Garden games for after the Wedding ceremony
So the ceremony is complete, you are feeling radiant, on a cloud of joy. How did it go so quickly? Now the photographer wants to whisk you and the bridal party away for a photo shoot.
Meanwhile your guests are wandering, mingling and perhaps looking for a little something to do. As a celebrant I often get to see the post ceremony fun organised by a thoughtful couple, and have had the chance to take a few snaps in order to inspire you today.
So, you’ve made your guests comfortable with hats, shade, and other little delights to amuse.
Consider wedding garden games to get the party laughing.
Garden games are such fun during the post wedding ceremony time. Not competitive, fun, yet can be played with a glass in one hand, and a ready giggle when someone misses the mark. A game of two while sipping a cocktail is very relaxing, and makes for some great candid photographs. Wedding games using the giant game sets are perfect for a garden wedding.
With vintage themes still a great way to DIY your wedding decor, then vintage games are de rigueur. Try some of these for the wedding guests on your wedding day:
Quoits
A stick and a hand full of rope rings is all you need. Beer in one hand ring in the other, the game gets more fun as the beer lowers. Some people think that the game originated from tossing horse shoes.
Croquet
The red queen may have used upended flamingos as her croquet mallet, but wooden ones are more the go these days! Originating in France and brought to England as Paille Maille (the latin words for ball & mallet), and possibly played as early as the 1600’s, croquet is not just the dominion of the Queen of Hearts in Alice in Wonderland. A vintage set of mallets hoops and balls is available at several wedding venues these days, especially the French inspired Clovelly Estate, and the vintage farm Kenilworth Homestead.
Giant Jenga
Now here’s one the crafty family member can whip up. Simply cut equal lengths of pine framing boards. Stack them up on the grass. Then each player has to extract one block and place it on top without upsetting the whole stack. After a while the entire stack is teetering and one person has to be responsible for tumbling the lot over….to many cheers from onlookers.
Badminton
An oldie but goodie, badminton can look lovely in your garden wedding. Take two tent poles and peg them out. String a set of bunting flags between the poles for your “net”. Cute!
Skittles/ Kubb /Finska
Another ball and tumbling game. Who can bowl the skittles over on grass?
And for games hire… contact the lovely Nathan at Sunshine Coast Games Hire for a no fuss delivery option.
Photobooth
And finally, you could make your own Photobooth. Provide a basket of silly costume pieces, hats, glasses and a picture frame. Set up a camera on a tripod. Guests take turns in photographing each other. They won’t want to leave for the reception!!! And you will have a camera full of great memories of your guests, and an insight into what they got up to in your absence!!!
Hope there’s something there to inspire your post ceremony wedding fun and games.
See you at a wedding soon. xx Kari – the celebrant.
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DIY Wedding
Jess and Jesse married at Verrierdale Community Hall on the Sunshine Coast. Their DIY wedding was a grand party with loads of laughter.
When Jess met Jesse, it was love almost instantly. Laughs are the hallmark of their love and their life. And they are the only ones who don’t get the names confused!!! But as a marriage celebrant, it took supreme focus to marry Jess to Jess, without getting my tongue totally tied!!
Their DIY wedding was so much fun.
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A Love Story
Eight years ago Jess met Jesse, two happy people recognised something in each other’s smiles. It was instant attraction.
Jess recalls thinking to herself, “I could marry that boy”. Little did she know!
What I noticed as a wedding celebrant, is that these two match. It was evident from the first instant; their smiles, their bubbly, cheery selves that radiated a relaxed and joyous energy to all around them. They love to explore, embrace the ocean, surf, swim, walk and run beside it, immerse themselves in it. Jess loves his generous soul, how her man will do anything for anyone. He just loves her, all of her. He appreciates her energetic and strong will. They know that each other is the best friend they could find in this world, feeling completely at ease together.
And that brought them to Verrierdale Hall. It was a time to pause, look back, and smile at all the moments that brought them to their wedding day. And a time to look ahead at all the moments that are still to come. Marriage does not change what is already there, a strong commitment; a tried and true relationship. It adds another layer of commitment to something already strong and wondrous. Jess said he wanted to marry because she is a super chilled out chick who loves the ocean and outdoors as much as he. Their relationship in two words; relaxed.
It could be said that marriage changes everything and nothing. I know these two did not marry lightly. They have considered what it means to marry, a symbol of deep love, understanding and a promise of a commitment already held. And before they settle and embrace a family of their own they wished to be married, and vow an indefinite future to each other. But more importantly they wanted a huge celebration for all their friends, and family.
