EMILY OLEARY CELEBRANT

People often ask how I ended up doing weddings…

Well, it all kicked off when one of my brothers asked me to be his celebrant. Next thing I knew, I was winging my way to Italy, and under the Tuscan sun, I helped him marry the love of his life. After the ceremony, one of his mates came up to me and said, “I’ve been to a lot of weddings, but that’s the first time I actually listened to the whole ceremony – is this what you do for a living?”

Truth was, it was my very first wedding – and technically, not even a ‘real’ one! They’d done the legal bit a few days earlier at a registry office in Camden Town, London. But that day in Italy? That was the spark.

Not long after, a couple of good mates in Arrowtown asked me to be their celebrant. This time, I had to make it official – and from there, things just grew. Since then, I’ve had the privilege of marrying another brother, a bunch of friends, and loads of awesome couples from all walks of life.

I’ve run ceremonies in olive groves, up sand dunes looking out over Auckland’s rugged West Coast, at stunning spots like Millbrook, and even perched on rocky outcrops in the Southern Alps after a 45-minute hike to find just the right place.

What I love most? Meeting couples, hearing their story, and helping them create a ceremony that feels right for them – whether it’s a big celebration or something small and heartfelt. It’s a real honour to be part of such an important moment in people’s lives, and I’m always humbled to help.