“Relaxed” is the most common word l hear from couples to describe their perfect wedding. However, not many achieve this quite as well as Lauren and Lyall.
The day chosen for their commitment ceremony turned out to be a sunny 22 degrees and their hopes for a beach wedding came to fruition. Lauren had bought a beautiful dress of the rack, Lyall was wearing his new ‘work’ suit and they travelled with their six guests to the location less than 5km from their home. I had introduced Lauren to a local photographer, Erin and Friends, who was able to capture stunning photos of their day. Everyone was calm and Lauren was the most stress-free bride l have seen in a long time. The ceremony was personal and romantic, exactly what they had wanted and perfectly suited to them as a couple. After the ceremony Lauren and Lyall popped a bottle of Champagne (plus a bottle of non-alcoholic bubbles for the pregnant bride) and toasted their new union with the six most important people in their lives. This toast and the conversation that followed were the absolute highlights of the wedding for me. So often l see couples bombarded with hundreds of guests congratulating them and then they rush off leaving their own party for hours to capture photos of their day. Lauren and Lyall were able to stay and just enjoy the moment. Days later l caught up with them again to officially make them husband and wife. What could be more relaxed than signing your marriage certificate at your dining room table. Did you have or are you planning a RELAXED wedding?
Comment below with your tips on how to be Stress-Free on your Big Day
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It was important for Te-Ata and Jay to be married by the water so this local couple chose the gorgeous Point Cook Homestead as the location for their ceremony. With views back across the bay to the city, they exchanged vows in front of their close friends and family.
Awesome photos by Tracie at TLC Photography - check out her facebook page here
All this romance over the weekend led me to sit down and check out my wedding photos. Do you know what l love about my wedding photos? They are of my husband, my friends, my family and me. There are no photos of the florist, though she did a great job. There are no photos of the venue manager; because he was a grumpy old bloke and there are none framed on my wall of my minister despite being a good friend; it was not his wedding. Looking at the photos reminds me of the day and the special people who are still an important part of our lives. I always tell couples who are getting married that l want to be as memorable as the table decorations at their wedding reception. As in, l should not be the ‘thing’ they or others remember about the ceremony. Instead they should remember that they laughed and cried, that the you laughed and cried and that it was a perfect reflection of you.
Because, you know what? I have had ‘my day’. I have my own wedding photos; l don’t need to be the centre of yours!
The colourful bathing boxes on Aspendale Beach, Melbourne Victoria were the backdrop for Lynda and Adam’s beach wedding. The relaxed couple celebrated their nuptials in front of a small gathering of friends and family. Flanked by their four sons, three flower girls and two best friends, Lynda and Adam laughed and joked throughout the morning. It was a very hot day which took its toll on their 18 month old twins who weren’t really sure what all the fuss was about. In fact, as Adam was placing the ring on Lynda’s finger and declaring “let this ring be a symbol of the lifelong bond between us” he looked down at his sons clinging to his legs and added “l’m not sure we need the ring for that”. It was that down-to-earth nature that endeared me to Adam and Lynda from the very first meeting and made their wedding day such a personal occasion.
To read more of what this couple and others have to say, check out my Google Plus page or Facebook Page.
