Your Christchurch marriage celebrant Hi, I'm Lea-Anne

I'm a Christchurch-based marriage and civil union celebrant, storyteller, people person and firm believer that weddings don't need to follow a rule book to be meaningful.

I love people. I love a good story, especially a love story. But I think what I love most are moments.

The unexpected laugh. The words that catch someone by surprise. That look between two people that says far more than anything I could write. The moments that make you catch your breath, squeeze someone's hand or think, I'm going to remember this.

I love helping create those.

And that doesn't mean every ceremony needs to be a grand production. Some couples want ten lovely minutes and an I do. Some want their kids, dogs, grandparents and best mates involved. Others want the full story; the romance, the ridiculous bits, the adventures and the in-jokes.

I love all of it.

A heart person with a plan

Before becoming a celebrant, I spent many years in corporate leadership and more recently as a women's empowerment coach. Listening well, asking good questions, reading a room and helping people feel comfortable being themselves have always been a big part of how I work.

I'm a heart person, absolutely. But I'm also someone who likes a plan, knows what's happening next and quietly gets things sorted.

So while I'll care enormously about the words, the people and how your ceremony feels, I'll also be taking care of the practical details so you don't have to.

And when the day arrives? That's my department.

You just get to enjoy the moment.

My own love story

I really do love love

I've always been a sucker for a love story. Give me the rom-com, the happy ending, the moment when two people finally figure out what the rest of us have known for the last hour and a half.

But I've lived enough life to know that the best love stories aren't actually fairy tales.

People meet. They fall in love. Life happens. Things get messy. They laugh a lot, occasionally drive each other mad, weather a few storms and keep finding their way back to each other.

That's the bit I love.

KP and I have been together for nearly 30 years. We started out long-distance between New Zealand and Australia before I eventually imported him across the Tasman. The exchange rate was pretty good, so I decided to keep him.

Three decades later, we've built a life, raised a family, lived through plenty of chapters of our own and, a couple of years ago, chose to stand together and say our vows all over again.

Our kids have told us the love they see between us is the kind of love they want for themselves. That's pretty special.

Maybe that's what nearly 30 years together has taught me. Love isn't just about the big romantic moments. It's about all the little choices, the laughter, the challenges and continuing to choose each other through it all.

And now I get to stand beside other couples as they make those promises to one another.

How lucky am I?

A little bit of life outside weddings

Family is a huge part of my world. Between us, KP and I have three children, seven grandchildren and two very loved fur babies, Benny and Daisy.

I love having everyone around, cooking far too much food and creating a home where people can turn up, settle in and stay awhile. The mess afterwards? Not quite so much. But life gets messy sometimes, right?

I'm creative at heart. I love making my home beautiful, making things for the people I love and getting lost in a good book. I love travelling somewhere new, and I'm also quite partial to a French martini.

When I look at all of those things together, there's probably a common thread.

People. Connection. Stories. Creating something special for someone I care about.

Turns out becoming a celebrant makes rather a lot of sense.