Tag Archive: gay weddings New Zealand

Best Marriage Proposals ♥ Art Museum

lucky in love, auckland wedding celebrant, auckland marriage celebrant, kumeu celebrant, same sex marriage, gay friendly celebrant, west auckland celebrant, lgbt weddings

This moment when a woman asked her girlfriend to marry her has gone viral, and it’s mostly thanks to the reaction of a bystander – look at that excitedly shocked face of the woman in the background : )

Reportedly the happy, stylish couple are Jessica Rodriguez and Chelsea Miller. Jessica got down on one knee and asked for Chelsea’s hand in marriage at the Art Institute of Chicago – a venue chosen because of the couple’s shared love of art.

“If someone could describe our love it could only be done through a work of art,” Jessica wrote on Instagram. “It is happy, fun, chaotic, inspiring and strong.”

How beautiful.

Word is they’ve been in contact with the older woman in the photo, and even plan to invite her to their wedding!

We wish this beautiful couple all the best with their planning.

Here’s the video!

Cultural Weddings ♥ Serbian Weddings

lucky in love, marriage celebrant, auckland celebrant, weddings, matakana weddings, matakana celebrant, waiheke wedding, waiheke celebrant, kumeu celebrant, kumeu weddings, north shore celebrant, same sex marriage, gay friendly celebrant

Seeing as My Darling Husband is Serbian I was interested to see what a traditional Serbian Wedding involved. I found this post of a western Bride’s account of her marriage to a Serb which is hilariously fabulous…makes me wish we’d have done it Serb-style! Check out the highlights:

Rent-a-dress

There is no dress frenzy. Rather than spending thousands of dollars on a dress you only get to wear once, Serbian brides simply rent one for a fraction of the cost. Brilliant, huh?

The bachelorette

Pre-wedding festivities in Serbia are radically different from the North American blitz of engagement parties, bridal showers, bachelorettes, spa days, and hair and makeup trials. There is little doting over brides in the days preceding (or even the day of) the wedding.

After several days of hard drinking and dancing in Belgrade’s numerous bars, cafes, and splavs (floating nightclubs), I found myself on my last day of singledom sitting in a small café with my sister-in-law, Aleksandra. Chain-smoking and pounding back vodka

The crowning moment

I insisted that the wedding take place in Belgrade’s Saborna Crkva, the cathedral in which Serbian King Peter was crowned in 1904.

This sense of majesty is extended even further in the symbolic crowning common to all Orthodox wedding ceremonies. The typical Saborna Crkva wedding involves large golden crowns.

My princess-excitement hit full throttle as the chanting priest crowned me and we walked around the cathedral, my train floating happily behind. I had no idea what the hell the choir was singing or what the Orthodox priest was asking me, but I felt pretty spectacular with a big-ass crown on my head.

Ain’t no party like a Belgrade party

This brings me to yet another difference between North American and Serbian wedding traditions: absent is the obscene “once in a lifetime” money-spending on tabletop decor, vintage-inspired Etsy finds, gourmet hors d’oeurves, photobooths, and commemorative take-home junk for guests.

There aren’t even any speeches, embarrassing garter belt removals, or “win the centerpiece” games. Rather, the hallmarks of solid Serbian wedding receptions are meat laden platters, hard drinking immediately following the ceremony, the kolo (joyous dancing in circular formation), and rambunctious Gypsy brass bands. I was on-the-floor drunk by the time the cake arrived, two giant firecrackers blazing out of its sides.

Read the full account here.

Keep the romance alive

lucky in love, marriage celebrant, auckland celebrant, weddings, matakana weddings, matakana celebrant, waiheke wedding, waiheke celebrant, kumeu celebrant, kumeu weddings, north shore celebrant, same sex marriage, gay friendly celebrant

These are things we all know, but need to be reminded of. Here’s some tips proven by professionals…

Show your appreciation every day. “From morning until night, couples have the opportunity to offer words of affirmation, appreciation and adoration to one another as well as the chance to offer nonverbal cues as well” Nonverbal cues are anything from a wink to a kiss to a smile. What can you do to celebrate your partner today?

