Did you know that your Maid of Honour and Best Man are not the only two people that can witness the signing of your marriage certificate? Understandably two key players in your wedding party (if you are having one) is a popular choice, but legally you can pick anyone over 18 to sign your documents.
So this makes your options are endless right, but it’s an awesome way to include a couple significant humans in your lives that might not already have an official role in your day…which your mums traditionally don’t … yep it still surprises.
So that’s a lovely inclusion, but also siblings are cool, grandparents if you are lucky enough to still have them around or just simply pick two of your favourite humans over 18 and you are good to go.
Plus the wonderful bonus is that the signing is a beautiful time in the ceremony where you step out of the limelight for a moment, take a huge breath and usually have a laugh, so pick two people you want to be involved in that moment with you too 🥰.
Millie + Jonte 19.4.24 | Millie has openly admitted that she loves their fur baby Remi more than Jonte…if it was socially acceptable she would carry Remi around in a harness on the front of her at all times…
This is of course absolutely understandable because Remi is unbelievably sweet and gorgeous!
So their fur-baby played a massive part in their stunning day at @goldingwines on Friday, she even snuck into their cake design…cuteness overload!
Congratulations beautiful two! What an awesome day ❤️.
They not only have an amazing one taste in puppies, they picked a stellar lineup of suppliers too…
Venue: @goldingwines_weddings
Photographer: @oaktree.studios - Josh
Videographer: @oaktree.studios - Dekota
Wedding Dress: @thebridelab @alenaleenabridal
Bridesmaid dresses: @asos
Suits: @peterjacksonau
Florals: Floral Eden @floral.eden
Cake: @theleopardsspot
Makeup: @_alisha_makeup
Hair: @hairbyangela_palombaro
Remi’s Carer: @veilsandtailsau
DJ: @blackcherryevents
Photo booth: @inthebooth
@millie_lucy_2
Can we take a moment for Karen rocking not 1 but 2 ➡️ stunning and unique dresses!
And of course Stuart looked very cool in his suit too 😎.
These two gorgeous and very driven humans found their forever person on the 14th of March 2014 when slightly stressed Karen was waiting in line at the Fringe for her much needed glass of wine after an intense week.
Only days before, her beloved fur baby Oscar had a fallen down the stairs and as Karen shared his harrowing tale with her friends caring Stuart overheard and he seized his chance to not only help her but also to chat with this beautiful woman…. who of course he had already noticed when he arrived….by swiftly handing her his business card and kindly assuring her that he could fix her stairs so this would not happen to dear Oscar or anyone else again.
So a decade later, after furry judge, Oscar, stopped sizing Stuart up and decided he wasn’t actually a threat and Stuart popped the question only 3 times…. Ummm it was probably more like a cool 7…. But who’s counting…. And Karen FINALLY said yesss I was fortunate enough to marry them on their stunning property in Paris Creek!
And Oscar was there too!
Congratulations beautiful two! What a day ❤️
Cracking shots taken by @robert.lee.photography 🙏
Wedding Dress: @suzanne_harward_design @suzanneharward
After dress: @rachelgilbertau
Suits: @calibreaustralia
Styling/Hire: @adelaideweddinghire
Cake: Grazing table with sweets included and wedding pinata
Live Ceremony music: @behindtheveilmusic
Catering: @chopping_board_catering
From wildly awesome and eclectic arbours to stylised white orchids and roses and everything in between, this small snapshot of 2024 ceremony styling just proves that your loved up backdrop is only limited by your imagination…and budget of course ☺️.
On that, most of these were styled by incredible professionals, but a few were created by the couple themselves or a talented friend!
1. @bonnie_blooms @coriole
2. @becluflowers @bloom_winwood
3. Michelle @coriole
4. Created by the couple and friends on their stunning property Paris Creek Luxury Resort and Spa @karenburgesslegacylifestyle @adelaideweddinghire
5. @floral.eden @burbrookforest @hot_mess_hannah
6. @love_thebeautifullife @bloomingbridal @lloyd.brothers @nikki.greenhill @nathan.greenhill
Watch to see what happens when Stuart and Karen took to each other…whoop I mean their piñata cake on their wedding day 😂.
