Celebrants offer new perspective
By PAUL BROOKS
Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day and thoughts turn to romance and the celebration of love. A time to get married?
There is a new breed of marriage celebrant. They are young, modern and with a new perspective.
“I got my celebrant licence to marry my sister and her husband,” says Christina Emery, 32, knowing how wrong that sounded. “It was for family reasons, but also, because I’m in radio it goes hand in hand.”
Christina is manager of MediaWorks Whanganui. She likes to have a connection with the couple getting married, although that’s not always the case.
“There was a young couple I married last year. Her partner had terminal cancer and they wanted to get married . . . the next week I married them and the week after that I conducted his funeral. I got to be there in their happiest time and their worst possible time.”
Kelly Scarrow is 43, still young in the world of celebrants, and is one of the recognisable faces of Mainstreet Whanganui.
“For me, it was when Trevor and I got married, looking for someone to marry us, I couldn’t find anyone I identified with. No disrespect, but they were all in an older age bracket or had a religious background. So we wanted to be married, but it was more a commitment for the children, so we went to the Registry Office. Then we went to Waverley Beach where we had someone ‘officiate’ at a ceremony.”
Knowing she had something to offer — youth, experience in event management — Kelly looked at becoming a licensed celebrant.
“I’m interesting; I’m on my second marriage, I’m covered in tattoos, I have children, I know life’s complexities, and being able to come before a couple and tell their love story is amazing. It’s an honour, and you get to know them.”
Kelly can also help plan weddings, as Christina can offer her services as MC at the wedding function.
“Because it’s such a crazy time . . . I think what we are both good at is eliminating stress,” says Christina.
They see themselves as calming factors. “It’s cool being able to come up with something new and creative, especially when you read it to them for the first time and watch their faces,” says Christina.
“If they cry you know you’ve nailed it,” says Kelly.
They can take a couple’s ideas and wish list and turn it into a ceremony everybody is happy with.
“And if I’m not the right fit, don’t feel like you have to take me, just because I’ve had a cup of coffee with you,” says Kelly.
“Same,” says Christina. “And as much as the couple has to be comfortable, we have to be comfortable as well.”
Kelly says who they are also encourages couples to be themselves and not succumb to family pressure to do things a certain way.
“I’ve had many a conversation around being authentic.”
The fun, they say, is being a working part of a special day. They will pitch in when help is needed because it’s part of the job. “Think of me as the fairy godmother. I sprinkle my fairy dust, create magic and then go home,” says Kelly.