10 Trusted Auckland Wedding Celebrants
Updated 21 June 2020
In this guide, we outline what’s important when choosing a celebrant and what you should expect to pay. A trusted and respected wedding celebrant brings a level of expertise and professionalism to make your big day relaxed and enjoyable.
The levels of stress during a wedding can be high, so having a celebrant who is experienced in problem-solving and pre-empting your needs and wedding demands is essential. A wedding celebrant keeps your wedding on track from start to end.
Our Auckland Wedding Celebrant guide covers:
The levels of stress during a wedding can be high, so having a celebrant who is experienced in problem-solving and pre-empting your needs and wedding demands is essential. A wedding celebrant keeps your wedding on track from start to end.
Our Auckland Wedding Celebrant guide covers:
What Is the Role of a Wedding Celebrant?
Wedding celebrants conduct the civil (non-religious) ceremony of marrying two persons. In New Zealand, the celebrant must be registered to abide by the Marriage Act 1955. However, wedding celebrants do a lot more than just ensure your wedding is legally valid. Their services include:
- Wedding ceremony planning and organisation assistance
- Wedding ceremony organisation
- Legal matters and documentation
- Assisting with vows and speeches
- Ceremony personalisation
How much does a wedding celebrant cost?
- Marriage celebrants charge largely by time, which will vary depending on the scale of your plans. If you want a celebrant for a simple ceremony in front of a few family members, you could comfortably pay around $300 to $500.
- A full-scale wedding will cost more as the time demands are higher. A celebrant doesn’t just show up on the day and ‘wing it’, they work with you to plan and craft the perfect ceremony, so there is a lot of pre-work that is included in the single fee.
- Before asking for a quote, ask yourself what your needs are. Do you need them for a standard marriage officiation, or do you need them to conduct the wedding from start to end? Deciding on your needs upfront will help you budget appropriately and find an experienced celebrant.
Generally, the following costs apply:
- Wedding officiating $400 to $600
- Wedding organising $800 to 1,500
- Renewal of vows $400 to $600
- Simple wedding ceremonies $300 to $500
Based on our research carried out in December 2019, Auckland Celebrants charge an average of around $100/hr for their services, meaning your service will cost anywhere from $400 to $1,000.
​How can I get the best price for a celebrant?
Several factors influence the cost of a wedding celebrant, with location, duration and ceremony type being the most significant.
Important – sticking to a wedding budget is very important, but choosing a marriage celebrant based on price alone may not be the best idea. For a wedding to be the best it can be, you’ll need a celebrant who you connect with. A trusted Auckland celebrant who has the experience in the scale of wedding you’re planning will often be the most appropriate choice.
- Location – if you’re getting married in the Bay of Islands, the travel costs will be higher for an Auckland-based celebrant than if your wedding was on Waiheke or in Mount Eden. Celebrants usually have a mileage charge, compensating them for the time they take to get to and from your wedding venue.
- Duration – Celebrants, like most service professionals, most often charge on an hourly basis or as a package deal. To understand the costs, proposing a couple of wedding plans will show what’s within your budget. If you’re looking to save money, it’s often cheaper to have your celebrant come specifically for the vows rather than plan the wedding with you.
- Ceremony – A Celebrant’s main role is to officiate a ceremony. However, no wedding is like another. Do you want your celebrant to be there to help set up your venue? If so, there’s going to be an additional cost. The scale of your wedding and the Celebrant services you agree to will reflect the price.
Important – sticking to a wedding budget is very important, but choosing a marriage celebrant based on price alone may not be the best idea. For a wedding to be the best it can be, you’ll need a celebrant who you connect with. A trusted Auckland celebrant who has the experience in the scale of wedding you’re planning will often be the most appropriate choice.
How to Find a Top-Rated Auckland Celebrant that’s Perfect for Your Wedding
By New Zealand law, only registered celebrants can perform weddings or civil unions in New Zealand. Securing the right celebrant for your wedding is worth planning months in advance as the most popular can get booked up, especially over the summer months.
- Start by looking for local wedding celebrants via Google or using a list such as our top 10 below. When you shortlist, make sure you look at their websites in detail, read their testimonials and contact them with your wedding plan.
- Arrange to meet the celebrant in person. You’ll get a true feel for how they are and whether they fit into your wedding vision. If you’re looking for someone who is relaxed and funny, then meeting them first is the only way to find out. At the meeting you’ll discuss your wedding plans and what services you’d like the celebrant to conduct.
- Once you’ve decided on a celebrant, confirm the price and services offered and pay a deposit. You can then contact your celebrant who will help advise, guide and inspire you to create a wedding that’s unique to you.
- Apply for a marriage licence. Before you get married, you need to apply for a licence. A licence confirms it’s legal for you to marry. It costs $150 if you use a celebrant, and it needs to be arranged at least three working days before you get married. It also expires after three months. Your celebrant will assist with this process, and more details can be found on this government website.
