Wedding Blog

A beautiful beach wedding

29/12/2015

My last wedding ceremony before Christmas was on the 24th of December at 2.00pm, for Nicola and Kent. A lovely couple who have come to make Pegasus their home. Nearly, all the guests were English people who were very friendly and in good spirits.

As we had time before the bride arrived we made an aisle out of driftwood and a heart out of shells. Impressed Kent had made his sign earlier. He also decorated the car.

It was very windy but that just added to the experience of the wedding on the sand dunes and the photos after the toast and lots of bubbles being blown. Steve Selwood the Photographer has captured an amazing photo and so looking forward to sharing that with you. These are my photos and not the quality of professional photographers.

The bride and groom together with their special dog, Chance - made for a beautiful wedding and photos on the beach. Congratulations Kent and Nicola. Thank you for having your wedding here on the beach.

We must find the Water Garden Lawn!

27/12/2015

Today, Wednesday 23 December 2015, and YES another wedding. I know everyone is saying why would anyone want to get married just before Christmas. In response to that question - Why would you not want to take advantage of people who have traveled for Christmas.

So it was that I met up with Simon and Jiyeon, and Simon's family and a few close friends to marry them on the Water Garden Lawn in the Botanic Gardens here in Christchurch. Unfortunately, Jiyeon's Mother and other family member were unable to join us.

A true love story with Simon a Teacher being instantly drawn to Jiyeon in Seoul.
I learnt they discovered they had many mutual passions and interests in common. They have overcome some challenges in the early stages of their relationship and that has made them realise they want to commit to each other in marriage.

Simon has a very supportive family and his sister Deborah was the witness and her husband, Rob, the photographer and witness. Six years earlier, I had been Deobrah and Rob's Celebrant - that is the end of the Williams family to marry their Mum told me today.

Reassuring they are all happily married now.
Congratulations Mr and Mrs Williams.

The Heritage Hotel works!

23/12/2015

,The weather on Tuesday 22 December was really very unpleasant for an outdoor wedding ceremony. Really hard to believe when it it 36 degrees the day before.

Due to the weather we made a quick change and Frank Visser Photographer, and I, met at The Heritage Hotel in Cathedral Square to get Terry and Chris married.

Terry and Chris, and their beautiful daughters, came from New Castle in New South Wales to be married and take advantage of our marriage laws. Yes another wonderful couple choosing to get married with us in Christchurch.

I loved that Chris and Terry had chosen to personalise their ceremony and incorporate the ancient Celtic ritual of handfasting. As I shared with everyone present Handfasting is a declaration of the deepest intent where the couple clearly states that they are marrying of their own freewill. The promises made and the ties that are bound here greatly strengthen and seal this union and will cross the years and lives of each soul's growth and journey.

It was somewhat challenging as we had not considered where they had their written vows stowed but it didn't matter. For the record - beautiful vows. They both shared they were meant for each other.

Very quickly, the ceremony was over and we retreated to the room to sign the marriage documents. Frank took awesome photos and Georgie and Molly were a photographer's dream. Loving having their photos taken and looking so beautiful - a great combination.

Congratulations Chris and Terry - partners for life.
May you have a long and happy life together and I look forward to helping you grow your business when you come to Christchurch. Check them out www.timelesstravel.com.au - Wedding Car Hire.

Photographer: Frank Visser Photography
Celebrant: Julie Lassen Celebrant
Cake: The Wedding Patissier
Flowers: Fleurs de Esther

We want to get married next week!

23/12/2015

Last week I got a phone call from a midwife and it went along the lines of “George, Amanda and Kim said you are a Celebrant and next Monday we want to get married!” Of course, I said, I would love to share in your wedding day. They were going to get married at the Registry Office and then heaps of the family said they wanted to come to the wedding.

So I caught up with the midwife and sent her in the right direction to make it happen. They had already a location sorted on Port Hills Road – the Mother’s beautiful home. They already had the paper work sorted but that needed to be changed from the Registry office to a wedding with Julie Lassen Celebrant on Port Hills Road. A draft ceremony to work on was provided.

Rock on one week and it was Monday 21 December and it was the wedding day. An early morning check – ceremony sorted; rings sorted; flowers sorted; the marriage documents – NOT SORTED! The office had put my dear bride wrong. It was apparent that the papers we needed to sign were not in the hands of the bride. A few frantic emails and phone calls and a midwife who makes things happen – we got the papers – all sorted!!

By 3.30 I was at the Mum’s home and I met the groom Michael – yes a little nervous. I saw the bride – a beautiful bride but feeling the heat. The guests gathered and I sorted the first location in the garden only to learn that the bride didn’t like that plan. A lack of shade made me think on my feet and we sorted plan B. I also suggested to any of the guests that had umbrellas to get them as there was no shade for the guests.