Key takeaways from Stuart and Karen’s super fun piñata cake shenanigans:
🪅 Don’t make your piñata so well that you need The Rock Johnson’s help breaking it.
🪅 Always use baseball bats instead of sticks.
🪅 And both parties must not be blind folded at the same time if you want to avoid going to emergency on your wedding day… “How did he get concussion?” “umm we were trying to smash our wedding cake with baseball bats as it hung from a tree in our backyard” 😳.
Honestly this was the BEST 😂.
Sturt and Karen are awesome individuals that make an incredible team as they bring out the very best in each other and their amazing day reflected this perfectly!
Venue: Couple’s property Paris Creek Luxury Retreat and Spa
Photographer: @robert.lee.photography
Live music: @behindtheveilmusic
Styling/hire: @adelaideweddinghire
Catering: @chopping_board_catering
@karenburgesslegacylifestyle @sonyamareekok
FYI Rose petal cones are not that photogenic! Plus you can be a bigger ‘tosser’ with out them.
A lot of my photographers are asking guests to tip the petals into their hands and then throw them so they can get the best possible shot. It gets rid of the cones in the pics, better for the environment and people throw them higher!
So if you haven’t got your heart set on cones… trust me, save your hard earned money and your time and just opt for a lovely basket or an aesthetically pleasing box full of petals which can be handed around by a helpful soul while you sign the docs and we are good to go! Yewwwww!!!! 🌹
Sarah + Lachy 24.4.24 | It was early into their degree when Sarah first noticed Lachy, on an excursion at Ballarat health…
He caught her eye because he was wearing extremely tiny shoes, and she thought ‘wow, that handsome mature age student must have really small feet’.
Many years later she learnt he was actually wearing his sister’s shoes that day because his were soaking wet from riding the day before.
Lachy also noticed Sarah, but hadn’t really paid her any attention until she started messaging him for help with homework that she had clearly already completed.
They finally made it to a first date and Lachy was convinced to finally let go of the fear that a girlfriend would consume all of his free time currently spent cycling.
Fast forward 3 years, they were happily dating, graduating and ready to take on the world!
A job offer for Sarah in New Zealand materialized into a job for Lachy as well. Then Lachy’s trip back over the Tasman, closely followed by Sarah, landed them here in Adelaide.
Rarely separated, these two follow each other in work, life and love, so naturally their ceremony came with a warning to all the sympathetic cryers in the crowd...
“Eyes are going to get a little watery so please make sure you have your tissues ready...”
Congratulations gorgeous @skeane8 and @lachlansens ❤️
Venue: @simonhackettwinery
Photographer: @itsbennywylde
Wedding Dress: @evieyoungbridal @luvbridal
Bridesmaid dresses: @billy_j_boutique
Suits: @petershearermenswear
Florals: @thebloomistadelaide
Cake: @heidelbergcakes
Makeup: @kylanrhianna.makeup
Hair: @fab.halohaircollective
DJ: @choonsandmoovz
Our mate @joshuahuggettmedia sharing on point tips on how to get the perfect champers spray every time 🍾.
As a champers girl from way back I must say I have a little trouble watching this precious gold go to waste (lucky he’s spraying Yellow so all good 😂).
On that it’s definitely key to pick a cheap bottle unless you’re minted (and even then I’ll happily swap you for a bottle of yellow before you let that beautiful baby rip…I’m thoughtful like that 😎).
I love the tip about popping the bottle in your eye! My bro still managed to pop a bottle in his eye after many many years in hospo and nearly lost his sight 😮.
I see people have trouble with getting a good spray with their bottle all the time so I thought it was definitely worth sharing this great vid so you can get the best pics possible! Love your work Josh!
