I'm a warm, relaxed and experienced celebrant. Every ceremony I create is meaningful, unique and reflects the couple or person we are celebrating.
24/10/2024
Beautiful examples of readings to incorporate in your wedding ceremony
Choosing contemporary readings for your wedding ceremony can infuse your celebration with a fresh, modern touch. These readings reflect current sentiments and themes, making them perfect for today’s couples. In our latest blog you’ll find 10 contemporary wedding readings you might like to consider for your ceremony:
Want to know how I optimise website copy for Google?
Here’s a glimpse into my 3-step process👇
~ STEP 1: KEYWORD RESEARCH ~
Before I write any copy, I start with keyword research.
What does keyword research actually look like? ⤵️
I analyse a huge list of potential keywords, comparing the monthly search volume, competition and search intent for each keyword to figure out which of these keywords your business should prioritise 🔍
I'm going to go deeper into what this all means in another post soon. But in a nutshell, I'm looking for keywords that have:
- High search volume (lots of people typing that keyword into Google each month)
- Low competition (easier to rank for)
- Search intent that matches the content on your website (intent = what the searcher is actually looking for)
~ STEP 2: KEYWORD MAPPING ~
Next, I map out the high-priority keywords against the pages of your website, choosing one primary keyword (plus multiple secondary keywords) for each page.
~ STEP 3: KEYWORD WEAVING ~
Finally, I weave the chosen keywords carefully and strategically into the headings, body text and SEO tags of each page on your website 🙇♀️
The keyword weaving is done subtly, because we’re writing for humans first, Google second. If your website copy is stuffed full of keywords, it’s going to be awkward and unenjoyable to read. And that won’t do your business – or your Google ranking – any favours in the long run.
This means I’m not making huge changes to the copy when I’m doing the keyword weaving. I’m making small but powerful tweaks to ensure you’ve got the right keywords in the right places ✔️✔️✔️
Do you have any questions about optimising your website for Google? Ask away in the comments!
17/05/2022
I love this
When someone has gone,
you can bring them back
for just a little while
by talking them into life
by painting a picture with your memories and your words
breathing their essence back into existence
for just a few moments.
When someone has gone
you can see them again
for a minute or two
by being all the things they once were
by allowing their best traits to filter through you
shaping your words, your thoughts and your deeds
back out into this world.
When someone has gone
you can feel them again
for just a moment
by playing their music
and singing their favourite songs
by giving yourself up to the notes that brought them alive
once upon a time, it will again.
When someone has gone
you can keep a part of them alive
by giving the love you had for them a forever place in your life
a forever seat at your table and a glorious chapter in your book.
Stories never die
tell them.
From ‘I Wish I Knew’
Beautiful art by
Phyllis Harris Design
21/04/2022
Are you looking for a wedding celebrant in New Zealand? ❤️
❤️Wedding celebrants can help you create the perfect personalised wedding ceremony; they will ensure that your special day will be the memorable wedding you dreamed of.
❤️Find the celebrant of your choice on our Celebrants Aotearoa search engine. You can choose your area, type of ceremony, gender of the celebrant, language and type in any keywords.
❤️You will be taken to an array of profiles, where you can read more of their profile and see if they are a good fit for you on your special day!
Now that daycares can extend to bubbles of 20, Ollie was invited to come back earlier this week.
We’ve muddled our way through the last three months without daycare and managed to juggle everything (with LOTS of help from the grandparents), but it’s a huge relief to have him back there.
It feels SO good to have solid, uninterrupted work days and to work from my desk again (rather than carting my laptop around from house to house) 👩💻
It’s been a tough week for Ollie with some very tearful drop offs. He turns two this weekend, so he’s gone straight into the ‘big kids’ room (a different space, with new teachers) - not an easy transition after three months off.
But he seems to be adapting quickly, connecting really well with his new teachers and having lots of fun in a bigger, busier environment 🥰
I hadn’t expected Ollie to be back at daycare this side of Christmas, which means I suddenly have a bit more capacity than expected 🤓
So… if you have any small writing projects you want to get knocked off before Christmas (like a website copy edit or a blog post), I’m available 👋
To grab a quote and book your project in, get in touch on [email protected] or via DM.
And if you want me to write your website copy or tackle a big writing project for you? Flick me a message and let’s lock it in for 2022 📲 🙌
28/10/2021
I have been a member for over 10 years and really appreciate the guidance and support provided
26/10/2021
I had another wedding postponed today
What a stressful time this is for so many couples, wedding planners, photographers, florists, venues and all the other wedding vendors. I hope this post is helpful
Organising a wedding during lockdown Level 2 and 3 is no easy feat when following the COVID regulations.
We understand wedding planners have more on their plates than before.
The safety of the bride and groom, guests, the celebrant, other wedding service providers, and yourself is now the top of the priority list while trying to provide the bride and groom with their dream wedding.
We all need to work through this together to keep each other safe.
So, we have put together a detailed guide for wedding planners and organisers on keeping venues, guests and celebrants safe from Level 2 and beyond and in line with government regulations.
