5 ways to personalise your NZ wedding ceremony

One of the best things about getting married in New Zealand? While there are a few legal boxes to tick (like saying the legal words and signing your papers before a celebrant), everything else is entirely flexible. That means your personalised NZ wedding ceremony can be anything you want — relaxed, cheeky, sentimental, playful, or entirely outside the box.

Here are 5 ways to ditch the stiff formalities and create a ceremony that actually feels like you.

Image courtesy of Charlotte Kiri Photography

1 ~ Rethink the entrance

You don’t need to be walked down an aisle, wear a veil, or wait for your partner at the end of a row of chairs.

• Walk in together.
• Be escorted by whoever you want — a parent, your kids, your dog.
• Start the ceremony already standing amongst your guests.
• Choose music that feels personal, not traditional.
• Skip the aisle altogether and gather in a circle.

With a personalised NZ wedding ceremony, even your entrance can be a relaxed and meaningful moment that sets the tone.

Image courtesy of Run In The Shadows

2 ~ Rewrite (and reshuffle) the script

Let’s drop the outdated phrases and create something more real.

• Swap “husband and wife” for “officially married”, “partners in marriage”, or simply “married legends”.
• Ditch “Mr & Mrs” announcements — try: “Let’s hear it for [your names] — finally hitched!”
• Let your ceremony be movement-friendly — hug, kiss, cry, laugh, wipe away tears, dip each other if the mood strikes.
• Add a cheeky tequila shot before you walk back down the aisle.
• Have your celebrant off to the side so the focus stays on you.
• Cut the cake and serve it mid-ceremony — yes, dessert first.

Your personalised wedding ceremony should sound like you, feel like you, and make you want to relive it again and again.

Image courtesy of Alpine Image Co

3 ~ Skip the generic readings

Not every ceremony needs a recycled poem.

• Share quotes from your favourite movie, TV show, or inside joke.
• Read a snippet from your first texts or DMs.
• Ask a mate to share something funny or meaningful (that won’t make you cringe).
• Or skip readings altogether and keep it short and snappy.

The beauty of a personalised NZ wedding ceremony is that there’s no pressure to include anything that doesn’t matter to you.

Image courtesy of Charlotte Kiri Photography

4 ~ Involve the people who matter

This is about your community, not just your couple bubble.

• Have a friend or family member do a quick welcome.
• Get kids, pets, or grandparents involved in low-key ways.
• Pass your rings around the group for a collective blessing (aka a ring warming).
• Give someone you love a small role like handing over the rings or leading a group toast.

With a personalised NZ wedding ceremony, your favourite people get to be part of the story, not just watch it.

Images courtesy of Anneke Lisa Photography

5 ~ Break the ceremony format altogether

Who says your ceremony has to follow any set structure? In NZ, as long as you say the legal words and sign the paperwork, you’ve got the freedom to do things your way.

• Start with the “I do’s” right at the beginning — skip the build-up and get straight to the good part.
• Flip the schedule: kick things off with a cocktail hour, let everyone relax, then roll into the ceremony.
• Blend your ceremony and reception into one seamless event — drinks in hand, guests mingling as you marry.
• Stand amongst your guests instead of in front of them — ditch the stage-style setup entirely.
• Have your celebrant stand to the side or behind the group, so the focus is totally on you.

This isn’t a performance. Your personalised NZ wedding ceremony can feel like an organic part of the day — inclusive, relaxed, and entirely your vibe. When you remove the pressure to “do it right,” you get to do it real.

Image courtesy of Charlotte Kiri Photography

Final thoughts

There’s no single right way to get married in New Zealand — and that’s what makes it magic.
With a celebrant who gets you, a few legal words, and a bit of imagination, you can create a ceremony that’s relaxed, real, and ridiculously you.

Image courtesy of Holly Wallace

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Let’s ditch the boring and build something unforgettable.

Ready to start planning your personalised NZ wedding ceremony? Let’s chat.