Zena Lythgo
GEELONG CELEBRANT
Photo by Kyra Boyer
Looking for a ceremony that actually feels like you?
Not one that feels like the last wedding you went to – lovely enough, sure, but forgettable. Uninspiring. Not really them… and definitely not right for you.
You want something personal. Relaxed. Present.
You want a ceremony that’s grounded in who you are – one that flows naturally, feels right in your bones, and brings your people in close.
Even if you’re not quite sure what that looks like yet – we’ll figure it out together. That’s the beauty of doing it your way.
WHAT I BRING (& WHY IT WORKS):
I’m Zena – a Geelong and Bellarine Peninsula-based celebrant helping couples create ceremonies that feel calm, connected and unmistakably them.
With over a decade of experience, I help shape weddings, elopements and farewells that feel thoughtful, grounded and personal – never too formal, never about ticking boxes.
Here’s what I bring to your day:
✨ A collaborative planning process that feels calm and clear – no overwhelm, no second-guessing
✨ An ability to read the room and gently draw your people in
✨ A background in anthropology, LGBTQIA+ spaces, and NFP community work -so care, inclusivity and deep listening are baked into everything I do
✨ A relaxed, conversational delivery style that helps everyone (especially you) breathe out and settle in
We’re not creating a performance.
We’re creating a ceremony that reflects who you are – and is shared with the people who matter most to you.
Most Couples I Work With Want Something a Little Different:
Not different for the sake of it.
Not quirky just to be edgy.
Just… true to them.
They’re not here to tick boxes or follow traditions that doesn’t feel right to them.
They want a ceremony that actually reflects who they are and how they love – one that feels relaxed, real, and genuinely meaningful.
The couples I work with usually:
💛 Care more about how it feels than how it looks
💛 Want their guests to feel included and welcomed – not just to be watching from the sidelines
💛 Might be a little nervous about standing up there, but know it matters enough to do it their way
💛 Want someone calm, kind and confident to help guide the moment
💛 Aren’t chasing curated perfect – they’re chasing connection & presence
It’s not about reinventing the whole wedding.
It’s about making the moment feel like you.
What It Feels Like on the Day
Your ceremony isn’t just about you two – it’s about everyone you’ve invited to share the day with you.
It sets the tone. It brings the energy.
And when it feels relaxed, joyful and real – your guests feel it too.
When we get that part right?
Your people aren’t just watching the ceremony.
They feel part of it.
They laugh with you, cry with you, love to clap (!!!) – and they carry that beautiful energy through the rest of the day, well into the night.
That’s what we’re creating:
A moment that feels completely like you – and shared, fully, with the people who matter most.
Because when your ceremony really lands?
The whole day shifts.
More connected. More present.
And more fun… because it feels just like you.
Are you here for Weddings or Funerals?
Weddings + Ceremonies
Photo by Peak & Valley Wedding
As Seen In
Photo by Belle Martin
How We’ll Work Together
Calm, confident, conversational delivery on the day – so you can be fully present and actually enjoy it.
This process is designed to feel calm, collaborative and clear – so you can feel genuinely excited (with no stress) about what we’re creating.
I’ll guide you through each step with practical tools, gentle prompts and space to shape it your way.
Together, we’ll bring your ceremony to life – simply and intentionally.
Here’s what that looks like:
- A ceremony planning workbook to shape your ideas and vision
- Helpful video guides (like vow writing, public speaking tips + what to expect)
- Two relaxed calls — one to build your story, one to settle nerves and logistics
- A bespoke ceremony script all about you
- Calm, confident, conversational delivery on the day – to bring everyone into the space together
DOING IT YOUR WAY
DOESN’T HAVE TO MEAN
FLOATING DOWN A RIVER.
(But it totally can.)
Video by Bottlebrush Films
Here’s a look at a ceremony:
This couple did things completely their way.
Your ceremony can look, sound, and feel —
However you want it to!
— And I’ll be there to guide you every step.
It’s Not a Performance. It’s a Moment.
This isn’t about putting on a show.
It’s about sharing something that feels real – and not rehearsed.
A moment that feels like you, with your people right there in it.
The kind of ceremony where:
✨ You feel calm walking in – not because it’s rehearsed to perfection, but because you know you’re supported
✨ Your guests feel connected to what’s happening
✨ The room feels joyful, relaxed, and fully present
It’s not the styling that makes it memorable.
It’s the feeling – and how it lingers long after the ceremony ends.
That’s what we’re creating.
A real moment you actually get to experience – and remember.
How We’ll Bring Your Ceremony to Life
No stress & no cliches – just a thoughtful process that feels calm, clear, and supportive.
I’ll help you decide what to include, shape the tone to suit your personalities, and help you write vows – you are oh so proud of!
And ensure everything flows effortlessly on the day.
Whether you’ve got a vision or no clue where to begin – I’ve got you.
We’ll explore what matters to you both, decide what traditions (if any) to include, and make sure the whole thing feels just like you two.
All you need to do is show up, be present, and soak it all in.
I’ll take care of the rest.
YOU’LL HAVE EVERYTHING YOU NEED:
Step by Step Guidance
We’ll be telling you what’s happening every step of the way!
Planning Resources in your inbox
Videos, questionnaires, how-to guides, tips & tricks, fresh ideas – handed straight to you!
Vow Writing Support
This is the big one people want to know there is support with & honestly, I get it! Ya wanna know the secret – vow writing starts with a really fun date night!
Clear Check-ins
You’ve got enough on your plate — that’s why we guide you with gentle prompts, clear check-ins, and all the support you need. Angie (AKA assistant extraordinaire!) has you covered!
Making it feel like you!
