Thursday 30 November 2023

Celebrant folder


 A lot of celebrants ask me where I source my folders. This A5 folder was custom made by https://www.instagram.com/hourihan_bookbinding/

 
Previously, I read the ceremony script from an A4 folder, but more recently, I've appreciated the ease of holding the smaller A5 size. There's a lot to juggle when officiating a ceremony - a microphone, a folder, and some gusty breezes. The A5 size fits neatly in one hand and is less unwieldy than an A4 folder. Plus, it's a neutral colour and matches with most colour schemes.
 
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Friday 24 November 2023

Elopement at Minnippi Parkland, Tingalpa


lopement at Minnippi Parkland, Tingalpa
Self-confessed flower child, C, imagined her wedding day as simple, genuine, Earthy, and authentic. She and her fiancé, D, chose the wetlands at Minnippi Parkland at Tingalpa for the green, natural landscape.
C added lace from the sleeves of her mother’s wedding dress to her bouquet, and wrapped the stems in a white lace handkerchief from her grandmother. She wore a simple white dress. Groom, D, wore a forest green linen shirt and chinos. Their adorable daughters wore linen dresses in ochre and sunflower, with matching headbands.
On their wedding day, the little family arrived at the parklands together, and met up with the team at Elope Brisbane. Celebrant Cheryl Landsberry read a personlised ceremony reflecting the couple’s love of family and nature. They added in a line from a wedding in Avatar and the couple each wrote their own sweet vows to read.
Photographer, Romana Saeheng, immortalised the moment with some beautiful family photos under the ancient trees in the park. The overcast day made for natural photos, and the green hues of the parklands provided varying natural settings.
After enjoying a home-baked wedding cake, the adorable family set out on a camping trip/honeymoon up the coast.
My day was topped off by receiving this appreciative text: "Thanks so much for everything!!! We had a perfect morning!"
Venue: Minnippi Parkland
Coordination: Elope Brisbane
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Location: Minnippi Parkland, 276 Meadowlands Rd, Carina QLD 4152, Australia

Thursday 23 November 2023

Wedding at the Lighthouse, Cleveland Point

 Wedding at Cleveland Point Lighthouse

Baz first met Annette when she called for a tow truck. They agreed to meet up at a party that evening. Neither were looking for love, but there was just something that kept them coming back to each other. Before long, they couldn’t imagine life without the other, and started planning their wedding.
Baz left all the planning up to Annette, and was so proud of the beautiful event that she created. On their wedding day, he couldn’t believe all the elegant touches which Annette had organised.
Barry and his groomsmen opted for a casual look, wearing jeans, royal blue western style shirts, and black leather cowboy hats. Photographer, Romana, and I were surprised that this was our third wedding together in a week where the grooms wore jeans and cowboy hats, and Luke Combs featured in the ceremony music. Country style weddings are definitely making a comeback in Brisbane.


Annette looked lovely in a white one-shoulder lace dress.
The ceremony started with two of the biggest flower men you’ve seen tossing petals down the aisle. After the relaxed ceremony, Annette and Baz planned to party into the evening at The Lighthouse Restaurant and carry on afterwards at the local nightclubs.
The all Redlands wedding professionals included:
Ceremony location: Cleveland Point
Reception location: The Lighthouse
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Location: Cleveland point, 234-238, State Route 22, Cleveland QLD 4163, Australia

Saturday 18 November 2023

Elopement at Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Mount Coot-tha

Secret Elopement at Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Mount Coot-tha



