How to Find Your Perfect Wedding Celebrant in Queenstown, NZ
HOW TO FIND YOUR PERFECT WEDDING CELEBRANT IN QUEENSTOWN NEW ZEALAND
Planning a wedding can be a wild ride, full of ups, downs, and unexpected twists. But fear not, because in the stunning landscapes of Queenstown, New Zealand, lies the secret ingredient to an unforgettable wedding—the perfect wedding celebrant. Buckle up and get ready to embark on a delightful journey as we explore the lighter side of choosing a wedding celebrant in Queenstown!
Stay until the end where I recommend a few of my personal faves…
DEFINE YOUR VISION
The Quest for the "I Do" - Imagine your wedding ceremony as a quest to find the ultimate treasure—the magical moment of saying "I do!" Close your eyes and envision your dream ceremony. Will it be traditional or offbeat? Intimate or extravagant? Let the celebrant be your trusty guide on this adventure to eternal love.
RESEARCH & RECOMMENDATIONS
Wisdom from the Wedding Wizards - In the land of Queenstown, where wedding magic happens, gather insights from the wise and experienced. Seek recommendations from friends, family, or those who have recently tied the knot in this enchanting place. They hold the secrets to making your wedding dreams come true!
REVIEW THEIR EXPERIENCE
Expertise with a Dash of Charm - When choosing a celebrant, go for someone who knows the ropes like a pro. Look for celebrants with plenty of experience under their belt. Are they certified or part of professional organizations? It's like finding a gem that sparkles with expertise and charm. Check if they have any certificates or mystical scrolls from professional organizations like the Celebrants Association of New Zealand (CANZ).
SEEK COMPATIBILITY
Finding Your Wedding Sidekick - A wedding celebrant is more than just an officiant; they're your wedding sidekick! Seek a celebrant who clicks with you like a pair of synchronized dancers. Arrange a meeting or video call to gauge their vibe. Do they make you smile and feel at ease? Look for a celebrant who becomes your partner-in-crime on this exciting journey.
SAMPLE CEREMONIES & PERSONALISATION
Adding Fun and Quirkiness - Ask potential celebrants to share samples of their previous ceremonies. Look for someone who knows how to sprinkle fun and quirkiness into your special day. Can they bring a smile to your face and make your guests laugh? Find a celebrant who can craft a ceremony that reflects your unique love story.
AVAILABILITY & LOGISTICS
Smooth Sailing to "Happily Ever After" - Navigate through the maze of availability and logistics like a seasoned adventurer. Discuss with your chosen celebrant to ensure they can be there on your big day. Queenstown is a popular destination, so be prepared for any travel or scheduling challenges. Together, you'll overcome any hurdles and sail smoothly to your "happily ever after."
REVIEWS & TESTIMONIALS
Tales of Wedding Bliss - The proof is in the pudding—or in this case, the reviews and testimonials! Read the tales of other couples who have experienced the celebrant's magic firsthand. Seek stories of seamless ceremonies and beaming smiles. Finding a celebrant with a track record of creating wedding bliss is like discovering a hidden treasure trove of joy.
CELEBRANTS TO CHECK OUT IN QUEENSTOWN
There are so many beautiful wedding celebrants in Queenstown that will go out of their way to make your ceremony an absolutely perfect experience that you’ll remember for the rest of your life. Here are a few lovely humans that I can personally recommend:
ANDREW BELL
Andrew Bell (but you can call him Andy) is a Kiwi celebrant, born and raised in Aotearoa, and a Tahuna/Queenstown local of 23 years.
I first met Andy when I took some studio portraits of his lovely Black Labrador Molly. I was instantly a fan of Andy, he has such a kind a warm presence and he is an amazing celebrant.
In 2017 he applied to become a marriage and civil union celebrant in the hopes of adding to the selection of officiants offered in Queenstown and the wider Southern Lakes region; specifically aiming to provide a fresh, genuine, and inclusive approach to building the ideal ceremony. In these past six years he has had the pleasure of working with hundreds of couples from all over the world as they've celebrated their relationships amongst the idyllic landscapes of New Zealand.
As a proud member of New Zealand’s Rainbow Whanau, he considers it a great privilege to bring his genuine, relaxed, and personable vibes to every ceremony that he officiates for couples from all walks of life. Whether you’re celebrating big with all of your friends and family around you, or keeping it simple by eloping - just the two of you, Andy makes it his mission to ensure that your ceremony is a celebration of you above anything else.
You can find Andy on his website: www.andrewbellcelebrant.co.nz
And show him some love on his Instagram: @andrewbellcelebrant
ELLITA MARIANNE
Ellita (you can call her Ellie) is a professional and passionate wedding celebrant, as well as an enthusiastic master of ceremonies (MC) skilled at starting parties.
