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~ with Sunshine Coast wedding celebrant Kari ~
Congratulations to Fanny & Tommi married in both French and English at Flaxton Gardens in brilliant sunshine.
Fanny contacted me to request a marriage ceremony on the Sunshine Coast Hinterland Range, that both her family and Tommi’s family could understand. In fact they wanted the entire ceremony in both languages! Now there’s a challenge I love.
I always offer to create bespoke ceremonies to suit each couple, so that part was not difficult. For Fanny and Tommi, I simply had to translate the custom ceremony into French as well. Now whilst I converse in passable French, I will admit to seeking guidance from my dear French friends, to ensure the grammar was all correct.
The outcome was a delightful ceremony ….read twice, as French & English took turn about during the ceremony! On top of the usual wedding day nerves, both bride and groom made their promises to each other, first in their love’s language, then in their own. It is not an easy task when one of those languages is not your mother tongue. The guests were particularly encouraging, and warmly congratulated them for their efforts. It made for amusing times as half the guests would laugh then moments later the other half got the joke! As long as everyone understood, in the long run.
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Fanny surprised us all arriving in a retro red Kombi with her two beautiful sisters and her charming father, all of whom had travelled from France to be here for Fanny’s day. She walked down the aisle on the arm of her Dad, under brilliant blue skies to her waiting groom, Tommi. Their ceremony was not complicated; simple and chic, elegant yet relaxed, with some laughs and I noticed some tears of emotion too.
Tommi and Fanny I wish you well in your future lives together and congratulate on including both your mother tongues in your wedding ceremony. Thank you for the opportunity to use your poetic and musical sounding language.
One of the specialities I can offer couples, is a ceremony with other languages. Some of the requests I have fulfilled are a French poem, a prayer in Afrikaans, and a blessing in Sanskrit, to name a few. My background as a musician means I have a trained ear for catching sounds. So even when I do not speak the language, I will learn something in your tongue for you. I’ll try anything, and with a bit of practice I have delivered so far.
However two languages are my specialty. I speak fluent Indonesian, having lived there for years in my youth, and Fanny says my French was perfect. Well at least her family who flew out from France for the wedding day could understand the whole ceremony, and not feel at all left out.
It simply helps to know that a wedding in Australia can encompass whatever tradition or culture you wish to include. Languages are no barrier, and I welcome customs from other traditions.
Photos by Alan Hughes
“Thanks Kari for everything you have done. We had a great day and the ceremony was amazing; your french was perfect 😉 Thanks again” Fanny
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~ with Sunshine Coast wedding celebrant Kari ~
Many a bride wishes to arrive at her wedding in a glamorous car. However when I was a bride, I arrived with my husband-to-be in a retro wooden canoe …… but that’s another story.
Cars have been the traditional wedding arrival vehicle for as long as the car has graced our lives. And many modern weddings hark back to that early era of cars with classic vintage wedding cars and lovingly restored retro beauties for their wedding day.
I have had the privilege of working with some absolute classic wedding cars. Today I’d like to share some Sunshine Coast classic cars with you, one totally vintage and two definitely retro.
First cab off the rank, actually is a cab!!! It’s a genuine London cab, residing in Australia, at Maleny. Classical with poise.
BLACK LONDON CAB
Steeped in history and full of stories this shiny black Taxi Cab was originally used by the London Metropolitan Police as an ‘undercover’ vehicle. Then he was used as a cab in London. If you’ve ever been to London, you’ll understand how iconic these cars are…. and how roomy they are in the back. I nearly sat on the floor when I jumped into one the first time! So there’s heaps of room for a large bride dress, train and bridesmaids.
But back to the tale of the car….the cab was next brought out to Australia by Lumley’s Insurance to be used as a chauffeur cab for their directors. They restored the cab, together with a new engine. It was next purchased at Shannon’s Auctions and driven to the hills of the Sunshine Coast hinterland.
“After many years of working in London, I now live in Maleny. My name is Dickens. Boris is my uniformed chauffeur. He provides a professional service to our clients. Let us roll out the red carpet for you!”
If you have chosen a classic hinterland wedding location, this car will enhance your wedding photos with absolute class and vintage English style. Your love story will add to Boris’ already colourful tale. See Dickens in the background here:
Next is for the Elvis within you. A topless car treat.