After several years as a couple, D & E knew that they had found their partner for life, and decided to be married in an intimate elopement at the Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Mount Coot-tha. The couple chose the Simply Elope package with Elope Brisbane, which includes a professional marriage celebrant and an experienced photographer for the ceremony and couple photo shoot.
E & D are quiet and sincere people, and they sought a ceremony which was private, pared back, and authentic. Celebrant Cheryl Landsberry wrote a simple ceremony for the couple, and they added their own thoughtful and heartfelt vows to round out the ceremony.
On their wedding day, the team at Elope Brisbane invited celebrant Michelle Sloman along to act as a witness for the couple. Photographer Romana Saeheng doubled as the second witness.
The team met the couple at the entrance of the Botanic Gardens, and together, they walked the dappled paths until they came to a shaded lawn clearing.
The bride was serene, wearing a flowing botanical dress in neutral hues, and wore sandals on her feet. She carried a hand-made bouquet of native flowers. The groom was dapper in an ivory suit with a navy shirt, wearing an ivory Panama hat with a boutonniere of natives tied with twine to top off the casually elegant look.
The five stood quietly in the gardens, soaking up the ambience of this very special moment, oblivious to the world bustling by in the nearby city streets. The couple’s words to each other were so very emotive, it was obvious to see the love they share.
Photographer, Romana, led the couple around the Botanic Gardens, capturing moments in the tranquil rainforest area, along the leafy garden paths, and under the iconic (and humid!) glasshouse. The photos really captured the quiet sincerity of the couple and their special day.
Following the ceremony, the couple plan to celebrate with a weekend away in the mountains, and will let family and friends in on the secret when the time is right.
Coordination: Elope Brisbane
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Location: Brisbane Botanic Gardens, 152 Mount Coot-Tha Rd, Mount Coot-Tha QLD 4066, Australia

Friday 17 November 2023

Wedding at The Bush Chapel, Mount Coot-tha

 Micro Wedding at the Bush Chapel, Mount Coot-tha

Elodie and Andrew first met at the taxi rank after a very rowdy Kalgoorlie Cup celebration. Gentlemanly Andrew offered to share a cab, however Elodie (not so politely) declined, not realising she would in fact meet Andrew again just a few weeks later when they both started their volunteer training with St Johns Ambulance.
When they re-met, Andrew noticed that Elodie was crazy clever, funny and generous with her time and support to others. Elodie noticed Andrew’s kind nature, community spirit and that fireman strength!
The two soon became a couple, and began building a life together.
The couple contacted the team at Elope Brisbane to plan their micro wedding in Andrew’s home town. They loved the tranquility of the Bush Chapel at Mount Coot-tha, steeped in history and surrounded by tall gum trees.

The ceremony was country styled, with the groom and guests wearing cowboy boots and hats, and the playlist featuring songs by Keith Urban, Luke Combs and Troy Cassar-Daley. Elodie was gorgeous in a white lace dress.
After the ceremony, the family headed over to the Victoria Golf Club at Herston for a celebratory dinner.
Ceremony Venue: The Bush Chapel at J.C. Slaughter Falls, Mount Coot-tha
Coordination: Elope Brisbane





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Location: 38 Sir Samuel Griffith Dr, Mount Coot-Tha QLD 4066, Australia

Thursday 16 November 2023

Wedding at Cherbon Waters

 Wedding at Cherbon Waters, Burbank

In my role as marriage celebrant, I meet a lot of lovely people, see some beautiful locations, and share in some really memorable and special moments. When people ask what my all-time favourite wedding was, it’s been hard to choose. Until now.
My beautiful daughter, Jasmin, married her handsome farmer fiancé Tom, in a celebration that brought family together from near and far. And I was able to enjoy being both Mother of the Bride and Marriage Celebrant on the day.
Jasmin and Tom first met in high school, and had been together for ten years before planning their wedding. Since he was a young boy, Tom dreamt of a life on the land, and so he and Jasmin bought a rural property and stocked it with breeding cattle. This isn’t an easy lifestyle, and most of their waking hours are spent tending to their stock. In fact, there was little time for formal wedding planning, but all that didn’t seem to matter too much, as whatever fell into place suited them just fine. And whatever they didn’t have time to organise probably didn’t matter too much any way.
After eloping myself back in the 90’s, I wouldn’t have been disappointed if Jasmin and Tom eloped too. But they wanted to have their dream wedding, with their grandparents all present and a sit-down meal, dancing and cake.
In keeping with their rural lifestyle, Jasmin and Tom decided on a country style wedding. They looked at venues from the Gold Coast to the Sunshine Coast, and had short listed a couple, when they saw Cherbon Waters at Burbank pop up on my Instagram story.
Cherbon Waters is an equestrian centre and function venue on the banks of the Leslie Harrison dam. The gardens are well maintained and always green, and there are some beautiful old gum trees on the property. A purpose built gazebo gives protection from the elements for the wedding ceremony. A nearby permanent silk marquee with a sandstone floor caters for wedding receptions.
Jasmin prepped for the wedding day at our home, with Hair and Makeup Artists from Blushed Brides arriving to glam us up. Photographer, Romana, and videographer, Dan, dropped by to capture some pre-wedding photos – first to Tom’s place and then to our home. I know a lot of couples choose not to bother with these “getting ready” style photos, but I’m so glad that we had a little time to capture some family photos before the day became too hectic. These moments are priceless.

