We first saw Fiona in action at a friends wedding and we loved their ceremony so we knew we had to have her. Fiona was so organised. We Skyped and she allowed us to have the ceremony how we wanted and was flexible with last minute changes. As a bride who had no idea what to do, she was able to give advice on other aspects as well. Fiona is honestly so brilliant and I now recommend her to all our friends that get married in Central.
Stacey and Cam married at Criffel Station, Wanaka
Fiona is a truly gifted and professional celebrant as well as a beautiful, caring and vibrant person! She exceeded our expectations as well as our wedding guests with comments such as “Fiona, would have to be the best celebrant I’ve ever heard at a wedding” and “Wow, Fiona was phenomenal as a celebrant” she is truly the golden elixir of making an outstanding wedding! We feel so grateful to have met such a special person to marry us!
The very special Aliscia and Richard, married in the beautiful Matukituki Valley, Wanaka.
Fiona Sydney was more than a celebrant. She was simply exceptional! Fiona made the whole process right from where we started over a cup of tea, to the big day- relaxed, easy and thoroughly enjoyable. Fi did her homework to craft the most beautiful ceremony- tailored to us. The day after, so many people commented on how fabulous Fi was. We were also super impressed at how she set our minds at ease at the rehearsal. Fi made us all feel comfortable and confident, so that we could really be present on the day. Fi is a beautiful person, with a big heart, a great sense of humour, infectious energy and she certainly added sparkle to our special day. We highly recommend Fiona Sydney as a celebrant. Thank you Fi for all your work on the best day of our lives ! You are simply wonderful! Libs and Brandon xx
The beautiful Libby and Brandon married at the wonderful Orchard Garden, Clyde
The terrific Teresa and Pete married at the wonderful Orchard Garden, Clyde
Fiona was our celebrant for our wedding and through-out the planning process Fiona was very helpful and relaxed. She made us feel comfortable and wrote us a beautiful ceremony. Fiona included the guests in the ceremony and made sure everyone felt welcomed. With last minute changes to our location due to weather, Fiona was happy to show us our options the day before our wedding and made sure we were happy with how it was going to be on the day. Our big day went smoothly and we could not have asked for a better celebrant to have there with us. Thank you for making our wedding so special.
Katherine and Andy married at beautiful St Bathans. Thanks to the talented Kellie Francis for the iconic pic!
Our original celebrant cancelled on us and we could not be happier they did because it meant we were lucky enough to have Fiona there with us on our wedding day! From the first email to the rehearsal and the ceremony Fiona was amazing. Thank you Fiona for making our ceremony perfect.
Beth and Shane married at the very picturesque Alexandra Golf Course.
We were so lucky to be recommended Fiona for our wedding in Cambrians. She understood us so well and created the ceremony of our dreams. She is so caring and attentive and shines positivity. As soon as I saw her just before the ceremony, I calmed down and felt how blessed we were to have her, love all around us and the trees surrounding us. Thank you so much Fiona, you are a treasure!
Morgan and Coraline married just up our valley, in a secret little, magical space. Thanks Bob for having us!
Fiona made our day so special and perfect just for us. She listen to everything we wanted and what we didn’t want (which is so important). She was super organised and also emailed to keep us up to date with what was going on. She set the tone for our wedding day and made it the best day ever 💙I without a doubt would recommend Fiona. She goes above and beyond and will make your wedding day that extra bit special with all her magic touches she does. Thank you so much Fiona- you are a true gem and you will forever be a huge part of our life – you made us a family unit.
Briar and Scott married on the family farm, Omakau. Thanks to the lovely Charlotte Kiri Photography for beaut pic!
