Wedding Day

We are just back from Nowra, where Lian and Matt were married on Saturday in a glorious day where, amazingly, nothing went wrong!  How good is that? The weather smiled, no glasses of red wine were tipped over the dress, the groom's pre-wedding haircut was perfectly fine and no-one had drunken shouties with anyone at the reception. OK, no more blathering, here's some piccies.

This is the venue, my brother Derek's property, Terrara House Estate. A beautiful old sandstone building built in 1904, with 17 acres of English style gardens. He and his partner have set it up as a wedding venue. http://www.google.com.au/search?aq=f&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=terrara+house+estate
This is the first time that a family wedding has been held there. We are grateful to both of them for the preparation and attention to detail and generosity that allowed Lian and Matt to be married there.

Derek has had a Bridal Salon built, where the secret women's business of Getting Dressed is conducted in complete luxury, with high tea and champagne on tap.

 Mae looked beautiful too.  They all looked beautiful.

 In the salon, nearly ready to Put the Dress on.

 Sarah and Wim provided the music for the ceremony itself, and I couldn't help myself, that tie had to be straightened...

Here comes the bride, on the arm of her father. The dress is silk chiffon over ivory silk, a draped full circle skirt that flowed and glided as she walked.

Mother of the bride was given Corinthians 13 to read. " Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoings, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. By the time I reached the end, "So now faith, hope and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love", I was in tears, and so was half the gathering. Meaningful words, to me and to both these young people, who went through a lot before they found one another. Happy tears, though. 

The young married couple

 It was the first time Derek had attended a family wedding at his own property, as a guest, so it was a very special occasion for our family. He is wearing a sling because he has recently had a shoulder reconstruction.

 The youngest bridesmaid, Bella being escorted by her extremely suave groomsman, Michael.  The bridesmaid dresses were different florals, all with red touches to complement Lian's ruby slippers. The Wiz connection goes back to Lian's honours thesis at the end of her degree, where she explored the cultural meanings that have arisen from this story.

The huge floral urns were stunning and are the final touch that dresses the property with a grand sense of occasion.

Matt's parents, Chris and Pam sourced the wines from an old friend's vineyard. A highlight for some was the Margarita machine! The food was prepared in the commercial kitchens onsite by the "resident" chefs.  This was a crowd of young urban Melbourne foodies, so the dinner mattered a lot. The team did well.

 Garth, the best man, did well with his speech. He had saved these anecdotes carefully, he said, until after the wedding.  In case anyone had second thoughts.

The following day.  Lian wearing her "going away" dress. They are off to the Westin Hotel in Sydney for some alone time.

 Our love goes with you.  In years to come, may you still be as contented in eachother's company as you are now.