🌳You may wish to memorialise someone close to you who has died with a special ceremony—a time of sharing memories with friends and family. If you’d like to find out more about planning a memorial ceremony for a loved one, find a CANZ celebrant of your choice to help you plan this special ceremony. https://www.celebrantsassociation.co.nz/vcanz-professional-pathways/find-a-celebrant/
22/09/2021
🌟What does a funeral celebrant do?
🌟 A funeral celebrant officiates at funerals, burials, cremations, memorials and the scattering of ashes.
🌟Yet, their services provide so much more than that. They bring their compassion, wisdom and experience to the family at a time of sadness, tenderness, reflection and sometimes trauma.
🌟Choose a CANZ celebrant
Members of the Celebrants Association of New Zealand, who officiate at funerals and memorials, are more likely to be experienced, qualified and undertake ongoing professional development.
🌟CANZ also has close links with the Funeral Directors Association of New Zealand (FDANZ) , and we believe this connection enhances the service we can each give to our clients.
I love creating memorable very special naming ceremonies
👶What happens in a naming ceremony? 👶
A naming ceremony is a meaningful occasion celebrating the newest addition to your family.
Many people choose to personalise a naming ceremony with a symbolic act – like planting a tree, lighting a candle, or having a family member recite a poem or sing a song. Other things you could include are:
👶Readings, poetry or music
👶A story about the child - their arrival into the world, their personality, quirks or interests
👶Your promises to your child
👶The appointment of guide parents or Godparents
👶The significance of their name
Whatever you choose to include, your celebrant can help craft a ceremony full of meaning and symbolism. CANZ celebrants listen to you and create a style of ceremony that will reflect your family. What’s more, because we belong to a network, there is the added benefit of support and shared knowledge.
When does an enduring power of attorney come into effect? ✍️
Firstly, it’s important to understand that there are two types of enduring powers of attorney (EPOA):
1) Property
2) Personal care and welfare
An EPOA allows someone you trust (your ‘attorney’) to make certain decisions on your behalf. Typically, you would appoint a family member or friend as your attorney.
With your EPOA for property, you can elect for your attorney’s power to come into effect either:
> Immediately after signing the EPOA (i.e. starting while you are mentally capable and continuing if you become mentally incapable); or
> Only if you become mentally incapable (i.e. no longer able to manage your money/property, as confirmed by a medical certificate).
Some people prefer their attorney’s power (in respect of property) to come into effect immediately, as it can be useful if you have important documents to be signed while you are overseas or if you have an accident that affects you physically, avoiding the need for a medical certificate.
With your EPOA for personal care and welfare, your attorney is able to make decisions for you if, or when, you are no longer able to make decisions for yourself. Therefore, your attorney can only start making decisions on your behalf when there is a medical certificate stating that this is the case.
There are certain decisions that your attorney is not legally allowed to make for you, which your lawyer will explain in detail when you are setting up your EPOAs. You can also choose to include provisions in your EPOAs that restrict your attorney’s scope of power.
Note: This post is brief and general in nature. You should not treat it as legal advice and should seek professional advice before taking any action in relation to the matters dealt with in this post. Armstrong Murray accepts no liability for losses suffered by any person or organisation who may rely directly or indirectly on this post.
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In our busy lives, ceremonies are more important than ever. Every day is precious, but there are a few important days in life that should be particularly memorable. The birth of a baby, the start of a marriage or the passing of a loved one are all momentous occasions that need to be acknowledged and celebrated.
I became a celebrant so that I could make a difference in people’s lives. Being able to deliver a ceremony in a meaningful, caring and compassionate way is incredibly special and I treasure the many friendships I have developed with clients during my time as a celebrant.
There is nothing I enjoy more than getting to know my clients, listening to their stories and taking the time to design a personalised, memorable ceremony that reflects the couple or person we are celebrating.
I don’t have a selection of standard ceremonies for my clients to choose from. Every ceremony I create is completely unique and crafted for you.
About me
I am warm, relaxed and have an innate ability to bond with people.
My clients say that my calm manner instantly puts them at ease and my attention to detail allows them to relax and simply enjoy the ceremony.
I have a clear voice, a great sense of humour and I am a confident, experienced public speaker.
I’m based in Auckland, but I’ve conducted ceremonies throughout New Zealand. If you live outside Auckland or are based overseas, that’s not a problem.
My background
In 1979, I married my husband Phil and together we have three wonderful children. I couldn’t imagine my life without them. They are all very different but share such a strong, loving bond. Phil and I feel incredibly lucky to have such a fantastic family.
I grew up on the North Shore in Auckland and have strong ties to the local community, having been actively involved in numerous community organisations as President of Takarunga Playcentre, Convenor and Committee Member of North Shore United Junior Soccer Club and Chairperson of the Takapuna Grammar School PTA.
In my role as the practice manager of a legal office in Takapuna, I oversee the day-to-day running of the firm. With more than 30 years of experience working in legal offices in New Zealand and Australia, I am mindful of the legal obligations and responsibilities of a celebrant.
I completed a Certificate in Celebrant Studies in 2010 and I am a member of the Celebrants Association of New Zealand.