Surprise your partner. Small surprises also make the everyday special, according to Barton Goldsmith, Ph.D., a psychotherapist and author of Emotional Fitness for Couples. He suggested leaving a love note on the fridge, in the shower or in your partner’s pocket; leaving a loving or sexy voicemail; or sending a card to work. How about breakfast in bed, flowers or even a singing telegram at work.

Block out time to be together. “At the beginning of a relationship, the excitement and anxiety of connecting with a new partner makes time together a top priority,” said psychologist Ryan Howes, Ph.D. “When that urgency goes away and we start to feel comfortable, time for the relationship becomes a lower priority.” And, of course, it becomes especially tough to find spontaneous pockets of time when you’re working, taking care of a family and already feeling exhausted. But as Howes said, “if we don’t make time to feed the relationship, it withers.” Schedule a time each week for just the two of you — with few exceptions. See a movie or dine out. Or do something more low-key like talking, listening, cooking or just lying on the couch together. “The idea is to make each other a priority,” Sumber said.

Devise your dream getaway. Together, look at brochures or websites and discuss what a great getaway would look like. “Even if you don’t have the time or money right now, the process may be just what you need to inspire yourselves,” Goldsmith said.

Take turns planning dates. This way one partner isn’t doing all the planning and organizing. “It also allows us to think about what our partner might really desire that we may not be doing often enough,” Sumber said.

Mix things up. Routines are par for the course in a long-term relationship. But you can easily break them! “Doing new things together releases oxytocin in the brain, which is one of the chemicals that makes us feel all atwitter when a relationship is fresh,” Goldsmith said. Enjoy a trip together, try out new restaurants or take a day off to be with each other, Howes said. In other words, “Zig where you usually zag once in a while,” he said.

Take a class together. This also is a great way to bust out of a relationship rut. “Learning something new together will make you both feel more connected and help you discover parts of your relationship that may have been hidden,” Goldsmith said. Try a cooking class or a sports lesson such as golf or tennis. Goldsmith even suggested taking a CPR class.

Pick activities that are out of the ordinary. Out-of-the-ordinary activities also shake up ruts and routines. Feast your eyes on the full moon or throw a costume or theme party, Goldsmith said.

Spend 30 minutes a day just talking. According to Howes, this helps couples maintain a deeper connection. Consider asking your partner about his or her day or even his or her greatest fear, he said. Discuss what you want from your relationship and what you appreciate about each other.

Ask them anything you’re curious about, Howes said. “There are probably a few hundred facts about your partner that you are unaware of,” Goldsmith said. Talk to them about their favorite things, dreams and passions.

Do chores. When you think romance, the last thing that pops into your head is mopping, washing the dishes and scrubbing the toilet. But many people feel loved and cared for when their partners help out around the house, Howes said.

Remember what first sparked your love. Doing so helps you appreciate where you are now as a couple, Goldsmith said. If it’s possible, he suggested going back to the place you met and reliving your first date.

Give up a grudge. Resentment kills romance, Howes said. A grudge builds a wall between partners, he said. “Make forgiveness a regular part of the relationship by expressing how you feel, trying to understand what happened, asking for assurance it won’t happen again and then letting go by deciding not to hold the misdeed over your partner’s head,” he said.

Have a lazy weekend together. Pick a day to just do nothing with your partner, Goldsmith said. “Spend a day as human beings rather than human-doings.” These lazy days will feel revitalizing and bring you closer.

Do more things together. These don’t have to be grand gestures. Just going to bed and waking up together and eating together can go a long way, Goldsmith said.

Be intimate. “Intimacy is not negotiable in a healthy, long-term partnership,” Sumber said. “Touch is one of the most nurturing forces in the universe,” Goldsmith said. If you’re iffy on your partner touching you, it’s important to explore what’s going on and work on it, he said. Communication builds intimacy, according to Sumber. “Intimacy is all about connection, openness, and vulnerability, so fostering healthy, consistent communication is the bridge to regular intimacy,” Sumber said. This means hearing and listening to your partner and truly wanting to understand what they’re saying.