We’re marriage celebrants, and we sure do love LOVE! Please feel free to add any others that come to mind? 👇🏻
#celebrantlife #ilovemyjob #adelaidecelebrant #funcelebrant #moderncelebrant #relaxedwedding
Me on the way to a wedding 🤣.
Being late is not an option for us celebrants of course, so I take great pride in beating the GPS even if it’s just by a minute or two as I get to the venue no later than 45 minutes before go time so I have plenty of time to set up, chat to your fam and friends as they arrive, assist my expectant nervous human waiting at the top of the aisle and pump up the energy before we start!
Love me a good race 🥳
Carmen + Brendan 16.3.24 | The instant attraction felt from both sides the moment they met along with a shared love of adventure enabled their relationship to evolve surprisingly quickly…
Mainly to Brendan’s surprise….
In Brendan’s own words…
“After I had met Carmen, and for reasons that I would only realise in the years to come, I couldn’t get her out of my head, and wanted to spend all my time with her. I was more than happy involving her around basically every aspect of my life. I only realised years later the reasons behind this was that I had found my one person…”
Brendan and Carmen met their love for life early on and it wasn’t long before they went from living care free in their early twenties here in Adelaide, to living their best lives side by side, bettering themselves and their connection as they took the leap and moved far away from family and friends, to big, bustling, usually cold but very fun London.
After 4 amazing years of setting up a completely new life together living in the UK, meeting lifelong friends and experiencing countless different cultures, they decided it was time to move back to Australia. They began an exciting new chapter of their lives in Sydney, and it was then that Brendan decided the timing (finally) felt just about right to ask the woman of his dreams to marry him...
The perfect ‘question popping’ setting presented itself quite naturally as these two jet setters found themselves in a stunning homestead in Puglia, Italy en route to Paris for Brendan’s brother’s wedding.
Then this fabulous fashion designer designed her own dress (along with her bridesmaid’s dresses) and married this funny Media Coordinator in a stunning spot in the Adelaide hills @thebrae_dawesley on Saturday!
Congratulations @carmenfrances_ and @brendancooper_real !!!
Venue: @thebrae_dawesley
Photography: @meaghan_coles_photography
Bride’s dress: Carmen designed her own dress
Bridesmaid’s dresses: @becandbridge
Suits: @mjbale
Florals: @sherunswildflowers
Cake: @lyonsdencakes
Makeup: @bellehmu
Hair: @bellehmu
Katelyn + Tom 12.3.24 | The sweetest Tuesday ‘paperwork party’ right in the heart of Strath!
A couple witnesses, some simple heartfelt moments, an amazing photographer and two people in love got legit hitched! Simples ❤️.
Always love working with the gorgeous Teresa from @wilsonandlewis !
National finalist for the 3rd time! Yewwww! 🥳
I could not be more thrilled with the love and support I feel from my insanely cool couples and my incredible community!
THANK YOU for being so AWESOME and for making the time to acknowledge all the energy I put into my job, encourage me and support me! 😘
I was reflecting on my journey with the prestigious @abiaweddings awards as many industry buddies ask me what I think about these state and national wedding awards and I must say it has been such a glorious space for me to be involved with for over 9 years now because it gives me the opportunity to gain valuable feedback from my couples to ensure that I am offering the best service possible for them, I feel seen and heard in an otherwise quite lonely workplace (just me working for me…no ‘employee of the month’ in my office 😂) and I have connected with some of the best in the biz through the awesome ABIA community which I am pretty grateful to be able to call my friends!
Congratulations to all the @abiaweddings nominees, finalists and all my fellow industry legends who are slogging it out and putting in their all daily! You all inspire me! You are amazing! 🙌🏻
Bring on the awards night on the 30th of April!!! 🥳
Meanwhile way to represent on the national stage SA!!!
