All you need is love and … love and fun and celebration.
This wedding season 2016/2017 is officially over for me. It’s been my biggest yet, with over 25 weddings performed, and I have absolutely loved every moment of it. Well, what’s not to love, I get to be right in the thick of a whole lotta love, and people pay me for it, crazy, I know.
Jeremy and Sharmain
My wedding season, here in Dunedin, pretty much runs from September to May, because not a lot of people down here choose winter weddings. This season has seen my marry 4 different Sarah’s, one Angela (in fact every year I’ve married an Angela, which is crazy, and I even have one lined up for next season) and one friend, and second brother from the same family.
I have married couples in their favourite restaurants (at least they knew the food was going to be outstanding) and in their living rooms. I have performed weddings in gardens, in beautiful chapels, in tiny little churches in tiny little places with magnificent views, and on beaches. I have wed couples on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and even Wednesdays. There have been morning weddings and late afternoon weddings, and even a surprise wedding, where the guests didn’t know there was going to be a wedding. There were weddings with 200 guests and weddings with only 10. I have had brides arrive by tractor, and a groom land in a helicopter. I have had brides be late, early and right on time. I have had some of the cutest ring bearers and flower girls you could imagine.
I have worked with some amazing suppliers who have toiled tirelessly to make sure that a couple’s dreams and ideas will come to life and exceed their expectations, and have been gracious enough to share their work with me.
I have offered advice on everything from dress choices to photographers, to time lines to invitations to florists, and of course wedding ceremonies.
Every single wedding is different, because every single couple and love story is different, I have married couples who met at Intermediate School, and other couples who met on Social Media. I have married couples who have been together for a short time, and others who have been together for 18 years. Every single wedding makes my heart sing, because every single bride and groom are being brave enough to put their hearts on the line, and share what it means to love and be loved, and you can’t really get better than that.
Yes there have been moments when things didn’t go according to plan, little people didn’t want to play ball, or some-one forgot to use the fancy thingy the bride bought especially, but you know what, no-one cared, because everyone was too swept up in the love filled moments which were happening all around them.
I can’t think of another job that exists where everyone’s happy. Maybe not a the rehearsal, generally brides are overwhelmed with everything that needs to be done, and can be a little stressed, but that smile on a bride’s face when she walks down the aisle is absolutely priceless.
I can’t wait until September when I get to do this amazing job all over again.
Ok, so you’ve locked in your dream celebrant. They’re organised, down to earth, a wealth of ideas, and get your vibe. Yay for you, now how are you going to get the best out of your celebrant. Getting the best out of your celebrant, doesn’t mean they’ll be doing your dishes for the next 6 months. But it does mean that doing and remembering a few key ideas will ensure you get the best possible ceremony, and the best execution on the day.
Be open-minded – I’m not talking keys in the bowl type of open minded (but if that’s your thing, more power to you) I’m talking, ask your celebrant for ideas, what are the different ways we could do this? Does it have to be done this way? Could we do it like this? Your celebrant has done more weddings than you have, probably (hopefully) so they will know what will work, and what may be awkward. Listen.
Be engaged – Not just with the ring type of engaged, but the listening, and asking questions, and putting your phone down for 10 minutes type of engagement. I know weddings can be a subject that completely makes the groom zone out, but if you want it to be your day too then listen. A good celebrant will make sure they talk to both of you, not just the bride, and you should both have a good feeling about the celebrant. I know meeting new people, especially a celebrant, can be daunting to some people, but most of us are warm, personable and down to earth.
Short and sweet isn’t always best – I know some people just want to get the ceremony bit over so they can move onto the more fun bit of drinking, dancing, and cake eating. But, and again I may be biased because I’m a celebrant, the focus should be on the ceremony. You are going to be standing in front of your nearest and dearest, and maybe Dave from work, telling your soul mate how important they are to you, and sharing your love story, surely that deserves longer than a 5 min ‘wham bam thank you ma’am?’
