Tag Archive: North Shore Marriage Celebrant

Introducing Mrs Wendy & Tamara Matthews!

I had the pleasure of marrying the lovely Wendy and Tamara one week ago today!

The sun was shining on this couple in Cornwall Park where they were married under the shade of a tree overlooking green paddocks (and a few sheep!). The backdrop suited their grounded and serene personalities beautifully.

These ladies made the journey to NZ to make their 10 year partnership ‘official’ and I’m sure they believe it was well worth it, combining their honeymoon into it.

With friends as witnesses, in person, and in spirit, the ceremony was full of laughter and love.

Happy first week anniversary Mrs Wendy & Tamara Matthews!!

Aroha mai, aroha atu!

Kimberly Sanders Marriage Celebrant, Auckland Lucky in Love Wedding Day Event Management
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What's your top Honeymoon destination?

At last!!! My Darling and I finally booked our delayed tropical honeymoon!!! I am sooo excited!!! We actually had a cool honeymoon at a bach (beach house) on a private beach in NZ, but we always thought we would go somewhere tropical when winter got here, but of course, life got in the way and we’re only just doing something about it. A year late, is better than never!
So, here are my top romantic honeymoon picks… what are yours??

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Private Beach Bach, New Zealand

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Paradise Suite, Yasawa Group, Fiji
This is the description listed for our honeymoon resort…Situated facing the amazing waters of Paradise Cove, the 1 bedroom Beachfront Paradise Suite offers luxurious serenity, a private plunge pool, hanging day beds, total opulence.

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The Royal Hawaiian Pink Palace, Waikiki, Hawaii

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Overwater Bungalow, Bora Bora, Tahiti

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The Maldives

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♥. Any Ice Hotel where you can see the Northern Lights

 

Marriage is about love – not gender.

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I’m thankful to say marriage is now a legal option in New Zealand for ‘same-sex’ couples (since 2013). I hate the way we even differentiate ‘gay’ couples with the ‘gay’ or ‘same-sex’ label. Do I go around calling myself part of a ‘heterosexual mixed-race’ couple? (My husband is a very handsome man, I’m European/American and My Darling is NZ/European/Maori). No.

Marriage is about love – not gender. Or anything else.

Very tragic to think that some countries still treat gay couples with discrimination which reminds me of how draconian our world still is. Hopeful though if we think back to the time where marriages between people of different colour and religion were also not accepted by the mainstream. But I guess, who wants to be mainstream!

This post comes in the week that I actually officiated my first ‘same-sex marriage’, having the privilege of marrying two very lovely ladies whose partnership is one of the most grounded I’ve experienced and full of lots of laughter – the ceremony was so relaxed and full of humour. And that really is something special to celebrate – particularly when they had to leave their own country (Australia who still do not allow the same human rights to everyone) and travel to New Zealand to make their union ‘official’.

The other major event which happened for me this week was the complete opposite of that happy occasion. With a very heavy heart I sadly said goodbye to my cousin. Among many many beautiful qualities he possessed he always appeared to approach everything in life with a kind loving nature and a great big smile on his face. No matter what adversity this thing called life presented to him.

My gorgeous cousin was a loving husband to his husband for over two decades. Looking back through his photos there’s one of them way back in 1994 celebrating their ‘marriage’ with a fully spectacular ceremony including the grooms dressed in top hats and big purple silk cravats – very 1990s!!

Those cravats weren’t the only brave thing about that ceremony though – for me, it is the fact that in the States and in most of the world – the early 90s were still a time of discrimination against people choosing to love differently from heterosexuals.

My cousin leaving this world is a shock to us all. And it has had me doing alot of thinking, especially that wedding photo. Even though I never thought of it this way because I don’t consider gay couples any differently, however I realise that in these times being ‘different’ is still a big thing no matter what you’re looked upon differently for.

So, I am really proud and have much admiration for my cousin and his caring husband, for celebrating their love for each other in such times, with their families and friends there to support them. I just wish he was here so I could tell him personally.

And that is what it is all about – love.

Our love is with you always cuz.

Love is…

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Do you remember these Love is… cartoons? If you’re my age or more you’ll remember them from the ’70s – they were really popular and I especially remember the cute little books they came in.

What I didn’t know until today when I googled was they were created by a New Zealand cartoonist Kim Casali (nee Grove) in the late 1960s, originating from a series of love notes that Grove drew for her future husband, Roberto Casali.

How cute is that??

It’s very sad to read that Kim stopped working on the cartoon in 1975 so she could spend more time with her beloved husband Roberto – the inspiration for Love is… who was diagnosed with terminal cancer.

From that time Casali commissioned London-based British cartoonist Bill Asprey to take over the writing and drawing of the daily cartoons for her, under her pen name. Asprey has produced the cartoon continuously since 1975. Upon her death in 1997, Casali’s son Stefano took over Minikim, the company which handles the intellectual rights.

The strip was first published in 1970, under the pen name “Kim”, and was syndicated soon after. One of her most famous drawings, “Love Is…being able to say you are sorry”, published on February 9, 1972, was marketed internationally for many years in print, on cards and on souvenirs. The beginning of the strip coincided closely with the 1970 film Love Story. The film’s signature line is “Love means never having to say you’re sorry.” At the height of their popularity in the 1970s the cartoons were earning Casali £4-5 million annually. Incredible money back in the day! The strip is syndicated worldwide by Tribune Media Services.

Heartstopping Wedding

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As if wedding days aren’t heartstopping enough!

The Herald reported this story…

A Northland couple had a dramatic start to married life after the groom had to be brought back to life minutes before exchanging vows with his beloved.

Malcolm Jondahl had just finished dressing for his big day when he collapsed.