- Get ready to see your Celebrant in action. Once the big day approaches, your celebrant will finalise the details of the vows, timings and any special requirements.
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10 Trusted Auckland Wedding Celebrants
Our list below, which is no particular order, covers celebrants residing all over Auckland. We have selected these based on their history of longstanding service within Auckland, location and data extracted from internet reviews on Google Business, Facebook, TradeMe Services, wedding-specific forums and others.
No celebrant has paid to appear on this list, and MoneyHub.co.nz has no relationship with any celebrant below.
No celebrant has paid to appear on this list, and MoneyHub.co.nz has no relationship with any celebrant below.
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Yogamani Auckland CelebrantYogamani is run by Swami Yogamani Saraswati, a registered Marriage Celebrant and a member of Celebrant Association of New Zealand. She has been a top-rated celebrant in Wedding Wise since 2014.
What customers like:
Services include:
Google Rating: 5/5 Fees: $950 Minimum fee. Additional cost may apply depending on the location. A deposit fee of $250 is required to secure a wedding date. Website: Yogamani Auckland Celebrant Contact number: 021 980 692 |
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Your NZ CelebrantYour NZ Celebrant is run by Tania Jeffs-Sevesi who has done weddings for various cultures and age group. She is a proud member of the Celebrant Association of New Zealand and has been providing professional service for over 27 years.
What customers like:
Services include:
Google Rating: 5.0/5 Fees: Available on request Website: Your NZ Celebrant Contact number: 021 750 717 |
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Erin Marmont Marriage CelebrantSince 2010, Erin Marmont has been officiating marriages and civil unions within Auckland but is also able to travel within New Zealand for destination weddings. She is known for her excellent voice projection, clarity and perfect 'pauses' which creates a more meaningful ceremony.
What customers like:
Services include:
Google Rating: 5.0/5 Fees: Available on request Website: Erin Marmont Marriage Celebrant Contact number: 021 998 655 |
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Liz Ashworth CelebrantLiz Ashworth is a registered marriage and civil union celebrant with a Diploma in Celebrancy. Not only that she covers weddings, but she also officiates funerals and other private ceremonies. She is based in Central Auckland but is willing to travel for wedding locations within New Zealand.
What customers like:
Services include:
Google Rating: 5.0/5 Fees: Available on request Website: Liz Ashworth Celebrant Contact number: 0274 849 640 |
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Ria VandervisRia Vandervis is an actress and celebrant who is based in West Auckland. She had her degree in Celebrant School of New Zealand in 2012. Since then, she has been officiating weddings and can travel New Zealand wide for special destinations.
What customers like:
Services include:
Google Rating: 5.0/5 Fees: Available on request Website: Ria Vandervis Contact number: 09 360 2654 |
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Peta Hardley CelebrantPeta Hardley is an Auckland wedding and civil union celebrant based in Kumeu. She is dedicated to providing unique and personalised ceremonies for a more memorable occasion.
What customers like:
Services include:
Google Rating: 5.0/5 Fees: Available on request Website: Peta Hardley Celebrant Contact number: 09 412 2575 |
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Alexa BartlettAlexa is an independent marriage and civil union celebrant in Riverhead, Auckland. Apart from officiating weddings, her work extends to wedding planning with affordable packages to choose from.
What customers like:
Services include:
Google Rating: 5.0/5 Fees: Available on request Website: ceremonies4u.co.nz Contact number: 027 710 0100 |
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Christina MackayChristina Mackay is a CANZ registered celebrant offering wedding and funeral ceremonies in Auckland and Marlborough. She assists with all legal documentation and formal registration of births, deaths and marriages.
What customers like:
Services include:
Google Rating: 5.0/5 Fees: $60.00 per hour (ceremony ranges from 12-15 hours) Website: Christina Mackay Celebrant Contact number: 021 731 203 |
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Emma LoveEmma Love graduated from the Celebrant School in 2011 and has been officiating ceremonies since she became a member of the Celebrants Association of New Zealand. She covers Auckland ceremonies including weddings, funerals and name giving.
What customers like:
Services include:
Google Rating: 5.0/5 Fees: Available on request Website: Emma Love Contact number: 021 140 6632 |
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Melanie Stuart CelebrantMel Stuart is a certified professional celebrant who specialises in weddings. Being a former lawyer, Mel helps with legal marriage paper works and registration which provides convenience to her clients. With over 140 officiated weddings, there's no doubt her ratings continue to grow with positive responses.
What customers like:
Services include:
Google Rating: 5.0/5 Fees: Available on request Website: Mel Stuart Celebrant Contact number: 021 565 944 |
Disclaimer: MoneyHub.co.nz has no relationship, financial or otherwise, with any of the wedding celebrants listed on this page. Quotes and final bills for celebrant services will vary, and our pricing guide is for informational purposes only.
