Sam & Chris: family times, family fun, family beautiful.

  

This was a fabulous wedding! It was a small family wedding, where the bride did all the decorating of the venue, and she did a truly amazing job. It was so pretty, so purple, and she is to really be commended for what she actually created. Who knew that Sam was so talented? Ad they also ensured that all of their five children were part of the ceremony, with their youngest child sleeping in his father's up during the entire ceremony. I did feel for Chris as I am sure his arms were hurting from the weight of his sleeping child. But that was part of what made this ceremony beautiful: it was the focus on them all as a beautiful little family group. Congratulations Sam, and Chris: I hope you have a long happy and healthy married life together xx

Mel & Paul: an amazing wedding at Cave Hill Creek.

Last weekend, Mel and Paul were married. Well, where do I start with this wedding? The son of one of my friends (we seem to have known one another forever), an amazing bride, five gorgeous children, a wonderful setting? What about the spectacular entrances of the groom (he danced down the aisle, it was fabulous), the entrances of their children, with not a dry eye in the house, the bridal party entrance, or the beautiful bride walking to her groom with her father by her side? How about asking all four parents to stand in support of the bride and groom? Well, it was all of that, and so much more, and it was truly great to be invited to play a part in it all. Congratulations Mel and Paul: you arranged a terrific wedding day, and can I just say, Cave Hill Creek is a wonderful place to get married. It is beautiful.

“I Promise You All My Love”

I promise to give you all my love for now and forever, to keep your love close to my heart so that we will never grow apart. I promise to confide in you if I feel insecure.

I promise not to doubt your judgements or actions, without first listening to the feelings in your heart.

I promise to support you in everything you try to accomplish, because your goals have become our goals to achieve together, side by side. I promise to look back on the good and bad times with a smile, to learn by each mistake and know that, with every step of success, we will make it if we just try.

I promise to offer you all the happiness I am capable of giving you, to see that the future is ours to make the best of. I promise to set time aside to be best friends, to dream dreams and make them reality, and just to say "I love you". I promise never to take you for granted because you are the love of my life.”

~~  Michelle Thomas  ~~

Luda and Jesse: an international wedding

Luda and Jesse were married last Friday, under the poplars at the lake's edge, at "The Lake House", in Daylesford. This is a beautiful venue, with fabulous staff always available to coordinate the wedding ceremony on the day. This was a day where the bride's Russian heritage was honoured and incorporated into the wedding ceremony, and we were also lucky to have two of her Aunts from Russia being able to join us on the day. We had laughs, we had tears, we had tradition both old and modern. It was a great day, a huge thank you to Luda and Jesse for inviting me to be there with you all. Congratulations on your intimate, international, beautiful day xx

"Do you want me to tell you something really subversive? Love is everything it’s cracked up to be. That’s why people are so cynical about it. It is really worth fighting for, being brave for, risking everything for. And the trouble is, if you don’t risk anything, you risk even more" 

- Erica Jong.

   

Leah and Mark: wed at Avalon Nursery.

There is a lovely new wedding venue in town to wedding ceremonies, and I am so thrilled to have been asked by Leah and Mark to officiate their wedding ceremony at this great venue, Avalon Nursery, at Haddon. This couple had such a clear vision for their day: their daughters, their family, their friends, the outdoors, Leah's love of horses (she arrived in a horse-drawn carriage), and to be surrounded by those they love most. And what a family ceremony it was! Delicate necklaces were given to their daughters, 3 readings by 3 significant woman in their lives, and they also performed the Sand Ceremony to signify their family joining forever in wedlock. It was beautiful to see how much their daughters mean to them, they are their lives and their joy. Congratulations to Leah and Mark: your family, and you = gorgeous xx

What Is Family: written Marin McKay.

A family is…

The sweetest feelings

The warmest hugs

Trust and togetherness

Unconditional love

The stories of our lives written on the same page

The nicest memories anyone has ever made

Treasured photos

Thankful tears

Hearts overflowing with all the years

Being there for one another

Supporting and caring

Understanding, helping, sharing

Walking life’s path together

And making the journey more beautiful because

We are a family… And a family is love.

Hayley and Brad, a bush wedding.

Hayley and Brad: thank you so much for having me as your celebrant. And thank you for choosing such an amazing setting for your ceremony, The Streamside Reserve, at Happy Valley. What a serene place, just perfect for a celebration, just perfect for you both, and your amazing families. I loved the final touches: the old fire truck, the old cars, the portable loo being driven around hither and thither (before you arrived Hayley!). What a great day, and we almost beat the rain. But no matter the weather, this was a great day, congratulations to you both xx

A pre-wedding selfie with the wonderful photographer David Bailey.

Caitlin and Marty: hitched at Willow Glen Weddings

I had never officiated a wedding at Willow Glen Weddings until yesterday, and, I was so delighted to see the venue. What an utterly beautiful place. Well done to Caitlin and Marty, great choice! And what a great couple: every meeting with them was a joy, and I am so thrilled to have married them. Their wedding was so personal, with funny stories and shared discussion of bad habits, which brought laughter to their ceremony. Congratulations on your wedding, Caitlin and Marty, I wish you a life of happy married bliss together xx

Sooner or Later - Author Unknown

“Sooner or later we begin to understand that love is more than verses on valentines and romance in the movies. We begin to know that love is here and now, real and true, the most important thing in our lives. For love is the creator of our favourite memories and the foundation of our fondest dreams. Love is a promise that is always kept, a fortune that can never be spent, a seed that can flourish in even the most unlikely of places. And this radiance that never fades, this mysterious and magical joy, is the greatest treasure of all – one known only by those who love.”