Lots of iced water was needed.
I was asked to deliver a short and sweet ceremony and I always deliver what I am asked.

So I performed that short and sweet ceremony – and Katherine the Midwife married Michael the Painter in the presence of their son, Jack who is now 18.
Yes this wedding was a long time in the making – 22 years, yes indeed - A very special wedding!
Wishing the beautiful bride and good looking groom all the best for their life together.
PS: The George I mentioned – he is my great Osteopath (was his sister’s celebrant recently); Amanda (also an Osteopath and Cake Decorator who did the cake) and Kim (the amazing receptionist who holds everyone together for Barrington Osteopaths and Midwifes). Lots of Midwives present and I believe one was absent as she was delivering a baby (the only excuse really).

Congratulations to you Katherine and Michael – wishing you a wonderful life together now married.

Cruise Ship Wedding - first time on a cruise ship

22/12/2015

The most delightful Wedding Co-ordinator (Royal Ocean Events - Princess Cruises) a beautiful woman called Julianne Boyd, asked if I would go to Akaroa for a wedding on-board a cruise ship today. YES, YES, YES - I was delighted to go for a drive to Akaroa today. Pity the weather was not good but the Ship was in the harbour and at least 10 buses headed off with people to visit places in Christchurch.

Security is tight and Julianne and I had to hand over our drivers licences to get on the tender and get to the ship. Our handbags were x-rayed (that of course must be of great amusement knowing how much stuff is in mine) and Candice, the wedding Co-ordinator, on-board the MS Noordam, escorted us to where the ceremony was to be conducted.

The Beverage Manger and Events Manger worked together to ensure the ceremony area was ready. I loved the chairs for our couple to sit in. I was also impressed by the on-board team of four photographers who were capturing photos to provide the couple with a lovely album of photos.

A nice ceremony chosen by the couple was delivered and congratulations shared.
After a while you forget that you are on a cruise ship. Well that is until you go to leave and you need an escort as you have no idea how to get back to the exit point and leave the ship.

I was impressed with the special nature of the ceremony and the way the team, I include myself in that team, yes by the way we delivered the wedding they wanted.

I believe the wedding will be a surprise to people at home as no one knows they were getting married and it might just be they will be told to read this blog to learn of this special event. Good things take time and it is very special that they got married after 23 years together.

Another experience to add to my bank of special weddings.
Interesting fact - staff of 850 on the cruise ship.
http://www.hollandamerica.com/cruise-vacation-onboard/Noordam
The image is not one of mine - the weather did not look like this today in Akaroa.

Such an awesome gesture

20/12/2015

The girl from England married the boy from New Zealand. Yes Lorraine and Mark were an awesome couple and I was so pleased to be their Celebrant. They had chosen the gorgeous Shar of Shar Devine Photography to be the photographer.

The list of highlights for me:
- Nice drive to Sefton and good directions.
- Beautiful singing by Kristy and accompanied by Sam.
- A fantastic location - the Corral on their property.
- Sharing and alternating vows.
- Acceptance by Mark of Lorraine having crazy horses.
- Acceptance by Lorraine of his commitment to go fishing.
- Meeting a couple and he used to work at Lincoln University in the same department.
- A couple recognising me and saying that I married them eight years ago in February.
- The bride's Mother talking with me about weddings in England.
- When leaving being presented with a bouquet of flowers (beautiful flowers).
So thoughtful. Thank you Mark and Lorraine.

Wishing you Mr and Mrs Newell a long and happy life together.

Photos by Shar Devine Photography
https://www.facebook.com/SharDevinePhotography/?fref=ts

Wedding in my Garden

20/12/2015

Yesterday I was honoured to welcome Erwin and Florence to my garden for their small intimate wedding. They didn’t want to be married in the Botanic Gardens. They really wanted a more private setting. You really can’t get much more private than our garden.

A lovely couple with their vibrant friends and lovely nearly five year old son. Cute ring bearer and chief bridesmaid – well I really don’t know who had which role. There was of course heaps of cameras and phones capturing every minute.

They said they had booked a hall and were heading there to celebrate. Asked if I wanted to join them and I thanked them and declined.

So without fuss and at short notice, I pronounced the couple living here originally from the Philippines – Mr and Mrs Pua. May you have a long and happy life together.

The magical wedding - Mr and Mrs Bastian

13/12/2015

The weather is very unpleasant today but yesterday for Mr and Mrs Bastian’s wedding at Westhaven the weather was perfect.   Congratulations Christina and Roshan, travelling from Wellington to Christchurch to get married.

Christina a Teacher and Roshan a Business Auditor, chose to have their wedding at the perfect location.
Yes Westhaven is looking great. The guests all commented how nice the venue was. You wouldn’t know, but they are the only venue that has had the foresight to put a parking space for the Celebrant.   It ensures that if we have another wedding to get to we are not blocked in. Yes it has happened in the past and that is another blog.

