5 Things Series: Em and Tim

I was fortunate enough to be asked to officiate the wedding of two of my dear friends - Em and Tim - in November 2017.  This was a truly beautiful ceremony and reception held at Seclusions in Rydal, on the Western side of the Blue Mountains in NSW. Read more - including Em and Tim's take on their wedding - here. 

There was a lot about Em and Tim's wedding that I loved, including the much needed "morning after" breakfast and the fact they organised our guest accommodation near the venue that gave the whole weekend a group holiday vibe . It took a lot of time and thought to boil it to 5 items. Anyway, here it is; my top "5 Things" from Em and Tim's beautiful day!

1. Destination/Location: Em and Tim picked a location that matched their passion for the outdoors and their sense of elegance and style. From the outdoor ceremony under a beautiful old arbor to the rustic themed barn-style Pavilion, converted caravan bar and barn style dancefloor, everything about this wedding 
2. Speeches: The reception speeches were truly amazing. My advice to all couples planning their weddings is not to have speeches that run for too long, but also to make sure they pick people who will put in the time and effort to say something truly memorable. Em and Tim certainly did that and asked a good mix of family and friends to deliver a series of truly heartwarming speeches. The maid of honour and father of the Bride had the room in tears whilst the best man, M.C's and mother of the Groom had us in stitches at various stages.
3. Vows: Tim and Em's personalised vows were perfectly matched for tone, structure and timing, with very little instruction or review required from me. They had a perfect blend of first impressions, the growth of their love and promises for the years ahead that were both equally touching and hilarious.
4. The couple's first dance: In typical Em and Tim style, they brought a heap of fun to their first dance together, performing a routine that moved between loving and laughter that summarised the couple perfectly and set the tone for the rest of the night. Once they finished the dancefloor was instantly filled with family and friends ready to revel in the fun environment they created for us.
5. The Celebrant: Now as much as I'd love to toot my own horn, I don't mean the fact that Tim and Em chose me as the celebrant, but the fact they chose a celebrant they were comfortable with, and one that matched their style. At Love is Love Celebrancy and Wedding services we can't stress enough how important it is to get "in-sync" with all your key staff so they understand your vibe and deliver to your expectations. 

Congrats to Em and Tim, certainly a day no-one will forget any time soon!

5 Things Series: Simone & Carl

Simone and Carl’s wedding was one of the first weddings I ever did, back in March 2017. These guys were and are still good friends of mine, and I was lucky enough to Marry off Simone’s little brother Murray (see post: Nicola and Murray) just recently too!

So Simone and Carl’s wedding was special for a few reasons, most importantly being it was originally billed as an engagement party with only a few of us in the know about what was going to happen. So, here are the top 5 from me….

1. The surprise! Being the celebrant, I was lucky enough to be able to make the announcement to the (mostly) absolutely stunned crowd that this was not in fact an engagement party but a wedding ceremony. Some of the reactions were priceless! Was a fantastic moment. And for those of you who do not want to put pressure on yourselves or blow your budget, a surprise wedding is a very good way to manage that!

2. Touching tributes: Simone’s father Don passed away in the months leading up to the wedding which was very say, but an issue that was touched on so beautifully and thoughtfully throughout the day. Simone, her brother Murray, and Mother Maria entered the ceremony together, with Murray and Maria giving Simone away. Maria also made a very touching speech late in the evening with many funny comments and memories of Don, it reminded us all to treasure those we hold close!*

3. Support cast: The Bridesmaids, Groomsmen, Musicians and Family of the couple all had a role to play for this wedding, given not many people were in the know about what was actually going on. Safe to say all of them nailed it! Pick your Bridal Parties well people - they really can make or break your day!

4. Food & Drink: The wedding was in Carl’s parents house’s back yard, and they had arranged catering and alcohol delivery. There was plenty of tasty food and drink (note: better to over-cater than leave everyone hungry!) making for a very happy, and somewhat socially lubricated crowd for the dance floor!

5. It’s Mabo, it’s the vibe: Given the location, and the fact it was a surprise wedding, once the initial shock wore off, the whole day had a relaxed, intimate and personal vibe. It felt more like a big family reunion and party than a traditional wedding, which made for a fun ceremony, great speeches, and a lot of good times well into the early hours of the morning. This one won’t be forgotten anytime soon!

Note*: Motor Neurone Disease effects around 2000 Australians and is a terminal disease for which there is no known cure. Donate here: https://m.mndaust.asn.au/