the moment we sat down with Beth we knew straight away that we were in good hands.

We both felt comfortable around her and that we could discuss exactly what we wanted on our Wedding Day.

Beth brings a huge energy and excitement to the day, which we fed off throughout the ceremony, making it extremely fun and relaxed.

She balances being professional whilst also engaging with our guests.

We had no question about choosing Beth to be our Celebrant and we are so pleased that we did.

She made our day relaxing, fun and enjoyable."

Again, thank you so much for the best day ever, honestly words can't explain how fun and easy it was 🙂

14/04/2024

Having been a Celebrant since 2015, Beth has accumulated a wide range of resources which are all available to her couples.
Be it her Ring Bearer kit of suitcases, handcuffs for the case & sunglasses or decorations for your Signing table, Beth has several other resources that she is more than happy to lend you free of charge!
If you don’t want to buy Ring boxes, Flower Girl baskets, Sand Ceremony & Unity Candle containers & pourers, Cake cutting knife & server or easels for signs, then she’s “got your back”!!
Her large pen collection for signing your documents, includes colours to match your colour scheme and she has a large collection of hearts – wooden, metal & wooden for decorating your venue.
Her wireless speaker and microphones, Signing tables & a lectern are also available at no cost to you.

Beth Dunn Celebrant
https://weddingwhitepages.com/bethdunn/

IMAGE Paul Wilson Photography

14/04/2024

I have had the privilege several times now of pre-planning with clients.

Thinking about the death of a loved one or our own death is often a reach too far and is frequently ignored. However, it is worth thinking about what type of farewell you or your loved ones would like when you die so your wishes can be fulfilled. It will make it much easier for them when the time comes.

The first place to start is to find out what type of farewell you or your loved one envisage: a funeral, a memorial and a celebration of life. Planning the more delicate details is easier once you have decided on what type of ceremony you would like.

Thinking about what happens after you die can be a little daunting, but it is so important.

Read more on the blog, here: https://www.celebrantsaotearoa.co.nz/blog/how-do-you-want-your-life-to-be-celebrated-when-you-die/ ‘

08/04/2024

Rest assured, my primary goal is to assist you to design your Ceremony to be 100% YOURS!

One of the first things to consider when planning your wedding is the type of ceremony that would best suit you and your partner. With marriages officiated by independent secular celebrants booming in popularity over religious or civil ceremonies, there are a multitude of fun and creative options available. Marriage celebrants focus on getting to know you and help you to create a ceremony that brings all your dreams and wishes to life for your special day.

So, how do wedding celebrants go about creating a bespoke ceremony for you?

Read how on the blog, written by digital content producer and researcher, Stuart Bloom: https://www.celebrantsaotearoa.co.nz/blog/how-do-wedding-celebrants-go-about-creating-a-bespoke-ceremony-for-you/

05/04/2024

How cool would it be, to reunite these photos with their subjects!

An autumn spring clean has prompted a Christchurch resident to appeal for help tracing the owners of a wedding album which lay undetected on a...