Monday, April 20, 2009

On Saturday 18th April I had simple yet beautiful naming ceremony down at Boambee Bay Reserve in Coffs Harbour in the morning. This was the couple's second child I had conducted a naming ceremony for so it felt special to return and join in the festivities to welcome their daughter. In the afternoon I joined David Moore Photography in celebrating another couple's wedding at the beautiful Aanuka Chapel in Coffs Harbour.

5.30pm and I was on a flight to Sydney followed by a flight to Brisbane! I stayed in Brissie overnight.

Sunday 19th April - I watched the glorious sunrise poke its head through the low lying cloud on the horizon as I headed up into the hinterland to Maleny. It was a fresh blue sunny Sunday in Maleny after weeks of torrential rain. I met the bride at the hairdresser at 7am as she was just getting the final touches to her hair. The wedding was at 10.20am.

This couple were particularly special as I had married the bride's father and her step mum nearly nine years ago so I was honoured that they asked me to be their celebrant as well. We had worked via email and over the phone to create a beautiful ceremony with all the personal touches and stories. We had talked through the rehearsal and all the points of movement of the ceremony over the phone with the bride and groom and also the father of the bride, and then they had gone out to the venue to walk through the processional. I rehearsed the vows in the morning with the bride and groom separately and also had them sign the required statutory declaration forms and sighted their legal documents. All was in order and the excitement was building. They were both quietly confident and very happy.

The highlights were many: The beautiful Solothurn Chapel,  in Maleny, seeing the grooms face as the bride walked down the aisle beaming her beautiful smile. The brides father reading a prayer written by Robert Louis Stevenson.

Lord, behold our family here assembled
We thank you for this place in which we dwell,
for the love that unites us,
for the peace accorded us this day,
for the hope with which we expect the morrow,
for the health, the work, the food,
and the bright skies that make our lives delightful;
for our friends in all parts of the earth.
Amen.

This was followed by the beautiful hymn, Morning Has Broken, which was made popular by Cat Stevens. It sounded rich and full of heart in the chapel - people smiling as they sang. They had written their own vows and the bride was able to memorise hers which in no way took away from the grooms, who had to repeat them after me.  The love, sincerity and honesty was palpable in the stillness as they spoke.

There was another blessing after they were pronounced husband and wife that I will share in my newsletter next month. So if you haven't subscribed please do at my website.

Their reception was held at The Key Restaurant, Maleny which was a cocktail lunch that was very elegant and tasty. Many blessings of love and laughter to Ken and Rhia. I headed back to Brisbane and watched the sunset over the stunning Glasshouse Mountains.