Wow what can we say. Fiona was simply perfect for our big day. Everyone at the wedding gave us lovely positive feedback on the ceremony and Fiona. She took control, along with asking for our input every step of the way to create a beautiful, personalised ceremony. She was super organised and nothing was a problem. Highly, HIGHLY recommend Fiona – she even asks what she should wear so she doesn’t clash with the bridal party – we think she nailed her outfit for ours and even helped to balance our uneven bridal party out 😆 We are so grateful to have had you Fi, you instantly put us at ease and thanks again for working hard in a short time frame to make it magical!! xxx
Sam and Nicole married at the lovely Packing Shed, Earnscleugh, Alexandra. Thanks to the wonderful Katherine from Wild and Grace for the great pics and the charming and talented Cam from We the Collective on videography.
Fiona is the most wonderful celebrant. She simply could not have done a better job. We wanted to keep our wedding as relaxed and care-free as possible, so we could just enjoy the moment. Fiona was the perfect choice. We actually went through quite a few celebrants who weren’t available first, and honestly I’m so so glad they couldn’t do it because Fiona was exceptional. She made us feel totally at ease from the initial discussions right through to the day itself. We eloped inQueenstown at the Gardens and being that it was just the 2 of us, this meant Fiona was actually a big part of our wedding, being one of the only witnesses. We were of course a little nervous on the big day but as soon as Fiona arrived she put us both at ease immediately and everything went perfect. It was the best day of my life and I owe a big part of that to Fiona. Honestly, words don’t do justice how much my husband and I both love Fiona. She shared our special day with us and we will forever be grateful to her for how much care she put into our celebration. I simply could not recommend her more.
Kirsten and Andi, eloped and married at the Queenstown Gardens. Thanks to wonderful team at Boutique Weddings in Wanaka for having me and Anna of Alpine Image Company for the fab pics!
Fiona was perfect in every single way! Right from the first moment we met with Fiona we felt so comfortable and we knew we had made the right choice! Right from start to finish she was so calm and organised and brought so many good ideas. Everyone at our wedding commented on how beautiful the ceremony was! We can’t recommend Fiona enough! We miss her already!!
Shanay and Tom, married on the family farm, Central Otago. Thanks to the lovely Lissy of Dear Lissy Photography for the pic!
I had the great pleasure of meeting Fiona and working alongside her at a wedding at St Bathans. She has a rare combination of a high level of organisational ability combined with a beautiful, warm, gentle loving heart.
What really sets Fiona apart is her ability to focus on what is dear to the couple’s relationship and then create a moving, personal and touching ceremony.She made time to have a wedding rehearsal which put the couple at ease. It is a priority for her that she makes the process seamlessly easy for the couple. I highly recommend her as the number one celebrant in New Zealand.
We were married near St Bathans. We had a Great Gatsby inspired wedding. Fiona was absolutely AMAZING! From the moment we first met her, she made us feel so special and unique. She planned the most amazing ceremony for us, and kindly worked along with Faith Moon to provide us with an incredible ceremony – even with the unplanned animal arrivals! We are so so lucky to have met Fiona, she was perfect!
Vicky and Scott (married at a magical woodland near our home). Thanks to the lovely and talented Kate Craig-Brown for the pic.
Everything about Fiona was amazing, from the first interaction to the last. When my husband and I first met with Fiona, she made us feel so incredibly comfortable and special, she listened to everything we wanted and valued what aspects we found important for our ceremony. When I read the first draft that Fiona emailed through I was completely blown away, absolute perfection in the first draft….I was so excited to see it all unfold. The ceremony was my favourite part of the day, Fiona made it so unique and special….lots of guests after the wedding commented on how it was the best ceremony they had been too because of its uniqueness. If you’re looking for a celebrant I know you wouldn’t regret choosing Fiona, she’s organised, kind, caring and goes the extra mile. Thanks again for everything Fiona, you’re the best x
Ashleigh and Jai (hosted by the lovely Judy at Homestead and Woolshed on Racecourse Rd, Omakau). Thanks to the terrific Lissie of Dear Lissie Photography for the great pic.
Thank you so much for everything you did on, after and before the day. You made the ceremony so memorable and we both loved it, every freezing cold minute of it! I honestly don’t think you could have done a more amazing job than what you did. You really nailed it on the head for us. Thank you!