Eat at the dinner table. Have a romantic dining experience at home – turn the tv off and focus on each other and the food that was made with love.

Technology free nights. This is one of my favourites – tune out and tune into your partner. Make it a massage night or have a cosy early night reading in bed together.

Celebrity Weddings ♥ Nicky Watson & MKR Pete Evans

lucky in love, marriage celebrant, auckland celebrant, weddings, matakana weddings, matakana celebrant, waiheke wedding, waiheke celebrant, kumeu celebrant, kumeu weddings, north shore celebrant, same sex marriage, gay friendly celebrant

You’re going to have to buy New Idea to get all the goss.

All I can say is that this woman who was a skanky D-list celeb (only in NZ) has come out on top and unlike what I imagine her first wedding to weird multi-millionaire Eric Watson, this wedding looks lovely and she looks the most normal I’ve ever seen in the tabloids.

Cute & Quirky Wedding Day Ideas ♥ Ring presentation

lucky in love, marriage celebrant, auckland celebrant, weddings, matakana weddings, matakana celebrant, waiheke wedding, waiheke celebrant, kumeu celebrant, kumeu weddings, north shore celebrant, same sex marriage, gay friendly celebrantlucky in love, marriage celebrant, auckland celebrant, weddings, matakana weddings, matakana celebrant, waiheke wedding, waiheke celebrant, kumeu celebrant, kumeu weddings, north shore celebrant, same sex marriage, gay friendly celebrantlucky in love, marriage celebrant, auckland celebrant, weddings, matakana weddings, matakana celebrant, waiheke wedding, waiheke celebrant, kumeu celebrant, kumeu weddings, north shore celebrant, same sex marriage, gay friendly celebrantlucky in love, marriage celebrant, auckland celebrant, weddings, matakana weddings, matakana celebrant, waiheke wedding, waiheke celebrant, kumeu celebrant, kumeu weddings, north shore celebrant, same sex marriage, gay friendly celebrantlucky in love, marriage celebrant, auckland celebrant, weddings, matakana weddings, matakana celebrant, waiheke wedding, waiheke celebrant, kumeu celebrant, kumeu weddings, north shore celebrant, same sex marriage, gay friendly celebrantlucky in love, marriage celebrant, auckland celebrant, weddings, matakana weddings, matakana celebrant, waiheke wedding, waiheke celebrant, kumeu celebrant, kumeu weddings, north shore celebrant, same sex marriage, gay friendly celebrantlucky in love, marriage celebrant, auckland celebrant, weddings, matakana weddings, matakana celebrant, waiheke wedding, waiheke celebrant, kumeu celebrant, kumeu weddings, north shore celebrant, same sex marriage, gay friendly celebrantlucky in love, marriage celebrant, auckland celebrant, weddings, matakana weddings, matakana celebrant, waiheke wedding, waiheke celebrant, kumeu celebrant, kumeu weddings, north shore celebrant, same sex marriage, gay friendly celebrant

lucky in love, marriage celebrant, auckland celebrant, weddings, matakana weddings, matakana celebrant, waiheke wedding, waiheke celebrant, kumeu celebrant, kumeu weddings, north shore celebrant, same sex marriage, gay friendly celebrantlucky in love, marriage celebrant, auckland celebrant, weddings, matakana weddings, matakana celebrant, waiheke wedding, waiheke celebrant, kumeu celebrant, kumeu weddings, north shore celebrant, same sex marriage, gay friendly celebrant lucky in love, marriage celebrant, auckland celebrant, weddings, matakana weddings, matakana celebrant, waiheke wedding, waiheke celebrant, kumeu celebrant, kumeu weddings, north shore celebrant, same sex marriage, gay friendly celebrant

Here are some cute alternatives for your ringbearer to carry instead of the rings on a pillow or in a box.
Our little Jack Russell carried our rings down the aisle in a Tiffany pouch tied to her collar – she stole the show!!
If you go for the last option – you would have to make sure your ringbearer is over 18!!

