By Kineta Knight Booker
Working as a celebrant is an incredible honour as we are there for the most special occasions in people’s lives.
Because of this, it is important for us to pause and take a moment to celebrate our roles as celebrants, and we do this through National Celebrants Day, held each year on the 20th of November.
And we are all recognising our roles in different ways. Some members of the celebrant community in different parts of the country are planning to get together to celebrate over a drink and a chat with fellow celebrants, and others will share about their role through their social media platform, or perhaps quietly reflect in private about the mahi they do and acknowledge the moments they get to work with couples and families.
I asked our Celebrants Aotearoa members what makes them the best celebrant they can be and/or what they love most about it. Here’s what some of them told me:
Angela: It’s a privilege to meet new people and hear their stories, then share their special day with them. Whether it’s a happy or a sad day. A professional celebrant lowers the stress level in emotive situations so everyone can get the most out of the experience of the ceremony.
Kim: What I love is meeting people and families I never would have otherwise met, seeing how diverse and wonderful humanity is and helping folks have the day they want.
Mary: To connect with so many who are amazing and dealing with what ever is outside of their “normal” either wedding or funeral. To bring support and understanding, and to help them make it the best day for them, with little stress and lots of love.
Gillian: What an honour and a privilege to be able to serve in our role as celebrants. To be on a ‘high’ after officiating either a wedding or a funeral, makes our work so rewarding, to know we have made a difference in people’s lives.
Kelly: I love meeting new people and hearing their love story. It is wonderful to be part of a couples special day.
Heather: I love listening to couples and then creating a special ceremony for them that is memorable for them and their guests.
Tracey: I love being able to help and guide people when they are navigating something new and often overwhelming. There is an instant trust that people place in us as professionals and it's a privilege and responsibility that I take seriously. Seeing the joy in being able to create something special to their own specifications and delivering that on the day of their wedding, the way they chose and wanted is an amazing feeling.
Danielle: Known to my sisters as the ‘20 question Queen’ this ‘job’ is perfect for me! I get to ask questions that make my couples really think and then bring their love story to life. And I’ve made some really great friends along the way.
Lianne: Getting to know and working with beautiful couples to ensure their ceremony is exactly what they want. Witnessing those special looks and gestures they share and then driving away from their ceremony with the biggest smile.
Claire: It's such a privilege to celebrate life events - wedding, funeral, anniversary, house warming, whatever! I just love hearing people's stories and what has brought them to their celebration. Weaving their words into a script so their story is what is the focus is such a neat thing to do. I love bringing together a memorable, personal celebration. Discovering the stories is the best part.
Laura: I love to ask questions and get to the nitty-gritty of the situation! I honour lives, I honour people and their relationships. Wedding or funeral, I use my unique talents to find the authentic essence and celebrate everything that matters to the whānau and people at the centre of my attention. I find creative ways to make it authentic and extra special!
Sara: Developing relationships with such a wide range of people, being exposed to new ideas and ways of being and doing, and sharing in such a fun part of their lives.
Carol: I’m at my best as a celebrant when I have the space to be my authentic self. Confident, organised, flexible, relaxed, solutions focused and even funny! What they see is what they expect, and what they get.
Kirsty: I love being able to create a family.
Joy: Sometimes, the most unlikely couples, capture my heart. They become life long friends. One ended up building our house. I’m blown away by the variety of clients - I’ve married Olympians, a SAS sniper, scientists; Irish, Canadians, many Asians, Japanese, Americans…. Because my hubby does the sound, and we have a bus and do remote weddings, it’s allowed us to go places and meet people that enrich our experience and lives. Just love the variety. Are enriched by so many. Just love people.
Karen: I love being surrounded with “love & happiness”.
I love being the heart of the ceremony, as if you don’t have a celebrant, the couple cannot be married.
I love blending the two families together as one.
I love uniting the couple together as:
Two friends
Two hearts
One promise
One love
I love being part of a couple’s special day and most of all, just love being a celebrant.
Christine: What I love most about being a celebrant is the alignment of my passion for people and the power of personal stories of aroha that they entrust us to share at a time of love or loss. “Holding space is my happy place!”
Rachel: Being the right person for the couple or family. Feeling connected as you build a relationship with the them. Hearing their story, values and needs and reflecting that through a bespoke ceremony that has heart, empathy, humanity and humour.
Denyse: Being a celebrant is joyous work and such a privilege to connect with new people and create a ceremony that reflects who they are.
Andi: This isn't a job - it's pure heart mahi! It's so gratifying to guide and hold people through their wedding joy, funeral grief or other significant milestones. Being an inclusive, diverse, neuro-sparkly person means I easily relate to a wide range of people from all walks of life. And this isn't just about the 'day' itself, it's also about the lead-up where you're building meaningful relationships with lovely huminz and learning what is (and isn't) wanted. This role involves wearing a variety of simultaneous hats; listener, advisor, researcher, creator, writer, speaker, choreographer, event manager. It's such an honour delivering a unique ceremony that truly reflects a couple or a beloved and which gives a beautiful, cherished memory forever.
We are so proud of our celebrants and all the hard work they do across Aotearoa New Zealand.