Creating a ceremony that is oh so you! Nailing the tone and then delivering it with warmth, calm, and a conversational atmosphere that will draw everyone in.
So when the big day comes? You’ll feel calm, present, and totally confident that your ceremony is in the right hands.
How It All Works From Here…
Get in Touch
We’ll chat and book in a time for a face to face meeting
Let’s Meet
We’ll get to know each other and discuss your dream wedding
Plan
We plan your ceremony down to the nitty gritty details
Where I Work
I’m based on the Bellarine Peninsula, and travel across Geelong, the Bellarine Peninsula, Surf Coast, Otways (as often as possible, please and thank you!), Melbourne and beyond for the right couples and the right vibe.
Basically? If there are good people and a good story – I’m in.
Ready To Get Started?
If you’re after a ceremony that feels just like you, one where everyone is engaged and that will transform a group of guests into a connected, present community – let’s chat.
I can’t wait to hear your story and help you ‘go your own way’ too.
Let’s chat.
Feeling the Love
Photo by Baker Boys Creative
A few words from my lovely couples
My husband and I are wedding photographers and when we decided to get married there was no doubt in our mind that Zena would be the one to legalise our love union.
We have shot many weddings over the years and have experienced a wide variety of different celebrants. Trust us when we say, Zena is the best in the biz!
Zena, thank you for being our celebrant! You made our wedding day extra special! All our guests kept saying we chose such a great celebrant! You really are the best!
Storm & Xavier
Zena was a guiding light not only through planning our destination wedding but also on the day when we were both overcome with emotion. As a queer couple Zena created a safe place for us to both feel comfortable, she was able to easily adapt more inclusive language to better suit us as a couple. Thank you Zena for your beautiful words during the ceremony, your patience during our zoom sessions and for celebrating our love story.
Jess & Tess
We had the absolute pleasure of having Zena marry us earlier in February this year. From the beginning, Zena made us two nervous nellies feel very relaxed and at ease, and that was all because of her warm, caring, and professional approach. Even though we were complete strangers, our catch ups felt like going out for coffee with a dear friend, where you share some of your favourite moments and life’s joys. Zena was patient through tears and listened to our story to create a ceremony that was a perfect representation of who we are. Our wedding day was the most magical experience and if we were to do it all again, we would choose the lovely Zena over and over!
Rachel & Rob
Photo of Nel the Van by Analogue Modern
a bit about me
As we plan your wedding, I get to know a lot about you — so here’s a little about me, in reciprocity.
I grew up in Apollo Bay, where the salt, the bush, and a big-hearted community shaped how I see the world. These days, I live on the Bellarine Peninsula with my partner Jimmy, our cat Ziggy (& we are currently dogsitting the sweetest dog called Lumi!), we also spend a bit of time down in the Otways where we’re learning the fine (and often muddy) art of slow living and potato farming (niche I know!).
When I’m not leading ceremonies, you’ll usually find me:
— off on a roadie with Jimmy in our van Nel (she’s a purrrty thing ain’t she!)
— dancing about at a festival with mates (Meredith Amphitheatre is a much-loved haven)
— zombie wunning (you’ll have to ask me about that!)
— in or by the ocean
— staying as warm as possible (ideally by a fire after freezing in the ocean)
— getting creative with no intention (other than enjoying the heck out of the process! I love designing digital textiles with my friend Petronia)
— or simply making time to stop and chat about life (and death) with good people. (as often as humanly possible)
Working in weddings, funerals & memorials – baring witness to these big ceremonial moments in life has taught me to pay attention to the quiet moments too: the laughs, the inevitable tears (for me anyway), the challenges that come and go, the messy chaos and the simple beauty in all of it – working alongside life’s big moments has made me acutely aware how lucky we are to experience all of it!
I’m a sucker for a cause, tend to remind those around me that “these are the moments!” at any given opportunity & I believe Milo counts as a meal – and a good one at that!
Before I was a fulltime celebrant I worked at SisterWorks Inc.
SisterWorks is a not for profit social enterprise that supports women of asylum seeker refugee and migrant backgrounds to work towards financial independence and settle happily in Australia.
These women are my family & I still volunteer there today, because I get so much out of being apart of this community. I find that having this connection in my week is especially important when I work from home.
SisterWorks has also taught me the importance of making a contribution; A percentage of the fee I charge couples is donated directly to SisterWorks to support this organisation to continue to grow.
My most recent project there has been working with my gal Petronia, helping her to design and digitally print her fabrics. It is the best fun EVER!!! This ipad is usually only used for ceremony writing, it’s SO nice doing something creative with it as well!
Doesn’t this photo look like the best time ever! I gotta be honest, it really was. I worked in one of Melbourne’s BEST gay bars for five golden years: SIRCUIT! Here, I had the opportunity to discuss marriage equality with many people. These conversations with dear friends and complete strangers left me clear on one thing, this issue mattered! And when equal marriage was finally recognized I wanted to be a part of it. Because, you know: love is love.
I am not sure I would even have become a celebrant if I hadn’t had these conversations. Marriage wasn’t really on my radar!
So now marriage equality has been passed and it is the new normal – woohoo! (about time!) But I understand that for a lot of couples, the wedding industry is still complex to navigate & pretty heteronormative.
It is really important to me, that the experience I offer couples feels genuine, safe & fun every step of the way ; not just for you but everyone you invite to be a part of your day with you.
Industry Mates…
Geelong Crew
Melbourne Crew
If you have no budget and want an uber talent (& one of my fave collaborators!) fly Eerik Sandstrom over from Perth to anywhere 😉
That’s cool, not everyone wants to BUT if you do come this way…
Contact Zena
Phone: 0409 932 106
Email: hello@zenalythgocelebrant.com