Don’t leave booking a celebrant till the last minute – In my opinion it’s never too early to book your celebrant. The good ones, like venues and photographers will get booked out pretty early on. You may get lucky with a last minute phone call, but that is the exception rather than the rule.
Feel free to interview, or chat with more than one celebrant – It’s not like dating, we won’t mind. What we do mind, is if you don’t tell us that you have booked someone else, and we keep the date open for you. A simple “we have decided to go with another celebrant” is great. No hurt feelings, honest! We want you to have the best wedding possible, whether it’s with us or not so if someone else floats your boat and gets your vibe, go for it!
Don’t change anything about the ceremony, and not tell the celebrant – Especially if you want the celebrant to be there on time! I usually double check at the rehearsal what time the groom will be at the venue, to make sure we’re all on the same page regarding start times. But I have heard of angry calls to the celebrant when everyone’s at the ceremony inquiring about their whereabouts, when the couple have changed the time and not told the celebrant.
Give us the dirt, all the dirt – Most celebrants will send you a questionnaire to fill out (I call them my homework questions) to get to know you better, they will either come and visit with you again to discuss the answers to your questions or just write your ceremony from those answers. Give us as much info as you can on your questionnaire, the more info you give the better ceremony you are going to get. It’s really hard to personalise a ceremony (which is what most good celebrants will want to do) when you give nothing personal to work with. I for one, want to know what you love, what you don’t love, what you enjoy doing together, all great fodder for a ceremony.
Try to be organised – I know there are a million and one things that need to be organised for a wedding, but if you can get back to us sooner rather than later when we request information that would be grand. It’s no fun for a celebrant to be waiting the day before the wedding for the groom to get his vows to them. It creates stress not just for the couple but for the celebrant. If you can’t make a designated time for a catch up, let them know as soon as you can.
Send us an invite – We love weddings, all the weddings. So if you want us to get an idea of your style, colours and personality then give us an invite. Also helps so we know where we’re going and at what time (see point Don’t change anything about the ceremony and not tell the celebrant)
Good manners – Like your mumma always said, good manners go a long way! If you like the vibe and style of a celebrant, then they will probably either have a Facebook page, Instagram account, or website, do a bit of stalking, and you can probably find out their price. We don’t love texts/emails/Facebook messages that just say “how much?” We do love texts/emails/Facebook messages that say “Hi Angela, We are getting married 9/12/2017 and are after a celebrant, are you available and what is your price?”
Thank you’s – If you are the type of bride/couple who are going to do a thank you post/wedding post on Facebook, please please please thank or acknowledge your celebrant, if they did an awesome job, if they didn’t then maybe contact them and tell them why, don’t splash it on Facebook. For us reviews are like gold, so go ahead and give your celebrant a review, tell them what a great job they did. They will love you for it, and it only takes 5 minutes, and you are helping other couples out by leaving honest feedback.
Try not to turn bridezilla on us – I know planning a wedding is stressful, and expensive, and not everyone wants to do what you want them to do as fast as you want them to, but your celebrant is a professional. We will act like the professional we are, and should be treated as such.
Remember, we may only be a part of your wedding day for a short time, but we are emotionally invested in your day. We have taken the time to get to know you, spent time with you and your family, helped bring your plans/dreams to life, written and performed an amazing ceremony for you about you, met your friends and family, calmed you down, made sure everything is perfect for you and your guests. A little acknowledgement goes a long long way, kilometres in fact, like from here to the moon!
All you need is love and … a beautiful new wedding venue.
Feast your eyes on the beautiful Port Molyneux School
The stunning new venue: Port Molyneux School. All Photos by Williams Photography
A few weeks ago I attended the official opening of a brand new venue. I knew it was going to be awesome, partly because of the location (hello, stunning Kaka Point, Catlins!) and partly because I had met Jade (the director and visionary behind the venue) and her enthusiasm and positivity for the whole project was infectious (definitely my kind of people)
That view from the school room, breathtaking!
