Lucia and Richard were recommended to me through a dear friend. We met at an Adelaide bar and discussed what they envisaged their wedding day to be. Lucia has three daughters and Richard has three sons. That’s right, Brady Bunch was what came to my mind too. They wanted their children to be the bridesmaids and groomsmen and were very keen to have their children involved in the organisation of their special day.

When we discussed the ceremony format they insisted on having a statement that I added at the end of the legal vows if couples were in support of same sex marriages. They shared with me that their siblings were in same sex relationships and they would be present. By the time the wedding date arrived 61% of Australians had voted in favour of marriage equality. I acknowledged that Richard and Lucia no longer needed to add the words they had chosen because for the first time I could say “is the union of two people to the exclusion of all others”. I didn’t realise how emotional I would be saying those words for the first time but when everyone stood up and started clapping I had to restrain the tears.

The wedding ceremony and reception was at The Lane winery and the 22nd of December 2017 was a beautiful day for a wedding. The ceremony was up on the hill and the views from there are breathtaking. What was more breathtaking was the bride and her gorgeous daughters when they arrived. I love the transformation of the bride and the bridesmaids from the rehearsal a week earlier to the goddesses on the day. Let’s not forget to mention Richard and his handsome boys.

It was an absolute pleasure and honour being your wedding celebrant.

My first impression of Kelly (nee Miller) was as my beauty therapy student at TAFESA over 10 years ago. Kelly was a model student and was promptly snapped up by Adelaide’s most prominent spa at the time. Years later Kelly and her partner, Chris, attended a wedding I was also invited to as we know Adelaide only has two degrees of separation. Kelly left early as she was attending her TAFE classmates engagement that same evening. I ended speaking to Chris for some time and quickly realised he was a keeper. I hadn’t even considered being a wedding celebrant at this stage.

When Kelly applied for a lecturing position at TAFESA I couldn’t recommend her highly enough. She soon became a work colleague and was an absolute natural in the classroom. Her wonderful news of her pregnancy was a delight to us all and having the build of a whippet allowed Kelly to work well into her pregnancy. Not only was Kelly sporting a baby bump but soon came in blinding us with her magnificent engagement ring. On 26/2/2017 Lucas James Gein was born and what a gorgeous little boy he was.

I was so honoured to be asked by Kelly and Chris to be their wedding celebrant. Our first meeting was for us to discuss the format of the ceremony but more so to have a squeeze of that delectable baby. They were getting married at my favourite wedding venue, Sunnybrae Estate, and my mind was already racing about how we could include that cherub in the ceremony. I had never worked with toddlers and I was both excited and a little nervous as to how it would go.

I had hopes that Lucas would be walking by the big day. He was and then decided to go back to crawling so Chris was going to hold him until Kelly arrived and then he was going to Chris’ Mum. Hmmm, I thought, we’ll see how that plays out. Lucas was a star! He sat quietly in Chris’ arms until his stunning Mummy arrived and then went to his grandmother. Not a peep from him for the entire ceremony and then he stole the show with the photographer.

Kelly, I’ve watched you grow from a beautiful, young girl to an even more beautiful, accomplished woman. Thank you for choosing me to be part of your special day with Chris and Lucas.

Made my heart sing to have a photo taken with the gorgeous girls from my Diploma of Beauty Therapy class of 2008.

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.

As an avid supporter of Triple J I have chosen my 10 favourite processional wedding songs for those brides and grooms who are also grateful for the alternative to commercial radio stations in Adelaide.

1. Jack Garrett – Weathered

A gorgeous song about eternal youth and the friendships that shape who you become along the way. Appropriate choice for those couples who have been childhood sweethearts.

2. London Grammar – Rooting for you

Hannah Reid’s emotive voice is spine tingling. If, however, you’re using this in Adelaide or the rest of Australia as your wedding song the title may seem inappropriate. Rest assured, the English connotation is quite different.