Lucky us eh! Sweet of them to consider all of us so much.
Congratulations to Jess and Jesse, you two are perfect for each other.
“Thank you for an incredible day 😊You were awesome!!! ” Jess Hart
Thanks to Carly and Co Photography for the brilliant images featured in this real Sunshine Coast wedding story
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Wedding Rings – a ritual
This is a story of a unique blessing of wedding rings at a Pomodoras wedding.
For as long as we can remember, lovers have exchanged rings as a token of their wedding vows.
Wedding bands are of some value in themselves. Yet they are made so much more precious by our wearing of them, by knowing who placed them on our fingers, on our wedding day.
Kerrie and Andrew’s rings are super special. It began with their engagement… in Florence!
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A ring in Florence
The evocative and artisan city of Florence had always held special memories for them. While on holidays wandering down a Florentine street they found a ring created by an artist. It was perfect; a unique design akin to two diamond encrusted bridges crossing over… signifying the crossing over of two lives.
The wedding rings, however, were made locally, by a Maleny artisan Jim Goulton of Maleny Jewellers. Beautifully crafted to their own design.
On their wedding day, we honoured the significance of their wedding rings with a blessing before they were placed on their hands.
There were several elements that contributed to this unique ritual, each one chosen carefully for the meaning.
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Ritual Element One : Water
The plan was to use water, the elixir of life, to pour into the bowl.
On the wedding day, as bride, Kerrie was preparing herself up in the cottage room before the wedding ceremony. She looked down over the Obi Obi Creek and had an idea.
Voila! There was the water for their wedding ring ritual, made extra special because it was collected from right behind the ceremony platform.
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Ritual Element Two : Vessel
They needed a vessel, a bowl to place rose petals….. Andrew had decided to go the full Scottish, and be married in his family tartan. At the kilt shop, he spied a silver bowl, a celtic quaich (pronounced Kwek). A quaich is a Scottish welcome bowl, crafted by artisans and intricately decorated with celtic curls and swirls. Imagine arriving to a household in Scotland, coming in out of the freezing cold and being offered a silver bowl with a dram of warm Whiskey to warm body and soul. On the wedding day the sliver bowl welcomed the warmth of a wedding promise.
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Ritual Element Three : Rose Petals
To celebrate their union, Kerrie and Andrew had planted a Montville Rose in their garden. It was the first thing they had planted together, and held great meaning for them. Recalling that occasion of humble celebration of their union, on their wedding day in honour of that rose and the French tradition of roses in weddings, they added handfuls of petals to the Quaich.
Ritual Element Four : Essential oils
Essential oils have long been used for sacred ceremony. Once more Kerrie and Andrew found their own meaning, as the ring ritual evolved a step further. A special friend is a massage therapist. Her basket of essential oils contained much more than traditional Frankincense and Myrrh; oils for joy and valour, for humility and compassion, for spice and passion….
Ritual Element Five : Friends
Into the bowl went much love and the best wishes of all the guests there. Each guest had previously taken a moment to hold and bless the rings. They arrived at the ring ceremony well warmed with love.
Using this water we blessed the rings, washing them and making them fragrant for ceremony.
It was a truly joyous and fun ceremony.
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Thank you Kerrie and Andrew for giving us such inspiration to personalise a wedding ceremony. This is what Kerrie said afterwards:
“A HUGE thank you for your amazing wondrous delightful joyful gentle and experienced handling of our wedding celebration.” Kerrie
Thanks especially to the gorgeous Marion Jonkers Photography for the wedding photos.
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with Sunshine Coast marriage celebrant – Kari
So much love, so much love, so much love. Wow what a wedding ceremony to remember!
Here on the Sunshine Coast, there are many perfect places for a wedding. But none seems quite more perfect for a family wedding than the property where one grew up, played by the creek, planted trees, and created memories. This wedding day created new loving memories for Renee and Brendan on the family farm.
The marriage ceremony was held down by the creek, in an idyllic grassy glade surrounded by forest and the sounds of whip birds and tusked frogs. A group of friends and family had created a magical haven. Let’s wander in and have a peek before the guests arrive…..
A stump by the entry was garlanded with festoons of newly blossomed jasmine and the welcome sign.
Daisies were tucked into the bark of trees, at the foot of saplings or behind ears.
A circle of hay surrounded by white roses and daisies tucked into the ground formed a magic fairy circle for a sacred ceremony.