Jade and her family rescued the “Port Molyneux School” from ruin, after coming across it by accident, and realising that it was for sale. She could see the potential of the location (right across the road from the beach) and for a venue in the area, because her husband and her had struggled to find a suitable venue in the area, when they got married.
So after a lot of blood, sweat, tears and restoration work, the venue was open to the public for the first time, and it is beautiful!!! The character of the place is still in tact but it has been bought into this century with a lot of love and care, and has everything you could need to hold the wedding of your dreams.
Night time lighting
The school rooms have been lovingly restored and are a blank canvas, as either a ceremony space area, for after wedding cocktails or sit down reception space. They feature wooden floors, and beautiful windows letting in an abundance of natural light and views across the road to the ocean. There is of course ‘boys’ and ‘girls’ toilets (apparently part of the bathroom decor is original) and a fully equipped kitchen for event catering.
Perfect spot for an indoor ceremony.
Part of the hire of the venue includes the use of the headmasters house, a stones throw along a stone path from the main building. This 3 bedroom house has been fully restored and decorated and has everything you would need to spend your wedding night in absolute bliss. The section the venue is on is large enough and flat enough to be used by your guests if they wanted to camp for the night also. On the open day Tussock Country had set up one of their luxury camping tents, and it was amazing, so much more civilised than a pup tent and a sleeping bag.
Now this is camping, or should I say Glamping by Tussock Country
Outside the school at the front, there is a beautiful spot which has been specially created to accommodate outside weddings, there is a mantle and seating. This all coming together to create a perfect spot with the ocean roaring in the background to exchange your wedding vows.
The outdoor ceremony space.Who wouldn’t want their wedding photos taken in this spot?
The Port Molyneux School is not just available for weddings, but any occasion that requires a unique and beautiful setting. Now I just need someone to get married there so I can visit this beautiful spot again, but as a celebrant.
Find out more about this very special wedding venue.
Jade McNab +64 (0) 21 1202 722 or jade@portmolyneuxschool.co.nz
All you need is love and … some wisdom from a wedding professional.
Now, I know a lot about weddings, but not everything, so “People We Love”is a series of interviews with wedding professionals, who will share their stories and wedding wisdom.
Meet Debra Fallowfield Jeweller
Business Name: Debra Fallowfield Jeweller, owner of PRECIOUS by Debra Fallowfield in Port Chalmers, Dunedin.
Tell us a bit about yourself and your business: Self confessed magpie – lover of shiny bright things. I am what you would call a custom or bespoke jeweller. A bit like an Atelier, I pretty much make all my jewellery by hand to order. My speciality is “one of a kind” engagement and wedding rings. I have a very distinctive style – which is totally unique compared to most of the jewellery you would find in an everyday jewellery store.
I pride myself on good old fashioned customer service, with no pretensions. Feel free to ask a million questions!
Choosing an engagement, wedding or commitment ring is a huge step to undertake and best done with a knowledgeable jeweller. Having been in the industry for over 15 years you can have full trust in me for this precious task. Custom work is all about you, so communication is essential. My role is to make it all as easy and stress-free as possible.
Quick sketches are usually run up, options discussed (don’t worry if you’re out of town or even in another country, I work with clients worldwide) For grooms, I carry a cool dynamic range of men’s rings with the option of custominsing.
What do you love about your job? I love what I do, because it’s very creative.
What do you do in your spare time, hobbies/interests? Spare time… what’s that???? I am booked up pretty much 12 months of the year for custom work. Ok… in the very little spare time I have, FOOD, I love cooking, gardening, all things organic, sustainable-fashion, music, dance and travel (one day!)
What one thing do you wish every wedding couple knew? That custom made rings are often less expensive than mass produced ones – AND the quality is far superior.
Any wedding trends you love, or would love to see disappear? Mason jars, meringue dresses, badly fitting suits, bands that play crappy 80’s music.
