There's no hope of doing justice to it here but I write some thoughts to share some sense of the event.
Last Saturday (10 January 09) my beloved son Erin married the love of his life, Karen.
Everyone was thrilled for them. The weather was perfect, the day went without a hitch and the ceremony was truly beautiful. For those who wondered if I would ever get 'the frock' (and feared the awesome eventuality of a naked 'mother-of-the-groom') I did indeed get 'the frock' - and the shoes and the bag and the haircut! I have to say I looked gorgeous, LOL. I needed to, to complement the mother-of-the-bride in her lovely grey satin with grey lace coat with subtle pink tones.
The frock shopping was probably the final straw for my poor back. I found my ideal outfit 1 week before the wedding (yes, I know I cut it fine) but 2 days of looking finally broke my spirit and my back, LOL. I've been dosing up on heavy-duty pain killers ever since and assuring the doctor that it will get better without other interventions :(. Without Tesa and Anna I doubt I would have been equal to the task; they dutifully trudged around a million shops with me to find exactly the right thing.
Saturday dawned with beautiful sunshine and no hint of rain; it fulfilled that early promise to make the outdoor wedding ideal. The ceremony was held at the Fairfield Amphitheatre and, if you've ever seen it, you'll be very impressed that the bridal attendants and the bride all descended the stairway from hell, to arrive in one piece at the central 'stage', where the celebrant performed one of the most beautiful wedding ceremony's I've ever heard.
She prepared for this by doing several (3 I think) interviews with the kids, asking about their history together, their feelings, what was important to them, etc. She told me how impressed she was with Erin, that he was the most 'forthcoming' groom she'd ever had, articulate and open about his feelings and emotions. Karen, of course, was the same (she's such a treasure). They in turn were very impressed by her ability to capture their feelings and wishes in her text. They were very keen to acknowledge their family and friends as important 'participants' in their relationship. That was very touching for those present.
The photographer was also a winner. She had such a great attitude and was obviously keen to ensure there were pictures reflecting the relationships and happiness of the day. Her attitude was friendly and caring, fitting right in to the mood and the spirit. Very important when it is such a tiring process for all involved. While all the photos were being taken, many of those attending the wedding but not needed for the photos, went down to the boathouse for refreshments while waiting to go to the reception. It is such a fabulous park and venue that they will be inspired to go again, I'm sure.
The wedding party looked sensational! The bride wore a long white satin dress with the most beautiful lace top, encrusted with tiny pearls (I'm not very good at this fashion stuff, but it 'glittered' and 'shone') and silver shoes. Lovely. The bridesmaids - Amanda and Lizzie - wore short length royal blue, silk with chiffon and looked fantastic. Eddie, the proud 'father-of-the-bride' was splendid in black suit. In addition to the appearance of all, they were remarkable for their management of those steps.
The groom's party was equally resplendant. Black suits with the groom in cream tie and the attendants in grey ties. With their black patent leather shoes and their pale rose boutonnieres, they were indeed a handsome crew.
Following all this, it was off the the Ivanhoe Art Space for the reception. The hall was decorated with flowers (a selection of my 'take home' - referred to below - pictured) done by bridesmaid Lizzie who is also an extraordinary florist. I couldn't do justice to descriptions, because (as with my fashion knowledge) I know next to nothing about flowers, although there were roses included :). I was fortunate enough to get a couple of bouquets to take home at the end of the night. My vases have never had it so good!The evening was mc'd by another great friend of the couple, Elva and she did a fabulous job. She's also the one who supplied the delicious desserts (along with her 2 sisters - they look so alike there's no mistaking the relationship - who are in the catering/event business together) and a whole bowl of chocolate was almost the least of the indulgences!
After the introductions of the parents of the couple (including my brother Terry, who played such a crucial 'locus paternus' role in Erin's life - don't expect correct latin please, LOL) and the bridal party, everyone got down to serious socialising. Karen and Erin had foregone the traditional table arrangements in favour of finger food and mingling. I must say it was great to see people moving freely around the space, socialising and meeting new folk. The food was great and varied. About an hour or so into the festivities, the cake was cut and speeches made. I had the great honour of giving the parents speech and David, the best man, made a speech and led us in the toast. His words were very moving and it's great to see a man express his love for his friends. Everyone was impressed with him and, having known him and David, the groomsman, since they were boys together with Erin, I felt entitled to feel very proud of him and of both of them for their performance over the day :). Erin made a touching and humorous speech, followed by Karen's complementing amusing words, to round off a great effort by all.
Around 11 pm we farewelled the happy couple as they got into their white stretch limo and headed off to the Windsor for the night, before flying out to Thailand Sunday afternoon. Then the friends and family wound up the night by doing the cleanup and leaving the hall immaculate. What a team! Erin and Karen are blessed in their friends. Mother-of-the-bride, Vicky, was there to the end, doing what she'd done (for weeks before the wedding, I'm sure) dealing with all the details, making sure transport of gifts was arranged, picking up last minute or forgotten items, etc. She was an amazing help to Karen, I know, and to everyone else. I don't know where she gets her energy.
A truly heartwarming wedding day for all involved.