If you are looking for a fun celebrant for your beach wedding or celebration, send an enquiry here or call Alicia and Aaron met on the way to a Tupperware party and like the company motto goes, it was "For Life". Their wedding was held at the in Taylors Lakes and the ceremony near the rotunda on site. It was a simple and relaxed ceremony made special by the inclusion of their children and dedication to their parents. A bonus of this wedding was getting to work with the very professional Brenton Spiteri from Extreme Exposure Photography. As you can see, his work is first class. It was so great getting to know Alicia and Aaron and being part of their special day. Call me to discuss your Wedding or Event
My gorgeous couple from the weekend made the local paper with their unique wedding. Check out the article here:
Star Weekly Jo and James were married on the stunning greens of The Sands Torquay surrounded by family and friends. My fondest memory of preparing for this wedding was that James wanted to write the ceremony himself. In true "School Teacher" style he sat down and wrote the words they wanted, picked the readings and personalised their vows. This is the only time l have ever had a groom make such a huge effort and l was honoured to read their ceremony. On the day, you couldn't go past the amazing view and vivid blue sky. Another memorable moment was Jo's young neice, Mani, reciting the poem: "There is no greater happiness than that of sharing life With all its joy and all its cares, as a loving man and wife For love gives life new meaning and has a special way of growing stronger and deeper with each passing day. Yes, life is so much happier and brighter when you're sharing the very special joys that come with loving, giving and caring." Call me to discuss your Wedding or Event
With their home on the Gold Coast, l was expecting Lisa and Simon to have a casual beach wedding in the warm Queensland sun. Instead they chose a gorgeous Reception venue close to family and friends in the foothills of the Dandenong Ranges; Linley Estate. With it's manicured English style gardens and stunning chapel it was the perfect location for their ceremony, photos, reception and accommodation for many guests. Having known the bride for ten years, it was hard for me to hide my excitement (and tears) when Lisa arrived. She looked beautiful and they were both so happy to be surrounded by their friends and family. The words they had chosen throughout the ceremony were personal and unique. A good mix of their history, their present and their future together. It is an honour to be a part of every wedding and especially when it is two friends who's relationship you have watched from the beginning and who are such an important part of your life. Thankfully, Lisa and Simon didn't mind that their Celebrant cried during the ceremony or that she enjoyed the dance floor at the reception. Here is what they had to say: "Gratefully we chose Amber as our Celebrant for our wedding - WOW! The whole day and journey getting there was amazing & we were so thankful we chose and had Amber with her experience, energy, guidance & support. Our ceremony was nothing but beautiful, relaxed, fun and professional yet still personal (Amber even shed a tear for us!) Her time, dedication and professionalism is amazing! I would have absolutely no hesitation in ever recommending Amber as a celebrant for their special day to anyone, anywhere for their wedding (and I know she does travel!) Thanks for everything Amber and making it such the special day it was and life we now have." Call me to discuss your Wedding or Event on 0408813661
Kerrie and Andrew's wedding took place at the beautiful Grange Cleveland Winery, Lancefield in the Macedon Ranges. From the moment l met Kerrie and Andrew, l knew they had found something special in each other and that l was going to enjoy getting them married. They met 6 years ago while they were both on holidays. Their relationship grew from a friendship until one day Andrew ran over the bins, Kerrie's camera took a dive (you had to be there) and they both realised this was it! They decided on an intimate ceremony with their immediate family in a location where everyone could stay, relax and enjoy. The Cleveland Winery was a fantastic choice. The grounds were immaculate, the staff were lovely and there were so many different spots to have your ceremony and photos. The highlight of the ceremony for me was the involvement of Andrew’s three children – the youngest of whom was more nervous than dad and also that their mum’s both signed as witnesses to the marriage. This was the perfect end to a relaxed and romantic afternoon. If you are looking for a fantastic venue where everyone can stay and enjoy good food and wine,
then l highly recommend Cleveland Winery. Call me about your wedding or celebration on 0408813661 How short can our wedding ceremony be? The answer is 121 words, ok 123 if you both have a middle name. Seriously, this is the legal requirement for a wedding and this week l performed a wedding for Amy and Ken that didn’t go for much longer than that. Together for a few years and looking for a small intimate ceremony to prelude a holiday; Amy and Ken got dressed up, hired a photographer and headed to a picturesque local spot to tie the knot. Despite the low key, relaxed attitude, l can guarantee it was equally as lovely as any other wedding l have officiated. When they had first started talking weddings, everyone had shared their opinion of what Amy and Ken should do, where they should go and who they should invite. It made sense to them to do it this way and it was their wedding – so why not! In fact, they chose to keep it a secret until they were at the airport ready to leave. In Amy’s words “so everyone could have 9 days to get over not being invited”. What did their family and friends miss and what must be included in a civil marriage ceremony?
That is it! SO where are the ‘I do’s, rings, readings, songs, stories, candles and all the other things you see at a wedding? Those bits are completely up to the couple to include if they choose. Some people might say that 123 words is not enough to get all dressed up for, however given that they are the same 123 words that everyone getting married in a civil ceremony in Australia says, l think it is kind of cool that the rest is up to you. How many words were in your ceremony?
How many words will you have? I'd love to hear about it. Please comment below |
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