Andrea Stratton Celebrant

Back in July I married a great couple at Settlers Country Manor in this beautiful moody setting. It was a privilege to unite a couple whose love story was truly written in the stars 🌟... and extra lovely to catch up with a couple I had married a few years earlier (sister of the bride!). I pretty much went from that wedding straight into reno demo at home and never did get around to posting about it.... but watching Brokenwood on TVNZ+ ondemand and seeing the same room setup as a fictional pub brought back memories of this lovely day. I hope the first few months of marriage have been awesome J&P❤️

There are definitely worse places to be enjoying the morning sun … at Millbrook Resort in Queenstown

A stunning day yesterday at …so great to be able to marry this wonderful couple. Congratulations Mr&Mrs O! Xx ❤️

A wet and windy afternoon in Auckland (with minutes of sun in between - how typical Auckand!) meant todays ceremony was under cover on the barn patio instead of out on the lawn, but it was still a fabulous celebration of love in a beautiful setting at The Hunting Lodge Winery & Restaurant. I was only asked to officiate this weddding at the last minute, but so happy to help such a lovely couple become Mr & Mrs A! Congratulations ❤️.

MARRIED in MATAKANA on a MONDAY! A beautiful evening to marry a great couple with their friends and family gathered around - so lucky that most of the guests could still make it even with the recent ramp up in Covid cases! Congratulations- All the very best wishes A&M 💕xx

A stunningly perfect day yesterday to marry a lovely couple within the vines at The Hunting Lodge Winery & Restaurant. Congratulations M&R, wishing you a lifetime of happiness together 💕

A beautiful day to celebrate love ❤️. This is the view from the deck where I performed a wedding in Piha today. So many weddings over the last few years have had a livestream element given that often friends and family are unable to travel to join in person. I loved that in our ceremony today a heartfelt reading about love was delivered from over 10,000kms away and still moved people (including the bride and groom) to tears. Congratulations M&Y, best wishes xx

Well hello - I haven't posted for a while as I took a bit of social media break from a celebrant point of view! While I haven't been posting about it, the last six months have been busy with weddings in stunning locations from Puhoi to Piha and everywhere in between. I feel so privileged to have met and married so many fabulous couples in various lockdown and traffic light levels, in socially distanced groups of 10 with masks, to larger groups of 25 etc. Anyway, I thought I'd better get back on the social media today of all days, as on this day 18 years ago, on a hot sticky day in Auckland I became Mrs Stratton. Love you Mr S xx

21 today!! Not 21yrs old 🤣, Not 21yrs married… but 21 years together! Love you (most of the time!) Mr Stratton XX

A beautiful spot 😍

My lovely couple from yesterday ❤️ Just gorgeous xx

A beautiful way to start a long weekend. ❤️❤️ All the very best wishes for a lifetime of happiness together as Husband and Wife. Congratulations Mr & Mrs F xx

A busy weekend including the Celebrants Association annual conference. This year it was the first virtual one - great sessions as always but I missed seeing all my celebrant buddies in person!

Petals of love 🌸 for a handful of the couples close family. Best wishes O&M ❤️xx

Today it was a beautiful ANZAC day, late morning, garden wedding at Soljans Estate Winery. “When I am around you, I see the light within you, and I want to walk towards it...” ❤️❤️ Congratulations S&C, best wishes for a lifetime of happiness xx

I’m not a huge chocolate eater, but I love coffee... so this is the perfect present from the Easter Bunny ❤️... Mr S only gets the black cup if the white cup is true! 🤣

// THEY MET ONLINE // like so many couples today. Isn’t this peg gorgeous?! So L3 yet again this week - take care everyone.❤️❤️

Wow a super hot wedding today!! An absolutely beautiful day to marry two people in love. The ceremony area was simply stunning, check out the flowers ❤️❤️. A&M, best wishes for a lifetime of happiness together xx

Happy Valentines Day! ❤️ So today is all about affairs of the heart...but this year is different! My dad recently had a heart attack was very lucky that an ambulance could get to him quickly. Since then I've learnt about the GoodSAM app. If you are trained in CPR, and how to use a defibrillator, then please consider registering. If you are within 1000m of someone having a cardiac event your phone will sound an alert siren and you getting there before an ambulance might make all the difference in the world. It might be you doing the CPR, or it might mean that someone’s loved one is not doing it alone. Sure, be someone’s valentine today... but also be someone’s Good Samaritan in the future! And if you're not trained, consider sharing this post - someone you know might be. XX ❤️
https://www.stjohn.org.nz/first-aid/goodsam/

At one of my favourite venues this morning for a rehearsal - Settlers Country Manor... it’s always so stunning. Today was nice seeing the tables set up in different decorations etc to show couples... I’m a silver girl at heart, but I did love this gold setting!