Bridesmaid Hannah Fraser, who spoke to the Herald on Sunday on behalf of Jondahl and his bride Tanya, said Jondahl had been diagnosed with heart disease, but had never collapsed before.

A nurse who was a guest at the wedding on a farm in remote Parakao, 45km west of Whangarei, last Saturday performed CPR as Tanya was rushed to his side, Fraser said.

“He came around as Tanya arrived. By the time the [rescue] helicopter arrived the decision had been made to [still] get married.”

Friends and family watched as Jondahl, who was lying down, exchanged vows with his sweetheart in a shortened ceremony, she said.

The Whangarei couple, aged in their 30s, then left for Whangarei Hospital by Northland Emergency Services Trust rescue helicopter.

“Tanya went to hospital in her wedding gown and their honeymoon has been spent in the coronary care unit.”

Last night he was in a satisfactory condition.

Trust pilot Russell Procter was part of the crew that flew to Jondahl’s aid. They did not know the emergency was at a wedding until they flew overhead, Procter said.

“I said [to the other pilot] ‘let’s hope it’s not the groom’. As it turned out it was.”

Tanya, who was kneeling next to her new husband, told the paramedic they “rushed through” the wedding before the helicopter arrived.

“The paramedic said words to the effect of ‘get a man while he’s down’ … they had a good old laugh.”

Jondahl was alert and the couple made it clear they wanted the estimated 100 guests to continue the celebration in their absence.

“As they left [she] said ‘just make sure everyone enjoys themselves and has a good afternoon. We’ll be okay’,” Procter said.

Despite the situation, there was a “happy feeling” on the helicopter as they made the 12 minute journey to Whangarei Hospital.

“They were married, but not the way they planned it.”

The couple later snapped a selfie in the hospital’s emergency room. In it, Tanya remains in her wedding gown and the pair smile broadly for the camera.

Fraser said they wanted to mark the occasion, despite Jondahl’s health scare.

“They took it to mark that they were married despite being in the emergency room and all that had happened and [it] shows them happy to be married.”

The couple wanted to thank the helicopter crew and Whangarei Hospital staff for their care, she said.

“They’ve been fantastic.”

They wouldn’t say if they have children, but Malcolm has posted photographs on his Facebook page describing himself as the father of a young son.

He began studying as a chef at North Tec in 2007, the same year he won Northland’s Best Pie competition with his recipe of smoked marlin and paua pie. He had previously spent two years working as a cook in Canada.

The couple hoped in future “to have the wedding and honeymoon they wanted”, but did not want to talk about Jondahl’s prognosis, Fraser said. “They are hoping that he will recover.”

Helpful Wedding Hint ♥ How to Pin Buttonholes & Corsages

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It’s not often you have to pin a buttonhole or corsage flower – until you’re involved in a wedding!

No matter how many you do, I don’t think they get any easier. As the wedding co-ordinator recently I was called on to help pin quite a few – at the last minute in the boiling afternoon heat it was quite a feat to get them positioned just right.

So you don’t get caught out here are some tips from Best Blooms in Auckland. You can also order a free Guide to Wedding Flowers.

Check out Blossom Wedding Flowers which I found has some great ideas for buttonholes and corsages and a great guide to monthly flowers for your wedding.

But my best helpful hint is to ask your florist to use magnets instead of pins – so much easier to attach to any suit or dress – and no danger of pin-pricked fingers!!

Best Wedding Band EVER!!! Maroon 5 ♥ Sugar

Now if this is actually true it would be TOTALLY AMAZING!!!

It reminded me of The Noodles who played at a wedding I worked at on the weekend who said they feel like Wedding Crashers!!

Now, you wouldn’t mind Adam Levine crashing your wedding and serenading you would you??!!

Introducing the beautiful Mr & Mrs Griffiths!!!

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CONGRATULATIONS TRACEY & HAYDEN!!With a gorgeous couple, a Wairarapa vineyard estate as the backdrop and no expense spared with attention to the country rustic chic theme this was a truly warm and wonderful day.Adding to the magical festivities was the cocktail hour on the lawn under the big tent decorated with floating white lanterns, then the dancing under the stars on the deck to The Noodles band!

Thank you to the beautiful Bride and handsome Groom and the gorgeous Mother of the Bride for letting me be a part of it all and help co-ordinate the big day for you. xx

Celebrity Weddings ♥ Cameron Diaz & Benji Madden

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Another New Year wedding was Cameron Diaz and Benji Madden! It all happened at their Beverly Hills mansion on Monday 6 January. We’re still waiting for wedding snaps – so this pic of them pecking on the lips is all we’re getting for now.

Glamour magazine reports the pair, who have been dating since May, are thought to have got engaged just before Christmas. The 35-year-old rocker and 42-year-old actress tied the knot in a Jewish ceremony just after sunset – with around 130 guests including bridesmaids Drew Barrymore and Nicole Richie (married to Benji’s twin Joel and reportedly the matchmaker of the bride and groom). Nicole and Joel’s son Sparrow was the ringbearer who apparently dropped the ring and had the groom and his father the best man down on their knees searching for it, with the guests in fits of laughter.

Reports have emerged that Cameron delivered a touching speech to her new husband and explained why he was ‘The One’ in front of family and friends at the reception. “I waited because I didn’t want to settle, now I got the best man ever. My special man. He’s mine.” the blonde beauty said with a big smile!

Amazing that they managed to organise a wedding in just one month – of course they had the help of a celebrity wedding planner – but still impressive!

Maybe because they have known each other for years, their romance was very short – and the quick engagement was apparently a result of Cameron’s wish to have children pretty soon – Benji is a traditional guy apprently and wanted to do things the ‘right’ way so popped the question. Listen out for the pitter patter of little feet soon then!