Wedding for Melissa and Ashley
Melissa and Ashley were married on 29th March, 2008 at “The Centre” in Ivanhoe. They had hoped to be married outdoors in the rotunda in Warringal Parklands but unfortunately the weather was not kind that day so we put plan B into action. Always a good idea to have one! I felt very privileged to be able to perform the ceremony as we had known Melissa’s parents for many years and we had watched Melissa grow up and our children were friends with Melissa and her brother Jason. Melissa is a very organised young woman and the wedding and the reception ran very smoothly and it was a great day.
Melissa and Ashley had given me some information about how they met and their relationship so I could write a personal ceremony for them. They also wrote their own vows and read them from a laminated card which I had prepared for them.
The following are some excerpts from their ceremony:
Melissa met Ashley in 1996 whilst she was working with his girlfriend at the time. They were all friends together and met socially on many occasions for many years. They both had their own partners and led separate lives. Melissa was even invited to be a guest at Ashley’s wedding. It was a very enjoyable day and Melissa and Ashley had a dance together on the night even though she confessed she didn’t know how to dance!
The very next day Melissa and her partner moved to Frankston and it was 4 years later, April 2nd 2004 to be exact, by coincidence their paths crossed again. “I picked him up on an internet dating site” Melissa told me, “and really thought he was hot!” I always admired and respected the way he treated his wife. After that first internet chat they realized how happy they were together and soon became inseparable.
“Melissa is very loving, caring, generous and much more, she looks after me when I’m sick and feeling like a typical bloke when sick.” Said Ashley, She took up ballroom dancing to be with me and has come a long way from that first dance at my first wedding.
We love to go for bike rides when the weather permits or just window shopping at the local shopping centre.’
When Ashley met Melissa for the second time he fell for her bubbly personality and loved her smile and laugh. Never before had he met such a special lady, with such enthusiasm for life and drive and determination. Ashley loved the way she made him feel and made him laugh.
Ashley introduced Melissa to ballroom dancing and they now share that together. He remembers when he first said “I love you” whilst doing a modern waltz around the scout hall in Ivanhoe. They enjoy the movies (even though Melissa sleeps through many of the movies), and share a love of food hehe.
VOWS (excerpts) Ashley
Saying I care means that I will support you in everything you try to accomplish.
Because your goals have become our goals and we’ll achieve them together,side by side.
It means that I will never hurt you, that you can trust me.
It means that you can tell me what’s wrong, and that I will try to fix what I can,
That I will listen when you need me to hear
That even in your most difficult moment- all you have to do is say the word
And your hand and my hand will not be apart.
It means that whenever you speak to me, Whether words are spoken through a smile or not,
I will listen with my heart. I promise to give you all my love for now and forever
As you become my wife.
( Melissa to Ashley)
Today I become your wife and you become my husband
I will strive to give you the best of myself, while accepting you the way you are.
I promise to respect you as a whole person with your own interests, desires and needs
And to realize that they are sometimes different but no less important than my own.
Together we will face all of life’s experiences
And share one another’s dreams and goals. I promise to keep myself open to you,
To let you into my innermost fears and feelings, secrets and dreams.
I promise to grow along with you, to be willing to face change as we both change,
keeping our relationship alive and exciting. and finally, I promise to love you
in good times and in bad, with all I have to give and all that I am,
In the only way I know how -completely and forever.
Melissa and Ashley are still happily married and have 7 year old twins Jack and Amelia!
The Sassy Marriage Celebrant 