Wedding FAQ’s and Venue Suggestions that might be helpful
Wedding FAQs and Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is a Marriage Celebrant?
A. A Celebrant or Officiant is a person appointed by the Registrar-General to officiate marriages. Without a marriage celebrant, you cannot become legally married.
Make sure you feel comfortable with your choice and the celebrant has that “fit” with your special occasion.
A Celebrant’s fee is separate to the $150 for the two copies of your marriage licence you need to apply for (correct as at August 2020). You then purchase a full certified copy at $33 after the ceremony.
Q. Are we allowed to write our own legal vows?
A. The NZ Marriage Act 1955 says that the following words or words to that effect must be spoken – “I PERSON ‘A’ TAKE YOU PERSON ‘B’ to be my lawful wedded husband/wife”. Writing your own Vows can be made personal to you both. As long these words are incorporated somewhere, then you’re fine!
Q. Is a rehearsal necessary?
A. It is not compulsory but would help calm the nerves, understanding what you are expecting on the day. When it comes to your big day, I will get there approximately 30 minutes early and will assist you and your bridle party into their positions.
Q. Do I have to put down two venues on the marriage application?
A. Yes. When applying you are given two options of venue (in case of bad weather if you’re intending to have your ceremony outside). Ensure you disclose the ‘back-up’ venue as your Plan B due to terrible weather. If you are intending the reception venue to be your ‘back up’ wet weather ceremony venue.
If you’ve changed the venue after your Marriage Licence has been issued, you must advise the Registry Office from which your licence was obtained so you can have it reissued with the new venue before the wedding. I can do this for you and add as a covering letter when I post in the copy of your signed Marriage Licence.
Q. How do we apply for a marriage licence?
A. It is all done online now so no need to worry about going into the office. Here is the link to apply: https://marriages.services.govt.nz/
At the conclusion of the ceremony you will be handed a signed copy of one of the ‘Copy of Particulars of Marriage’ (BDM 45A) (your copy of the ‘Marriage Licence’). The other copy is returned to the issuing Registrar by your Marriage Celebrant. With this signed document your marriage is legally registered in New Zealand and it enables either the ‘Bride or the Groom’, to take the other’s name.
Q. How do I change my surname after getting married?
A. In New Zealand, you don’t usually have to do anything special if you want to change your name after you get married or have a civil union. Please check on the govt.nz website here to find out more.
Q. I understand the Registry Office no longer does weddings, do you do Registry Weddings?
A. Yes, I am approved by Births Deaths Marriages in taking the Registry Office referred weddings. FIND OUT MORE
Q. Do you travel outside your area to do weddings?
A. Yes, most of my weddings are out of my area. As an appointed celebrant, I am able to travel all over New Zealand and have done weddings even on Waiheke Island, Matakana, Waimauku.
Venue Suggestions
Allely Estate. 393 SH 16, Kumeu 0892 - (Sela and William, Hope and Sani)
Level 6. 2-8 Chancery Chambers, Chancery Court – (Courtney and Conrad)
Ascension Wine Estate. 480 Matakana Rd, Laly Haddon Place, Matakana 0985 – (Mohammad and Mahsa)
Band Rotunda. Cornwall Park, One Tree Hill, Auckland – (Roxie and John)