I’ve had the pleasure of calling Ellie a friend for over 10 years and she is an absolute gem of a human, kind, lighthearted and hilarious.
My wife and I had Ellie as the celebrant for our wedding day and she was absolutely perfect!
With several years of experience as a wedding planner, Ellie transitioned into becoming a celebrant in 2019 to immerse himself in the celebrations rather than being in the background and missing out on the best moments. Her expertise extends to weddings, elopements, vow renewals, and naming ceremonies.
Having resided in Queenstown, Wanaka, and currently Cromwell, Ellie possesses a deep knowledge of the breathtaking Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago regions. This familiarity enables her to assist couples in discovering exceptional locations for their ceremony and wedding photos. She also relishes the opportunity to embark on road trips or helicopter flights to uncover new and captivating spots.
Her dedication to crafting a personalized ceremony is founded on her love for writing and her desire to truly get to know the couple. Drawing on previous experience as a Ghost Writer, she can meticulously review and discuss every aspect of the ceremony with them beforehand, ensuring a seamless and delightful experience on the day. Ellie never fails to create a relaxed, enjoyable, and memorable day for all involved
You can find Ellie on her website: www.ellitamarianne.com
And show her you love on Instagram: @ellitamarianne
PHILIPPA THOMAS
I met Philippa at a beautiful afternoon elopement under the Remarkable’s mountain range and instantly fell in love with her warm and confident personality. Her ceremonies are so heartfelt and genuine and I love working with Philippa!
Philippa became a wedding celebrant out of her passion for creating incredible weddings that set couples up for an amazing marriage, all without judgment or discrimination.
Her core values revolve around equality, inclusion, acceptance, safety, and love.
Making the wedding planning journey easy and enjoyable is another priority for her because she believes that everything should be fun and effortless.
Philippa has over eight years of experience as a celebrant and having officiated more than 700 weddings, she has brought happiness to countless individuals.
Philippa firmly believes that a wedding should authentically reflect the couple getting married and you can tell that she’s done her homework and really gotten to know the couples before the wedding day.
She ensures that every desired element is included while eliminating anything unwanted. In Aotearoa, there are no hard-and-fast rules when it comes to weddings, so when she says she can create a ceremony for the couple, she genuinely means it.
As a proud Māori woman, she happily incorporates Te Reo Māori into any wedding ceremony, seamlessly weaving it in. She is equally enthusiastic about interweaving any language or culture into the ceremony. She has performed Hindu weddings, been part of Vietnamese tea ceremonies, spoken Bengali, Hindu, Korean, Gaelic, and Portuguese. She once officiated a wedding where no one spoke English except the bride and groom, and it was mostly conducted in Czech. Even though she had no idea what was happening half the time, it turned out to be one of the most enjoyable weddings she has ever done.
You can find Philippa on her website: www.philippathomascelebrant.com
Show your love on Instagram: @weddingcelebrantnz
EMILY OLEARY
Emily is all about customising your ceremony to fit you and your love story.
Be it up a mountain, standing with your toes dipped in the ocean, in your backyard or at one of our regions spectacular venues, her goal is always to create a ceremony that reflects you as a couple.
Emily’s wedding ceremony style is best described as engaging, relaxed, professional and tailored to suit you.
Emily got into weddings when one of her brothers asked her to be his celebrant. So, she flew to Italy and under the Tuscan sun and helped him marry the girl of his dreams.
Upon returning home, some friends of hers asked her to be their celebrant for their beautiful Arrowtown wedding. After this, Emily went on to marry another brother, a few more friends and the ball was rolling, the rest is history.
Emily has officiated weddings in Olive groves, on top of sand dunes looking over the black sands of Auckland’s West Coast beaches and at world class resorts such as Millbrook and on rocky out crops on the side of some majestic Southern mountains that included a 45min hike to find the perfect pitch.
When you meet Emily you will see that she genuinely loves meeting couples, hearing their story and then working with them to make sure they achieve their wishes for their wedding, be it big or small.
If you’re searching for a celebrant who truly feels joy when marrying two people in love, and celebrating this love the way that they want to do it, then Emily is the celebrant for you!
You can find her on her website: www.emilyolearycelebrant.co.nz
And show your love on Instagram: @emily_oleary_celebrant
SARAH NOBLE
Sarah became a celebrant when she had two separate friends ask her on the same weekend to be their celebrant… Being a good friend, she couldn’t say no.
She did it and loved it! That love continues and she often has to pinch herself and say “yes…this is your real job Sarah!”
Sarah is British by birth, Kiwi by choice. She has a deep passion for travel and has spent the past four decades exploring the wonders of our beautiful planet.
Having already visited 55 countries, being a celebrant grants her the unique opportunity to marry people from diverse backgrounds, allowing her to learn about their origins, travel experiences, and gather recommendations for her next adventures. She is always eager to discover new places, try different cuisines, and sample exquisite wines from around the world.
Sarah’s love affair with New Zealand began during one of her globe-trotting journeys many moons ago. Falling in love with the country she knew that one day it would become her home. Now residing in the breathtaking Queenstown, she feels fortunate to have made her dream a reality.
Like myself, animals hold a special place in her heart, regardless of their size, fur, or scales. She adores guinea pigs, cats, and chickens, and secretly dreams of having a few pet cows and a beehive.
During her leisure time, she indulges in skiing during winter and scuba diving in tropical destinations. Cooking and savouring delectable food, as well as enjoying fine wines, are also among her favourite pastimes along with spending time with her husband and son.
You can find Sarah on her website: www.marriagecelebrant.co.nz
And show your love on Instagram: @sarahnoblecelebrant
LANA ENNIS
Lana’s story as a celebrant started many years ago when she was living in Melbourne, working as an ICU nurse. At that time, same-sex marriage was being rallied to become legalized (it already was in New Zealand), and the inner activist and business opportunist in her wanted to be there, ready and waiting to help celebrate same-sex couples when the law eventually passed. But with a crazy work schedule and studying, this new venture was put on the back burner.
Fast forward a few years, and she found herself living back in New Zealand and taking a leap in her own search for the perfect love story (in a rather unique way) on season 4 of The Bachelor New Zealand. Although her search for love didn’t quite go as planned, it reignited the burn for wanting to find ways for all people to celebrate their love however they want.
And here Lana is today - a Queenstown Celebrant living and working in what she believes to be one of the world's more picturesque destinations.
Beyond her work as a Celebrant, Lana is also a qualified holistic mindset coach & nurse. For her, it’s about personalizing care, hosting emotive experiences, and supporting her clients in every realm of work to help them create life-changing moments and memories.
You can find Lana at her website: celebrantlanaennis.com
And show your love on Instagram: @lanaennis.celebrant
YOUR BIG DAY
Your Big Day is a collection of wildly charming Queenstown wedding celebrants.
They are a team of highly skilled, well experienced and utterly charming celebrants that can play Cupid for your big day. Every ‘Your Big Day’ celebrant is amazing, but everyone’s amazing is different; their mission is to match awesome newly-weds around New Zealand with a fun and creative celebrant who blows you (and your guests) away on your wedding day.
The team at Your Big Day know that the person leading your wedding ceremony has to be as perfect for you as you are for each other. Your celebrant has the (super)power to set the tone for your whole wedding day. They need to wrangle the crowd, whack any curveballs back out into the stratosphere, tune into the smallest of details, and make the whole thing glow. All whilst looking fabulous for your wedding photos, of course.
So, if you’re looking for your perfect celebrant and don’t want to scour the internet for hours, Your Big Day is a great resource and can help take the stress out of finding your Queenstown wedding celebrant.
You can check them out on their website: yourbigday.co.nz
And follow along on their Instagram: @yourbigdayqt
PHILIPPA COOK
Philippa is a wedding-mad celebrant with over twenty years of experience who is extremely honoured to be recognised as one of the top five celebrants in New Zealand.
Having officiated at over 2000 ceremonies here in beautiful Queenstown, she is proud of the fact that every single ceremony she officiates is personal and unique to each couple – As she says “no two ceremonies have ever been the same!”
Philippa finds it important to take the time to get to know you both before the wedding, to hear your shared stories and discover your dreams because this ensures that your ceremony is unforgettable and one that everyone remembers.
Like myself, Philippa loves a love story …
Philippas promise to you is that your wedding day, will be entirely centered around you, your love, and your unique journey. Throughout the planning process, she will work closely with you, providing unwavering support and guidance every step of the way. Your ceremony will be a beautiful reflection of your love story, tailored to showcase your individuality and personal experiences. With heartfelt words spoken from the depth of her heart, the ceremony will be an ode to your love and commitment.
Together with Philippa, you will incorporate your hopes and aspirations for the future, creating a ceremony that symbolizes the beginning of your life together as a couple. The ambiance will be personal, relaxed, and infused with joyful moments, making it an unforgettable and fun experience for everyone present.
Drawing from her 30 years of local knowledge, Philippa will assist you in selecting the perfect location, ensuring that every detail aligns harmoniously with your vision for your momentous day.
You can find Philippa on her website: weddingcelebrantqueenstown.com
And show your love on her instagram: @phillipacookqtcelebrant
CONCLUSION
Selecting a wedding celebrant in Queenstown, New Zealand, is an adventure that should be filled with joy and excitement. Embrace the journey with a lighthearted spirit as you follow this guide to find the perfect celebrant who will bring your wedding vision to life. With their expertise and your personal connection, your special day is bound to be unforgettable.
HAPPY PLANNING!