3. XX – Shelter

I knew little of this English band until just recently but have become a huge fan which is why they get two songs in my top 10.

4. XX – Angels

This was the debut single for the release of their second album, ‘Coexist’. Their first album was hugely successful and bought them international acclaim through it’s coverage on numerous TV series and world sporting events. Beautiful lyrics as always.

5. Nick Cave and the Badseeds – Into Your Arms

One of Australia’s favourite son’s of music. This haunting song with its beautiful lyrics has the perfect tempo for a walk down the wedding aisle. That it was used for Michael Hutchence’s funeral, has the saddest film clip that always brings tears to my eyes and that it’s said to be written about Nick Caves personal loss of a relationship may however sway those who are slightly superstitious.

6. Jack Johnson – Better Together

One of my favourite artists, I’ve personally been to 2 of his concerts in Adelaide. At his live shows he talks adoringly about his wife and children which stops me lusting over him but makes me love him more.

7. Vance Joy – Fire and Flood

Number 16 in Triple J’s 2015 Hottest 100. My nephew and his wife chose this one for their amazing day at one of Adelaide’s most beautiful wedding venues, Maggie Beer’s. This song will always make me think of that perfect day.

8. Milky Chance – Stolen Dance

The German folk group that I loved from the moment I first heard this tune. It’s now cemented in my memory as my goddaughter’s background music in her precious video recording. After months of organising such an important event as a wedding they exemplified exactly how relaxed and joyous a bride and groom should be when the big day arrives.

9. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis – Same Love

As a big fan of these artists, who are normally zany and delivering catchy tunes, here is a beautiful song about love and acceptance. How apt to choose this song for the start of your wedding ceremony.

10. Disclosure featuring Sam Smith (acoustic version)

My niece and her husband walked down the aisle to this song in Adelaide last year. Thank you darling girl for your input with music and introducing me to artists that make my heart sing.

I hope whatever music you choose for your important day brings you that same joy you felt on your wedding day every time you hear it.

Nadia and Kosta’s Adelaide Wedding

12th of March 2017

Working as a Wedding Celebrant in Adelaide I knew Nadia, like most brides, had a definite vision of how she wanted her wedding to be. She’s a free spirited, bright and bubbly, young woman and Kosta is extremely well organised and takes care of the logistics. They chose a beautiful Adelaide wedding venue at Sunnybrae Estate and picked a date in March which, normally, is perfect weather here in Adelaide. The wedding ceremony and reception would both be outdoors to take advantage of the magnificent grounds of the Estate complete with wandering peacocks. Nadia chose her dream wedding dress and was ecstatic when she came up with the brilliant idea of foot jewellery instead of uncomfortable, high heels. Nadia and Kosta wanted the main focus to be the party and the great time had by themselves and all their guests.

The weather forecast for Adelaide for the week preceding predicted blissful weather for the long weekend except for the Sunday. As it drew closer to the wedding, not only were there showers forecasted but also storm warnings! The decision to move the reception inside was made but the hope of at least the wedding ceremony being outdoors was still on the cards. The morning of the 12th was magnificent. Nadia had photos taken at Henley Square and when the car arrived to take them to the ceremony the sky was bright and sunny.

Meanwhile, at Sunnybrae Estate the skies had turned grey and it had started to rain. The guests vacated their chairs and huddled under trees with their umbrellas. The photographer and videographer couldn’t do their jobs and it was my call as their wedding celebrant to make the decision to move the wedding ceremony indoors 15 minutes before the bride arrived.

The management and staff were amazing and a perfect, rustic, undercover setting suddenly appeared. The radiant look on Nadia’s face as she walked down the aisle showed non of the disappointment she must’ve briefly felt. Nothing was going to dampen her spirits this special day. That look on a groom’s face when he first sees the bride is my favourite moment during wedding ceremonies. The look on Kosta’s face when he saw Nadia said “I’m the luckiest man alive”.

Please contact me on 0422798184 for any further information.