Julia Russell - Celebrant

10/02/2026

What a wonderful weekend we had for Waitangi. I had the pleasure of officiating at a wonderful wedding on our beautiful Oreti Beach. A fabulous sky and background for special days.

02/11/2024

I decided that since I have now breached 60 and my celebrant photo was taken five years ago I needed to update it! Also I have been a few places lately and seen people that haven’t recognised me !

I have been out of Invercargill for a large chunk of this year visiting the beautiful United Kingdom and my beautiful new granddaughter who is now 4 months old. The photo on the front page is looking across the English Channel, very close to Dover!

I feel very lucky to have been away but also to come back to beautiful New Zealand and our beautiful Invercargill city.

I have been lucky enough to do a wedding for a lovely young couple in love today. It really is such a gift to be able to be with people on the happiest day of their lives!
In just a few weeks I get to do the same thing within our own family!

I have chosen not to be working full time so have plenty of time to do celebrant work. If there is anything I can do for you or anyone you know please do not hesitate to contact me.

As we all are, I am looking forward to Christmas coming and with it some beautiful weather and time to enjoy it all!

Once again if I can be of any help please contact me.

I think it’s too early for Christmas wishes but looking forward to seeing you all.

22/08/2023

Today is World Photography Day, and this incredible image was taken at Lake Manapouri in Fiordland by Douglas Thorne Photography. 📸

With very little light pollution, Southland is an absolute stargazer's paradise. Aim for a clear winter's night sky. If you're lucky, you might even get a front-row seat for the greatest natural light show on Earth: The Aurora Australis/Southern Lights. 🌙💫✨

What a spectacular region we live in!
https://southlandnz.com/stargazing/

02/08/2023

I have lived out of Invercargill for most of the past two years. Working hard as a Nurse Manager during these COVID 19 times. I am back in Invercargill/Southland.

I have always felt privileged to be able to be part of people’s life journey whether that has been as a Nurse - working with Residents and their families, as a Manager working with Staff and alongside colleagues and over the past few years I have done work as a Celebrant at weddings and funerals.

I am back in a position to be able to do more of this work. I wasn’t sure how it would go after the recent death of our beloved treasured Mother. It has already been two months - so hard to believe.

However, today I was honoured to be able to be with part of my own wider family as we farewelled their treasured Mother.

Mother’s have the most honoured position in a family - they are vital to the life of a family.

I hope I am always able to work with people and families. The honour of being able to tell someone’s story with honesty and compassion is something that I want to be able to focus further on.

If I can be of any help - death at any time is difficult and confronting. Please do not hesitate to contact me or ask your Funeral Director to.

I am looking forward to taking some of my own advice and take some time to enjoy my own memories and thoughts of our treasured Mother over the next few chilly southern days.

25/10/2022

Whittaker's are at it again ... and we think this could be their best new flavour yet! The confectionery giant has just announced it will be releasing a br

06/03/2022

Lynch Syndrome accounts for around 3% of bowel cancers in New Zealand and while it doesn’t offer any symptoms , people with Lynch syndrome are generally those who develop bowel cancer under the age of 50 years old. Other members of their close family (parents, children, brothers and sisters) would...

09/02/2022

The Ministry of Health has launched a support fund to help nurses who are not currently practising to return to a nursing role.

23/12/2021

I am very happy to be home anticipating an enjoyable next few days with friends and family. We know it’s been a hard year for many - so I am very appreciative and grateful for my wonderful friends and family.

I have a lovely bottle of Central Otago wine to enjoy and watching the dogs love the back lawn and it’s a lovely evening.

Just sitting doing the final prep for a lovely family wedding - listening to Santa Baby. It’s such a great time for weddings.

Merry Christmas and looking forward to 2022. 🎄

23/12/2021

Looking forward to doing some relaxing and enjoying the company of friends and family. Although I do have a wedding to be involved with - it’s a great time for a family wedding with people and families home. I am sitting listening to Santa Baby 🎶 doing some prep, watching our dogs run around the yard (lawns just been mowed). And enjoying a glass of Central Otago wine 🥂 🍾 I have grown to appreciate the area so much more over the past year.

26/10/2021

21/08/2021

Like everyone I would love to be traveling- this place isn’t in New Zealand but could easily be as it is so beautiful!