As a marriage celebrant, there's some dispute about which day is the start of the week. But for the sake of not having that chicken and egg argument, we'll start the week just past on a Friday.
Friday
Friday is often the day of choice for wedding rehearsals. The bridal party can take the day off work, and finish off those last minute preparations. A rehearsal is not compulsory, but I recommend availing yourself of the option. Ideally, the rehearsal is held at the same location as the wedding, and at the same time of day. We can check out the shade, shadows, and glare, and work out all those logistics so that the ceremony flows seamlessly. Last Friday, I was at Bundaleer Rainforest Gardens, which was tranquil & lush after recent rains.
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Bundaleer Rainforest Gardens
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There were a couple of last minute ceremony changes to make on Friday afternoon, before printing out the wedding documents and heading off to a birthday dinner for my trusty old hubby.
Saturday
Saturday is wedding day, which meant frocking up in my Saturday best. In the morning, I met up with a couple who are planning their wedding later this year, and we made quick work of completing their Notice of Intended Marriage. I then headed over to the wedding location to set up in readiness for the afternoon wedding. Musician, Ben, and I set up and tested our audio equipment before the guests arrived. The day was cool and overcast, which seemed perfect for the rainforest setting. The groomsmen were relieved to be able to don suits without overheating. The couple and I had spent some time compiling their story, and it went over superbly. Guests smiled, chuckled, and shed a tear or two as the couple made their promises to one another. After the wedding, it was time for me to head home, check all the paperwork, and lodge it online with Births, Deaths, & Marriages. I was pleased that my husband had dinner ready for my arrival at home.
Sunday
No - not a day of rest for celebrants. It's often a great time to meet up with couples who are working Monday to Friday. I headed down the coast to meet a new couple, and we completed their Notice of Intended Marriage. With a 2 year old, it was easier to meet in their home. I left them with a folder of resources to give them some ideas and suggestions for their October wedding.
Tempting as it was to spend the day at the coast, I headed back home to prepare for the following week - washing, groceries, cleaning, and paperwork. It was time to make sure everything was ready for the next wedding, so I checked that my checklist was complete, and emailed last minute queries to the couple. Being exam week, I spent a little time trying to help my son study for his biology exam, (meiosis vs mitosis - eek) and we watched Tomorrow When the War Began to help him prepare for his English exam (be warned - the movie is different to the book!).
Monday
Monday is a day off for wedding professionals (after a quick trip to the post office to send in the paperwork from Saturday's wedding). So we met up in the city for my friend, Natasha's birthday. It's great to catch up with colleagues when we work so much on our own, and I'm fortunate to have some clever, supportive, and fun friends in the industry. I couldn't stay too long, though, as there was lots of final preparation to do for my Tuesday training day.
Tuesday
Every year, I travel up to Mackay to meet up with the local celebrants and deliver Ongoing Professional Development for them. I was up at 4am to be there and ready by 9am. We had a great group, all with so many ideas to contribute. I really feel like I learn as much as them, if not more. I was back on a flight home at 4.30pm, then straight to a parent/teacher night at my son's school. By the time we finished at 7.30pm, the family was relieved to head to the bistro for dinner and swap stories of the day.
Wednesday
I spent the day doing some bookkeeping for a local engineer on Wednesday. There's always plenty of call for administration work, and I can earn some regular pocket money from doing the payroll and invoicing for the firm. I met up with a couple of friends for pub trivia on Wednesday night, and we did better in some categories than others. #nofootballquestionsplease
Thursday
There was a bit of bookkeeping to attend to for my husband's business, an appointment or two, emails to reply to, and a little time spent updating my resources. Where did that day go?
And now it's time to start all over again and prepare for tomorrow's rehearsal!
