Most ceremony readings fall into a narrow pool — the same Rilke quote, the same Apache blessing, the same excerpt from Captain Corelli's Mandolin. Hayley has spent years building an archive of alternative readings drawn from literature, film, music, and poetry that actually resonates with how modern couples talk and think about love. If you already have something in mind, she'll work with it. If you're not sure, she'll find something that fits your voice and your relationship.
Hayley is a registered New Zealand marriage and civil union celebrant based in New Brighton, Christchurch. She takes one ceremony per day — which means when you work with her, her complete attention is yours.
What's included
- Extensive archive of non-traditional ceremony readings
- Readings from literature, film, music, poetry, and spoken word
- Help selecting what fits your ceremony's tone and length
- Can work with readings you bring to her
- Guidance on who should read and how to brief them
- Included as part of all Arohanui ceremonies
Pricing: Included with all Arohanui ceremonies
Talk to Hayley About Your CeremonyThe Process
How It Works
Understanding your taste
Hayley asks about your reading preferences — the books, films, music you love, the tone you want the ceremony to have.
Curated options
She searches her archive and suggests readings that feel like a genuine match. Not a list of 50 possibilities — a focused shortlist of things that actually work.
Selection and placement
You choose what resonates, and Hayley advises on where in the ceremony it sits best and how to brief whoever is reading it.
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about custom readings.
Absolutely — and honestly, some of the most beautiful ceremony readings come from films, songs, and TV shows that genuinely mean something to the couple. Hayley has readings from sources as varied as The Princess Bride, The Big Lebowski, various contemporary novelists, and classic poetry. The source matters less than whether the words feel true.
Yes. Hayley can incorporate the reading directly into the ceremony script rather than having a guest deliver it. This works well for couples who don't have a natural reader in their circle or who prefer a more flowing ceremony without a separate speaker.
Most ceremonies work well with one reading, occasionally two. A reading should add something distinct — a moment of stillness, a different voice, a specific emotional note. More than two and they start to feel like filler. Hayley will advise on what works for the length and structure of your ceremony.
Absolutely. A poem, a passage from a personal letter, something you've written together — all of these can work beautifully. Original personal writing often has an authenticity that published work can't match, even if it's less polished. Hayley will help you assess whether it's the right length and how it fits the ceremony's tone, and she'll help you shape it if needed.
Yes — and Hayley can source or help select te reo Māori readings with genuine knowledge of the language and meaning. A te reo reading — delivered by a guest or by Hayley herself — can be one of the most moving moments in a ceremony. She recommends providing a translation in the ceremony booklet or as part of the ceremony script, so all guests feel included.
Ideally four to six weeks before the ceremony — this gives enough time to brief whoever is delivering it, place it correctly in the ceremony script, and give any reader time to practise. If you're asking Hayley to source a reading from her archive, earlier is better; she likes to suggest options and allow time for you to sit with them before deciding.
Also Available
Related Ceremonies
Ready to talk about your custom readings?
Hayley takes one ceremony per day and personally responds to every enquiry.
Enquire About Your Custom Readings