Kim Lynn Heinimann was a family violence practitioner at Warrnambool's Brophy Family Services for about 18 months until she put her hand up to MC a regional staff meeting of about 180 people.

"I remember using a glitter analogy to describe COVID and people responded really well to that and about two weeks later a colleague said I should think about becoming a celebrant," she said.

"A light went on and a couple of weeks later I resigned and started my certificate in marriage celebrancy."

Miss Heinimann, who has a masters in criminology and criminal justice and worked as a parole case manager before moving into the family violence sphere, said that career path was rewarding but "quite heavy".

"I realised that it didn't 100 per cent align with my personality and I couldn't properly express myself," she said.

Seven weeks after her resignation, Miss Heinimann was a registered celebrant and she was quick to launch her new business Celebrations with Kim Lynn.

"It's a pretty big contrast going from family violence to marriage celebrancy and at first I was a bit hesitant to tell people what had happened, but I knew in my heart that I wanted to shift from something heavy to that joyful space," she said.

Miss Heinimann was born in Switzerland and grew up in Malaysia before coming to Australia and finding her own love story while working as a tour guide along the Great Ocean Road.

She said she stopped at a backpackers in Princetown where she met the manager and her now partner, Matt.

"I drove my tour bus into his life," Miss Heinimann said.

"That's how I came to the region and I just absolutely fell in love with the area."

Miss Heinimann said she was excited to "bring focus to the south-west and harness the beauty it encompasses".

"We have some spectacular surroundings and beautiful locally-owned businesses and I'm excited to utilise those things to bring people together and tailor their special day to represent them," she said.

Miss Heinimann said she already had a few weddings booked in for 2022.

"At one point I wondered if there was any point in starting the business in a pandemic but then I thought 'I won't let COVID stop me from reaching my dreams' and if challenges arise on the way, I will just have to readjust," she said.

You can contact Miss Heinimann at celebrationswithkimlynn.com.au.

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