Lauren & Ty's Encore Evening

Meeting Lauren and Ty was like catching up with old friends.  We joked and laughed as though we'd known each other for years. In fact, such was their contagious energy, I don't think we began discussing their wedding until quite a while into our first meeting.  I liked Lauren and Ty immediately and I knew that we would have a ball planning their ceremony. I wasn't wrong.  

Lauren and Ty's ceremony was held at the über stylish Encore St Kilda Beach, a venue that has it all.  It's a large and versatile space with stylish decor, jaw-dropping bay views, friendly and attentive staff and oh, the trendy Republica is next door.  Lauren and Ty had wanted to hold their September ceremony on the rooftop, however Melbourne's weather God's had other plans for us.  Fortunately their plan B was equally as impressive.

When Lauren and Ty's guests arrived, after having mingled at Republica, they delivered an instant rush of energy and excitement.  A celebratory tone was well and truly set. Which was great, as an already excited Lauren seemed to enjoy her entrance even more so.

Lauren looked breathtakingly beautiful in her JasonGrech White couture gown.  Attended by four bridesmaids and her proud father, Lauren entered to Pete Murray's Ten Ft Tall, performed superbly by The White Tree.  As she walked towards Ty, her smile never left her face.

I was so fortunate to have witnessed the contrast in emotion between the beaming bride and her proud father.

Lauren and Ty met as teenagers at the local pool.  Their story, spanning twelve years to date, elicited both audible sighs and roars of laughter from their guests.  More so the latter. 

 

I loved that as I spoke of their overseas travels and Ty's perfect Santorini proposal, the pair enjoyed the moment, reacting so naturally to their guests' animated responses.  Together, they were relaxed in the presence of their family and friends.

Lauren and Ty's mothers each presented readings.

On Marriage - An excerpt from ‘The Prophet’ by Khalil Gabran. 

Let there be spaces in your togetherness,
And let the winds of heavens dance between you.

Love one another, but make not a bond of love:
Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.
Fill each other's cup but drink not from one cup.
Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf.
Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone,
Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music.

Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping.
For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.
And stand together yet not too near together:
For the pillars of the temple stand apart,
And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other's shadow.

You Share Today the Joy of Deep Commitment. Author Unknown.

The most precious gift of love

Treasure it, nurture it and encourage it

With all the honesty you used in creating it

You are sharing something rare and beautiful

Always speak the truth and listen attentively

So that you may understand each other’s thoughts and intentions

Inspire each other by sharing your accomplishments

Say I love often to retain the warmth between you

Laugh a lot too, even when you are angry

Remember you are each other’s best friend

Stand together and for each other always

May each day be special

And the fulfillment of your dreams

 

Lauren and Ty wrote their own vows, promising to always to always laugh with and love each other.  They promised to grow old by each other's side, as each other's love and best friend.

The bridal party debriefed as we signed the certificates to I'm Yours (Jason Mraz) and Just A Boy (Angus and Julia Stone), performed by The White Tree.

Mr and Mrs H left the building to a huge roar of applause and the song Sweet Disposition (The Temper Trap).  They were photographed on St Kilda Beach by the very talented duo Mish & Oli.

Congratulations Mr and Mrs H.  Thank you for sharing your very happy day with me.  I loved every minute spent planning and conducting your ceremony.  Don't ever change - your positive outlook, energy and sense of humour are inspiring. 

Oh and Ty, may you continue to always cook your way out of any argument!

Sally Hughes
Marriage Celebrant Melbourne
The Words & Music Company 

  
Click here to view footage by TMC Media

Photo Credit: Mish & Oli
Footage: TMC Media
Lauren's Dress: JasonGrech White
Musicians: The White Tree Band

Raema & Kire's Lakeside Ceremony

I can't recall the last time I laughed so much during a ceremony.  Perhaps having attended a Macedonian Orthodox service earlier that day, Raema and Kire, their bridal party and guests were in a particularly celebratory mood. Perhaps this in turn led to a highly interactive ceremony, one in which guests felt comfortable participating.   Whatever the reason, the pre-ceremony atmosphere was fantastic. As the first guests arrived I sensed that the evening would be a highly enjoyable one.   

Never before have I been heckled as much (with good humour, I might add) as I had during this ceremony!  From the wise cracking Father of the Groom to the "special comments" Best Man and a few interjections from the back row, the sense of energy and excitement from all present was palpable. Raema and Kire smiled and laughed the evening through and their joy was most certainly contagious.  When you look through their beautiful photos and view their fantastic wedding video, you'll see what I mean. 

As we stood on the deck at the super stylish Carousel, located in the middle of Albert Park Lake, with its impressive views of Melbourne's city skyline, a radiant Raema, wearing a lace overlay gown from Annette of Melbourne Couture entered with her very proud father.  Her processional song was Make You Feel My Love.

