Weddings, Hawke's Bay and beyond
Your words, your day.
I'm a registered marriage celebrant. My job is to make the ceremony sound like the two of you, handle the legal bits so you never think about them, and turn up early with a good pen.
What couples tend to say afterwards.
Early, prepared, calm
I'm the person at the venue before the florist. If something goes sideways on the day, and something usually does, you won't know about it.
It sounds like you
We write the ceremony together. Your story, your words, your jokes if you want them.
The legal side is my problem
Licences, paperwork, the exact words that have to be said. I'll tell you what you need to do and when. That's it.
A sense of humour, used responsibly
Thirty years of community radio and twenty on stage mean I can read a room. Funny when you want funny, still when you want still.
From first chat to signed certificate.
A first conversation
Coffee, a call, or a video chat. You tell me about you. I tell you what I do. If it feels right, we lock the date.
The paperwork
I'll walk you through applying for your marriage licence and what it needs. It's simpler than people fear.
Writing the ceremony
I'll send a draft built from our conversation. You edit, add, cut. We go back and forth until it's yours.
Rehearsal, if you want one
Useful if there's a big wedding party, readings, or nerves. Not compulsory.
The day
I arrive early, meet your people, and deliver the ceremony we wrote. Then I sign the paperwork and get out of your photographs.
Afterwards
I lodge the documents. Your marriage certificate arrives from Births, Deaths and Marriages. You get on with being married.
Weddings, mostly. Not only.
Weddings of every size and shape, including elopements and small registry-style ceremonies. Vow renewals. Commitment ceremonies. If it's about two people saying something true in front of the people they love, I'm interested.
Ceremonies from $550, including our meetings, writing the ceremony, the day itself and lodging your paperwork. Travel beyond 30 km at cost. Full details in the first conversation, no surprises.
You helped to make our wedding one of the most special days of our lives. Your flexibility, professionalism and courtesy met and exceeded our expectations.
We had the privilege of being married by Gray under a lovely big oak tree. He was early, well prepared, and we especially enjoyed his sense of humour. Tailor-made and personal to us.
Questions couples ask
- Can we write our own vows?
- Please do. I'll help if you want help and stay out of the way if you don't. There are a few words the law requires; I'll make sure they're in there.
- How far ahead should we book?
- Summer Saturdays go early, sometimes a year out. Weekdays and winter are much easier. Ask; you might be surprised.
- Do you do religious ceremonies?
- I can, and I'm also very happy doing ceremonies with no religious content at all. It's your day.
- Do you travel?
- Anywhere in Hawke's Bay is home turf. Further afield is fine with travel at cost.
Let's start with a conversation.
Wedding enquiries go through My Wedding Guide. Tell me your date and roughly what you're imagining, and I'll let you know if I'm free and what happens next. Or just call.