RED MUSTANG
As I promised in another story, here is the Red Mustang. Absolutely immaculate, shiny as new, upholstered in creamy white leather, this car is a classic wedding car with attitude. Matt, the young handsome chauffeur brings his pride and joy to put the rock’ n ‘roll into your wedding day. The fellas will adore a ride in this car, and the girls can’t wait for their turn. Shiny and red, with the top wound down, this classic car is a hoot. Please can I have a turn?
And for the laid back and casual beach wedding for the surfing spirit within you.
A CLASSIC KOMBI
If you’re into red car or classic car how can one go past the newly restored 60’s Kombi from Kombi Deluxe. Rescued from a car graveyard and restored over four years by a local family business with a passion for Volkswagons, this van has most of its original features and is maintained impeccably. You can hear it coming with its classic VW sound, and watch the guests smile. This classic and genuine Kombi car is beautifully finished in lotus white over salmon red. Hm-Hmmmmmm.
As a Sunshine Coast wedding celebrant I’m in love with retro weddings or vintage wedding style. My own car is a retro Pt Cruiser, so it is no wonder that I adore this Kombi. Many of us dream of a surf themed wedding, so here is the car to match. Hey I’ll even wed you on your surfboards if you wish, at your beach wedding!
On the other hand, up in the hills overlooking the coastal view, I have seen this car draw up at classic Hinterland wedding locations and cause the awaiting wedding party to go,”Awwwhhhhh” with delight. What a way to get the guests in a happy mood before the ceremony starts.
I can’t wait for a ride.
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Valentine love
Valentines Day makes us think about love; a valentine love.
Love poetry of Rumi
And the poetry of Rumi is often about love, in the deepest sense. Just like a wedding vow or marriage proposal. His poetry is not a Hallmark giftcard message. The love poetry of Rumi makes us pause and think, helps us to go deeper and reflect what love means inside and how to show it outside.
Your task is not to seek for love
but merely to seek and find all the barriers
within yourself that you have built against it
Rumi
Love is the Water of Life
Drink it down with heart and soul!
Rumi
The springtime of Lovers has come,
that this dust bowl may become a garden;
the proclamation of heaven has come,
that the bird of the soul may rise in flight.
The sea becomes full of pearls,
the salt marsh becomes sweet as kauthar,
the stone becomes a ruby from the mine,
the body becomes wholly soul.
Rumi
~ with Sunshine Coast wedding celebrant – Kari.
“You are thought and I am sound.
I am the words and you are the melody.
I am the melody and you are the words.”
Congratulations Belinda & Biju, married in an Australian Hindu wedding ceremony on the Sunshine Coast Hinterland.
Belinda and Biju came to me requesting an unusual wedding ceremony. Biju comes from India and wished to include several Hindu elements into the ceremony. Belinda is Australian and wanted a wedding ceremony that reflected this land and the traditions of Australia. And so we wove a truly multicultural ceremony, an occasion to honour both cultures.
The Golden statue was centre of the setting; an altar to Ganesha. Around the statue were placed several ceremonial objects; a candle, flowers and fruit in offering to Ganesh. The theme colours were vibrant and alive; deep pink, bold red, fragrant yellow and burnt orange. Gerberas in all these flame colours were placed around Ganesh.
And for the fun of colour and festive atmosphere, paper lanterns in deep orange and pink were hung in the branches of the centuries old fig tree; an ancient witness to the sacredness of the celebration.
Biju was very confident when he asked me, the celebrant, to sing the essential incantations in the Sanskrit language. For who else would do it, he asked. And so I did! His trust helped me to learn the appropriate blessings, and the role they played in the ceremony. And I sang for this lovely couple, to bless their married lives.
Photos by Darren Frankish of Kish Photography
In any culture marriage is a sacred and treasured union. According to Hinduism, marriage between two persons is a sacred relationship that is not limited to this life alone. It extends across seven or more lives, during which the couple help each other progress spiritually. The adage that marriages are made in heaven is very much true in the case of Hinduism. Two souls come together and marry because their karmas are intertwined and they have to resolve many things together upon earth in order to ensure their mutual salvation.
In an ancient Hindu text it is said that when the one man loves the one woman and the one woman loves the one man, the angels abandon heaven and go sit with the couple and sing for joy. Just looking around the guests we could see the angels present.