@longviewweddings @mountloftyhouse @woodburn.homestead @alexisgeorgecouture @weddingwhispers @heidelbergcakes @lyonsdencakes @annetteperryman_celebrant @unbridely @penelope_adelaide_celebrant @melanieschubertcelebrant @melebrant @celebrantsallyhughes @victoriaedwardscelebrant @glenelggolf @teatreegullygolfclub @blackcherryevents @choonsandmoovz @signatureentertainment.au @supremesounddj @carmentasovac.hair @gaetanamarjas @cindysclassicgourmet @gerardmccabe @all.about.her.music @djbenevents @inthebooth @mitchaphotography @svenstudiosweddings @travisandbennyweddings @glenewinestate @lakebreezewines @sneakys_au @oakandivory_ @classicjagsweddingcarsadelaide @kombis4u @kombikegadelaide @lifesketchweddings @sparrowweddings @thestylistsguide_ @midnorthpartyhire
Get inked on your wedding day! 🤘🏻
Wedding day tatts might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but Nikki and Nath, along with SO many of their guests were right into it!
The awesome team of artists were run off their feet!
How does it work you ask?
Well the couple sat down with the beautiful @laurenellaink and @lukekeantattoos and picked a group of cool designs that their beautiful guests could choose from, then I gave the artists a shout out during my sound check and let the couple’s loved ones know that they need pop their name and number down on the list and sign a disclaimer so they can be called up when it is their turn.
Then boom 💥. They got inked by a member of the incredibly professional and gorgeous team 🤗.
The rest of Nikki and Nath’s SENSATIONAL team:
Venue: @lloyd.brothers
Styling: @love_thebeautifullife
Florals: @bloomingbridal
Photographer: @danniellemcphersonphotography
Videographer: @roseeguerinvideo
Content creator: @mpvisuals__
Wedding Dress: @adelaidebridalcollective
Bridesmaid dresses: @showpo
Suits: @petershearermenswear
Cake: @augustandoakcake
Makeup: @jemmamillar_mua
Hair: @elysianhairstylist
It’s been a VERY busy month, but I have soooo much more to share from @nikki.greenhill and @nathan.greenhill ‘s epic day ❤️.
Congratulations legends! Keep an eye out xx
Womad time makes my heart smile 🩷
@redwards7 you rocked mate!! With your awesome guitarist Peter @himandhermusic 🤗.
Tamika + Steve 2.3.24 | After quickly becoming friends in year 8, Steve never failed to make Tamika laugh, but that wasn’t quite enough for Steve to be boyfriend material...
Meanwhile, Steve felt like it was fate that their lockers just happened to be right next to each other, so after many ‘chance’ meetings at the lockers Steve bit the bullet and asked Tamika to be his girlfriend, but unfortunately his bravery was not rewarded with a yes...this time anyway....
In true rom com style early high school was not where Tamika and Steve’s love was meant to blossom…. despite Steve’s greatest efforts during all the time he spent tutoring Tamika for Maths in the years that followed…
So we fast forward a couple of years to when they were both in year 11 and destiny engineered it so that Tamika would end up joining Steve’s family for a holiday in Port Elliott…
Now this is where everything changed…
To this day Steve still doesn’t actually know exactly what he did right, but while they were away, he seized his opportunity and asked Tamika to be his girlfriend.
To his surprise she said yes…. second time lucky…He finally broke out of that dreaded friend zone.
And they have been inseparable ever since.
Turns out Steve was right all those years ago… they do make an awesome couple and they are meant to be together for ever…Tamika and Steve just go together like peas and carrots.
These two have achieved so much very early in their lives, with their amazing wedding being held at their stunning property that they have developed in the heart of the Adelaide hills.
