My blog has moved!

Click here to head over to my new blog.

Jason Vandermeer Photography

Shan & Paul - Love, Laughter and Pineapples

When my dear friends Shan and Paul asked me to conduct their wedding ceremony I was truly humbled.  Not merely because Shan's a very popular and well respected Celebrant at Cloud9 Celebrations, not merely because I knew that the who's who of the wedding industry would be there, but because of the beautiful people they are. 

Shan and Paul are compassionate, generous and thoughtful souls - the type of people who delight in  surprising loved ones with unexpected and quirky gifts and helping those less fortunate than themselves.   They're also fun and active - the outdoorsy type who can dive and surf like pros.  In short, they're impressive people.

Shan and Paul envisaged a structured, yet fun and casual ceremony, one that would celebrate their deep love and respect for each other, their close relationships with family and friends, reflect their love of the beach and their personal passions.   

It came as no surprise that they chose the rooftop of the beachside Encore St Kilda for their ceremony.  With palms and pineapples, green turf and blue skies and a bridal party in royal blue and eye-popping orange, the rooftop was completely transformed into a colourful oasis.

As I recall Shan and Paul’s ceremony, I can’t help but smile.  It was simply wonderful watching my dear friend and fellow celebrant assume the role of bride.  Shan happily trusted in her suppliers and simply enjoyed the day as it unfolded around her - something I know we both urge our couples do.  

She looked absolutely radiant in her exquisitely beaded One Day Bridal gown and when she entered the rooftop to No One Knows’ rendition of 'Somewhere Over The Rainbow', the crowd collectively gasped. Paul, who cut a very handsome figure in his royal blue Briggins suit grinned as his bride walked the white carpet on the arm of her proud father.  The two most important men in Shan's life shared a private moment, before Paul offered Shan his arm and led her into position by the stunning tropical arbour created by Botanics of Melbourne.

Flanked by a bridal party of ten, Shan and Paul stood hand in hand as I shared the story of their new year’s eve meeting at Train Trak Winery, their first impressions of each other, their long distance courtship and Paul’s perfect proposal at their favourite stretch of beach. I shared the qualities they’ve come to admire in each other, their shared passions and their hopes for their future - zinc smothered nippers and grommets included.

As very proud Wish Granters for the Starlight Children’s Foundation, Shan and Paul invited their special friend Josh and his sister Mia to share their thoughts on love and marriage.  With observations such as "Love is sharing… like when there is only one ice cream left and you let the other person have it....even though you really, really wanted it.  Love is patient….like Paul plaiting Shan's hair everyday in Bali so it didn’t get knotty in the surf”, the adorable duo brought smiles to every face and reduced quite a few people to tears.

After a romantic exchange of vows and rings Shan surprised Paul with a beautifully written speech. Following the line “...you can’t stop the waves, but you can learn how to surf them”, she presented Paul with a custom made Al Merrick surfboard - a board that would, moments later, double as their signing table.    

To the loudest of cheers, Shan and Paul embraced in the warm afternoon sunshine and together walked down the white carpet to greet their large gathering of guests. 

Celebrations continued on the beach side terrace below as the newlyweds were whisked away in a Kombi to spend some time together on the sand. 

Congratulations to the #latestpairofjeans!  Shan and Paul, thank you for the honour of composing and conducting your ceremony and for the honour of your friendship.  May you continue to surround yourselves with love, laughter and pineapples... today, tomorrow and forever. xx

Watch the highlight reel by C2 Video - Today, Tomorrow & Forever


Celebrant: Sally Hughes
Photography: Red Butterfly Photography
Videography: C2 Video
Ceremony Venue: Encore St Kilda
Floral Styling (Ceremony and Reception): Botanics of Melbourne
Shan's Dress: One Day Bridal
Suits: Briggins
Bridesmaid Dresses: Seduce
Ceremony Musicians: No One Knows
Reception Musicians: Soltribe
Cake: Cherrytree Bakehouse
Car: Kombi Celebrations
Other Ceremony Suppliers: The Wedding Zone

Belinda & Damien - A Love That Is More Than Love

I met Belinda, Director of the renowned event company The Three Piece Suit, at a wedding industry event. Whilst I found myself captivated by Belinda's styling that evening, it was her address to a room brimming with brides and grooms-to-be that impressed me most. Like the other suppliers, Belinda introduced herself and spoke of her business, however, unlike the others, she then shared a little of her personal life.  She spoke of  her recent engagement, her close relationship with her family and shared images of her family’s recent trip to Italy to celebrate her parents’ anniversary.  Afterward, as she returned to her chair at the back of the room, I observed her greet her fiance Damien with a huge smile and a tight hug. She's stylish, talented and so darn likeable!, I thought to myself.

When Belinda and Damien asked me to be their celebrant, I was thrilled. I loved the way how, at our first meeting, tears welled in Belinda’s eyes as she spoke of her relationship with Damien and how important their ceremony was to them. No doubt, their venue would be beautifully styled with impeccable attention to detail, however it was clear to me that the commitment that Belinda and Damien would make to each other and the sense of celebration amongst their much loved family and friends would be most important to them. The pair offered me the warmest of hugs and I left that meeting knowing that their ceremony would be a joyful, romantic and deeply meaningful one.

