A Truffleduck Wedding.

When I was doing my celebrancy training, in Geelong, the trainer would often talk about a local wedding and reception venue, in hushed and awed tones. This magical spot was called Truffleduck, and we were told that if we were lucky enough to be able to officiate a wedding there, then we were very lucky: we had arrived. And of course, being from Ballarat I never, ever thought that I would ever get to work there. But guess what? I did, last weekend. I officiated my first Truffleduck wedding, with the totally gorgeous Shereena and Bo.

And it is indeed a lovely spot, with a sheltered garden area, and internally, the reception area is beautiful. But the best thing? Being with Shereena and Bo, and their families. We had a lovely time, in fantastic weather, blue skies with a balmy breeze. And I thought, what a great job I have.

Absolute Weddings

Not long ago I met a whirlwind, called Renee. And she has this great idea about a website to assist brides in the Central Victorian region arrange their weddings, a one-stop-shop of wedding inspiration. And she has done it! Her webpage is called Absolute Weddings, and this is my page. Congratulations Renee, your webpage is beautiful & I wish you all the best in making all your business dreams come true.

Sick At Home - YUK!

This week has been a week of feeling sick and sorry for myself. I have man-flu and it has knocked me off my feet. I hate feeling unwell, probably like all of you huh?? At least the weather has been reasonable (at times) and I have been able to spend time staring at it from the couch whilst watching really trashy TV (there is always an upside right, to everything?). It has been nice to be home with the animals though, they bring us all much happiness, and the orchard is coming into bloom.

Iggy and Coco

The Orchard

Remy

The Chooks

Chooks Continued.

The Ballarat Botanical Gardens

Last Sunday was a day of wedding rehearsals. One in Geelong at Truffleduck, and one here in Ballarat at the Ballarat Botanical Gardens. Of course it was raining here in Ballarat, so we had some time to shelter in the Statuary Pavilion. And it is gorgeous! You really must visit the Pavilion. I had forgotten how beautiful it is.

A Lovely Wedding Poem

I found this poem online today & I just love it. It's kind of quirky & quite a bit sweet, a bit modern too.

Taking: By Andrea Porter

Is this the part where I say I do?

I lost track somewhere around

us being gathered here together?

I don't recall anyone objecting.

My mind was somewhere else,

I had this image of us both older

weathered by the years, a scene

of us driving to your mother's

every Sunday for roast beef.

Discussions about good gravy,

the dog's arthritis, your sister,

the cost of bedding plants

Do you take this man?

Yes I take him, all of him.

I take his mother, her better gravy,

her hobbling dog, the sucked a lemon sister,

the cost of marigolds and geraniums.

I do, if it's the price for loving you.

The Tradition of the Wedding Garter.

Ever wondered why we have the wedding garter? It fascinates me, but I did not have one for my wedding. So, I have investigated and I did not expect the answer that I found! Apparently the wedding garter was developed as a way to actually protect the bride. Who knew?? 

There was once a tradition in medieval France and England, which was called "fingering the stocking", where wedding guests would be invited to go into the newly married couples bedroom to investigate the bride's stockings for evidence that the marriage had been consummated.

In addition to this practice, there was also another tradition in France where the wedding guests would rush to the bride at the alter to cut off a piece of the wedding dress as this was thought to be a piece of good luck. Imagine how scary that would be? And how odd as the wedding would obviously end with a beaten up bride left standing at the altar in a shredded dress.  

Eventually these traditions were probably considered to be too intrusive and aggressive towards the bride that some kind soul decided to save the bride and amuse the wedding guests by developing the garter for the bride or groom to throw at them.