Hay bales were arranged in arcs for seating. More hay was sprinkled underfoot for an aisle.
Local musician, Lee Hardisty played pied piper and led the guests to the ceremony, along by the creek. His pure sax sound drifted over the forest, gently encouraging a meander to the forest glade.
Enter the Bride and Groom. Groom softly greeted the guests. Kari – the celebrant sent hime for a wander with his mates while she briefed the guests on a surprise ending for the ceremony.
And, the bridal entourage arrived on the trailer of the tractor. Daughter, Peaches and her cousin walked down the aisle, to Daddy.
Renee walked down the aisle on her father’s arm to the exquisite sounds of thumb piano sweetly played by Lee.
Renee and Brendan could not have been more in love.
As a marriage celebrant on the Sunshine Coast hinterland, I witness many marriage vows; all heartfelt and meaningful. But on this wedding day, Renee’s vows to her beloved Sav nearly brought me to tears.
Amongst other things she promised to “love you beyond fear, judgement, expectations and anger….. I promise to love you so hard it changes the world…. I promise to hold you when your heart weeps, to plant trees with you and watch them grow, to help you know your own power.”
After the ceremony, guests followed the music back to the farm shed, replete with hanging floral garland, tables of colour, and taste.
And they partied on in the moonlight, starlight and radiance of their family, friends and love.
Thanks to Maggie Buckle for some of the professional images. Instagram #@maggijeann
The early ones are my own, irresistibly taken while waiting for the guests.
This is what they said about Kari’s celebrant service:
“Kari is a beautiful, warm, kind and connected woman with a sophisticated confidence that makes one feel safe in her presence. Although we had only met her in person once before our wedding day, we knew that she would understand our love and sincerely appreciate the magic that abides in such a ceremony. Her creative heart and generous demeanour left a mark on our hearts at such a special moment in our journey. Thank you Kari.” Renee & Brendan
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We do not live by bread alone, and we cannot survive without salt. In Russia there is a wedding tradition….
But first a story.
I remember from childhood a story about three sisters, the daughters of a king. He asked of them, “How much do you love me?”
One replied, “Father I love you like all the diamonds in your crown.”
Another said, “Daddy, I love you as much as all the gold in your vault.”
The third thoughtfully and simply said, “Dad, I love you like salt”.
Unfortunately the king did not appreciate this sentiment, and banished his daughter from his kingdom.
Many years later, during his travels as an ageing man, he stumbled across another far away kingdom, and was welcomed by the royal family. Not recognising his long lost daughter at the head of the family, she served up a banquet with no salt. The food was tasteless and terrible, and he spat out the food saying it was inedible.
So she brought to the table a bowl of salt and asked if he wished to add this to the food. “Father, I still love you like salt. I meant that life is not only tasteless without you, I can not live without you.”
There is a Russian wedding tradition of bread and salt. And it is Alex and Scott who introduced me to this tradition.
So in love
So congratulations to Alex and Scott married with such joy at Maleny Manor.
Alex and Scott were a delight from day one. They are so in love, and out to have fun, yet are very comfortable with their respective heritage.
In recognition of Alex’s Russian background she chose to honour a tradition passed down the line of women in her family. And what women! Her Mother and Auntie came out from Germany and Russia to make it happen!
Bread and Salt
There is a Russian wedding tradition of Bread and Salt.
“Bread is the head of everything”. This Russian proverb explains the importance of bread in Russia for many centuries.
Bread is life and bread is hospitality.
Salt is a symbol of wealth and prosperity.
The night before the wedding day, Alex’s Mum, Marina and Aunt Ira baked a special bread with salt in the centre. At the completion of their wedding ceremony, Alex and Scott broke the bread, dipped it in salt and shared this gift of food with each other. It was a touching moment, a nod to family and a sweet (or should I say tasty) completion to a ceremony.
This tradition symbolises that they’ll never be without the necessities of life and they will always take care of each other. And I trust that in this case they always will.
This is what they said:
From the very first meeting we were sure that our ceremony was in good hands with Kari.
We felt an instant connection and understanding by her of who we are and what our relationship is all about. The writing of the ceremony was painless, easy and just wonderful, including many personal touches and a great flow. Communication was effortless and we had the most wonderful ceremony reflecting who we truly are. We received many compliments from our family and friends on our ceremony and it will be a treasured part of our magical wedding day.
Thank you Kari! You are all that we ever wished for and more!
Alexandra & Scott
Thank you to Talitha and James from Artography for the wonderful images.
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