Belinda and Damien were married under blue skies and sunshine on the perfectly manicured grounds of Campbell Point House in Leopold.   Belinda looked stunningly beautiful in her delicate Silvana Tedesco Couture gown and was a picture of happiness as she and her proud father followed her attendants from the pool house by the lake, along the wonderfully long aisle to meet Damien.  To Blue Pocket's version of Beyonce's 'XO', Belinda and Damien together climbed the steps and turned to face their many guests and the beautiful Lake Connewarre below.

As they stood with their impeccably dressed bridal party in hues of gold, cream and blue, I told the humorous story of Belinda and Damien's meeting in the back seat of a taxi, the text message that Damien sent Belinda the following day that read “I think I love you”, and the friendship that blossomed into romance. 

I spoke of the many memorable times the pair have shared, most often with their families, of Damien’s romantic proposal, the qualities Belinda and Damien most admire in each other and their thoughts about their relationship.  Their reflections were some of the most romantic I have ever shared. Their conviction that "if something was to happen to either of them, the other would be left with absolutely no doubt about how much they were loved and admired”, caused me to pause.

I love you with a love that is more than love.  

Inspired by the words of poet Edgar Allan Poe, Belinda and Damien exchanged romantic vows, before their adorable Ring Bearer ascended the steps, calmly searched his pocket for some time and eventually produced their wedding rings.

 

Guests presented readings and blessings, some with tears in their eyes, some with huge smiles upon their faces, before Belinda and Damien were declared to be husband and wife.  The roar from the crowd as the newlyweds sealed their commitment with a kiss was nothing short of wonderful.

Congratulations Mr and Mrs Fitz. Thank you for your warmth and kindness and for the honour of standing with you on a day that held so much meaning for you. I consider myself very fortunate indeed. 

Celebrant: Sally Hughes

Ceremony Venue: Campbell Point House

Photography: Flash2Flash Photography  (Excluding photo 2, taken by Sally Hughes Celebrant)

Styling: The Three Piece Suit in collaboration with Ambrosia Floral Designs & Lauren Skorsis Design Studio

Musicians: Blue Pocket (Dan & Rex)

Belinda's Dress: Silvana Tedesco Couture 

Belinda's Jewellery: Samantha Willis Bridal

Damien's and Groomsmen suits: Country Road

Bridesmaid Dresses: Sass & Bide, Camilla and Marc, Swish Clothing, Trenery & Seduce Clothing

Hair: Simoney D Hair & Make Up

Make Up: Littledollface

Cake: Cake Ink

Baked Treats: Cupcake Occasion

Instagram Live Printer: Social Playground

Dana & Michael - Colour Them Happy

Meet Dana.  She's one of the most gracious, humble and happy people I've had the pleasure of meeting.  If that's not impressive enough, she's also a soloist with the Australian Ballet Company. Her most recent performance in their production of Chroma was outstanding.

Speaking of impressive people, here's Michael.  Happy, super friendly and, like his bride, also very talented.  This German-born groom spent two years as a documentary photographer in post-war Kosovo.  Now you'll most often find him shooting weddings for Blue Robin Wedding Photography. 

Dana and Michael's brief was clear. They wanted a ceremony that was casual and fun-filled, one that would reflect their loving and excitable personalities. They wanted to include a large number of loved ones and were adamant that the sense of celebration should be established from the outset, and not withheld until their reception.  Oh, and in honour of Michael's heritage, they also they wanted me to present, in part, in German.  I loved their brief and fortunately my training in German opera many moons ago meant that I knew a little German too.  I couldn't wait to get started!

 

Dana and Michael were married in The Fitzroy Gardens on the last weekend of daylight savings.

As expected, Dana was the embodiment of grace and beauty.  She wore a knee-length dress with delicate lace overlay and the most amazing cut out back, bright blue heels and a small posy of blue hand woven pom poms.  Her striking Matron of Honour and “Leading Ladies” were each dressed in magnificently bright block coloured cocktail dresses of yellow, fuchsia, jade and red.  They looked magnificent against the green lawn and garden beds of pinks, oranges and reds.

As Dana made her way around the winding path and toward her husband-to-be, Michael couldn't resist reaching for his camera and taking a quick snap of his beaming bride.

I loved the way Dana and Michael laughed and cuddled one another throughout their ceremony and the way their guests reacted openly and energetically to their relationship story and to the many and varied guest presentations.  

Though Dana and Michael exchanged rings and romantic vows with utmost sincerity, such was the sense of joy that they shared, they simply couldn't suppress their delight.  Their laughter was utterly contagious!

 

To Gotye's In Your Light the interactive ceremony drew to a cheerful close.  Dana and Michael remained in the gardens afterward, chatting to their guests over pretzels and refreshments in the early evening sunshine...

... before stealing a little post-ceremony time for themselves.

The newlyweds continued their lively and colourful celebration a short distance away at Fortyfivedownstairs.

Dana and Michael, I will never forget your ceremony, nor will I forget the fun we had planning it.  I couldn't help but smile in your presence as your kind and generous spirits and your joie de vivre made every interaction a thoroughly happy one. Herzlichen Glückwunsch zu Ihrer Ehe.  Herzlichen Dank!  xx

Celebrant: Sally Hughes

Ceremony Venue: Fitzroy Gardens, Lawn 20

Ceremony Venue Decor: The Wedding Zone

Photography: Tom Franks Photography

Ceremony Bouquets: Dana's own creations

Reception Flowers - Cecilia Fox

Reception Venue: Fortyfivedownstairs

Dana's Dress: Andrea Gorrie