So we think we are pretty important on a wedding day?
"Well", says Karen Faa ......
"My latest proves this is certainly not the case! I arrived at the venue for the wedding, too early, but surprised there was absolutely no sign of any event about to happen – no set up, no Bali flags, chairs or table. Perhaps the wedding was going to be less formal than I had thought?
Half an hour prior to the wedding time, still no action, no guests, I began to get a little worried. 20 minutes beforehand, I was out of the car and in the appointed spot (having done the rehearsal there the previous day, I knew I was in exactly the right place).
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I phoned the groom’s mobile – switched off, the bride’s mobile – switched off. I wandered across the road to the “wet weather” penthouse area but had noticed no-one going near there. Nothing. I rang the reception venue booked, they knew nothing. By now, I thought that the wedding had been cancelled, or someone had had an accident.
Finally, 15 minutes after the “start time”, I had a panicky call from the bridesmaid “We have just walked down the aisle and we forgot all about you. We had to change the venue, how long will it take for you to get here?”
Apparently, no-one noticed I was missing! Perhaps the rehearsal had gone too well – they could do it all without me? The musician, the photographer, all the guests were informed of the change of venue. The father of the groom had conveniently asked that all mobiles be turned off, however, he did apparently ask the groom where the “celibate” was. The groom was too preoccupied to answer! The musician played the entry music and was waiting for the nod from the celebrant – and kept playing, when it finally dawned on the wedding party that there was no celebrant, they decided that they would do the well choreographed “exit”.
Upon my arrival at the new venue, the guests gave me a round of applause, and the bridal procession began, again."
Karen Faa
Marriage Celebrant
Caloundra, Sunshine Coast
www.karenfaa.com
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A Windy Wedding by Wendy Shearwood
It was a winter wedding and a cold and blustery day - the wedding was outside on the beautiful terrace of the Araluen Golf Resort in what is known as the 'enchanted valley' in the Hills of Perth.
Just as the bride said "xxxx, I give you this ring ..." a gust of wind caught her veil and lifted it off her head and spread eagled it over the groom!!!
"and also my veil" I ad-libbed , which broke the tension of the moment and I disentangled the confused groom and she called her best friend up to re-position the veil and we began the ring ceremony again.
Afterwards they thanked me for the way in which I had handled the situation - I always find humour wins in the end, don't you?!
Wendy Shearwood
Roleystone WA
www.accn.com.au/directory/wendy-shearwood/
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The Story Behind The Naming by Marlee Bruinsma
Naming ceremonies are a big favourite of mine. At my last naming ceremony, I found out, after the ceremony, just how much I didn’t know about the family I was doing the ceremony for! I had just finished and was packing up and taking my gear to the car. The grandmother of the baby just named followed me outside. She thanked me very much for the ceremony and said how much she enjoyed it.
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She told me that the naming ceremony had been just what was needed to give that warm fuzzy feeling to the family, who had been estranged for several years before the naming day. She hadn’t spoken to the eldest daughter (who was appointed the guardian of the new baby, along with her husband) for many years – “I can’t believe I was just standing in her kitchen, asking her how to switch her oven on,” the grandmother said. “This ceremony has just sealed our reunion.” And then she went on to tell me that the Mum of the baby I just named is recovering from cancer and was told to have a hysterectomy. The Mum refused, saying she hadn’t had children yet. Then she fell pregnant, astounding her doctors. Sadly, she broke up with the Dad, who couldn’t handle her being sick or pregnant. Her family has rallied around and everyone is together again.
My role in helping to cement these new bonds was small but very humbling and heart warming. And it really impressed upon me the need to tread delicately and gently when helping families to celebrate such milestones. We don’t always know the whole story, only what they choose to tell us. And we should never make assumptions.
It happens to me frequently that people make assumptions. I have a 17 year old, a 15 year old and a 5 year old. Wow, lots of people say to me, what a big gap – that must have been a shock! Sometimes, I smile and agree with people. Sometimes, I say “No shock, she was very much planned and wanted”, and, very occasionally, I tell them that we lost the child in between the 15 year old and the 5 year old so the gap wasn’t quite as large as they thought. Sometimes, people tell my husband he must be my daughter’s grandfather. No, he does have grey hair but he is very much her father! A more loving active father I couldn’t ask for.
At a wedding the other day, the caterer said to the groom, quite a bit older than the bride, “you must be the bride’s father” – ouch, not exactly something you would want to hear on your wedding day. The bride and groom are the most loving, happy couple I have come across in ages – so what if they are 26 years apart in age? Who knows what heartache and what roads they have travelled before having the amazing luck to find someone they adore? And who could condemn my naming ceremony client for being a single Mum? Her baby is greatly loved, has lots of committed adults in his life, male and female, and has united a shattered family, and given his Mum new hope and determination to live. What a wonderful gift that child is to his family. And the warm fuzzy feeling has stayed in my heart too.
Marlee Bruinsma
Cedar Creek Queensland
www.heart2heartceremonies.com/ |
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The Runaway Groom by Marjie Bibes
I recently had a wonderful experience. I carried out a commitment ceremony for a couple of down syndrome people both around 40 years of age. They both had an understanding of what was going on but were not able to be legally married. Both have the usual downes syndrome appearance and were huge Abba fans.
I arrived early and sprinkled rose petals in a circle for them to stand in. set out my beautiful committment certificate complete with all the lovely colourful stickers I had attached to it.
The setting was at the Fairfield Boathouse Ampitheatre and the groom arrived lookings plendid in a suit with a big gold lily in the button hole. The bride had on a little net dress and carried more gold lillies.
As she approached to the sound of " I do I do, I do" by Abba the groom suddenly bolted. His carer chased after him and he had his hands over his eyes. "What's wrong she said", he replied "she looks so lovely I cannot look at her" !! .
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With that the bride went over and gave him the biggest kiss ever, he gave her a fabulous smile and they walked hand in hand back to me and I conducted their ceremony. And at the conclusion I was rewarded with several kisses from both of them !!!
More Abba for the signing and lots of Ooh's and Aah's when the sticker laden certificate was produced for the signing. then of course more Abba at the finish. Over 50 guests made up of families and carers, this was the first time the bride had seen some most of her family since birth and her mother actually walked her up to the groom.
It was without a doubt one of the most moving and happy experiences I have ever been involved in as a celebrant.
Marj Bibes,
Registered Marriage Celebrant Greensborough Victoria
for a Beautiful, relaxed, happy ceremony.
www.marjbibesweddings.com.au |
| Our thanks to Karen, Wendy, Marlee and Marj for sharing their stories with us |
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