Any great/interesting stories about working with a couple? I work with couples all over the world – from All Blacks (the biggest fingers I have ever seen) to Set Designers at Weta Workshop, wanting symbols they designed inscribed into the back of rings- or couples recycling Grand Mothers diamonds. Every couple that comes to me has their own story and they want me to create their own heirlooms because they want something unique and special. You don’t get unique and special buying from Michael Hill or Pascoes.
What two pieces of advice would you give a couple planning their wedding? Plan ahead, shop around and ENJOY the time, from the planning to the day … oh, and relax.
One insider tip to pass on? Your wedding is about you what YOU and your beloved want. It’s not about anyone else.
The lovely lady behind the lovely jewellery – Debra Fallowfield.
If you loved reading about Debra and love her vibe you can contact her here:
All you need is love and … some wisdom from a wedding professional.
Now, I know a lot about weddings, but not everything, so “People We Love”is a series of interviews with wedding professionals, who will share their stories and wedding wisdom.
Meet Ria from Aurum Hairstylists
Business Name: Aurum Hairstylists
Tell us a bit about yourself and your business: My husband and I created Aurum in 2014 – we have young children, so the commitment meant my husband built and designed the salon – then stayed home with the kids while I ran the salon as a solo operation. I quickly realised I was busier than I could keep up with so slowly started building my team from there. We now have 4 stylists in total. At Aurum we pride ourselves on being open and caring about our clients and helping them manage their hair at home. We specialise in bespoke contour colouring techniques, wedding hair, luxury hair treatments and home care advice.
What do you love about your job? I love helping people feel better about themselves – when they leave my chair with a smile on their face and a skip in their step – that’s the moment that makes all the long hours and hard work worth it.
What do you do in your spare time, hobbies/interests? I have young children, so most of my spare time is dedicated to them and my family. I come from a large family so the best relaxation for me is catching up with family and friends as much as possible. I love travel, home design and decor, beach walks and yoga when I get time.
What one thing do you wish every wedding couple knew? Just enjoy the day, as it goes so fast. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Focus on your love and connection with your partner, not just the day and the party – everything else is a bonus.
Any wedding trends you love, or would love to see disappear? For brides hair wise – I love classic looks whether it’s soft or structured. It should always be timeless, so you can look at it in 20 years and still love it. I love how weddings in general progress with time and reflect the couple’s personality rather than just doing it to be on trend. Pinterest is so fantastic for ideas and themes and just creating mood boards of images that speak to you and reflect the kind of day you want. Being able to show these to your hairdresser or anyone else involved in your wedding is so important, so everyone knows the overall look you want.
Any great /interesting stories about working with a couple? Because I trained and worked in Arrowtown we did weddings all year round so I developed these skills early in my career, and I still have an image in my head of every single bride I have had the pleasure of working with. Most had amazing love stories, some were dealing with devastation and family loss, and how different brides choose to honour that special loved one that couldn’t be with them was so emotional to see.
I have done weddings at the top of a ski field, near the beach in Brighton, Queenstown hotels, my own bridesmaids on a beach in Thailand, Larnach Castle. Doing a bride’s hair on Christmas Eve, standing in the shower as there was no where else to stand while she was getting her make up done. I tell brides during the practice that their hair should feel secure enough to run around the block – one bride actually went to the gym and ran on the treadmill for an hour with hair practice hair up in and I’m proud to say that it lasted!
What two pieces of advice would you give a couple planning their wedding? Have fun. Make sure it’s about you as a couple, not all about pleasing everyone else. Book as much as you can well in advance to secure your date, as weddings tend to book a year in advance, even for hair and make-up.
One insider tip/trick to pass on? Hair wise – most brides grow their hair for the big day – but that’s not what your hairdresser needs to work with. Healthy long hair is best – get regular trims every 8 weeks and deep conditioning treatments every time you get it trimmed. Also think about having some shaping and layers in your hair – this helps curls to sit better and last longer. The right salon quality shampoo, conditioner and styling products you are using are the most important next to regular trims to maintain healthy hair.
