Reflections on 2013

Happy New Year's Eve everyone xx I hope you all have a safe and happy 2014 with your family and friends. With this year drawing to a close, I want to say thank you to all who have supported me during my first year as a Civil Celebrant: you have been so wonderful and kind, and I am truly grateful. When I started I was hoping to be able to officiate at 6 weddings, but I was so fortunate to have celebrated 13 weddings, with my 14th this evening. I have met some truly lovely couples, and a few of them have become firm new friends. I have married 3 couples who were already lifelong friends and that experience was incredible. I also buried one of my best friends, an experience which was so incredibly painful and yet so joyous. I have had fun with 2 naming days, so very sweet and just good fun. Thank you everyone, my support crew, my guides, my new celebrant friends and the people I have been honoured to work with. Thank you all for a terrific 2013, a year of massive learning curves, new paperwork and overall wonderful times xx

A Wedding at The Tangled Maze.

Last weekend was Melissa and Adam's wedding at "The Tangled Maze" at Springmount. I had not been there for years, and had forgotten how very pretty it was out there. What a lovely spot it is, full of roses, beautiful hedges and really great staff to provide everything the bridal couple needs. It was a lovely sunny day, a bit breezy, but just a great day to get married. Congratulations to Melissa and Adam, I wish you both much joy for your married life together x

“Carrie’s Poem”, from the show, Sex and the City.

His “hello” was the end of her endings,

Her laugh was their first step down the aisle,

His hand would be hers to hold forever,

His forever was as simple as her smile,

He said she was what was missing,

She said instantly she knew,

She was a question to be answered,
And his answer was “I do”.

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.

The Naked Wedding Cake.

This is a new wedding cake trend, which I actually quite like, the naked cake. Yep, nudie cakes, dressed with just layers and no covering. I particularly love the one in the photo below. I have never seen one "in the flesh", but would love to, just to see if they look as great in real life (hint hint to friends who are getting married soon).

Thanks to Bridal Guide Magazine for the photo.

For the bridesmaid.

I found this very interesting article about one girl's experience of being a bridesmaid and why she resigned her position (click here). It does sound to be quite an extreme example but I do wonder how often bridesmaids feel this way. Do some brides truly take advantage of their bridesmaids and do the bridesmaids feel resentful and used? Obviously the answer would have to be yes, because we see the story here. So, it is something to consider for all involved in planning the wedding day: what do the brides expect and what are the bridesmaids prepared to commit to? Let's hope that the actual friendship survives the day, and possibly even becomes a stronger one.

A Creative Wedding Photo

This photo is doing the rounds of the internet, and I wanted to share it here, because it is just fabulous. What a great idea! Congratulations to whoever they are, I love the originality, the idea, the geekiness and the involvement of all the groomsmen to create such a truly cool wedding memory.

A Surprise Wedding

  

I do so love a surprise wedding and have recently been asked to officiate at one, for a dear friend whom I used to work with a few years ago. To say that I am excited is an understatement. What is so exciting? The anticipation of seeing the looks on the guests faces, to be able to see that moment of joy for those who love the couple the best. How often does a celebrant get to see that? I am so honoured to be able to share that moment in time with my secret bridal couple. I cannot wait to share their day.

"If I Could Have Just One Wish"

If I could have just one wish, I would wish to wake up everyday

to the sound of your breath on my neck,

the warmth of your lips on my cheek,

the touch of your fingers on my skin, 

and the feel of your heart beating with mine...

Knowing that I could never find that feeling

with anyone other than you.

By Courtney Kuchta

The Ballarat Courier: Ballarat Bride 2013

Congratulations to The Ballarat Courier on a great new Bridal Magazine. I love reading it for inspiration and just great wedding ideas. I love the dresses, the photos, the stories of how happy people are on their wedding day. If you haven't read it yet, pop into the Courier office and grab a copy.

     

This one is pretty special for me though as I am in it this year, and I am so happy to be placed next to an all time favourite wedding quote. It might be a good omen for the year ahead.

A Cute Kid's Reading.

I am writing up a ceremony for a couple with children, who really want the kids to perform a reading. There are quite a few lovely ones out there, but I just adored this one. The sentiment is sweet, and I cannot wait to hear a child read it out for their Mum and Dad. It may make me cry however.....

A LOVELY LOVE STORY: Edward Monkton

The fierce Dinosaur was trapped inside his cage of ice. Although it was cold he was happy in there. It was, after all, his cage.

Then along came the Lovely Other Dinosaur.

The Lovely Other Dinosaur melted the Dinosaur’s cage with kind words and loving thoughts.

“I like this Dinosaur,” thought the Lovely Other Dinosaur.  “Although he is fierce he is also tender and he is funny.  He is also quite clever though I will not tell him this for now.”

“I like this Lovely Other Dinosaur,” thought the Dinosaur. “She is beautiful and she is different and she smells so nice.  She is also a free spirit which is a quality I much admire in a dinosaur.”

“But he can be so distant and so peculiar at times,” thought the Lovely Other Dinosaur.  “He is also overly fond of things.  Are all Dinosaurs so overly fond of things?”

“But her mind skips from here to there so quickly,” thought the Dinosaur.  “She is also uncommonly keen on shopping.  Are all Lovely Other Dinosaurs so uncommonly keen on shopping?”

“I will forgive his peculiarity and his concern for things,” thought the Lovely Other Dinosaur, “for they are part of what makes him a richly charactered individual.”

“I will forgive her skipping mind and her fondness for shopping,” thought the Dinosaur, “for she fills our life with beautiful thoughts and wonderful surprises. Besides, I am not unkeen on shopping either.”

Now the Dinosaur and the Lovely Other Dinosaur are old. 

Look at them. 

Together they stand on the hill telling each other stories and feeling the warmth of the sun on their backs.

And that, my friends, is how it is with love.

Let us all be Dinosaurs and Lovely Other Dinosaurs together. 

For the sun is warm. 

And the world is a beautiful place.

A Surprise Wedding.

This wedding was amazing in that it was organised under a veil of secrecy, in quite a short period of time. The ruse was the groom's pending 30th birthday with the plan to marry on the day announced at the beginning of the party. Steve and Karrina did a brilliant job as most people had no idea that they were about to marry. They are also great car fans and had a brilliant old race car as a back drop, which made for great photo opportunities.

Fair Dinkum Love - written by Kim Cockerell.

Fair dinkum love isn’t about bringing in a dozen red roses,

It’s about bringing in the washing.

It’s not about standing next to your partner because they look good on your arm

It’s about standing by them even when they look foolish.

Fair dinkum love isn’t about stiff posture and smart clothes.

It’s about wrestling on the couch in your tracksuit.

It’s not about oysters and candle-lit dinners.

It’s about bringing home Chinese when your partner’s had a busy day.

Fair dinkum love isn’t about exciting getaways and fancy resorts.

It’s about being totally content sleeping-in together at home.

It’s not about gym memberships and facelifts.

It’s about growing old and fat together.

Fair dinkum love is not about romance or image or success.

Fair dinkum love is about two average people adoring and accepting each other for who they are.