Roslyn and Lachlan (married at The Homestead and Woolshed on Racecourse, Omakau). Thanks to the talented Jen of Alpine Images Company for the pic.
I really don’t even know where to begin with Fiona. After a recommendation I meet with Fiona and I as soon as I met her I knew I wanted her to be my celebrant. I loved that Fiona suggested meeting with a couple other celebrants before making a decision as it really showed the fact she was in it for the right reasons and her ultimate goal was for the couple to have the right fit for them, I knew I didn’t want to meet anyone else though ! I loved that Fiona had amazing ideas and was open to all odd and wonderful things. My husband and I had no clue and she just made it so easy. It was also really special to us how Fiona helped us remember my husbands late brother. Another stand out was that Fiona checked in on how I was feeling as the day due closer and provided reassurance. I am sure checking in on clients mental health isn’t in the role of a celebrant but it was just another way Fiona over exceeded our expectations. Our ceremony was relaxed, organised and beautiful which we know was due to Fiona. Sorry for the novel but I just can’t say enough! Thank you Fiona we couldn’t have imagined our day without you.
Lizzie and Matt and Little Tillie! (married at Orchard Garden, Clyde). Thanks to the talented (and lovely) Lisa Davidson for the photo.
A friend recommended Fiona to me as she knows how organised I am and thought Fiona would be a good fit for us. Right from the get go, Fiona was not only extremely organised, but she was also professional, warm, caring and made us feel so comfortable through what can be a stressful time. She knows her stuff and we didn’t have to worry about a thing. I couldn’t recommend Fiona more, and I had many guests approach me after the wedding complimenting her service. Thanks Fiona!
J and M (married at Lookout Lodge, Wanaka)
If your looking for a wedding celebrant in Central Otago look no further! Fiona was kind, open and extremely supportive. She made the whole process so easy and stress free. She listened to everything we wanted and gave us the most beautiful ceremony, one we will never forget! Thank you so much Fiona x
Nikki and Alex (married at The Woolshed on Racecourse, Omakau). A big shout out to the lovely Jess of jessicarosephotography.com.au for fab pic).
We are so glad we chose Fiona as our Celebrant, straight away when we first met she was professional, caring, and so friendly. All the way through the process she made us feel so comfortable and our ceremony was all we wished for. Would highly recommend Fiona to anyone. She’s Amazing!
Britt and Dan Rouxel (married at a private garden, Fruitlands, Alexandra)
Thank you so much for making our ceremony perfect! So many of our guest have commented on how fantastic the ceremony was!
Selena and Flip (married The Orchard Garden, Clyde/Alexandra)
Fiona, Leslie and I both loved having you as our celebrant. You made the process simple and easy. We wouldnt have wanted to do this with anyone else. Thank you very much. We would highly recommend to anyone. Thanks again from the Whitleys!
Samantha and Leslie (married at The Naseby Lodge, Naseby)
Fiona was absolutely wonderful, so easy to talk to and very organised. From the moment we first met she helped me understand the process and took all the stress out of organizing the ceremony. She is such a lovely person, and this was projected throughout the ceremony, making it feel so loving, beautiful and, most of all, relaxing. you really made our day so special. Thank you so much!
Jess and Tozan (married The Orchard Garden, Clyde/Alexandra)
Fiona is a warm, down to earth and comforting celebrant. She was supportive along the way as our elopement turned into a small family wedding. As people who were never interested in planning a wedding, Fiona’s passion for love and celebration really inspired us and her gentle direction and input is what made our ceremony perfectly unforgettable! We highly recommend Fiona, she will go above and beyond, and then a bit further for you.
Kat & Mike (married Fiordland Lodge).
Photo: Emily Adamson Photography
He travelled 7,000km and crossed two continents to meet this very special woman and their wedding held in the cute little country town of Ranfurly was a true meeting of East mets West (with a dash of Hollywood glamour thrown in). Congratulations Luke and Ria: I can see you sitting together on the porch on your 50th wedding anniversary feeling just as happy as they did on their wedding day. Their Great Tip: Guests could watch a classic Hollywood movie, complete with popcorn, while the official photos were being taken.
