Every day is Valentine’s Day, when you’re with the one you love! – Peta Hardley, Auckland Wedding Celebrant

Congratulations to those wonderful people who I have recently been privileged to officiate on their big day. Enjoy your 1st St Valentine’s Day as a married couple!

Willie singing his Vows to Emma

Ben Serena and young Hayden

Sarah and JB at Kumeu Valley Estate

Libby, Matt and their guests at Gracehill

Blair and Tracey at 'The Brigham'

Gayle and Cally had their Civil Union here at Casabella

Liz and Foxx - a casual ceremony in Riverhead

Liz and Foxx's awesome 'look alike' cake toppers

Phil and Mira - a hatted celebration

Nadine and Yves - Eloped from Switzerland

Ian and Sarah at Mahia Park Lodge

Sharon and Glen at georgeous Landsendt

‘Only a person who risks is free,
So dare to laugh and appear the fool.
Dare to weep in front of each other.
Dare to share your true self and your dreams with each other.
May your hands be forever clasped in friendship
May your hearts be joined forever in love
And may laughter continue to be the bond that holds you both together’

Enjoy your Valentines Day!

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Spring has sprung – A great time for serious wedding planning!

It must be spring time as things are starting to pick up wedding wise. I’m getting lots of enquiries for summer weddings and Civil Unions. Once you have your date just give me a call. I’d love to talk about your special day with you and support you in getting the ceremony of your dreams.

I just love spring! After a rather cold soggy winter it is great to see the blossoms out and just as importantly …… lambs. I HAVE LAMBS. Cute as buttons, little black faced lambs. Okay so this may not be that exciting for you farming types out there, but for us city girls who are new to the country life, it is very exciting.

Peta with Spring lamb Peta with Spring lamb

Then, this morning I found this in the pool. Mumma Duck giving her 11 ducklings swimming lessons 

'Now I want you to try swimming right'

'Now kids, I want you to try swimming right'

Yes, my Kumeu home ‘Casabella’, is bursting with life and looking fabulous. If you are yet to find that perfect ceremony venue for the two of you (and up to 25 guests) just give me a call to book in a time for a wander – and possibly a cuddle with a lamb or two.

There are plenty of photos of Casabella on the ‘Private Venue’ page of this website.

I look forward to hearing from you.

xxx Peta

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Casabella Wedding

It was a real pleasure to host Eileen Harris and Andy Ferrer’s wedding here at Casabella six weeks ago. It was the first wedding here at Casabella.

Andy and Eileen’s ceremony was based on their long distance love story – one of love’s powers to bring a couple together over many years and from half way around the world. It was a wonderfully intimate ceremony shared with immediate family and a few close friends, on a fabulous autumn day.

Eileen was supported by her two beautiful children, Damian and Stefanie, who each read a poem. There were plenty of tears during the ceremony, followed by lots of smiles and laughter afterwards. The lovely photos below, are taken by photographer Victoria Dickinson from Muriwai (and yes, I have her contact details)

Eileen and Andy's Vows

Eileen and Andy's Vows

Lighting the candles

Candles - Past, present and future

Signing the paperwork

Making the marriage legal

Newlywed happiness

Newlywed happiness

The start of a new family

A new family is made

 

Entryway to a happy life

Entryway to a happy life

 

Wedding Walk

Wedding Walk

 

Wedding Walk 2

Wedding Walk 2

 

Damian, and his mum Eileen

Mother and son

 

Eileen and Andy's wedding party

Eileen and Andy's wedding party

 

Afterwards at Muriwai

Muriwai Magic

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Every wedding is a royal wedding

So have you finally recovered from the royal wedding?  Were you one of the many who oohed and ahhed and picked up ideas on hats that should never be worn in public? Maybe you even bid on Princess B’s crazy hat!

Regardless of what you wear, you are bound to feel like a Princess and Prince on your big day, and so you should. Why would you want to copy someone else’s wedding anyway?

No two weddings should be the same. I say it often and I truly believe it

Forget the rules and what others think you should do… make the day your own

 Whether it is grand and formal, fun and romantic, funky and quirky, expensive or on a budget, outside, inside, in a garden on a beach, on a boat or by a goat, …. make the day your own

 It’s such a special day. You are marrying the one you love…make the day your own

 

Here are two different weddings that both had a royal feel.

Verity and Rob at the Auckland Zoo

Verity and Rob at the Auckland Zoo

Verity and Rob married at the Auckland Zoo. Living overseas and coming back for Verity’s sisters wedding was a great opportunity to arrange their own wedding in NZ with family and friends at short notice. Despite not having a lot of time to plan the big day, it was done beautifully.

The guests were captivated when as Verity and her Dad walked to where Rob was standing, he dropped to one knee and ‘officially’ proposed. (He said he just had never got round to doing it properly)

It’s not often you get a proposal on the same day as the wedding. There was a brief hush of anticipation before Verity replied ‘Yes, I’ll marry you’

Phew, that was a relief. The ceremony continued with lots of smiles and sunshine

Even the cheeky monkeys behaved and didn’t screech during the vows.

Darell and Dave married at their herald Island home amid friends and family on a fabulous sunny autumn day

 

Darell and Dave at their Herald Island home

Darell and Dave at their Herald Island home

Marrying later in life, there was a strong sense of family throughout the day. Dave’s wee granddaughter Scarlett aged 4, danced amongst the guests with a bell to tell them the ceremony was starting. Dave’s son Graham stood in support of his Dad during the ceremony. Darell’s daughter Naomi did a lovely reading and Dave’s older granddaughter Isabelle aged 8 proudly performed her duties as one of the witnesses. (yes children can be witnesses)

Darell, Dave and Grandaughter/ witness - Isabelle aged 8

Darell, Dave and Grandaughter/ witness - Isabelle aged 8

Their vows included the poignant words, ‘Thank you for making me laugh again. Bless you for taking my hand as we begin anew’ and ‘It is my intent that our life together include our large circle of friends and loving families. While we cherish the memories of our individual pasts, we will create new experiences and memories in our new life together’

Congratulations to both these lovely couples for choosing to make their ceremonies unique, personal and making the day their own.

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March Weddings – Personal and Unique

Welcome to Autumn and the slowing down of the wedding season. The weather during March has certainly created some anxious moments with a good share of rain and wind.

My hat goes off to the couples who took any inclement weather in their stride and moved seamlessly and happily to their ‘Plan B’. The moral is that you can’t guarantee fine weather at any time of the year, especially in Auckland. (Hence the saying…… “If you don’t like the Auckland weather, just wait a minute!’)

As things get a little quieter, it is great to reflect on the fabulous couples who’s Marriages and Civil Unions I had the privilege of officiating at this season.

Despite age, gender, or background, each ceremony is based on the love between two people.

What makes each ceremony unique is the personal touches, stories, readings and vows chosen by each couple.  Some couples have a theme which is always interesting.

For Tia and Ed, their theme was all about the beach. Despite a fierce wind they braved the beach at Muriwai to be married on the sand under a beautifully decorated gazebo.

Nathan and John had a tropical fiesta theme, complete with cocktails and leis, when they celebrated their Civil Union at their home.

My congratulations to my March couples whose photos are below. 

Chrissie and Caleb at Waitakere Estate

Eddie and Tia at Muriwai beach

 

Tahlia and Phillippa at Stone Willow, Pukekohe

 

Nathan and John at their tropical themed Civil Union

 

Peta with Paul and Shannon at Castor Bay

 

Debby and Kerry at Waipuna Lodge

 

Jamie & Sarah at Kumeu Valley Estate

Thank you for allowing me to be part of your special day.

 

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