This last week has been great with something different in the wedding line. First of all, we had been asked to do a wedding on the beach by a couple who actually used to be married before (to each other!) but they changed their mind about the venue at the last minute. We didn’t know until we actually met them where the new location was going to be!. It turned out to be an outside (wall-less) chapel underneath some pine trees at  a place called Mandalay in the Whitsundays.

Apparently some time ago a couple built this for their own wedding on public land but did it so well it has been allowed to stay. There is a small rock altar, a big wooden cross and lots of simple wooden benches for the guests. Just the location was so peaceful and beautiful.  Straight out behind the altar is the Coral Sea. Just being there was so romantic.Our party was only small but it could cater for larger parties although it is not the most comfortable!. There was lots of leaf litter but no man made litter which was great to see. The ceremony itself was short but very meaningful and  I said to the couple afterwards that because they were remarrying each other they were going into it with their eyes open this time and the marriage was definitely more important than the wedding!

Tomorrow we have another interesting location….a yacht!! not sure how that one will go as I’m not the best sailor! The biggest thing at the moment seems to be the logistics of getting the boat provisioned and moored in the middle of a busy racing season in the area.

The couple are lovely, one of the many couples we seem to click with easily.They have a lovely little baby daughter who is just 3 days younger than my youngest granddaughter. They have 3 guests and wanted to have all 3 plus the baby “sign” the marriage certificate which is not allowed (2 witnesses only over 18 years old ) but I am surprising them with another” certificate” that I have made up for them that everyone can sign.

In between all this we have been getting enquiries for baby namings so I am having great fun making up my own range of naming certificates. We had been using ones we had bought pre printed but I was never very happy with them as they were very plain.

On the wedding front, we’re having a few days off seeing the family. We had 2 great weddings before we came away. Both completely different but both so romantic. Wedding number 1 was a very intimate occasion with however 2 surprise guests and it was great watching the bride’s face when she realised they were there! The reason this wedding was so romantic was because the couple said their vows (the non-legal part) in Spanish. A wedding cannot help but be a bit public but this part was just so private and personal. In fact the whole ceremony was like that. I almost felt as if I was eavesdropping. Mind you, my cheeks hurt I was smiling so much all the way through.

The second wedding was completely different. The 2nd largest we have celebrated here but just as romantic.The couple were just so much in love Icouldn’t help but have  a tear in my eye. good job I went well prepared with lots of tissues.

The following is an article from Bridal Articles that you may find helpful. it is reprinted with permissison.

Examples of Wedding Vows for your Inspiration

Despite the countless hours planning, thousands of choices you make and ultimate last minute decisions, your wedding day is really about the one or two paragraphs you and your spouse to be exchange to commit to each other and publicly exhibit that commitment to family and friends. Reviewing examples of wedding vows show how diverse, simple, complex and even convoluted these critical but essentially similar words can be for each couple and what they can mean to each person. The following is some samples as well as some brief advice on how to make your vows memorable. Wedding vows are about commitment. You are publicly affirming that “yes” you do love this person and “yes” you will commit to a formal, public, recognized relationship with them. The basic rule of any wedding vow is to keep them simple and avoid going overboard with your affirmation. Remember that your guests, as happy as they are for you both, have patience and concentration limits (as do the wedding party and likely your spouse to be.) Keeping your vows simple, to the point and effused with your love and commitment is the best advice regarding examples of wedding vows that convey meaning, but do not go over board. The purpose of your vows, apart from any personal meaning, is to make your commitment public. Wedding vows date back to Biblical times and as a public commitment have been evidenced throughout history; this makes sense since marriage is one of the most enduring and consistent traditions of almost every recorded cultures. The following are a few sample examples of wedding vows: I, (Bride/Groom), take you (Groom/Bride), to be my (wife/husband), to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do us part. I (name), take you (name) to be my (husband/wife), my partner in life and my one true love. I will cherish our union and love you more each day than I did the day before. I will trust you and respect you, laugh with you and cry with you, loving you faithfully through good times and bad, regardless of the obstacles we may face together. I give you my hand, my heart, and my love, from this day forward for as long as we both shall live. In the presence of God and these our friends I take thee to be my husband/wife, promising with Divine assistance to be unto thee a loving and faithful husband/wife so long as we both shall live. I, (name), take you, (name), to be my friend, my lover, the (mother/father) of my children and my (husband/wife). I will be yours in times of plenty and in times of want, in times of sickness and in times of health, in times of joy and in times of sorrow, in times of failure and in times of triumph. I promise to cherish and respect you, to care and protect you, to comfort and encourage you, and stay with you, for all eternity. I, [name], choose you [name] to be my [husband/wife], to respect you in your successes and in your failures, to care for you in sickness and in health, to nurture you, and to grow with you throughout the seasons of life. In some weddings, after the solitary vows, the bride and groom recite a vow in unison while lighting a bride and groom personalized unity candle. This adds to the public commitment as well as provides a physical frame of reference for the audience. It also serves as the first two public acts the couple complete as a formal, recognized, committed partnership. Wedding vows are the most public steps you will take in your commitment to each other apart from moving in together or changing names. Whether you use these examples of wedding vows or come up with your own, your goal is to express your love and commitment and to publicly tell the audience and the world, that as a couple, you are there for each other. Source: Tracey Smith is an expert article writer on the topic of weddings, we hope you found this article about Wedding Vows and Ceremony helpful.