Fiona was our celebrant. Her service was amazing, an awesome day in Ranfurly.
Thank you so much. Luke and Ria.
P.S. If you are looking to get married in Central Otago, Maniototo area, email me and I’ll send you the Maniototo Wedding Suppliers PDF.
After months of liaising from the other side of the world, he flew in from Italy and popped the question. Of course the answer was YES and 3 days later they married at Jane Falconer’s extraordinary property ‘Clachanburn’ in Central Otago. Staying onsite in the cute historic cottage, Jane’s beautiful garden provided the back-drop for the ceremony which was followed by world class food served in the gorgeous boatshed and an afternoon with a private guide exploring by 4WD the stunning scenery of Central. Thank you Jan MacKenzie Photography for the ‘Life and Leisure’ style photos and Jane and Margo of Clachanburn for the outstanding hospitality – what a great team to work with. When I asked Luke how he would describe their elopement – he had only one word ‘Perfecto!’
Fiona,
Where do we begin? Perfection says it all. From our endless emails at odd hours to the moment Antonio and I met you in Alexandra. From the wedding day to the very unique goodbye, we have experienced first hand just how remarkable you are at your job. You have been gentle, caring and very generous. It was such a dream come true to have our wedding in a beautiful garden with you. We had an absolutely amazing time. It was truly magical and perfect and we owe it all to you!
Luca and Antonio
Photograph: Jan Mackenzie Photography
Meet Sophie and Sam. You know, once in a while you meet the ‘perfect couple’ well, that’s what they are. While I didn’t marry them at The Venue in Wanaka (the wonderful Glennys Logan did that) I was The Wedding Fairy aka The Wedding Planner!
“Where do we even start to be thanking you for everything you did for us…months of planning meant our day was perfect and so easy! You have such incredible organisational skills, understood completely what we wanted our wedding to be and worked with us to create special memories we will have for the rest of our lives.”
Sophie and Sam
On the ten year anniversary of their first kiss they sealed the deal! Shul and Shar I couldn’t think of two more beautiful brides inside and out. To marry you was an honour xx.
“Fiona was fantastic from beginning to end – from the discussions on what to include in the service, to the quiet assurance she gave during the rehearsal and the strong, calm energy she guided us through the service with on the day… we couldn’t have asked for a better celebrant.”
Shul and Shar
New Zealand has some absolutely fantastic luxury lodges and Fiordland Lodge, bordering a national park in Te Anau, is up there with the best of them. Matt and Tamsin are another one of those very special couple’s who you just know are going to be together forever!
Thank you SO much for all your work on our wedding at Fiordland Lodge. You wrote a beautiful ceremony for us, liaised with the Lodge over all the little details meaning we had a perfect day. Your service was just outstanding! Tamsin and Matt
Photo: Rachael Kelly Photography
A truly international love story saw these two fly in from their current home of Singapore to elope and tie the knot in a simple ceremony in front of a handful of friends at The Homestead on Racecourse Road before heading to the UK later in the year for their second ‘wedding’ with friends and family. Relaxed, fun, intimate – I love elopements.
“Thank you for creating a perfect day for us”. Clare and Matt
Mel and Dale, a Kiwi and a Canadian living in Melbourne, flew in from Australia just days before their wedding at the fantastic Orchard Garden with a photo or two taken at the beautiful historic Olivers at Clyde – close to a hundred guests, a lovely garden setting, a beautiful Central day, topped off by a gorgeous couple – perfection!
A beautiful, crisp, clear Central Otago winter day, with the Hawkduns behind, made the perfect back-drop for Peter and Jackie’s renewal of vows – ten years to the day from they got married.
“Thank you for making it all so easy – we loved every moment of it – relaxed, happy and surrounded by loved ones – we couldn’t ask for a better way to renew our vows.” P&J