About Anke
After a colourful life of more than 30 years across Asia, I settled in NZ (on the Coromandel) in 2007. I started a new career as a marriage celebrant in 2008 with a membership of CelebrantsAotearoa (CANZ) and a Celebrant Studies Certificate (AUT).
After close to 400 weddings on the Coromandel, I moved to Dunedin in 2022 to be closer to family and because I love this funky little town at the bottom of the world! I craft ceremonies for all levels of requirements from simple to elaborate and stylish, and my tiered prices reflect that. I enjoy serving overseas eloping as much as local and same sex couples, but I no longer offer registry weddings.
Who am I? Having left my home country Germany as a member of the Foreign Service, I found my true vocational calling after the birth of my 2 children, and became a certified childbirth educator and doula (professional labour support). I worked and grew with and through the ideologies of the natural childbirth movement in the 70s. After being a change agent for birth practices in Singapore, Japan and China, I also facilitated antenatal classes for Parents Centres NZ until 2014 when the circle of life continued with work around marriage and death… leaving 35 years working as a childbirth educator.
My heart and soul centre around family, women, children and life itself… its tribulations, trivia, challenges, blessings… I see my life and work experiences among different cultures and people, my challenges as a birth practice activist, teacher and student, and skills attained as a mother, grandmother, divorcee, and business innovator, coming together in my work as celebrant. Not religious, but spiritual, I consider myself a student of life and humankind – on a course with no graduation… with lots of wonderful co-students.
I bring heart, warmth, vibrance, humour and spirit to the creation of, and charisma and inner presence to the delivery of life’s Significant Moments…