About Sara
Sara McCook Weir
Born in England, the sandwiched child of an older sister and younger brother, I was loud and energetic in defining my place in the world. Drama and film school punctuated London life throughout my 20’s, before I met a kiwi traveler who convinced me that Aotearoa was a land like no other.
In Wellington I carved a career in mental health as an educator. I embraced work as a facilitator, filled with creative pursuits; and warmed to the rich diversity of relationships between people. Now based in Waikanae, I want to share your joys in celebrating special events, while sensitively guiding sad ones.
I trained at the Celebrant school of New Zealand, am an independent registered celebrant and a member of the Celebrant Association of New Zealand.
I work in the Kapiti Coast and Wellington areas; by special arrangement will happily travel further.
Services
Celebrating your day, your way.
Weddings
I am a Wedding and Civil Union celebrant.
This is YOUR day. Make this unique event your special way. Worry not about logistics, they are taken care of by your team; just focus on yourselves, and realise your dream!
As your celebrant:
We’ll meet at no charge, to find out if you want me and I want you!
If it is 'I do', we meet again to plan the perfect day for you.
I’ll write your ceremony, send a draft, make changes should you ask.
The night before your big day, we meet to rehearse what you will say.
An hour before your wedding, I’ll arrive at your site.
When all the formal is complete, you party through the night.
Formally, my job is also to ensure the legal expectations happen in an organized fashion, while you treasure this day in your own spectacular way.
Specialty extra service:
Singing celebrant. I can tailor lyrics to the tune of popular songs, compose them specially to suit you and perform the song at a chosen point in your ceremony.
Weddings: $500
Singing celebrant: extra $100
Your Splendid Life
Family and friends participate in a structured, surprise event for a special guest, inspired from a popular television show.
The SURPRISE element is a very important part of the event.
As your MC I will:
Communicate with guests, collect stories, draft and refine the script with the family.
Design the ceremony.
Host the ceremony.
Present the book of words to the special guest at the end of the ceremony.
The event may be at your home, or venue of your choice. Can suit special birthdays or anniversaries.
Your splendid life: $600
'Living funeral'
A sensitively crafted event if you are knowingly approaching your end of life and choose to ‘be the guest of honor at your own farewell’. The opportunity to hear from family and friends and participate in reflections and stories presents a rich, loving and powerfully emotional experience as you choose the way you would like to say goodbye.
As your celebrant I will:
Meet with you, your family and chosen friends.
Design the event to your specifications.
Meet with you to bring the details together.
Host the event.
Living funeral: $300
Funerals
Every person in the world gets to the point where they experience loss and grief. The only variety is that it happens at different times in our lives. We will all be touched with deep sadness at some stage. I lost a mother to suicide, and brother from cancer. Both provided valuable reflections on dying and grief.
Funerals are sad and difficult events, that can also bring restorative and loving connections. As a celebrant I want to capture the essence and importance of a person’s life. A short time with a family wrapped in their grief requires sensitivity, empathy and gentleness. It is my interest in the spirit and passion in people that has driven me in this work.
As a funeral celebrant I will:
Meet with families at their choice of venue.
Design a funeral service collaboratively with dignity and warmth.
Liaise with funeral directors if required.
Officiate at a service, wake, memorial or chosen ceremony.
Funeral: $300 (or via Funeral directors)
Endorsements
Caroline and Paul Kirby
Married 22nd September 2018
Sara provided a marvelous service, both before and after the ceremony.
Her concise and relevant questionnaire was written with humor and insight and we had great fun filling it out and remembering our journey together so far.
On the day Sara wove our answers into a moving and entertaining tribute, to the delight of all present.
I would wholeheartedly recommend Sara’s services. With a confident and relaxed delivery, she put us all at ease. We knew were in safe hands, which is priceless on these occasions.
Michelle and Marie Harrington
Married November 10th 2018
Thank you so much for all the professional planning and time you have spent preparing for our magical day.
We are truly grateful for the passion, guidance and direction you have provided for us.
We will remember this day forever.
Liz and Michael
January 18th 2020
Sara was a great facilitator and magnificent celebrant. From her thorough exploration of what we wanted, to her preparations for the event and through to the actual ceremony, she was wonderful to work with.
Her lively and personable style of support and encouragement enabled us to feel as relaxed as possible, despite wedding day jitters. Sara’s personalised song was the icing on the cake, showcasing her uniquely creative style as a celebrant.
Justina Veronica Maria Doesburg
1927 - 2020
Sara stage-managed a completely fitting send-off for our elderly mother, Jetty, in the difficult circumstances of the Covid-19 outbreak. A traditional funeral was neither possible nor what our mother would have wanted, and Sara helped come up with a Zoom event that brought together groups of family and friends in several parts of New Zealand and overseas that celebrated a long life well lived.
An opening karakia and closing poem from Sara were great touches in a memorable farewell. Thank you.
– Anthony Doesburg.
Monica and Tuau Love
Married 6th March 2021
Sara made our journey into marriage the easiest experience, she helped us find what we truly wanted to say and how we wanted it all to flow. She took the time to get to know us and our kids. The ceremony was beautiful with many tears, something I'll remember for the rest of my life. Thank you so much Sara.
Lia and Edan Mourie
Married 22nd April 2023
We met with Sara before the wedding and she took some time to learn about our story and we had lots of input into the ceremony. Our guests said that it was wonderful, personal and funny and that Sara is a warm and energetic celebrant. Despite the weather Sara delivered a beautiful ceremony and we really enjoyed having Sara be our celebrant.
Contact Sara
I'd love to be a part of your event. Please leave your name, email address, phone number, and a brief description of your needs, and I will get back to you soon.
