Motorbikes, cats and Trade Me - wedding vows break with tradition

To have and to hold, and dispose of the cat-food packaging – wedding vows are not what they used to be, say celebrants.

Kiwi couples are making more unusual vows on their big day.

Christchurch celebrant Julie Lassen said there had been an increase in non-traditional vows.

"At the end of the day it's their wedding and I let them do what they want, as long as we meet the legal requirements."

Lassen said at a wedding last weekend the husband vowed to accept his wife would make an effort to dispose of cat-food packaging properly.

At another recent wedding, the groom vowed to let his wife list items on Trade Me, while the bride vowed not to clean out her husband's drawers.

However, some celebrants did not favour light-hearted vows.

Christchurch celebrant June Russell said marriage was a legal contract and vows were serious.

She had officiated at a wedding where the bride wanted to vow to update the groom's wardrobe and buy him gifts of golf clubs.

Christchurch celebrant Bez Blanche said marriage was "a decision you are making that is going to affect the rest of your life".

"It's not a joke, it's serious.

"I think laughing about remotes or asking the bride or groom to support a certain rugby club [as part of the vows] really isn't on." However, celebrant Jenna Blackadder did allow lighter vows. She said one groom vowed not to "hog the television remote", but give his wife as many pats as the cat.

Blackadder said such vows were more common among younger couples. Christchurch celebrant Keith de Dulin said he officiated at a ceremony where the groom vowed to do the dishes twice a week, while the bride gave her husband permission to ride his motorcycle.