I headed off to the venue to ensure everything was all set up and ready to go, and greeted family and friends as they arrived at the venue. Jasmin was escorted to the wedding by her dad, Brett. My heart swelled and my voice quavered a little as I watched my stunning daughter, on the arm of my proud husband, walk down the aisle together. Jasmin beamed as her eyes met Tom’s, and they enjoyed the significance of the moment.

I had hoped to write the most flowery and enchanting marriage ceremony imaginable, however, Jasmin and Tom just wanted to keep the ceremony short and sweet, and curtailed my efforts to wax lyrical on their behalf.
After their concise, but tender ceremony, the couple were congratulated on the sunlit lawns. Drinks and canapes were served and the couple had a chance to capture some photos around the gardens.


With family and friends flying in from interstate and overseas, the reception was a time for reuniting with conversation over the meal and a refreshing beverage or two. After some emotive and amusing speeches and the cutting of the cake, the dance floor opened.
The newlyweds danced together to “True Love” by Bing Crosby and Grace Kelly, the wedding song of Tom’s grandparents. The sentimental significance did bring a little tear to many eyes, as Tom’s adored grandfather had passed away just a couple of weeks before the wedding day.
Next, Jasmin was twirled by her dad to “A Little Ray of Sunshine” by Axiom, which was the song played for her Baby Naming Ceremony all those years ago. Cue more tears.
The DJ set the dance floor alight with tunes to get the boogie shoes on, and the next hour flew by with cousins, grandmothers, and school chums all wiggling more or less in time to the music.
The wedding was a huge success, and a day which will be long remembered. From over 500 photos, I’ve collated my favourites into a photo book. Look out for your invitation to the Slide Night.
Thanks to the wider family who all contributed to the wonderful day, and congratulations to the newlyweds.
Videographer: Dan Hodgson Freelance
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Location: 121 Cherbon St, Burbank QLD 4156, Australia

Tuesday 14 November 2023

Wedding at Sirromet Winery, Mount Cotton

 Wedding at The Laguna, Sirromet Winery, Mount Cotton

Michelle and Dan chose the beautiful chapel on the lagoon at Sirromet Wines for their October wedding. Early in their planning, the couple realised that their wedding day would fly by so quickly, so they prioritised spending time with their guests when scheduling the day.
In their quest to capture every precious moment, Dan and Michelle organised to meet photographer, Samuel Parke, before their ceremony, so that the couple and wedding party photos wouldn’t cut into their post ceremony time. They asked celebrant Cheryl Landsberry to streamline ceremony, ensuring that their 3:30pm ceremony would be wrapped up by 3:50pm, allowing 10 minutes for the group photo, and the celebrations to commence at 4:00pm.


Michelle wore a gorgeous white gown with a fitted bodice and fluted skirt by Sophia Tolli. She cut a striking silhouette as she stepped out down the pathway towards her waiting groom. Groom Dan wore a mid blue suit, and the groomsmen and bridesmaids wore navy.
Venue: The Laguna, Sirromet Winery
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Location: 850-938 Mount Cotton Rd, Mount Cotton QLD 4165, Australia
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