I met Courtney and Hayden one morning for their initial wedding meeting and they proceeded to tell me that they were having an engagement party that would turn into a surprise wedding. When I mention surprise weddings people’s initial thoughts are that the groom or the bride are surprising their partners. This is illegal and impossible with the paperwork that precedes a wedding. Their wedding was a secret from their guests. The only people that knew what was happening was the bridal party, the MC, myself and the grandparents as they didn’t want any sudden shocks for the elderly.

I was excited about the prospect of being involved and was so pleased to be chosen as their wedding celebrant. Being in Adelaide, I couldn’t mention their names to anyone as we know this city only has a few degrees of separation. They were having their wedding photos taken during the day, arriving at the engagement dressed in other clothes and then disappearing for 10 minutes an hour into their party to get back into their wedding attire. As a celebrant, I need to be there at least half an hour before the ceremony to set up my PA system. My dilemma was who was I and why was I setting up equipment. So I came up with a fake name and a story describing me as the teacher Courtney had just completed her teaching placement with who happened to have a PA system for the evening’s speeches. Not a soul asked me who I was, very disappointed. I did, however, have the opportunity to see Courtney and Hayden’s slideshow. They had known each other since high school and it was beautiful seeing their relationship grow and develop from the photos they had chosen.

So the time came for the MC to start the speeches. He said that the first thing people ask a couple at their engagement is when are they getting married. “Well guess what, it’s right now” was what followed as the processional music started and the bridal party assembled either side of me. Everyone seemed genuinely surprised and elated.

Thank you to you both for choosing me as your celebrant, I had a wonderful time being part of your secret.