Other Services

Baby Naming (alternative to Christening)

Naming ceremonies are non-religious ceremonies to celebrate the arrival and naming of your baby.

As your celebrant I will help you plan the ceremony and can lead it or support you to lead it if you wish.  During the ceremony you, the parents, state your love and commitment to your child and declare your hopes for their future. There are a variety of elements you can include in the ceremony such as a special poem or reading and also have other family members or “godparents” state their commitment to your baby.

The godparent or other support person may simply wish to state that they will be there for your child as he or she grows up and throughout their life in whatever way is needed.

Naming ceremonies are not legally binding and do not have any legal status. At the end of the ceremony you will be presented with a beautiful certificate to mark the happy occasion.

Fees: $650 including GST

Contact me at info@thecircleoflife.co.nz or phone 021976693 for your baby naming ceremony.

Vow Renewal

Couples renew their marriage vows for a variety of reasons. It may be to mark an anniversary or because they have been through a rough patch and want to recommit to each other. It could be a celebration to reflect on everything they have experienced and achieved together.

Whatever the reason a vow renewal ceremony provides you with the chance to reaffirm your love for and commitment to each other.

You can use your original wedding vows or write new ones. I will guide you through the process and help create a ceremony that will be beautiful, memorable and meaningful for you as a couple.

The above photo was taken at a local Auckland beach where a sweet couple renewed their wedding vows at dawn. I was privileged to lead this ceremony for them and they kindly said “thank you Trish for this morning’s ceremony. It was very special for us.“

Fees: $650 including GST.

Contact me at info@thecircleoflife.co.nz or phone 021976693 for your vow renewal ceremony.

Uncoupling (Divorce)

The phrase “conscious uncoupling” was made famous by Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin when they ended their marriage in 2014. Creating a new happily-ever-after is something many people aspire to after the pain and trauma of a divorce or relationship break up. A meaningful ceremony can be a healing experience for the couple, their children and the wider family or even as an individual. Whilst the pain of separation can mean great upheaval and uncertainty, it can also mean new beginnings and hopes for a brighter future.

Taking time to honour the love that was, can help to bring acceptance and closure by moving from the concept of failure to acknowledging that the relationship no longer serves the couple in a healthy way.

An Uncoupling Ceremony provides an opportunity to take a healthy outlook on the path ahead and move on with kindness and forgiveness. It can be a stepping stone to re-building your confidence and self-esteem. Where children are involved the ceremony provides a way for parents to commit to parenting with dignity and respect and in the best interests of the children. It can be the safe place to acknowledge the transition to a new way of being.

Separation or divorce is usually viewed as a failure. Most of us enter a marriage with the belief, and in fact the promise, that love will last forever. The reality is love does not always last forever for a multitude of reasons. Incompatibility, infidelity, the death of a child or just growing apart as individuals are all common reasons why love comes to an end. Where there is a family, the effects of a marriage break-up on the children can be devastating. They often struggle with feelings of guilt and blame believing that it might be their fault mum and dad are divorcing. There is often no plan or thought given to how a couple or a family will move forward from the trauma of a separation.

But what if there was a way of tipping failure on its head and recognizing the divorce or separation as a new beginning? What if there was an occasion or a ceremony where a couple could commit to moving forward positively?

Let me help you ease the transition of becoming a separated couple through a ceremony - as formal or informal as you wish - by honouring the occasion with gratitude, confidence and dignity.

“When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us.” - Helen Keller.

Some of elements of a Uncoupling Ceremony can include:

• A simple gathering of couple and children or a more formal gathering with the wider family/friends

• An official return to your maiden name

• Planting a tree or flowers

• A candle or other ritual that signifies the separation

• Poetry or readings

• Vows and declarations

• A beautifully framed certificate capturing your promises

Fees: $650 (inclusive of GST)

This includes meeting with you both, individually or together, crafting the ceremony wording, a certificate of promises, and of course the ceremony itself.

Contact me at info@thecircleoflife.co.nz or phone 021976693 for your Uncoupling ceremony.