Wilson & Fernanda

INTIMATE CEREMONY AT HOME

25 JUNE 2021 - SOCKBURN, CHRISTCHURCH

Wilson and Fernanda were married in a beautiful, intimate ceremony at their home in Sockburn, surrounded by their closest family and friends (including those who joined via video call from all around the world!). The energy in their cosy lounge was so warm and welcoming, full of love and support for the happy couple.

Originally opting for a registry ceremony, Wilson and Fernanda changed to a simple personalised ceremony so that they could include their pastor and make adaptations to the script. Their faith is extremely important to them and it was a pleasure to ‘tag team’ with Eduardo to create their dream ceremony. I’m always happy to discuss how to include others in your ceremony if this is something that you want!

“I, Wilson, take you, Fernanda, to be my wife; and I promise, before God and these witnesses, to be your loving and faithful husband; in plenty and in want; in joy and in sorrow; in sickness and in health; as long as we both shall live.”

“I, Fernanda, take you, Wilson, to be my husband; and I promise, before God and these witnesses, to be your loving and faithful wife; in plenty and in want; in joy and in sorrow; in sickness and in health; as long as we both shall live.”

Congratulations Mr and Mrs Coelho! It was a privilege to be part of your special day.

AROHA NUI,

Vic xxx

“Thank you so much Vic, it was such a pleasure to have you as our celebrant. Even my pastor commented that you are so easy to work with and that it was a fantastic ceremony. Thank you for making it so special, I will definitely recommend you to everyone that would like to get married, and my pastor will also do the same. Thank you once again!! :) We were very happy to have you as a celebrant. ”

— Wilson + Fernanda

Cam & Ione

OFFICIATING FOR ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS!

6 FEBRUARY 2021 - WINSFORD GARDENS, AUCKLAND

Aside from my own wedding, Cam and Ione’s was my favourite of all time! As someone who has known Ione since the early days of high school, this ceremony was particularly special for me. She is such a treasure, and our friendship is one I value dearly. I’m choking up just re-living their beautiful celebration now… in fact, I really have no idea how I held it together on the day! This was also my first ceremony where I knew a number of the guests, making it all the more significant to me.

In the months leading up to the ceremony, we worked closely together to create a script that perfectly captured the essence of Cam and Ione’s relationship. We included details about how the pair met, some relationship milestones and Cam’s epic proposal (that Ione did not make easy!).

On the day, Ione chose to enter from the side of the garden, not down a traditional aisle. I always love to highlight to couples that the beauty of a personalised ceremony is that you have the freedom to do what works for you! She looked absolutely stunning.

It was important to Cam and Ione to share what marriage means to them and to acknowledge that it requires conscious effort. “As time and life changes you, remember that continuing to nourish your relationship is a choice - and when you choose to find your greatest joy in the company of each other, marriage offers opportunities for sharing and growth that no other human relationship can equal.” They also chose to write their own vows and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. Perfection.

“…Ione, you are my best friend and soulmate, and you make every day of my life a surprise. Your energy and ambition are what drew me towards you, and I love the feeling of always being on the go with you. You can’t sit still. I love that when I’m with you there is never a dull moment. We’ve been to so many places and achieved so much already but I know today is only the beginning…”

“…Cameron - God, I love you. How incredible that we both get to be on this earth right now, and that among billions of people alive, and the zillions that came before us, we managed to collide in this strange, beautiful whirlwind of life. How sweet it is to be here with you today and to declare to the world that I adore you. You’re my best mate, my favourite person…”

After the ceremony, I had the privilege of attending the reception which was a super chilled out ‘walk-and-fork’ affair. Think classy house party… complete with lawn games and a bonfire. A major highlight was listening to the MC - Cam and Ione’s seven year old nephew - who was hilarious. I was so impressed. I got to hang out with my Mum, Dad and gorgeous husband, as well as catch up with some of my best mates who were also there to celebrate. Best night ever!!

Thank you so much for sharing your day with me. I love you both and I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for you xx

AROHA NUI,

Vic xxx

Photographer - Richard Ng

“Vic was wonderful to work with from start to finish. She was enthusiastic about our wedding and was super supportive and knowledgeable when it came to questions we had. She had some great suggestions and tips for how to make the ceremony run smoothly, and really listened to what we wanted out of the day.

