Matchmaking banker from Craigie marries almost 100 colleagues

A CRAIGIE banker has earned a reputation as an office matchmaker, pairing off 50 couples she has worked with.

Bankwest performance manager Brid Hutchinson (53) has helped almost 100 couples marry through her spare-time work as a marriage celebrant.

Miss Hutchinson started working at R&I Bank when she arrived in Australia in 1986 and over 32 years, has worked in a variety of banking roles.

When her sons started school, she decided to pursue one of her passions.

“With the boys heading off to school my close friends encouraged me to do something I loved and so I decided to become a marriage celebrant,” she said.

Shortly after being certified, a colleague approached Miss Hutchinson to officiate her first wedding ceremony.

Since then, she has married almost 100 Bankwest colleagues, many of them couples who met through the business.

“A person’s wedding day is one of the most important in their life and it’s such an honour when they choose you to be their celebrant,” she said.

“You have the opportunity to play an important role and know you’ve made a lasting impact.

“I feel honoured every time someone asks me and I have a special connection to each and every couple I’ve married.”

Earlier this year, she officiated a special ceremony – the marriage of a terminally ill colleague, then a week later she officiated the funeral.

“It really was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do, knowing that my colleague only had a few hours to live,” she said.

An internal recognition program recently recognised Miss Hutchinson as one of the Bankwest Heroes, recognising her work for customers, driving charity activities and running a mentoring program for young women.

“Brid goes above and beyond because she genuinely cares about people,” personal and small business banking general manager Donna Dalby said.

“She truly has the customer and her colleagues at the heart of everything she does.”