The Full Story

Nikita Bell

Get to know a bit more about me.

Hi, I’m Nikita - a wife, mother, unneccesary pie-chart maker, dog lover, and an Authorised Marriage Celebrant!

While planning our overseas elopement in 2017, my husband and I were desperate to find a celebrant who would fill the void of our friends and family back home. We wanted someone who took the time to get to know us, was funny, and most importantly - who could make our ceremony intimate, meaningful and memorable. We were so lucky to find that someone (shoutout to Laura Giddey!), who knew exactly who we were and what we wanted, and went above and beyond to make our trip to NZ the most memorable experience. After our ceremony, my husband and I were BUZZING! It was everything we could have hoped for - full of laughs, tears and loving reflection on our relationship together. I said to my husband, “How amazing would it be to have a job where you get to make people feel great on one of the most special days of their life!” Three years later, I’ve become a registered civil celebrant and now am lucky enough to help couples make incredible memories on their wedding day!

Your ceremony should be a perfect reflection of the two of you - and the best part of your day!

Connecting with couples and building relationships, so I can write a great ceremony that they love is so important to me.

I am conscious to keep your ceremony fun, light and engaging - without being too big of personality and taking all of the attention.

1/1

Marta and Mic - Captured by Lara Furst Photography

Thank you to Daniel from Head North Films, and Isa and Paul for letting me share a small part of their day...

Mission

I want you to walk down the aisle, and feel like you have a third-wheeling friend up there with you.

I don't say things like "holy matrimony"
(unless you want me to).
I'm not going to ramble for an hour about stuff you don't care about.

I will get to know you both - so I can add your inside jokes, subtle quotes from your favourite TV shows, and just make you both feel really bloody special!

Choosing a celebrant isn’t just about finding someone who can run a ceremony, it’s about finding someone who fits you.

There are so many wonderful celebrants out there who are fantastic at their jobs, but the right celebrant for you is someone you genuinely connect with. When that connection is there, so much stress disappears. You don’t have to question if you’re on the same page, and you can trust that they truly understand what you want.

The right celebrant will calm your nerves, guide you with ease, and make the whole process feel natural.

So, am I the right fit for you?

I believe that marriage is more important than the wedding.

Your wedding should be about two people celebrating their relationship with their favourite people - not about putting on a big production.

I am:

Relaxed and down to earth
I’ll keep things in perspective and help calm the nerves when planning (or the day itself) feels overwhelming. I’m here to make sure you can enjoy the moment, not stress over the little things.
Great with kids (and dogs!)
I work with kids every day and have two boys of my own, so if there are little ones at your ceremony, I can help wrangle them and make them feel comfortable. And if your dog is part of the day, I will be giving them all the snuggles every chance I get!
Elopement Enthusiast
Elopements have my heart. There’s something so special about focusing purely on the two of you, and the adventure of starting your marriage your way.
Not big on long readings or poems
Adding lots of poems, cliche quotes or readings is not really my vibe, but there’s something meaningful you’d love included, I’ll make sure it fits in beautifully.
Personal and light-hearted
I do my best to mirror your vibe and style. If you’re relaxed, full of cheeky banter and hilarious stories, your ceremony will reflect that energy. If you’re a little more thoughtful and poetic, I’ll match that too, making sure you feel comfortable and that your ceremony feels like you.

I promise...

I promise that I will be nowhere near you when you share your first kiss. You will not be stuck with a photo of me in the background on your wall.

I promise that when you book me, I do an actual happy dance. You can ask my kids. Although they usually say something along the lines of "WHAT are you doing!? That's not dancing!"

I promise to always reply to you. I am happy to help in any way I can. Need help finding the perfect team of vendors? Let me share some of my favourites!

My Friends