I have been very fortunate that so many of my past couples have happily agreed to share their special personalised story. Every wedding is so different which makes my job so enjoyable.
Helen and Stephen were married in the upper gallery at the beautiful artist colony Montsalvat in Eltham, Victoria. It was a very hot January day in 2012 and the sun streamed through the beautiful window behind us during the ceremony.
Personal story (read after introduction)
Two years ago things weren’t going that well for both Helen and Stephen. They had both been in long relationships which unfortunately didn’t work out. Helen moved back home and she helped her mother look after her father who was very ill. Unfortunately he passed away. However she has her father to thank, as it was at her father’s funeral she spotted a rather cute guy. Stephen came to the funeral to support Vin (Helen’s brother) who was a work colleague. Stephen was also invited back to the house for the wake. It was a fabulous party as Dad wanted it to be, the beer was cold and kept flowing, the tea was hot and there was plenty of food for everyone. Helen and Stephen chatted briefly and Stephen also chatted for a long time with Helen’s Mum Nancy.
Shortly afterwards Steve wrote an email to Helen’s brother Vin which was quite funny and he though Helen would find it amusing so forwarded it to her. Helen hadn’t forgotten Stephen and she now had his email address! She wasn’t sure if she should but did so anyway.. she sent him an email explaining who she was thinking he would not remember her. She briefly mentioned how her life wasn’t that great at the moment and was going through a tough time. I guess she needed him to know that she was no longer attached to anyone! Steve had remembered her of course and they emailed each other a few times and then he invited her out for a beer. Their relationship was easy and effortless from the beginning and they felt very comfortable with one another. January 2011 they went on a trip together to Ireland. Once again Steve invited her out for a beer, this time in the famous Guinness Brewery.
In Helen’s words: Steve and I were in the Guinness Brewery and he said to me “If you drink this pint of Guinness Helen O’Neill I will marry you” so of course I did and then Steve got down on bended knee and proposed there and then to the cheers of everyone in the bar!.
Every wedding ceremony is of course, the recognition of a marriage that already exists on an emotional level, and Stephen and Helen have already made a commitment by sharing a home together and helping raise Stephen’s lovely daughter Scarlett.
This ceremony today gives official recognition to a union that has already taken place in the hearts of this couple. It is Stephen and Helen’s wish at this time to declare their marriage partnership to the world. These principles of marriage that will build and strengthen their relationship, will involve a strong commitment, an unconditional commitment from the heart, to each other.
Giving away
One of the most understated but deepest relationships in human life is that between the caring father and mother and the loving daughter. One of the rare occasions this relationship is acknowledged is at a wedding ceremony. In Des’s absence Nancy represents all of us, she particularly represents her family, but today in a special gesture she symbolizes her own personal love for her daughter. “Who presents this woman to be married to this man?
Helen’s mother (Nancy) I do
Even in the quiet corners of the world up above, Helen’s father Des would have stopped on this day to look down ever so proudly on Helen’s special day, with a smile and beer in hand to see his daughter happily marrying the man she loves.
Following the vows and ring ceremony Helen and Stephen showed their commitment to Stephen’s daughter Scarlett:
(Celebrant)
I would now like to ask Scarlett to come forward and stand in a circle with Stephen and Helen
Helen wishes to extend her commitment to Stephen and Scarlett by making some pledges to Scarlett.
(Helen) Scarlett, I have grown to love you as if you were my own daughter. I promise to love, nurture, guide and guard you for all the days of my life.
It was a very special moment as the photos show.
I would now like to ask Scarlett to come forward and stand in a circle with Stephen and Helen
Helen wishes to extend her commitment to Stephen and Scarlett by making some pledges to Scarlett.
(Helen) Scarlett, I have grown to love you as if you were my own daughter. I promise to love, nurture, guide and guard you for all the days of my life.
The Sassy Marriage Celebrant 