Though Kire, in a suit tailored by Pernac,  had spent most of the day with Raema, he was still clearly excited to see his beautiful bride walk toward him.

As the sun began to set, I told the story of Raema and Kire's first meeting - at their Best Man Nick's 13th birthday party at Pizza Hut.  Despite their mutual fondness for Hawaiian pizza and the soft serve dessert bar, sparks didn't fly for the then-teenagers that day.  I described their next meeting some eight years later, at yet another birthday celebration, their many and varied travel experiences and Kire's very romantic Otway Ranges proposal.

Raema's mother read a poem she had composed especially for the occasion and then the pair exchanged the vows they had written for one another.

Before they exchanged wedding rings, I recited an adaptation of  The Blessing of The Hands.

"These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and full of love for you, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as you promise to love each other today, tomorrow and forever.

These are the hands that will work alongside yours, as together you build your future.

These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes; tears of sorrow, and as in today, tears of joy.

These are the hands that will tenderly hold your children, the hands that will help you to hold your family as one.

And lastly, these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged, will still be reaching for yours, still giving you that same unspoken tenderness, with just a touch."

Prior to the ceremony, Raema and Kire wrote love letters to one another, detailing the qualities they have come to value in each other and their hopes for their marriage.  The letters were sealed and placed in a box, along with two bottles of wine.  The letters and the wine will be opened on their 10th wedding anniversary.  A romantic way to celebrate such a special milestone.

Raema and Kire signed their certificates to I Will Follow You Into The Dark (Death Cab for Cutie), Here Comes The Sun (The Beatles) and First Day Of My Life (Bright Eyes).
 

Having been introduced to their guests for the first time as husband and wife, the beaming newlyweds danced back down the aisle to Gotye's In Your Light.

 

 

Styling idea:  Raema and Kire placed white frames on each table. Each frame noted a location that they had visited together and the significance of that place.

Congratulations Raema and Kire.  I enjoyed every moment I spent with you.  Your kindness and enthusiasm was contagious.  I'll always remember your celebration as one of the most enjoyable ceremonies I've ever had the privilege of conducting.  Keep smiling! xx

Sally Hughes
Marriage Celebrant Melbourne
The Words & Music Company 

  
Click here to view footage by C2 Video

Photo Credits: 1-10 Jerome Cole Photography
Photo Credits: 11 & 12  Food & Desire 
Flowers by Bouquet Melbourne

Laura & Daniel's Elegant Affair

Laura and Daniel are impressive people.  Kind, happy, loving, intelligent, stylish, successful, oh and quite obviously, attractive.  I must say, I wasn't surprised to discover this at our first meeting.  They are friends of Rose and Michael, an equally impressive couple I married in March 2011, so I assumed they would be.  

Daniel made me laugh within the first minutes of our meeting.  His brief was clear; "Cut the crap"  (I still have this written in my notes!).  He didn't want anything that was "boring or too flowery".  The ceremony should be enjoyable and modern.  Laura, still a little taken aback by her fiancé's opening statement, added "meaningful and personal" to their brief.    And so began a highly enjoyable collaboration to create a ceremony that best reflected their personalities and vision.

Laura  and Daniel chose the stately and sophisticated Quat Quatta in Ripponlea for their ceremony and reception. 

When the guests arrived at the black and white boutique venue they were greeted by a beaming Daniel and his hilarious groomsmen, all dressed by Formal Red, and the super smooth Baker Boys Band. 

Laura looked sublime in her delicate lace Luci Di Bella couture gown.  She followed her elegant sisters, entering on the arm of her brother Brent to Enya's Only Time.  

Daniel shook Brent's hand and instinctively extended his hand to Laura.  A funny and unplanned gesture that brought a smile to everyone's face, breaking the silence and uniting all with laughter.   I love that Ben Swinnerton captured this moment!

I told the story of Laura and Daniel's online meeting which was, until that moment, unknown to the vast majority of guests.  As expected, the room quickly filled with laughter once again.  

Laura's mother Kerrie then read an adaptation of Nanci Brilliant's Once in a Lifetime

"Once in a lifetime you find someone

Who touches not only your heart but also your soul.

You discover someone who stands beside you, but not over you.

You find someone who loves you for who you are

And not for whom you could be.

Once in a lifetime if you are lucky you find someone

As you have found each other."

Daniel's mother Gayle, also a marriage celebrant, read a blessing.

Laura and Daniel composed their own vows, delivering their romantic promises with heartfelt sincerity and smiles from ear to ear! It was touching to witness the support they gave one another during their exchange.

We signed the marriage certificates to Paradise by Coldplay and Electrical Storm by U2.

Congratulations Laura and Daniel. Your celebration had a perfect blend of stylish sophistication, romance and laughter. I loved getting to know you both and am sure you will continue to make each other smile and laugh forever. xx

Sally Hughes

Marriage Celebrant Melbourne
The Words & Music Company


Photo Credits: Ben Swinnerton Photography