Talk to your hairdresser about what you can be using specific to your hair needs from now on to create good hair habits and have the healthiest, shiniest hair for your big day. Also if you have a dream colour in mind start planning that well before the wedding so that your stylist has time to plan it out, as sometimes colour can take a few visits to achieve the right shade.
If you love advice and vibe of Ria at Aurum then you can contact them here:
All you need is love and … some wisdom from a wedding professional.
Now, I know a lot about weddings, but not everything, so “People We Love”is a series of interviews with wedding professionals, who will share their stories and wedding wisdom.
Meet Charlotte Winkel – Your Big Day – Queenstown Wedding Celebrant
Business Name: Your Big Day – Queesntown Wedding Celebrant
Tell us a bit about yourself and your business: I’m Charlotte Winkel and I’m a wedding celebrant and wedding blogger based in Queenstown. Originally from the UK, I moved to Queenstown in 2010 and have since become a NZ resident, bought my first home here and married a kiwi! I became a celebrant whilst Brad and I were planning our own wedding. We wanted a celebrant who we could relate to, and someone who could help make our ceremony special and personalised. We found that most celebrants were much older than us and not exactly what we were looking for. So I decided to register myself, and help other couples get married in Queenstown. As a celebrant I’m passionate about creating a wedding ceremony that is unique, special and personal for every couple. Everyone has their own story to tell, and I love to do this in a fun and creative way with lots of personality, local knowledge and professionalism.
What do you love about your job: I love meeting couples from all over the world and learning about them and their relationship. This is what helps me to write a ceremony that’s a true reflection of each unique couple. I like to get creative with a ceremony and challenge some of the wedding traditions. I also love helping couples write their own wedding vows so they can say what they really want to say to their partner on their wedding day.
What do you do in your spare time, hobbies/interests: I practice yoga daily, ski all winter and ride my mountain bike all the rest of the year. I love to stay healthy and active but I also enjoy binge watching Netflix with my husband Brad on a rainy day. We’re big animal lovers and have a friendly border collie, Marley, and a cheeky tabby cat, Floyd. I also love great food, great wine, and getting together for dinner parties.
What one thing do you wish every wedding couple knew: The legal requirements for you to be married are so minimal – say “I do” and sign on the dotted line. That’s it. Everything else is fair game! There’s so much opportunity to put your own personal stamp on your wedding day.
Any wedding trends you love, or would love to see disappear: I try to steer away from “trends” and stick to themes and ideas that best represent each couple on their wedding day. That being said, one wedding reception trend I do love is using bare wooden tables in long rows rather than round tables covered in white table cloths. This improved seating arrangement is more social, relaxed and organic. Plus, a few bright beautiful flowers against the dark wood grain of the table is a super effective look. I’m totally bias though … we did this for our own wedding!
Any great/interesting stories about working with a couple: Heaps! I got an email last December from a couple in Australia who wanted to get married on New Year’s Eve in Queenstown. I emailed back to let the couple know that I would be at the Rhythm & Alps music festival close to Wanaka for New Years; so, unless they wanted to get married at the festival, I wouldn’t be able to marry them. Immediately this couple replied, “Oh, can we get married at the festival?” Within three weeks I worked with this couple to arrange their festival tickets, marriage licence, wedding ceremony, vows, photographer, witnesses, the whole works! For this spontaneous and free spirited couple, a festival elopement was just perfect, and just in time for the new year.
What two pieces of advice would you give a couple planning their wedding:
Consider a wedding planner – always money well spent and there’s options for every budget! Let them do all the hard work, so that you can fully enjoy your big day with friends and family, stress free.
Consider an engagement shoot – Being photographed all day on your wedding day is a pretty surreal experience for most couples, we’re just not used to it! An engagement shoot helps build trust and develop a relationship with your photographer. You’ll become more comfortable and confident in front of the camera which will translate into more amazing photos for your wedding day. Try it, you’ll thank me after!
One insider tip/trick to pass on: Lots of couples ask for a short and simple ceremony and then afterwards say that it all went too fast! To make your ceremony more memorable consider personalising your wedding ceremony by writing your own vows, choosing meaningful music, or using props to demonstrate your love and marriage. These are just a few ideas, there’s heaps more!
