Keith "Aussie" Eleftheriou - Celebrant & Emcee

20/05/2026

You know weddings are ramping up when my reading material starts to include more 'reference' material.

18/05/2026

Is it "lost" if you have simply forgotten where you put it?

As I put the finishing touches to a completed ceremony as a memento for a couple, I have seemingly misplaced (yeah, I like that word as opposed to lost) some script they sent me to add in...

(I can't even blame the drinking for this one)

13/05/2026

Back into it, this time for Lorraine & Noel with a classic story of "unfinished" business segueing into a romantic climax from halfway around the world only to end up smack-bang in the middle of Rangiora. Eat s**t Hollywood.
(who can spot the irony in this photo)

19/04/2026

Everytime I hum and ha about continuing on as a Celebrant, I meet a couple that makes me glad I did (at least) do the next one. Well, meet is a strong word as I only met the couple the day before their wedding.

"Life is what happens to us while we are making other plans, and that John
Lennon quote could easily segue into a story that could only exist in
Hollywood; a Sliding Doors type plot where the simple act of changing one
decision has a roll-on effect to affect two people’s lives, forever.
And if I were to write such a story, it might well involve an English
engineer who for some years has been working in and out of the Middle
East - let’s call him Daniel - and on one such business flight on Emirates
he was attended to by a stunning beauty from Kazakhstan - and we’ll call her, yeah, no, Alina? - who had the most amazing blue eyes - like rock pools that you could just swim in forever - and on this flight they chatted quite a bit, and though Daniel suspected there might have just been a tiny flicker of interest, the poor deluded fool figured it was just in his imagination, and after disembarking that was seemingly it.

Some weeks later Daniel is in Seattle, and for reasons now best left to fate, he decides to extend this stay by a week and as he takes a connecting flight from Dubai to Jeddah he walks up the aisle of the aircraft, and as the passenger in front goes to sit down, who should be there looking directly at him?

It’s only Alina! Like, no way? Way!! In fact, on top of Daniel’s flight changes, Alina had also decided to go against her normal routine of turning down this particular line…

Fly Better? With Emirates, you better believe it!"

What a story, what an occasion. While their timing was a little off (as myself and Lisa kept a wary eye on the incoming tide) the whole thing was picture perfect, and is the appropriate follow up to their movie-esque meeting.

And as everyone knows, I'm not normally one to make recommendations, but I'm glad I did for my favourite snapper Paul Wilson: Wedding Photographer and his new fiancé Cee Cee (did I get that right?), and to Lisa at The Event Boutique for the decorations (and rake).

Can't wait to see the photos, the video, and the footage from the amazingly cool drone the couple brought in with them.

And despite initial reservations about using Waimari Beach, being the best of those I recc'd out for them, it was a lovely setting, and lovely chatting to the various locals and their dogs who came in for a nosey.

But my biggest thanks is to the stunningly beautiful Alina who as I walked her from the car to the 'aisle' she recounted the story of how they came to find me and it was at her insistence I was to be their officiant, to the point they were stressing out when I hadn't replied to their initial enquiry in over a week. Lucky Dan found me on WhatsApp...

Safe travels home guys, and looking forward to catching up when your make Australia your new home.

18/11/2025

"MARK: “Krista, I’m loving our life right now, and there is only one way to make it any better…that would be if you would be my wife?”

To which Krista replied;

KRISTA; “Of course, but isn’t there supposed to be a ring?”

Mark told his expectant Bride-To-Be to wait until Lyn awoke as she had the ring, and Krista ran inside and banged down her Mum’s door!
Lyn and Pam, also missing their luggage were shocked awake, hiding under the covers
(as they had no clothes on), passed over the ring, and then made Mark re-enact the whole proposal while they filmed it.

And in case you were wondering, and in keeping with MOST of the trip, they never saw
the sunrise due to low cloud."

A HUGE congrats to Mark & Krista on their 8th wedding anniversary, although I haven't seen them in a while, so to quote Mark's son/Best Man's speech, "Dad, let's hope it's fourth time lucky!"

*Note: Mark is the only person, other than my mechanic, to have ridden my bike.

17/11/2025

"...and while the nature and context of these messages are lost to the annals of time it had
started something between [Brent and Casey].

After about a month of to-ing and fro-ing, Casey
decided to invite Brent over to her place.

They watched movies….and he ended up staying the night.

And then, sort of never left.

In fact Brent was spending so much time at Casey’s, his flatmate started renting out his room
– still with all his stuff in it!"

Happy Seventh Anniversary, guys.

(It would be great to be paid some day)

15/11/2025

The other night I stopped into a pub for a beer and there was a stag night in full flight, and as tends to happen they started chatting to me and the topic somehow got onto unfortunate issues arising from the boy's "last night of fun".

This group of lads have a tradition of making the unfortuna...ummm, lucky guy... jump into the Avon in just his un**es, only for one guy to show me video of his installment showing him being carried from the water with his ankle at 90°!

Once the blood returned to my face, I started with the sentence; "I can beat that. I did a wedding out at Bangor Farm..." only to be cut off by another guy finishing it by asking loudly: "You did that wedding with the guy who broke both his wrists, didn't you!?!? "

And with that, I wish Jax & Hemi a very Happy Anniversary. 😉

14/10/2025

Somehow, I have managed to fool the bureaucrats into believing I'm an upstanding character for the 11th year running.

So, who's next?

Kia ora Aussie
Registration Number: *****

I am pleased to advise you that you have been reappointed as an independent marriage and civil union celebrant for 2026.

Send a message to learn more

02/09/2025

"Hey Aussie I just wanted to let you know how greatfull we are that you were our celebrant thank you again for making our wedding day possible it was amazing and couldn't have gone any better 😊"

She was late. Really, really, reeeeaallly late. That's cool.

Petals went down the back of my shirt. That's cool.

Three bazooka-sized and atomic sounding poppers were shot in unison - with no warning - nearly giving me another wedding day heart attack.

That's not fu***ng cool. 😏

But yep. I'm good.

Fu***ng good.

Call me...

18/08/2025

"I'd like to start off with saying, my partner and I when first viewing your page were absolutely keen on having you do it for us! We loved the humor (and dashing good looks) and are looking for a laid-back celebrant with a REAL sense of humor. I was hesitant to ask because our budget and you the photos of the weddings you had up on the site look very expensive, assuming your price range was to high but I took a leap of faith. We are extremely grateful for your reply and willingness and are really stoked your willing to do it. Out of all off the people on that list you were definitely the most preferred, so I am extremely honored!! You have made our week, or rather whole month with your reply and am VERY excited now instead of stressed with you agreeing to do this we now can just focus on saving and organizing the kids' outfits and our dress and suit making the anxiety and stress disappear!! we are so very thankful."

No worries, J & Q, just honored to have been considered.

And all for a box of Lion Brown. 🍻

Yep, I'm back, baby.