 

 

 

Quirky Wedding Themes

lucky in love, marriage celebrant, auckland celebrant, weddings, matakana weddings, matakana celebrant, waiheke wedding, waiheke celebrant, kumeu celebrant, kumeu weddings, north shore celebrant, same sex marriage, gay friendly celebrant lucky in love, marriage celebrant, auckland celebrant, weddings, matakana weddings, matakana celebrant, waiheke wedding, waiheke celebrant, kumeu celebrant, kumeu weddings, north shore celebrant, same sex marriage, gay friendly celebrant lucky in love, marriage celebrant, auckland celebrant, weddings, matakana weddings, matakana celebrant, waiheke wedding, waiheke celebrant, kumeu celebrant, kumeu weddings, north shore celebrant, same sex marriage, gay friendly celebrant lucky in love, marriage celebrant, auckland celebrant, weddings, matakana weddings, matakana celebrant, waiheke wedding, waiheke celebrant, kumeu celebrant, kumeu weddings, north shore celebrant, same sex marriage, gay friendly celebrant lucky in love, marriage celebrant, auckland celebrant, weddings, matakana weddings, matakana celebrant, waiheke wedding, waiheke celebrant, kumeu celebrant, kumeu weddings, north shore celebrant, same sex marriage, gay friendly celebrant lucky in love, marriage celebrant, auckland celebrant, weddings, matakana weddings, matakana celebrant, waiheke wedding, waiheke celebrant, kumeu celebrant, kumeu weddings, north shore celebrant, same sex marriage, gay friendly celebrant lucky in love, marriage celebrant, auckland celebrant, weddings, matakana weddings, matakana celebrant, waiheke wedding, waiheke celebrant, kumeu celebrant, kumeu weddings, north shore celebrant, same sex marriage, gay friendly celebrant lucky in love, marriage celebrant, auckland celebrant, weddings, matakana weddings, matakana celebrant, waiheke wedding, waiheke celebrant, kumeu celebrant, kumeu weddings, north shore celebrant, same sex marriage, gay friendly celebrant

Ok, so we all heard about the Pastafarian wedding… here are some more unique themes – and they don’t involve monsters, pirates or pasta!

The Walking Dead – check out the Bride with the machine gun!

Star Wars

Wizard of Oz – this couple are following the yellow brick road…

Disneyland

Alice in Wonderland

Game of Thrones

Lucha Libre

Pirate Pastafarian Wedding ♥ WTF

 


Did you see the news tonight? I’m an Independent Marriage Celebrant meaning I believe couples should celebrate their marriage in the way they want, but I’m just not sure what to think about this.
While I was marrying a gorgeous couple in a very traditional church with a beautifully touching ceremony some crazy couple in NZ were being married on a pirate ship, dressed as pirates and wearing colanders of spaghetti – all in the name of a ridiculous satirical ‘religion’ called the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster with followers dubbed Pastafarians.
I’m all for a good pirate wedding and would love to officiate one, however when the registrar general can grant this non-traditional sect an official celebrant – and not allow Ratafari or Jedi to become celebrants, it’s just not cool.
The main thing is this couple expressed their personalities and love in the way they wanted to (which is what every wedding I perform is like – except my couples don’t need outrageous costumes or cooked pasta to celebrate their love and commitment to one another)!
Wouldn’t you love to be married by Chewbacca, Yoda and Princess Leia?!
May the force be with you.

 

 

Signs Your Best Friend Will Be A Bridezilla

lucky in love, marriage celebrant, auckland celebrant, weddings, matakana weddings, matakana celebrant, waiheke wedding, waiheke celebrant, kumeu celebrant, kumeu weddings, north shore celebrant, same sex wedding, gay friendly celebrant

She has Way Too Many “Wedding” Boards

She Doesn’t Leave the House Without her Wedding Planning Folder

She’s Been Campaigning for a Husband

She Asked for a Better Engagement Ring

Her Birthday is a Declared Holiday

She Throws Crying Fits Often

She Already Has her Dress

She Thinks She Could Do a Better Job than her Professional Vendors

She Micromanages Everything

She Wants Several Outfit Changes

She Loves the Sound of her Own Voice

For the full report check out rantchick.com

 

