Judy Aulich – Canberra Marriage Celebrant – Blog

Averil and Lachlan’s wedding was a good example of always having a wet weather option. They had planned the Lavender Courtyard at the Hyatt Hotel but it was too wet and blustery.

The atrium worked well and the ceremony was a lot of fun with much laughter. Being silly or frivolous doesn’t work in a marriage ceremony but that doesn’t mean that you can’t have a laugh.

There are more pictures of this couple on Cherish Photographics website, taken by Ash.

Lachlan and Averil

Don’t you love this photo taken by Dan O’Day?

Darren and Skye married in a black and white themed wedding and honeymooned in that most elegant of cities, Melbourne.

The photo so suits this couple and says it all.

Skye and Darren

Never assume that distance need come between you and the one you want to marry!

Caroline and Heiko married at the Carillion in a lovely relaxed ceremony, in spite of each being from opposite sides of the world. And Caroline is very happily and very quickly learning German and is relishing the opportunity to relocate to Germany to live. She intends to embrace the culture, pursue her love of singing and live happily ever after with Heiko. I am sure they will!

Heiko and Caroline

This was an elegant and beautiful September wedding, kicking off this year’s wedding season so well, and the photo below shows just how happy Dave and Deidre are.

I think nearly everyone gets nervous before their wedding ceremony and these two were no different. The venue was the Commonwealth Club and Deidre tells me that she teared up with nerves and excietment as she came onto the terrace with her dad and saw all her most loved family and friends waiting for her.  And, of course, Dave!

In fact,  when they were exchanging rings, Dave’s hand was shaking so visibly that Deidre had to hold it still. Guests close enough to see just loved that moment.

They tell me they had a really wonderful day.

Judy

A joyous moment

Little children in a wedding party always create a lovely relaxed atmosphere for a marriage ceremony. The younger they are the more unpredictable and it is impossible to worry to much about what they do on their way in.  It is too much to expect little ones not yet at school to follow much choreography. They are clever if they get it just right and so cute when they don’t.

Once they are at school it is really a bit like a school assembly (that’s the ex teacher in me talking!) and they manage beautifully, but even then  having all the guest there makes it very different from the rehearsal.

In Adam and Amanda’s recent wedding four year olds Bella and Sai charmed the guests with their infectious giggles.

Amanda and Adam chose to have all the wedding party enter, first the bestman and groomsmen leading the groom. Then came the children before  Amanda’s entrance on the arm of her father.

The photos below by Steven from Creative Imagery capture Bella and Sai’s giggles and the happiness of the bride and groom.

Judy

The Bride and Groom

Bella and Sai and those giggles

Yes, of course I watched it!  I’m a Civil  Marriage Celebrant.  Weddings are my business. And I loved it all!

Probably the very best bit was not all the outrageous hats, but that my husband and I were babysitting two of our grand children that evening, as my son and daughter in law were off to a Wills and Kate wedding party. Little Gracie, who is four, snuggled up with me on the couch as we watched the princes in their red jackets wait for the bride in her long white dress, before it was bed time. I hope that she remembers watching with me as she gets older, but also, that she realises that marrying a prince  is not really something to aspire to.

Soon after this wedding of the century, (well, we haven’t even completed 11 years of it yet, so there is not a lot of competition) one of my brides-to-be  contacted me, bursting with news.  She had won the Woman’s Day Wills and Kate wedding competition.  Such excitement!  She has a replica of the dress which fits perfectly, two Pippa dresses, a five tier wedding cake, vouchers for the flowers and the rings, and best of all, a week at the Langton, a posh hotel in London for their honeymoon, all expenses paid. She will also have the wedding covered by the Womans Day.

It is in November so watch this space. The guests (me too) are all wearing hats, as outrageous as we can. And her grandmother has decided to dress in lemon just like the queen!

I can’t wait.

Judy

The Sculpture Gardens at The National Gallery of Australia is always popular for weddings.  There are lovely private areas that provide beautiful settings for marriage ceremonies. Bec and Jon chose the Carillion Outlook at the end of a very long path with the lake and the Cariilion in the background.  The walk in can be a bit daunting for some brides. Not everyne enjoys being the centre of attention, even on their wedding day.  Some would say especially on their wedding day.

At Bec and Jon’s wedding, all the guests lined the path and Bec took her time and felt a part of the guests rather than being studied by them.  Have a look at her comments in my testamonials.

Steven from Creative Image took this fabulous (as always) dreamy photo. It ‘s the one I would want for the pool room!

Judy

Bec and Jon

Wet Weather

Even in the midst of a drought you can still be rained out.  However unlikely you think it, you must have a wet weather alternative.  Putting up a marquee at the last moment is just not an option.  Talk to the venue for your reception. Some venues will be happy for the ceremony to be there if it is wet.

Delegate the decision to relocate to someone apart from the bride and groom. Parents often are very helpful here. The bride and groom have enough to think about and should leave this to someone whose judgement they trust.  Whilst I very rarely have been  rained out, some of my most joyful, happy and memorable weddings have been quickly relocated because of awful weather. It is great to have the ceremony in a place you have especially chosen, but it is the couple, the guests and the way the celebrant manages the ceremony that creates the joyful atmosphere, not the scenery.

And did you know that there is a superstition that it brings a couple incredible good luck if it pours with rain?  Who cares if it’s true? If it rains for you, just believe it.

A winter wedding!  I wish more couples chose to have their wedding ceremonies during the colder months.  But then I love winter time.  Even when I complain about it being cold I still really  enjoy it.  Perhpas it’s because I grew up in Tasmania.

The cold didn’t bother Andy and Lyndsay. They were quite cosy for their wedding ceremony held at the picturesque On Red Restaurant on the top of Red Hill.  They had known each other ten years when they married. For many of those years they were just good friends, until the stars aligned, the timing was finally right and they acknowledged they were actually smitten with each other.

They moved then as fast as was practicable,  culminating with a marriage ceremony for their closest friends and family with a panoramic view of Canberra making a great and memorable back drop.

The picture of this lovely hug was taken by Steven from Creative Image Photography.

The very best hug

If you want a rural setting for your wedding ceremony it is hard to go past Lake Geore Winery, only a short drive from Canberra but city life seems far away once you arrive.

Ceremonies usually take place under the big oak tree, right near the grapevines, or in the cellar if it is wet.  There is even a house available for the bride or groom to use to prepare.

Elke and Carl are both based in Sydney and had Sydney photographer, Daryl Charles, take the photos. This one captures the wedding party and the setting very well. And doesn’t black work well for the bridesmaids?

Judy