In Hinduism every auspicious occasion begins with an invocation to Lord Ganesha. Blessings are sought for a ceremony that will be free from impediments and for a marriage free from all hardships and obstacles. Ganesha’s grace is invoked for the health, happiness, prosperity, and peace of the bride and groom and their families. The offerings included flowers for beauty, coconut for fertility, rice for sustenance, and sweets to ensure a sweet life!
The ceremony included many traditions and customs from a Hindu Wedding in India, involving the family, water and fire, and song and walking circles around Ganesha and the altar.
A special moment is when the bride and groom take seven steps; steps towards their lives together, a set of wedding vows,
On the first step; Together we shall cherish each other in sickness and health, in happiness and sorrow
On the second step; Together we shall be lifelong friends
On the third step; Together we shall share each other’s ideals
On the fourth step; Together we shall nurture each other’s strengths, talents, and aspirations
On the fifth step; Together we shall make each other happy
On the sixth step; Together we shall love, provide and care for our children and our families
On the seventh step; Together we will look forward to the mysteries of the future with awe, open-mindedness, and inspiration
We have taken the seven steps. You have become mine forever. Yes, we have become partners. I have become yours. Hereafter, I cannot live without you. Do not live without me. Let us share the joys. We are word and meaning, united. You are thought and I am sound. I am the words and you are the melody. I am the melody and you are the words.
These vows are poignant and poetic. They are not dissimilar to vows from an Australian ceremony. Walking around the altar added an extra poetry to the steps of marriage they undertook. I congratulate Belinda and Biju on blending their two cultures seemlessly and with great love and patience.
As a marriage celebrant I am often requested to accommodate the unusual. This is my specialty. I have sung in sanskrit, read in Afrikaans, waxed poetic in French, and played my wooden flute or lap harp. Just ask me, you never know what I will agree to!
~ with Sunshine Coast wedding celebrant – Kari.
Wedding decorations can be fun. They can really make your reception reflect your style, AND invite your guests into a playful world for your wedding day. Ideas for theming and decorating your wedding reception abound. Possibly you want to design something unique and different, something to make your wedding guests say “wow”.
Perhaps you want some cheeky fun, or to stimulate a creative atmosphere at your wedding. Personally I love the hand made look, the creative spirit that only one person can achieve. You.
Here are some fabulous creative decorative ideas, ranging from the sweet to the sublime, the crazy to the ridiculous, but always the fun. There’s bides shoes and wedding jewelry, even a unique green wedding ring. There’s flower arrangements with a twist, recycled containers for the decorations, living table settings, green ideas, and unusual candles. Find family portraits, unusual lighting effects, green themes, and other wonderful creative touches. Let me know if you use any of these ideas on your wedding day.
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Married on the farm
Congratulations Lisa and Rupert, married on the family property in Obi Obi, Kennilworth.
Arrival of the Groom
The Groom doesn’t have to wait for his bride at the altar, he can arrive in style too! This Groom planned to arrive on the motorbike he had spent many loving hours renovating. For on their first date, he had whisked Lisa away on a bike to a country village lolly shop…..and….
However on the awaited day, the starter motor was not happy. His brother knew the answer; kick start it down the driveway of the family property near Kennilworth, then burn up behind the house to collect the Groom on this perfect wedding day. We had a sneak preview of what was to come, and Rupert’s dream of arriving by bike was manifest.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”36352″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]
And the groomsman too
His brother Jake rode behind tossing frangipani flowers in a path for the bride; a masculine bent on the flower girl theme. The bride, Lisa chose to walk on the arm of her Dad behind her bridesmaid.
Lisa and Rupert wanted a fun ceremony, yet one with resonances of their lives together, and as a part of an extended family. It was a wedding day of relaxed family fun and friendly games and joy in the spaciousness of a private garden. Beside the dam, the marriage ceremony was held in a gentle breeze, under the shade of the trees.
As part of his vows, he promised to “have as much fun as possible..no matter what. I can’t wait.” And she answered with “what I’m promising today is to love you with all I have to give in the only way I know how, completely and forever.”
The guests were part of the ceremony too, having rehearsed their lines before the couple arrived, then everyone had a chance to water in the olive tree with their warm wishes for the couples future.
As the newly weds walked away from their ceremony they invited all to share in lawn bowls, badminton and croquet with champagne.
You can have the ceremony you wish for, just ask!
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