Jane Grant - Marriage Celebrant

26/08/2024

It is 5 days until the start to spring, which for Celebrants, is the start of the 2024/2025 wedding season!

This year I have enjoyed the experience of a mid-winter wedding in June - in a Tuscan style courtyard with a huge open fireplace to ward off the briskness of the day - a wonderful start to married life for Mr. & Mr. M.

July was a vow renewal celebration - a beautiful gathering of close friends and family in the warmth of an open fire, candles, fairy lights and a string trio - thank you Mr. & Mrs. T for inviting me to share such a special evening with you.

This is a pic from the last wedding for Autumn 2024, which was at the beautiful location of the Old Church, a stunning day! Thank you Mr. & Mrs. B for sharing your photos. (credit to Lisa Fisher Photography)

Looking forward to sharing more special moments as spring 2024 blooms and summer 2025 approaches.

28/08/2023

Wedding ceremony readings are a special way to personalise your wedding ceremony. As celebrants, we’re often asked for suggestions of suitable readings for weddings, as couples sometimes find it hard to find the right words to say.

Fortunately, there is an array of beautiful wedding readings and finding the ones that speak to your heart needn’t be a challenge.

To help you get started, we’ve compiled a list of some of the more popular readings we’ve come across.

Read the top ten wedding reading ideas here: https://www.celebrantsaotearoa.co.nz/blog/top-10-wedding-reading-ideas/

27/08/2023

A reminder that the BDM offices will be closed to the public between 24 December and 6 January, with no registry ceremonies available during this period. Be sure to plan ahead! Once issued, your Marriage Licence is valid for 3 months.

So, you if you’re planning a Registry Ceremony over Christmas/New Year, apply online no later than early December and avoid the Christmas rush and BDM closure.

07/11/2022

Have so enjoyed spring wedding celebrations this year, starting on the first weekend of Spring hoping for the blossoms to make an appearance and finishing on the last spring weekend hoping the blossoms would stay for the occasion! Two beautiful gardens and days of love and special memories.

26/01/2022

There are many parts to your wedding day and the Celebrant holds the role of officiating the legal process and creating memories for you, your family and guests. Finding the person who will fit your style is important and the Celebrants Association of Aotearoa have put together some information that you might find useful:

A marriage celebrant plays an important part of your wedding day. 💍

For couples, who choose celebrant-led weddings, it is important to find the right marriage celebrant: someone they can relate to, someone who fits their preferences, and someone they like.

When you meet with a potential marriage celebrant for the first time, it’s a good idea to have a list of questions prepared, to help you gauge a better understanding of who they are and whether or not you’re the right fit for each other. One important question to ask is:

What experience do you have? 💍

To perform weddings and civil unions in New Zealand, a celebrant must apply to and be registered with the Department of Internal Affairs, Births, Deaths and Marriages. So your first question should be to check that the marriage celebrant is in fact registered to perform a wedding ceremony. But more than that, this question will help you gain insight into the types of ceremonies the marriage celebrant has officiated in the past, and how many weddings they’ve performed, which will help you decide if this is the right celebrant for you.

To find out other important questions to ask a potential celebrant, read here:
https://www.celebrantsaotearoa.co.nz/blog/5-questions-to-ask-your-marriage-celebrant/

21/10/2021

https://www.celebrantsassociation.co.nz/assets/Uploads/Vaccinated-Celebrant-BADGE-Logo.png

15/10/2021

Bridal face masks to compliment one of the key features of a bridal party - the bridal gown!
Annah Stretton has added bridal face masks to her range in white or cream lace.
https://www.annahstretton.co.nz/collections/masks/products/womens-simplistic-lace-bridal-face-mask-white

All Eventwear Masks are made to order and will take 5 to 7 days to be delivered SIMPLISTIC SHAPE - NEW BRIDAL DESIGN Please note - this is a double layer mask - this does not have an option to add a filterIf you need a 3 layered mask - then the "Women's basic 3 pack" is a better option for you, shop...

10/10/2021

A Sand Ceremony brings a special element of connection to a ceremony and can be a great opportunity to include children in a ceremony. There are some beautiful poems that can be read in accompaniment to the Sand Ceremony.
I'm looking forward to the next wedding booked in my calendar that will feature a Sand Ceremony.
This is a great article from CANZ.

Have you seen a Sand Ceremony performed at a wedding ceremony?

Couples pour out separate containers containing different coloured sands, allowing the two sands to mix, symbolising the blending of their lives together.

However you choose to personalise your wedding ceremony and symbolise your union and love for each other, a CANZ celebrant can help you plan a bespoke ceremony that allows you to incorporate your personality and style to create a truly memorable day.

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

08/09/2021

Great range of 'glam' facemasks available online.
Adrienne Winklemann is doing a fab range with crystals and diamantes for special occasions - perfect for a wedding!!

Reusable face masks. Made from vintage fabrics from the AW design room. Double-layered with internal cotton gusset. Elastic finish. Hand wash in warm water after every use. Please note these face masks are not a replacement for hospital-grade equipment. Masks are available in 3 sizes - S/M/L Small:....

08/09/2021

Well, we started in Alert Level 2 today and we are adapting to the many changes in our daily tasks as we emerge back into our workspaces and the community. We also need to do some speedy planning for your spring weddings in the next few weeks. The goal posts have changed for events and gatherings, but lets keep focus on the commitment you are choosing to make to each other. We can tweak the plans while keeping it special, meaningful and making beautiful memories - including the unexpected - QR codes and masks!!
Here are the updated guidelines for weddings in the current Alert Level 2

Advice for people planning to get married or form a civil union, people attending a wedding or civil union and venues hosting these events.