Botanical Gardens. 102 Hill Rd, The Gardens, Auckland 2105 – (Katrina and James, Jackie and Aji, Hana and Chheang, Raymond and Moe)
Cable Bay Villas. 61 Church Bay Road, Oneroa, Waiheke Island - (Veruschka and Peter)
Cable Bay Vineyards. 12 Nick Johnstone Dr, Oneroa, Auckland 1840 – (Wendy and Doug)
Cassels. 1012 Scenic Drive, Swanson, Auckland 0614 – (Astra and Sam)
Castaways Resort. 685 Karioitahi Rd, Waiuku 2683 – (Kefu and Chao)
Cheltenham Beach, Devonport – (Petra and Vanja)
Coyle Park, Pt Chevalier. 528 Point Chevalier Rd, Point Chev, Auckland 1022 – overlooking the water – (Paulette and Derek)
Fairway Conference Centre. 17A Silverfield, Wairau Valley, Auckland – (Heather and Josh)
Fickling Convention Centre. Three Kings, Auckland 1041 – (Nilesh and Karishma)
Five Knots, Tamaki Yacht Club. 30 Tamaki Drive, Mission Bay – (Kate and Malcolm)
Flagship Marina Resturant. 15 Clearwater Cove, Westpark Marina, Auckland - (Amanda and Barry)
Geyser Lookout BnB. 17 Kerswell Terrace, Rotorua - (Tania and Reuben)
Gracehill Vineyard. 34 Pomona Rd, Kumeu, Auckland 0891 – (Harley and Haley)
Highwic House. 40 Gillies Ave, Newmarket, Auckland – (Ben and Kate)
Kauri Bay Boomrock. 777 Clevedon-Kawakawa Rd, Clevedon, Auckland 2585 – (Kahurangi and Tame)
Kauri Steps. One Tree Hill, Auckland – (Billy and Fa)
Landsendt Tropical Weddings. 108 Parker Rd, Oratia, Auckland 0604 – (Lisa and Elder)
Murphys Bush Scenic Reserve. 60 Murphy’s Road, Flat Bush, Auckland – (Rongo and Louise)
Markovina. 84 Old Railway Rd, Auckland 0892 – (Danny and Danielle, Krystina and Marty, Candace and Billy)
Mt Roskill War Memorial Hall. 13 May Road, Mt Roskill, Auckland – (Geralyn and Umed)
Nancy Steen Garden. Dove Myer Robinson Park, Parnell - (Sahel and Purple)
Narrow Neck Beach Reserve (by Wakatere Boat Club, Devonport). Narrow Neck Beach, Auckland 0624 – (Chloe and Mikey)
Orakei Bay. 231 Orakei Rd, Remuera, Auckland 1050 – (Rob and Jess)
Quinton Park, Bayswater, Auckland. Little reserve area and reception at VR Hotel, Takapuna next door – (Lynal and Allen)
Royal Oak Bowling club venue and ceremony Jellicoe Park, Onehunga – (Stanley and Quiana)
Rydges Hotel. 59 Federal Street, Auckland – rooftop wedding – (Carol and Jai)
Soljans Estate Winery. 366 SH 16, Kumeu, Auckland 0841 – (Mykhail and Tung)
Sorrento in the Park. 670 Manukau Road, One Tree Hill, Auckland – (Vika and Tyron)
Spencer on Byron. 9-17 Byron Ave, Takapuna Beach, Auckland 0622 – (Mike and Mavel)
Top of North Head, Devonport, Auckland – (Charlie and Nat)
The Ambers. 146 Pine Valley Rd, Auckland 0992 – (Tri and Holli)
The Garden Shed. 470 Mt Eden Rd, Mt Eden, Auckland 1024 – (Donna-Marie and Aaron)
The Pah Homestead. 72 Pah Rd, Hillsborough, Auckland – (Andy and Nene)
Tribeca Restaurant and Courtyard. 8 George St, Parnell, Auckland 1023 – (Desiree and Junior)
West Lynn Garden & Butterfly House. 73 Parker Ave, New Lynn, Auckland 0600 (Lauren and Eric)
A few weddings were also performed at my wedding venue in Hillsborough. My others weddings were officiated at the couple’s homes
Other venues used for weddings:
https://www.facebook.com/maraetai.boatclub/
http://www.fencible.org.nz/en/functions-spaces/weddings
http://www.wakatere.org.nz/page/hall-hire
http://www.sthelierscentre.org.nz/
http://kumeucommunitycentre.co.nz/
https://www.waipunahotel.co.nz/wedding/
https://www.facebook.com/stmargaretscafe/
https://www.facebook.com/jetparkhotel/
http://www.frenchbay.org.nz/venue-hire/
ALL THE COUNCIL HALLS/VENUES: