I’m also a registered celebrant and can legally perform weddings, civil unions, handfastings, funerals, memorials, renewals of vows, and  baby naming ceremonies. I’ve been a funeral celebrant since 2003, a civil union celebrant since it first became available in 2005, and a marriage celebrant since 2011, first as a designated celebrant for the New Zealand Association of Rationalists and Humanists, and more recently as an independent marriage celebrant.

I offer two wedding celebrancy options:

Option one is $200 which just covers the legal stuff. You plan your own ceremony and write your own vows, and I confirm by email in advance that it meets all the legal requirements. I also say whatever else you want me to say, and sign the registration forms. (In fact it’s not really necessary for me to say much at all as long as your words meet the legal  requirements; I can be nearly inconspicuous if you prefer.) It’s a very low-key involvement just covering the legalities of the ceremony.

Option two is $80 per hour and more involved. I help you plan and arrange the structure and format of the ceremony – crafting words, readings, music, vows, etc – and present it in much the same way as a minister or priest would (minus the religious references). Allowing 6-10 hours in total would be realistic. It’s a creative and collaborative process and it’s helpful to be able to discuss it several times before your Big Day, or at least have plenty of online contact. I strongly encouragecouples to write their own vows so they can express their love for one another in the most personal and meaningful way. I don’t follow any kind of formula or recipe, nor tell people how they “should” do it. It’s your day, and entirely your choice.

If the location of the ceremony is outside Motueka I also charge mileage at IRD rates to get there and back.

Funeral celebrancy for Living Legacies’ family-directed funeral clients is generally included in the total cost of services. Sometimes though, families want just funeral celebrancy and for various reasons don’t need the other available services. In this case the above prices for weddings apply to funerals too. For all ceremonies it’s helpful to contact me as far in advance as possible.

“Dear Lynda we just wanted to say thank you so very much for being our marriage celebrant. You helped us create a ceremony which was so perfect and special, the memory will last us a life time. With just the right amount of input and guidance you allowed us the freedom to creatively find our own relaxed style and to keep the proceedings personal and just the way we wanted . We had so many comments from our family and friends afterward on how natural, relaxed and seamlessly smoothly the whole ceremony went, right down to how patient and focused you where while keep us right with the signing process, given all the excitement and distractions that were going on.

We have been recommending you already to our friends and will continue to do so without hesitation.

Thanks once again,

David & Tamsin Armstrong

Married at Melrose House Nelson on the18^th October 2014”

“Lynda Hannah has been the celebrant at two family weddings recently and her manner and style went a long way to making both celebrations joyous occasions. She would be our first choice of celebrant should we be having another family wedding, and we would not hesitate to recommend her services to anyone else.”

J & J Black