The lady herself: Charlotte Winkel!
If you’re a fan of Charlotte and her vibe and want to get in touch, then here are her links.
All you need is love and … some wisdom from a wedding professional.
Now, I know a lot about weddings, but not everything, so “People We Love”is a series of interviews with wedding professionals, who will share their stories and wedding wisdom.
Meet Hayden Campbell: Black Label Photography
Business Name: Black Label Photography
Tell us a bit about yourself and your business: I have been shooting for about 4 years , started out shooting landscape and surf photography which still remain my number one passion. Living in the Catlins you cant walk five steps with out falling over something beautiful to photograph! The ocean and beach are my main focus for everything including portraits. I had some help getting in to wedding photography which I am really grateful for as it’s such a daunting thing to get into , one special day…don’t mess it up!!
What do you love about your job? Meeting new people and hearing new yarns , everyone has had a beer or 8 and are dead keen for chat.
What do you do in your spare time, hobbies/interests? Spare time? What is that!! Ha Chasing waves with the boys and hanging out with my 6 month old Asher !
What one thing do you wish every wedding couple knew? Time Management!! Happens every time “we’ve got heaps of time ” nope we had heaps of time and now we are late !
Any wedding trends you love, or would love to see disappear? Nooo!! Its all good , if you’re planning a wedding don’t let what’s in or out of trend influence what you do. If you love it and its your vision just roll with it , its your big day who cares what old uncle Gary thinks !
Any great/interesting stories about working with a couple? Just the classic old Brides right in to it and the groom is over it, haha, groom normally gets a dirty look from his new bride and pulls his head in ,quite common …even I was one one these!!
What two pieces of advice would you give a couple planning their wedding? First and most importantly enjoy it , it goes by so quick , delegate jobs and dump some stress to other people , they will be happy to help and stoked to see you relax and enjoy the day!
Secondly Time Time Time ! Give yourselves heaps and expect things to go wrong, somethings you can not control but if you have a bit of time up your sleeve it will make it easier to deal with!
One insider tip/trick to pass on? My insider tip relates to me actually photographing your wedding. Check your gear and check it again then check it some more! If its a vital piece of equipment (camera body ,flash ,memory cards ) have 2 of them.You do not want to be part way through the day and have something fail!This is my worst fear , SD cards can corrupt so shooting 2 simultaneously may just save the day. Enjoy the day and enjoy the people , the vibe you give off will have a massive impact on your images . Smiles are contagious!
The man himself: Hayden Campbell
If you love the images you’ve seen and the wedding wisdom Hayden has imparted and his vibe and want to have a chat or see more you can contact him here:
All you need is love and … some wisdom from a wedding professional.
Now, I know a lot about weddings, but not everything, so “People We Love”is a series of interviews with wedding professionals, who will share their stories and wedding wisdom.
Meet: Laura Giddey – Wedding Celebrant
Business Name: Wedding Celebrant – Laura Giddey
Tell us a bit about yourself and your business: A few years ago, some close friends of mine got engaged and asked me if I would take their wedding. It was completely an honour to be asked and so I went about getting my licence to marry them. Every wedding I’ve done has been special but that first wedding was EXTRA special as they are still good friends of mine, have been big supporters of my business, and it was so beautiful to watch them say their vows. And to choke up as I announced them as husband and wife! Since then I’ve done nearly 100 weddings and I’ve loved every single one. I get to write a personalised ceremony for each couple and meet them in a really cool time in their life. I feel very lucky to do this job, and to work with other celebrants and vendors in the industry that are cool, creative, and open minded.
What do you love about your job? What don’t I love! Obviously I love love, and I love weddings otherwise I probably wouldn’t do this job. But a couple of specific loves; 1) hanging out with the groom before the ceremony starts and the bride arrives and watching him tear up a bit when she comes in, 2) being able to marry Australian gay couples and celebrate their union when it’s not recognised at home. I also love the dresses and the vows and all the tears.