 

 

 

TV Couples ♥ True Blood

lucky in love, marriage celebrant, auckland celebrant, weddings, matakana weddings, matakana celebrant, waiheke wedding, waiheke celebrant, kumeu celebrant, kumeu weddings, north shore celebrant, same sex wedding, gay friendly celebrant

Speaking of tv shows – If you haven’t watched (what now must be) cult tv classic True Blood – you have to!
It stars New Zealand’s very own Anna Paquin as Sookie a telepathic fairy who falls in love with 167-year-old vampire Bill (who doesn’t look a day over 25).

And that’s the believable part. But through every season’s twists and turns, just when we find ourselves scratching our heads at Sookie’s loyalty and attraction to Bill, he’ll find a way to redeem himself, at least temporarily. We can’t pretend to know where their story is headed, but this supernatural super couple (played by real-life married couple Stephen Moyer and Anna Paquin) will be fun to watch along the way.

But I think Sookie and Bill’s tv love story highlights opposites attract and you can’t help who you fall in love with!

And I found this fantastic blog: 6 Things You Learn from Watching True Blood

1. Nobody is normal.

Sookie is half human, half fairy. Bill is a vampire. Crystal is a were-panther. Sam is a shifter. The point is, each of them felt like a freak, until they started meeting more of their kind or of other types of supernatural creatures. Everybody has something that makes them unique and that they worry others will scrutinize.

2. Telling the truth hurts a lot less than comforting someone with a lie.

Learn from Bill’s blunder, which lost him Sookie. He lost her because he couldn’t be honest with her. Sookie wasn’t mad that the reason he originally sought her out was because Sophie-Ann the vampire queen of Louisiana told him to. She was mad because in all their time together, he never told her the truth about how they met. (Okay how they met was also problematic, but she was more upset about the lie.) So, next time you think about lying, even as an omission, think of how Bill lost Sookie.

3. You can’t change who you are, so you might as well embrace it.

Sookie spent a lot of her life wishing that she could change who she was. Sure, she’s a half human, half fairy who can read minds, and on the scale of normal, she’s not even on it. She thrives on danger, and by the time season four rolls around, she just decides to go with it and no longer allows it to throw her off or take her by surprise.

4. Don’t go it alone when you have friends that care about you.

If I’ve learned anything from watching four seasons of “True Blood” (and several seasons of “Supernatural” and other shows about supernatural beings), it’s that bad things happen when you isolate yourself. The season four example of this is when Eric goes to confront the witch on his own and loses his memory. Moral of the story: If you have people who want to go through this crazy life by your side, you should let them.

5. Everyone is special.

This one kind of goes along with the “Nobody is normal” lesson, but it gets its own bullet point based on Episode six when Jason has a conversation with Jessica. He says that he wishes he was special like Sookie. Jessica looks at him and says, “Now look at you. How can you not think that you’re special?” The truth of the matter is everyone has someone that makes them special, but sometimes, you struggle to see it yourself.

6. When in doubt, the vampires can help deal with the other supernatural creatures and keep your life interesting.

Let’s face it, Bill and Eric fix all of Sookie’s problems, unless her problems are of the vampire type. When they end up creating the problems, Sookie has a run for her money. Good or bad, she never has a dull moment.

Awesome!

Wedding Traditions ♥ The Bouquet

lucky in love, marriage celebrant, auckland celebrant, weddings, matakana weddings, matakana celebrant, waiheke wedding, waiheke celebrant, kumeu celebrant, kumeu weddings, north shore celebrant, same sex wedding, gay friendly celebrant

Until modern times, brides did carry garlic and dill. The practice probably originated from the time of the plague, when people clutched the herbs over their noses and mouths in a desperate effort to survive.

Survivors of great tragedy can affix tremendous protective powers to anything that has provided comfort, and the herbs made it into the ceremony marking renewal.

Thankfully, over time, brides added better-smelling and prettier looking flora to the arrangement, and a whole dictionary of meaning arose to define each type of blossom.