The ones for the baby namings are still in progress but I’m liking what I’ve done so far. I have also got a beautiful poem that my Dad wrote on the occasion of my eldest brother’s birth . It is so apt and other than changing a couple of minor details such as baby’s sex and eye colour it is relevant to every baby.

I’m also playing with some ideas for my own certificates. The pre printed ones I’ve seen are not quite what I am after.

First of all, remember to relax. Everything will work out when you are patient and well organized. Keep in mind it is a celebration of love and stay focused on the true meaning of the day. Have a vision of what you want your wedding to be. Discuss your dreams together and wrap your wedding plans around them, whether you both want a Cinderella fantasy day or a destination ceremony in the Caribbean. Start a binder with thoughts, ideas and telephone numbers for prospective vendors.

Choose a date for your wedding so you know the season and timing. Set a realistic budget and stick to it… Make sure your budget is practical and based on actual funds. Write down your budget in a special notebook and plan to spend 10 percent less. By doing this, you will have enough extra money to cover those inevitable unanticipated expenses at the last moment. Write down everything you spend as you go in the designated wedding budget notebook. Maintain a folder with receipts so you can easily reference your expenses and verify deposits. Open a separate bank account designated for wedding expenses to keep yourselves organized. This is also excellent practice for married life together.

Order your wedding rings, as they are a central part of the ceremony. If you want them engraved, decide the sentiments you want to share. Figure out how many people you want to share your special day with. Do you want a small, intimate gathering of your closest friends and family at a posh restaurant? Have you always wanted a wedding with hundreds of guests in a garden setting? Write your guests on paper and start assembling addresses for wedding invitations. This will be the beginning of your telephone book together as a married couple. Choose your wedding attendants so you can ask them as soon as possible to help you with your special day.

Choose a site for your wedding ceremony and reception. Make sure the site is available for your wedding date. Verify the rules, regulations and restrictions at the venue for your ceremony and the reception location. Review menu options so you can serve all your favorites. Select a theme for your wedding day so you can order invitations, thank you cards, decorations and favors that match for a professional feeling throughout every aspect of your day.

Talk to friends and family for recommendations then review various vendors to create a mood on your wedding day. Consider a caterer, clergy, hairdresser, music, entertainment, florist, photographer and video pro to add to the atmosphere and capture moments during your wedding. Make sure to find out the requirements for a marriage license. Sign up with gift registry services so guests know what wedding gifts to purchase.

Attire is another way to create a feeling throughout your wedding day. The bridal gown, veil, shoes and accessories often need to be ordered in advance. Find out about tuxedo rentals for the groom and his attendants. Bridesmaid dresses need to be chosen and ordered based on the color scheme and theme of the day. Remember special outfits for the flower girl and ring bearer, which will often need to be altered as children grow quickly.

Decorations throughout your ceremony location, reception and on the way to the honeymoon bring a celebration everywhere you go. Flowers, a ring bearer pillow, a flower girl basket and pew markers add elegance to your ceremony venue. Centerpieces and wedding favors are expected elements at your wedding tables for your guests to bring home to remember your special day. Remember to select thoughtful gifts for your wedding party. Make sure you have decorations for the getaway car from your reception to the honeymoon.

Source: Jennifer Clark is an expert article writer on the topic of weddings, we hope you found this article about how to plan your wedding helpful.

English: I give you my hand, my heart, and my love, from this day forward for as long as we both shall live.

Spanish: Te doy mi mano, mi Corazon y mi amor, a partir de este dia en adelante durante el tiempo que los dos vivamos.

Gives me goosebumps…and I just know I’ll be teary on the day!

The Bad: We have had two NOIMs go missing in the postal system. One has been able to be tracked as it was sent via Express post and had a ref code. It got delivered to Hamilton, not Hamilton Island!!!.  the other we don’t know what happened as it was sent normal delivery. Both couples now have to start again and get paperwork signed and witnessed again. This time they will send us copies and bring originals with them!

The Ugly:I understand that there are rules that Post Office workers have to abide by. I have no issue with people following those rules…………….. What I do take exception to is people that positively enjoy telling you that they can’t help for whatever reason…it happened not once but twice…in person and over the phone.  To those people….I beleive in Karma!

Whatever happened to good Customer Service???

It is a little quiet on the wedding scene on the island and elsewhere, which is good as it means we can concentrate on tax paperwork and getting the advertising up and running. Then we have a busy period until November. Lots of unusual wedding venues away from the island. Nice change of pace. It is good that we are now starting to get couples ringing us through word of mouth reccomendations and even had a couple of enquiries from recommendations by other service providers which is good also. We had to say no to several couples because it clashed with other committments which we didn’t like but can’t be helped.

On the negative side we had agreed to do the wedding (free) for the daughter of  friends (a young lass whom we have known all her life). On a recent visit her father happened to mention that the wedding date had changed which we didn’t know about and then the mother told us that the daughter is getting married by a priest in a church! Nothing from the girl at all!   very disappointed.  She must think we don’t have any other work and that hers was the only wedding!!!

Above is what I wrote believing our problems were over. We’re still waiting!!