Awww so lucky to receive this lovely thank you gift 💝 ... now to decide who to share it with 🤣

Wow, what a stunning day for a garden wedding! So much fun marrying a friends brother in their parents home surrounded by their nearest and dearest. Congratulations K&T ❤️. Best wishes for a lifetime of happiness together xx

Today the rain came so instead of a sunlit, late afternoon garden wedding at my couples home, I performed an inside candle lit ceremony for them. It was so lovely and the weather really doesn’t matter when you’re marrying your love, surrounded by your nearest and dearest. As today is also the brides birthday, there is plenty of cake at their place tonight! ❤️ 🎂 Congratulations S&K.

Love ALWAYS wins ❤️ ❤️ - Happy New Year! Last year was a challenge for most people, and although many of my couples have had to change plans, dates and expectations, we just have to keep applying perspective. Goodbye 2020, you were nasty at times, but some great moments along the way too xx

Happy Friday! Appropriate can for the celebrant to pull out of the fridge ❤️

Do you still have your wedding dress? Does it still fit? I was talking to a couple who plan on getting dressed up in their suit and dress every year on the anniversary and taking a photo - I love it, such a cool idea... what a great photo album to have in years to come! ❤️❤️ My husband and I are coming up 17 yrs married next month so probably a bit late to start this tradition - oh and he hired his suit, but I still have my dress (yay), but I don't think it still fits (boo) 😆

Been a busy time catching up with couples about their upcoming weddings... so nice to take a wee break and have a lunch with the girls and look at the beautiful view of Auckland City 😊

Remember to buy sparklers from tomorrow (you only have 4 days) if you want them for your wedding celebrations over the coming months!

"Some things cannot be fixed. They can only be carried."
Loss and grief impact us all and those we love at some point in our lives. When I see those I love struggle with grief I wish I could 'fix' things, but I can't. I would really encourage everyone and anyone to spend just 4 minutes and watch this video "How do you help a grieving friend?" by Megan Devine - its a fabulous resource which will help you at some point. You may also want to consider reading/listening to her book "It's OK that you're not OK" (link in the comments). ❤️
https://youtu.be/l2zLCCRT-nE

How do you help a grieving friend? (sharing this video? using it in a training! Great! Tag or email us and let us know, and be sure to give proper attribution.) It's so hard to know what to do...

Saw this posted and thought it was great 😊

Today I had a great time marrying a couple at the beautiful Settlers Country Manor! ❤️ This couple had rescheduled and rearranged their wedding multiple times because of Covid restrictions! I think it says a lot about a couple and their love for each other that they were so positive, happy and laughing today. So the plan was to be married outside on the lawn area with their friends and family all around ... but in the end we had our 10 person ceremony in this beautiful snug covered deck area out of the wind (rearranged a bit after I snapped this shot!). It was so lovely that many friends and family could join us virtually too! Congratulations L&N ❤️❤️

\ \ PSYCHOLOGICAL FIRST AID \ \ I've completed many medical First Aid and CPR courses over the years, as I'm sure many of you have, but this month I was fortunate to attend a course the Celebrants Association organised with the Red Cross about Physiological First Aid. It's all about the ‘best practice’ approach to providing initial emotional and practical support to someone who has experienced a traumatic event. I found it really interesting and relevant to all sorts of stress and trauma - from the death of a loved one, to the aftermath of natural disasters, dealing with Covid related stresses and anxiety etc. Of course given the L3 status in Auckland right now, we completed this online but if you're interested in this kind of thing then you may like to check out their regular course here: https://www.redcross.org.nz/first-aid/all-available-courses/psychological-first-aid/

Every time I have a coffee I think I must share this... in July I caught up with a lovely bride whose wedding I'd performed back in Feb. It was so neat to see all the photos from their day and to watch their BEAUTIFUL video. They are so sweet... totally unnecessary, but totally lovely, to receive this beautiful coffee inspired gift basket - and check out the mug! So very happy to be their "'Number 1 Celebrant" - it has an "A" for Andrea, their names (obscured) and a photo of them on the back. So much love ❤️🥰😍 Thanks again R&G xx

And so here we are again... Take care everyone! ❤️ If you can sew maybe try this pattern out over the next few days.

Spotlight releases free face mask sewing pattern With demand for face masks increasing in Australia, many are searching for sustainable DIY alternatives. In response to the demand for DIY facemasks in Australia, Spotlight has released a free, downloadable pattern and step-by-step instructional video tutorial.

Congratulations Beatrice & Edo! Love that she wore a vintage dress handed down from the Queen, and borrowed one of her tiaras too! 😍

Today I was talking with someone about the song “Baby it’s you” which is used in this great wedding themed advert - did you know it was released in 1978? ❤️ 🎶 ... (the link is to the full advert which you may not have seen - it’s cute!)
https://youtu.be/ss_WKXpJ5l8

Speight's - The Dance

Some solid advice from one of my cousins 😆

/ / PLANNING YOUR WEDDING ?? //
Whether it's your original plans or modified ones after all that has been going on in the world, please get in touch for a no obligation chat about how I can help you. Big, small, formal or relaxed... let me create a ceremony which is everything you've dreamed of and which truly reflects who you are and your love for each other. 💖 Send me a message, or give me a call on 021 138 0025.