Taupo Celebrant

24/04/2025

Congratulations to Lesley & Kevin on your beautiful wedding last month!

22/04/2025

Congratulations to Stella and Bradlee on their beautiful wedding! They chose to include a handfasting ceremony - a symbolic tradition where their hands were tied together with ribbons to represent their commitment and unity. Such a special way to mark the start of their next chapter! 💍

15/04/2025

A gorgeous setting for yesterday's wedding 💍

10/04/2025

From weddings to life celebrations, I’m here for all the moments that matter.

Feel free to get in touch anytime: www.taupocelebrant.co.nz 💌

09/04/2025

A gorgeous day for a gorgeous couple. Congrats, Sophie & Hannah!

📸 Sapphire Studios

06/04/2025

All set for the signing moment! ✨

03/04/2025

This is one of my favourite books to share some of the aspects of loss and grief, healing and hope.

It’s cleverly illustrated and told through the eyes of a pet fish who’s lost his companion. I bought it online and have given away more copies than I can remember - a great resource and the sentiments are true whatever your age. My young friend Stevie Manunui read it to our gathering at last year’s Christmas Memorial Service.

Saying goodbye to someone you love is super tough, having some of those feelings named, is also super helpful.

03/04/2025

We tend to avoid talking about death, dying, grief and loss despite it being something that will affect us all throughout life. There is so much value in documenting your life story as it is something that will become a treasured family keepsake once you’ve passed and be a great resource to use for a eulogy.

It is also a great way to leave a legacy for your loved ones, connect to your creative side, build stronger connections, and develop a real sense of purpose and reflection throughout the journaling process.

For families, the life story that is created creates a sense of connection that could have easily been lost across the generations. The quote “to understand where we’re going, we have to understand where we’ve been” rings very true.

Learn more about recording a life story, here: celebrantsaotearoa.co.nz/blog/record-your-life-story

20/03/2025

A very light sprinkling of rain fell, briefly, as our bride and groom came together to begin their ceremony. It was all smiles though and in many cultures rain on a wedding day is considered a symbol of good luck, blessings, fertility, renewal and unity.

17/03/2025

Did you know there’s a ‘wedding season’? Usually from October to April.

It’s best to book your celebrant as soon as you have your date and perhaps a venue confirmed, ideally, 6 to 12 months before the ceremony.

Short timeframes work too and of course we celebrate weddings at any time of the year, but during the ‘season’ it’s a good idea to confirm your celebrant as soon as possible.

For more guidance on the ceremony styles I offer please get in touch:
www.taupocelebrant.co.nz/contact

14/03/2025

80% chance of rain? Sometimes, nature has a way of surprising us with the perfect weather! 🌞

13/03/2025

More gorgeous sunflowers! 🌻😍

11/03/2025

'Pīwakawaka Aotearoa'
~Pencil & pen on card.

I feel very honoured, and blessed to say, that I’ve explored most of these 2 incredible Pīwakawaka filled islands over the years.

Early in 2024, I traveled up to Auckland, to exhibit my artwork in a Forest & Bird event, exploring new places on our return trip.
Later in the year, I had the trip of a lifetime, traveling around with my 3 favourite humans, Olivia and my parents. We saw so much of the South Island together. We endured weeks of rain, snow, hail & gale force winds, nearly blowing us off the face of the earth. But we were lucky to see perfect views of Mitre Peak, Aoraki Mount Cook, the Remarkables and the bottom of quite a few nice pints.

Soon, I’ll be away on another adventure to hand deliver an original artwork. Then off to explore my last unseen area of the South Island.

Bring on new adventures!
Much love, Si.

11/03/2025

Celebrants Aotearoa member Jane Godfrey’s latest blog is a pondering of a podcast - ‘The four elements that can make or break your ceremony’. Jane says the blog is equally for couples and families as it is for celebrants, and it culminates in a checklist of things to think about that could make or break your next ceremony. Read more here: celebrantsaotearoa.co.nz/blog/the-four-elements-that-can-make-or-break-your-ceremony

11/03/2025

We let them into our lives and they can break our hearts.

It is well-known that Kiwis love their pets, so it’s perhaps not surprising that recent research has shown the death of a pet to be as emotionally intense as the death of a family member, writes The Grief Centre.

celebrantsaotearoa.co.nz/blog/research-kiwis-grieve-their-pets-as-much-as-their-family-members

11/03/2025

There are many many reasons to celebrate, create ceremony and ritual - and I’m here for it all.

From the birth of a baby, to a big birthday, or a vow renewal to a new house, retirement, separation and beyond, I can help create a special ceremony for any occasion.

www.taupocelebrant.co.nz

06/03/2025

A vow renewal is a beautiful way to celebrate your journey together! Here are some ideas to make it even more special:

💌 Personalised vows: Reflect on your love story and write new vows that capture your growth as a couple.

👨‍👩‍👧 Family involvement: Get the family involved and let your children play a part in the ceremony.

📸 Memory lane: Walk down memory lane by displaying a slideshow or photo wall of your favourite moments together.

What special touch would you add to your vow renewal?

02/03/2025

Congratulations to this wonderful couple who travelled from Australia to say 'I do' here in Taupō! A beautiful couple, surrounded by beautiful people, in the most beautiful setting.