The Love of a Dog.

As a dog lover I could not resist this photo that appeared on Facebook. I think it is so sweet, and who does not love a dog?

A Stump For a Tail.

You can't buy loyalty, they say,

I bought it though, the other day;

You can't buy friendship, tried and true,

Well just the same, I bought that too.

I made my bid, and on the spot

Bought love and faith and a whole job lot

Of happiness, so all in all

The purchase price was pretty small.

I bought a single trusting heart,

That gave devotion from the start.

If you think these things are not for sale,

Buy a brown-eyed puppy with a stump for a tail.

Anonymous

Congratulations to Alice and Lachlan

Congratulations to Alice and Lachlan, who were married last Saturday. It was a bright sunny day, but we were all gathered in the shade of a huge oak tree, with a cool breeze just making the wedding conditions perfect. The bride and groom looked gorgeous, dressed simply, with very few trimmings. This simplicity, this expression of just who they are, was refreshing and delightful. They pulled together a very classy event.

I also really enjoyed meeting their family, who were very welcoming to me as the celebrant. They were delightful to chat with whilst we waited for the ceremony time to roll around. Thank you Alice and Lachlan for choosing me as your celebrant, and thank you to your family for making me feel so very welcome on your big day.

Irene and Scott got married.

My first wedding for 2014 was one of my first bookings. Irene and Scott, two people living in two different countries, meeting in another State in Australia accidentally, getting married, overcoming so many different odds. It was a great love story, and will continue to be a great love story. Their wedding was in the garden of the new home they have made together here, surrounded by a small group of family and closest friends, who were so welcoming to me: I found myself sharing a glass of bubbly afterwards with them all at their reception, having photos taken with them too. It was just lovely and a terrific start to 2014.

CORINTHIANS 1:13 (Adapted)

Love is always patient and kind; it is never jealous;

Love is never boastful or conceited; it is never rude and selfish;

It does not take offence, and is not resentful.

Love takes no pleasure in other people's faults but delights in the truth;

It is always ready to excuse, to trust, to hope.

It is always ready to endure whatever comes.

True love does not come to an end.

A New Year's Eve Wedding.

Sylvia and Hans were married yesterday, on the 4 year anniversary of their first meeting. Their ceremony was held at Yuulong Lavender Estate, which is a beautiful and intimate venue for a garden wedding, and the staff there are fabulous, so helpful and involved to make the couple's day perfect. It's only about 30 minutes from Ballarat, which is not too hard for people to travel to. The Estate now has new owners, so maybe we will see some changes there in the future, but as it is now, it is gorgeous.

To Sylvia and Hans, congratulations on your wedding. I loved your very laid back approach, your focus on a family wedding, and also in doing all the catering yourselves. That would have made your day that extra bit stressful I am sure, but no-one would have guessed that your were stressed in any way at all. Congrats again, you guys are lovely x

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

Alexa and David's Wedding

I have been so fortunate this year, in being able to marry 3 couples who are also very close friends. This is an amazing aspect of my new life as a celebrant. I am so honoured to be able to do this, to marry my friends, it is an amazing feeling on the day and in the lead up to the big day. I get the gift of time with my friends, something which others do not get, time to share this experience with them. 

Last weekend I married Alexa and David, two friends whom I love, forever and always. We all met at work, and we will always be friends. It was an amazing day, they looked so gorgeous, standing in lovely sunshine, pledging their lives to each other. Thanks to you both for having me there to officiate, I am so honoured. It means so much to me to have been the one to have officiated your day xx

"I Promise You All My Love, Now and Forever" -- Michelle Thomas

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.”

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”.