Weddings With Joy

18/04/2026

Fabulous day meeting many great vendors, couples and families.
Leeston Soldiers Memorial Hall is a hidden gem. Just amazing venue for a wedding, funeral, or any other significant celebration.
It’s clean, modern, flexible, well managed, well thought out and suitable for so many events.
I really hope I get called on often for this wonderful venue.
Its rural outlook and location gives it a relaxed, peaceful, set apart feel. You need to experience it to fully understand.
I cannot rave enough about this place.

18/04/2026

14/10/2025

I haven’t posted for a long time. Been going through some personal transitions.

But I launched my business Final Gift, as an End of Life Doula, at Selwyn Swell today.

I got great participation and feedback, plus great networking with others in the End of Life space.

I’m still doing Celebrant work, weddings and funerals, this is a new string to my bow.

Over the past two years I have been training and soaking up all on can in the End of Life space. I’m about to start a palliative care course, I don’t think I can ever have enough knowledge.

The name Final Gift is in honour of my mum, who passed away 10 years ago, this coming Saturday. She lived with Ian and I for her last 5 months. Her vulnerability, plus the healing she gave my soul was her Final Gift to me. My caring for her was my Final Gift to her. That time was truly a gift that I will always treasure.

I hope I can help others experience some of the magic that is found in the hardest times in life.
of Life Doula
EOL Doula
EOL Doula.
Funeral Celebrant
Celebrant Selwyn

28/05/2025

I started this course with Peaceful Presence (America)in July 2024.
Today I passed and finished. 🥇
This is my second course, completing Death Walkers in Oct 2022.

I’m constantly being asked ‘WHAT IS A END OF LIFE DOULA?’
Basically a NON medical support to individuals and families during the end of life process.
It’s offering emotional, spiritual and practical assistance, with wanting the journey to be more peaceful and meaningful for all concerned.
It’s being an advocate when needed, a companion, holding vigil, home help, body care, funeral arrangements.
It’s in some cases, having a bit more knowledge to help families at any stage through the dying process, for as much or as little as is needed.
It’s being a support and guide to allow families if they wish, to do as much or as little themselves.

I want to thank my mum for giving me this calling. 10 years ago she was living in my house for her last 5 months of life. It was such a privilege to care for her, as she once cared for me. It was very hard, but incredibly beautiful, something I will never regret.
It was my Final Gift to her; as she gave me a Final Gift of really knowing and loving her.

So ‘Final Gift’ it is!⏳

05/01/2025

What a hoot!

15/11/2024

We need to talk about life, while we can, so a Legacy may live on.

06/04/2024

Last wedding of the season this afternoon. Busiest season yet since I started in 2015.
Have really hit my groove this year. Love that my hubby Ian, enjoys meeting all sorts and supports me by doing the sound and music. Takes away so much stress for all concerned.
Photo is of rehearsal on Tuesday evening.
Was a perfect day and setting for it.

08/02/2024

How could I not love this job? More than a job it’s engraved on my heart. It never ceases to amaze me that couples and I ‘match’. I don’t stress about how many weddings I do or don’t get, the right people seem to find me, and we just click.

08/02/2024

Utterly gorgeous wedding at Tipapa Estate for this young Irish couple. Was utterly delightful.