They had also engaged Helen Webby to play the beautiful golden harp at the ceremony. I personally love the harp it creates such a magical sound and you will see from the photos fitted perfectly in the Westhaven chapel.

The magical moment in the ceremony was when I invited Haresh to bring forward the rings. He did and that was the moment when there was laughter, everyone relaxed, and the ceremony had that memoriable moment.

Can’t remember the Master of Ceremonies name, he told me he only got the job earlier that day, so I gave him a little bit of direction.   The cake cutters were great and wanted me to take away cake as well as eat cake. Self control needed!

A beautiful couple in a magical location.
Awesome harp music and great ceremony.
Well dressed guests with much colour.
Photographers doing the right thing and letting it happen.
Congratulations Christina and Roshan – now married.
May you have a long and happy life together as Mr and Mrs Bastian.
Enjoy the beautiful photos from
Dominique. 🐸
Wedding Photographer 📷
www.bridesonabudget.co.nz

The most super organised bride!

8/12/2015

For the second time I am writing this blog! I think computers and Facebook are suffering from the Christmas overload and misbehaving. Anyone, it’s time to tell you all about this amazing wedding.
Let’s start with this amazing couple who chose me to share their day with them. A great honour.

It was clear Kristine knew what she wanted. Yes, a super organised bride. Didn’t want a rehearsal. Had given everyone involved a timeline and very clear instructions on what was needed from them.
They had chosen a lovely location for the wedding – Pemberton. Beautiful gardens and just suited their wedding perfectly. Heather and Doug, The Heather & Doug Records captured amazing photos and you must look at the gallery of their lovely photos. And as you now know, they had me as the Celebrant and I got to deliver an awesome ceremony put together by Kristine, and I am sure some input from Lance. Let me share some of the highlights.
I got to welcome the guests and tell them that they were important and were appreciated.
Always a nice welcome.

I loved sharing “Once upon a time, there lived a boy named Lance, and a girl named Kristine. They grew up in different continents, and didn’t meet until 9 years ago, when Kristine started a new job at the Postie Plus office. He taught her how to load promotions, and so began their journey of getting to know each other.”
Yes four years after they me, they went on a date and 5 years later they made it official and got married.
I remembered those that were no longer with us and made special mention of Kristine’s maternal grandmother and grandfather, whose marriage lasted 65 years.

Awesome readings from Rebecca, Lance’s sister and another from Terence, Kristine’s brother.

I met these two gorgeous young people at the wedding and this was a nice inclusion:
"When Lance and Kristine, asked Lance’s niece and nephew what getting married was all about, Shaye, 5 years old, said, “It’s kissing, and eating cake, and getting a ring on”. Fhyn, who’s 7 years old, said, “you like each other, and you have a party, and get cake”. Good thing Kristine likes cake! And likes Lance!
Then there was this part to the ceremony which I loved."

On their big European adventure in 2011, Kristine and Lance noticed padlocks all over Italy, most noticeably on bridges, and were informed that it was a common practice for Italian couples to lock the padlocks on, throwing away the key to symbolically lock up their love. This custom is said to have originated in China. Thousands of locks can be found along sections of the Great Wall, and during wedding ceremonies held in those sacred spots, couples say their vows as they hang their lock in hopes that their marriage will last as long as the Great Wall. So it was great they got their padlocks and by linking the two locks, locking them together, and throwing away the key, they wish for a marriage that will last forever.

May I present to you, in the making since 2011, and established this day, the 29th of November 2015, the newly wed Mr & Mrs House!

Congratulations Lance and Kristine - I enjoyed being your Celebrant and celebrating your wedding day with you.

Venue: Pemberton
Photographers: The Heather and Doug Records (photos below)
Celebrant: Julie Lassen
Table settings: The Little Hire Company - call Fallon on (021) 105 7704

Please pronounce the name right!

3/12/2015

Friday 27 November 2015, and I met Linda Skinner (photographer) at Newbery Lodge for our beautiful wedding. You will notice I say our beautiful wedding – yes we take ownership and see our weddings as the most important wedding and ensuring it all comes together.

For Matt and Yoshiko it was a celebration of their love. I even said: “Love is a promise that is always kept, a fortune that can never be spent, a seed that can flourish in even the most unlikely of places.
And this radiance that never fades, this mysterious and magical joy, is the greatest treasure of all -- one known only by those who love."

I now have much pleasure in declaring them to be husband and wife.
Matt, you may now kiss your wife.

“Please welcome Mr and Mrs ROSANOWSKI"
(It was the pressure I put on myself to pronounce the name right - very important!)

An email to me: "Hey there Julie. How are you? Thank you so much for being our marriage celebrant last Friday. It was a perfect start of our marriage life."

Venue: Newbery Lodge
Celebrant: Julie Lassen
Photographer: Linda Skinner Photography