We felt so confident during the lead up to our wedding, and on the day, knowing that she had everything in hand. We both loved how encouraging and supportive she was at the ceremony itself, reminding us to take our time and focus on each other, as she guided us through the process. Vic is an all-round delight to work with; if you’re looking for a celebrant, stop, you’ve found her. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story can make all the difference.”

— Cam + Ione

Kurtus & Lily

GARDEN WEDDING

4 MARCH 2021 - HALSWELL QUARRY

Kurtus and Lily were married in an intimate ceremony surrounded by their closest family and friends. They chose a secluded spot in the beautiful Songpa-Gu Gardens at Halswell Quarry. If you haven’t visited, I highly recommend going for a walk around the ‘Sister Gardens’. This particular garden has a botanical collection that represents Korea, as well as our own landscape here in Canterbury.

Kurtus and Lily chose to break tradition in a few ways! That is the beauty of a personalised ceremony, my friends… you can make it totally your own. Instead of an archway, the pair set up in front of one of the monuments, using a framed photograph of themselves to mark where they were going to stand. They also opted not to have a first kiss - an epic, and rather spontaneous fist pump sealed this marriage!

This was my last ceremony of the season before beginning my maternity leave… and I was ready to pop! Maia Elizabeth Jo arrived 9 days later and I have since been settling into life as an earthside māmā. Our wee whānau is doing really well! I have been sharing a few updates over on Instagram @victoriathomas.celebrant - if you’re interested, prepare your ovaries and head on over for some super cute baby snaps.

AROHA NUI,

Vic xxx

“Everything was great! Couldn’t have asked for a better person to help us continue our next chapter.”

— Kurtus + Lily

Matt & Steph

GARDEN WEDDING

23 JANUARY 2021 - BRAMBLE GROVE, KAIAPOI

Matt and Steph were married at the lovely Bramble Grove in Kaiapoi. I was so excited to finally get a chance to visit and I was not disappointed! The intimate backyard setting complete with an outdoor bar had a relaxed atmosphere that the guests absolutely loved.

One of my favourite parts of Matt and Steph’s ceremony was chatting with Matt and his groomsmen beforehand… hearing how the morning had been, doing a final run-through of the script, and calming those pre-ceremony nerves. I love it when a groom acknowledges and allows himself to express his emotions in the lead up to one of the most significant experiences he is ever going to share with his future partner. And who could blame him for being completely overwhelmed with love? Steph was glowing… honestly, the only word I can use is ‘radiant.’ Her smile throughout the day was simply the best and Mel from Mel’s Moments captured her perfectly. The photos speak for themselves.

“Steph, as I stand here with you today, I feel like the luckiest man in the world. I want nothing more than to share my future with you…”

“Matt, you are everything that I could ever dream of in a man. You are my lover, my best friend, my protector, my soulmate, and my home…”

A few other highlights…

• The most gorgeous wee flower girl and ringbearers - such a great way to include children in their special day!

• Finally meeting Mel. I was so grateful that she looked after me in the heat - what an absolute gem.

• One of the guests approaching me after the ceremony and saying how much he had enjoyed it. He explained that he struggles with his hearing but had found my delivery clear and easy to understand. I was touched that he took the time to come and chat - it really meant a lot getting positive feedback.

Thank you both so much for sharing your special day with me xxx it was magical.

AROHA NUI,

Vic xxx

P.S. Get in touch if you want to know more about the ‘Shoe Game!’ (pictured above).

Photographer - Mel’s Moments

Venue - Bramble Grove

“Vic, you were amazing. We really couldn’t have asked for a better celebrant. Thank you sooo much for making the process very easy and answering all of our emails and questions. Thank you very much for all the hard work you put into making our day perfect. We didn’t have to worry about a thing - you had everything covered.”

— Matt + Steph

Alex & Kate

WOOLSHED WEDDING

10 DECEMBER 2020 - TIPAPA ESTATE, GRETA VALLEY

Alex and Kate were married at the beautiful Tipapa Estate on a gloriously sunny day. It was the perfect garden party - guests dressed to the nines and ready to celebrate in style! Musician Lee Martin set the scene, and photographer Susie Blatchford was there to capture every delicious moment. The bride and groom had worked closely with Kate from Collective Concepts to plan their bespoke ‘All for Love’ wedding package… and it was absolutely magical!