What do you do in your spare time, hobbies/interests? I house and pet sit so that keeps me moving house every few weeks and making numerous furry friends. I do some nannying, cleaning, and help in a food truck as other sources of revenue. I love weird films, documentaries, true crime stories, reading, and podcasts. And chocolate.
What one thing do you wish every wedding couple knew? That you can do pretty much anything to celebrate your wedding. The legal requirements are so few, and any good celebrant will make sure they happen smoothly, so the rest of the day is totally up to you! There are no rules.
Any wedding trends you love, or would love to see disappear? I ask all of my couples if they want to get their wedding rings tattooed on during the ceremony, and if they want an eagle to fly their rings down the aisle. I see these things in blogs and would love to tick them off the bucket list. I love mismatched colours and genders in the bridal party, and both parents walking both people getting married down the aisle. I don’t want to call anything out that I’m sick of in weddings, so I’ll tactfully say that I would love people to only do things in weddings that are meaningful to them!
Any great/interesting stories about working with a couple? One 8 year old ring bearer wept through his uncle’s vows. A bride said she appreciated how her soon to be husband loved her despite her farts, in her wedding vows. Another couple wanted to do something memorable and symbolic of the awesome union of them coming together in marriage. So we did a science experiment called the “elephant’s toothpaste” which foamed in a colourful mess. You Tube it for more details.
Elephant’s toothpaste science experiment
At another wedding we surprised the two witnesses by putting two lollipops under two chairs in the ceremony space before all the guests arrived. The two lucky people didn’t know they’d be signing the paperwork until we got to that part in the wedding, and I got everyone to look under their chair.
What two pieces of advice would you give a couple planning their wedding? At each decision point, ask yourself if what you’re doing is how you want to celebrate your day, or if you’re being dictated to by your friends, peers, parents, or Pinterest! Invest in a videographer or just a friend who can set up a video. The day will pass so quickly and it’s lovely to have a record of the ceremony which will feel like a blur.
That one time the bride arrived on a donkey!
One insider tip/trick to pass on? When your wedding starts, ask your celebrant or minister to invite you and your love to take a moment and a deep breath and look each other in the eye, pausing for a few seconds. Again, the day passes so quickly and it’s nice to rest in the moment and acknowledge what’s happening, before we rush ahead to the next things. Pausing is ok! You’ve got time!
If you think Laura is awesome and would love to get in contact with her, here’s where you can reach her:
All you need is love and … some wisdom from a wedding professional.
Now, I know a lot about weddings, but not everything, so “Tradie Tuesday”is a series of interviews with wedding professionals, who will share their stories and wedding wisdom.
Nicola Wall – Marriage celebrant
Business Name: Nicola Wall – Celebrant
Tell us a bit about yourself and your business? I am married to Tyron and have 3 children aged 7,5 and 1 1/2 . I’m trained, registered secondary school teacher (social sciences) who is currently at home running after no3 child and starting to look forward to picking up some part time teaching. I applied to become a celebrant initially because I had previously mentioned what an awesome job it would be – my little sister told me I had to do it as she could not find an available celebrant for any of her choices of wedding dates, and I have continued renewing my registration because I love it.
What do you love about your job? Absolutely no two weddings are the same. I get to share in people’s most happiest of days and have a good stickybeak at the fabulous dresses, decorations and family dynamics!
What do you do in your spare time, hobbies/interests? I have 3 children – what spare time?
What one thing do you wish every wedding couple knew? Grooms need to try on their wedding trousers prior to the day.
Any wedding trends you love, or would love to see disappear? I wish people didn’t care so much what their families/tradition says – it’s good to a point, but the best weddings are the ones where the couples choose elements/elaborations that are uniquely ‘them’.
