In this episode, I’m joined by Johnelle, recently married and also a celebrant, MC, and on-the-day coordinator at I Do Ceremonies. She shares her honest and thoughtful perspective on both planning her own wedding and working behind the scenes at dozens of others.
A few things we cover:
💜 Reconnecting with her now-husband years after high school, and how their relationship shaped the way they planned their day.
💜 How they created a day that was so them, complete with Kiwi cricket, flower crown making, and hilarious games.
💜 Her thoughts on ditching tradition, walking down the aisle together, no bridal party, and getting family photos before the ceremony.
💜 How they pulled off a beautiful wedding on a $15k budget and her brilliant guest list strategy using the “past, present, future” rule.
💜 What it’s really like planning a wedding while running a business, and why delegation (especially close to the day) matters.
💜 The real impact of a DJ vs. a playlist, and what she’d do differently.
💜 Post-wedding fatigue, delaying the honeymoon, and the reality of getting back to work in peak wedding season.
From the vendor side, Johnelle also shares:
💜 What it’s like stepping into the industry as a celebrant, MC, and coordinator, and how her background in radio and events set her up for success.
💜 Why more couples are booking her for multiple roles, and how that continuity helps make a wedding day run more smoothly.
💜 Practical tips for preparing your MC (whether it's a friend or a pro).
💜 How she helps couples write personal, meaningful vows, and why they don’t need to sound like something out of a movie.
💜 Advice on calming ceremony nerves and focusing on what really matters when you're standing in front of your guests.
...and so much more!
Below you can find the handles for all J & L’s vendors. Be sure to check out some of their photos on IG at @thekiwiweddingpodcast + give us a follow.
Join the waitlist for her “Wedding MC Done Right” resource
Vendors:
Photography: @pearlphotography.nz
Celebrant: @marriedbychoiwee
Content Creator: @somethingnewsocialsnz
Food: @riverscatchnz
Makeup: @michellemakeupcoach
Hair: @holistic.hair.artistry
Entertainment: Gifford Bros @samuel_gifford10
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