One of my favourite parts of the ceremony was Kate’s entrance with her Dad, Gavin. This is always such a significant moment between father and daughter - I am pretty sure every single person was reaching for the tissues (including me!).

I love getting to know couples and the journey they have shared leading up to their wedding day. Alex and Kate’s story began when they were just 15 - though Alex, thinking Kate was older than she really was and wanting to make a good first impression, lied and said he was 17. If ever there was a sign that two people were meant to be together, it would surely be the fact that these two lovebirds were born in the same hospital on the very same day… and years later, living in the same neighbourhood, their paths were destined to cross.

The pair chose to write their own vows - each starting with the qualities they loved about the other, and finishing with the same promises. “I promise to continue to love you, to respect and support you, to be patient with you, to work together with you to achieve our goals, to accept you unconditionally and to share my life with you forever.”

I loved everything about this couple and their wedding day. All the best for your next chapter - stay in touch! xx

AROHA NUI,

Vic xxx

I highly recommend checking out Collective Concepts ‘All for Love’ wedding packages - “Collective Concepts is proud to introduce Canterbury’s first bespoke all inclusive wedding packages where you can custom create your perfect day that is uniquely you, with the personal and professional guidance of Kate and the team at Collective Concepts, while working in collaboration with an experienced and talented group of wedding vendors all handpicked by you. We can’t wait to get to know you and support you on your wedding planning journey. How good does a wedding day sound where you just bring yourselves, your wedding rings and your marriage license, and let us take care of the rest!”

Musician - Lee Martin

Photographer - Susie Blatchford

Venue - Tipapa Estate

Wedding Planner - Collective Concepts

Josh & Jessie

BACKYARD WEDDING 

MARCH 21, 2020 - PARKLANDS, CHRISTCHURCH

“Today, the two whānau become one. Josh and Jessie thank you in supporting them before, during and after their wedding as they come to terms with being a husband and wife. Their home will always be a place where you, their whānau, will find welcome, peace, love and support.” 

Josh and Jessie chose to join their lives in the union of marriage at their home in Parklands. Josh, who creates beautiful handmade wooden products, had spent hours ensuring that their backyard would be the perfect location for their ceremony - and it was! Despite the grey skies, everything was picture perfect… a lush green lawn, bunting lining the playhouse, and lanterns dotted in the trees… Josh had even built the archway himself and created a handmade stand for signing the paperwork! This groom is clearly a ‘details’ kind of guy and it totally paid off. The love and care that went into setting up was obvious the second I walked through the gate. Jessie is one lucky lady! 

Josh and Jessie’s nearest and dearest had travelled from around the country to celebrate their love. Jessie got ready down the road and when I arrived at their home, Josh was chilling in the lounge with his whānau. He introduced me to everyone and read their wee boy a story while waiting for the 10am ‘kick off’. 

Josh and Jessie wrote their own vows which were shared with each other for the very first time during the ceremony.  Josh vowed “I will dream with you, celebrate with you, and walk beside you in whatever our lives may bring. You are my person, my love and my life. Today and always.” Jessie promised “As your wife, I promise to love you each and every day. I promise to be the best wife and mother I can be. I promise to support you and always be in your corner. And I promise to respect you as the father of our children.” 

My favourite part of the ceremony was when Josh’s Uncle Paul stood and moved down the aisle to deliver a karakia. It was so moving to hear the emotion in his voice as he blessed Josh and Jessie, encompassing the love of their whānau surrounding them. There is something incredibly powerful about listening to te reo, our native language, and it always brings me to tears. Thank you for sharing xx 

I wish you both the very best in your marriage and the next chapter with your two beautiful children. I will definitely be in touch when we are ready for some handmade wooden baby toys!

AROHA NUI,

Vic xx

“Vic was bubbly, happy and outgoing. Her presence and personality was so warming. Vic was always there to help with fine details and questions we had, and gave a lot of good advice. She was an amazing celebrant for us. Vic ticked all the boxes! We can’t fault her service.”

— Josh + Jessie