Any great/interesting stories about working with a couple? Do you mean like the time the butterflies wouldn’t leave their cage at the conclusion of the ceremony? Or the bride that was 45 minutes late because of stock on the road and no cell phone coverage? Interrupting a wedding because the thunderstorm hit 2 minutes too early? The couple that nearly couldn’t get married because they’d not collected their licence in time?
What 2 pieces of advice would you give a couple planning their wedding? Don’t be scared to ask questions and think outside the square.
One insider tip/trick to pass on? There is no ‘right way’ for a wedding ceremony nor one size fits all.
Think Nicola sounds like ‘the best celebrant ever’? Then contact her here:
All you need is love and … some wisdom from a wedding professional.
Now, I know a lot about weddings, but not everything, so “Tradie Tuesday”is a series of interviews with wedding professionals, who will share their stories and wedding wisdom.
Business Name: JC Beauty Co.
Tell us a bit about yourself and your business: I am a 26 year old mum of 2, I studied in Christchurch at the National School of Aesthetics and sat 3 diplomas. I have worked both in Australia and NZ, including at the Sydney Fashion Show 2013. I was working full time in retail (in Dunedin) and my daughter was just 1 year old when I decided I’d had enough of working 36 hours a week, missing out on my kids and yet never moving forward financially so I pulled the plug on my full time job and jumped into what I knew best.
My daughter is now 2, and in this time I have managed to build a debt-free business from a bottle of oil with up to 6 staff, and now have opened 2 salons in the same month! (June 2016). We offer mobile and in-salon treatments, are licensed and fully qualified. I am really proud of how far we’ve come mostly from word of mouth, our passion really does show in our work.
We now specialise in bridal hair and beauty, and cover the whole South Island, because there is a huge market for this. People are increasingly trying to find mobile and affordable beauty therapists without compromising on quality. It’s about making the process as smooth as possible for the bride-to-be.
What do you love about your job?: Every day is different. I am not tied down to the same four walls, and I have come up with a way that I can provide others the same joy and freedom I experience from working for JC Beauty. I meed different people everyday with different backgrounds, personalities and taste in fashion/makeup trends. I love the positive feedback and the look on our clients faces when they see our work 🙂
What do you do in your spare time, hobbies/interests? I have my two kids, Jayden is 8 and Lilly is 2. I try to spend as much time as possible with them. I have a few other small businesses which I oversee also, I have delegated the more time consuming jobs in these so I can spend my spare time with my family. I’d love to travel with them soon, and spend more time outdoors. However work will be full on for a while yet.
What one thing do you wish every wedding couple knew? How fast the wedding day is over, to enjoy the process of planning and not to stress if something goes wrong.
Any wedding trends you love, or would love to see disappear? Personally at the moment I am loving rustic styled weddings, there’s just something about them, plus alot of it can be done by the wedding party – DIY table settings etc, which would make it super affordable.
Any great/interesting stories about working with a couple? I generally work only with the females of the bridal party, but I have recently worked and was invited to a wedding in which Angela Port was the celebrant. A beautiful bride was very lucky to have been able to marry her soul mate after being diagnosed with Leukemia about a year earlier. It was surreal, she had the whole room in tears; so much emotion in one room. I was honoured to have been involved with their big day, I went home and told my family how much I loved them after that.
What two pieces of advice would you give a couple planning their wedding? Don’t do your own make up or self-tan!! Professional is always best, but be sure to research businesses and attend wedding shows! It’s amazing how many vouchers you can pick up by attending a wedding event, also by attending these you get to meet and talk with the businesses in the wedding industry directly. You may find these businesses are more passionate about their work and will work more closely with you to ensure your day is perfect because they are more invested.
One insider tip/trick to pass on? Don’t skip your skincare! Your skin is the largest organ in your body. It protects you! I’d recommend seeing a beauty therapist as soon as you’re engaged for a skin care routine that suits your budget. By investing in your skin you won’t only save money on photographer’s editing time, or the time and product of a make up artist but your skin will love you for it in the long run!
Come and have a chat with us at the Dunedin Wedding Show or the Southland Wedding Show.
Angela Port - Celebrant - Dunedin 