Congratulations and a huge thank you @tamikanaylon_ and @stevepearce1 ❤️
The whole day felt like a dream and ran so smoothly with the help their beautiful family and friends and their awesome wedding team…
Venue: Bruben Park
Photography: @jessicamaryphotography
Videography: @wed.harry
The dress: @thebridelab
Bride’s Tribe: @billy_j_boutique
Groom and his tribe: @mjbale
Styling/hire: @olympicpartyhire
Florals: Talented friend Hannah
Cake: @hey.baby.cakes
Hair: @nfmhair
Tanya and Andrew signed up for an ‘official’ wedding anniversary every 4 years when I married them on Thursday night the 29th of February 💙.
These two keep it real day to day in their relationship so Tanya wrote the perfect poem to express their unique and wonderful connection…
He never leaves the door unlocked
Nor wet towels upon the floor
The toothpaste has the lid screwed on
And he loves to mow the lawn!
She loves things clean and tidy
Though she may sometimes delude
Leave your things lying out in peril
In a second they’ll have moved!
He’s almost a giant
She barely reaches his chin
He kindly does all her ironing
Whilst she pours another gin!
She’s grateful for his patience
Listening to her post work debriefs
He can repeat her words verbatim
Despite his feet up watching TV!
She rolls her eyes when he looks at her
A cheeky smile on his face
She’s learned to guard all tickle spots
As he comes in to embrace!
He says he loves her figure
And her mental prowess too
Whilst she admires his tallness
And his skills on the BBQ!
They’re both not wholly perfect
But who are we to judge
He can be pig headed
Where she won’t even budge!
He’ll be more than just her husband
Ensuring she’s not alone
She’ll be more than just his wife
As she makes his house a home!
Now that all is said and done
We can see why they’re together
And I hope, as I’m sure that you all do
That this fine day will last forever!
Congratulations legends! It’s was a genuine treat to stand in the ocean with you both and marry you on such a beautiful night in an iconic and stunning SA location 💙.
We are not always blessed with such cracking conditions for beach weddings but when we are it feels bloody AWESOME ☀️ 🌊.
As the sun set and the tide came in I married two ‘Married at First Sight’ fanatics in a short and sweet ‘MAFs’ inspired ceremony.
You will be happy to know Andrew and Tanya both chose STAY (with a love heart) as the ‘experts’ watched on and celebrated the unique, unfiltered and real connection they share!
Congratulations legends! What a treat ❤️
Time for some new folders for the legit docs in some on point pearly tones! 🤩
Love them thank you so much @hourihan_bookbinding 🤩.
Maddy and James 17.2.24 | Their love story may have started in a local little British pub, but these two loved up travellers were married on a hot Aussie day!
At the time they met, Maddy was in the UK by herself, working as an Au pair and she did not know a soul, until the day this lovely girl that she happened to meet decided to take her under her wing and thoughtfully invited her out to lunch.
As the girls were enjoying their food, young James wandered into this friendly little pub and of course he knew Maddy’s mate and said hello...
He also might have had an ulterior motive, because Maddy had already caught his eye of course, so being the gentleman he is James asked the girls to join him and his friends for drinks.
After an evening that may or may not have involved a few Jägerbombs…
They met for their first date the very next day where fast thinking James thought he would order the vegetarian option to impress vego Maddy so he might have a better chance of being rewarded with a kiss...
Of course he could have ordered the steak and chips that he really wanted because they were both already smitten 🥰.
Congratulations lovers @madsstory and @jbrunt1990 !
What an incredible day 🤗❤️.
Thank you so much for choosing me as your celebrant and for the lovely bottle of @lloyd.brothers bubbles 🍾🥂.
Thanks to their awesome venue and team!!!
Venue: @lloyd.brothers
Photographer: @katydurnphotographics
Videographer: @alvernariston
Wedding Dress: @thebridelab @heracouture
Bridesmaid dresses: @aw.bridal
Suits: @josephuzumcu
Florals: @simply.sublime.events
Cake: @angelweddingcakes
Makeup: @ashleyrenee.mua
Hair: @hairstylist_monique_
Ice cream cart: @gelatobello
DJ: @blackcherryevents