Secrets by the Lake, Montville - a perfect Montville wedding for a lovely couple.

This was truly a wedding ceremony to remember!  I say it often, and it is heart-warmingly true - I am privileged to meet many wonderful people whose paths I probably would not cross if not for the work I do as a wedding celebrant - and Jason and Kirsty are one such couple.
First of all I met Kirsty - a vivacious live-wire with a core of steel (of the finest grade), a devoted Mum to their two gorgeous girls and just a lovely , lovely person.  Then I read the words Jason wrote to me about his fiance and and really looked forward to meeting him - kind, gentle, strong, focussed - should I mention the hot Monaro?  Or the motorbike that featured so much in their courtship?
They really are an amazing, very 'together' couple, and their girls - little balls of delightful, happy, dancing energy.  Even though most of our communication in the lead up to the wedding was via phone calls and emails, I really felt that I had known them for ages by the time the wedding day rolled around.

Kirsty looked just beautiful in her traditional gown as she stood beside the very handsome Jason, and the girls in their pink fairy dresses almost stole the show.  Jason and Kirsty celebrated the union of their families, their friends, themselves and their children with a special sand ceremony that was topped off with sands from Obi Obi Creek - the creek that fills Montville's Lake Baroon and flows over the dam wall to continue on its journey.

Jason and Kirsty - you are both very special people; may your journey together bring you continued happiness and fulfilment.

A Perfect Day for a Wedding

What a perfect location for a wedding! Blue skies and fluffy white clouds reflected in the clear waters of Lake Baroon.   There are so many wonderful locations around Montville for a wedding, but down by Lake Baroon has to be among the best!

After days of drizzly, rainy weather, Jana and Galen's wedding day dawned clear, bright and sunny.  They choose to celebrate their marriage on the lawn, lakeside at Montville's very special 'Secrets on the Lake'.

The old boathouse provided a lovely spot for guests to gather and enjoy a glass of champagne as they awaited the arrival of the beautiful bride.

Galen and Jana choose an wedding ceremony that simply spoke of their love for one another and their desire to  live together as husband and wife. This was an intimate celebration of their love with close family and friends.

Ebb Waterfront - Maroochydore Wedding

Ebb Waterfront, right beside mouth of the Maroochy River provided a lovely location for Ian and Lara to exchange marriage vows in front of their many family and friends. Although the rehearsal afternoon proved to be cold, blustery and drizzling with rain, the wedding day dawned clear and remained so all day.

While Ian and his grooms-men, looking quite resplendent, were greeting guests on the deck, Lara and her bridesmaids were preparing for a spectacular nautical arrival!  Yes, they took a boat ride down the river and alighted at the nearby jetty. Lara's Dad met them on the jetty and escorted his beautiful and very elegant daughter to Ian's side.

During the ceremony, Lara's brother presented the Snoopy poem "Best of Buddies" and, for sure, the words reflect how this young couple see themselves now and on into the distant future:

"Me and you, a two man crew.  
Side by side, we're unified 
And we will never be divided."

Following their celebrations,  Ian and Lara enjoyed a honeymoon in Port Douglas.  

Ian and Lara - May your united life enrich you more than you can imagine.

Spotted Chook, Montville Wedding

As a marriage celebrant I  have the incredible privilege of being invited into the lives of some very wonderful people. Ron and Celeste are such a lovely couple - very different individuals, yet in such harmony with one another.  Their wedding day at Spotted Chook, Montville, in spite of the rain, was just lovely - very spiritual, in keeping with their personal values and beliefs, and involving special people in their lives.  Ron was supported by his son Peter, whilst his two lovely daughters Hannah and Heidi, preceded Celeste who arrival proudly escorted by her lovely Mum, Kathleen. Other family members and close friends participated in various ways in the ceremony and the reception that followed. 
After the ring exchange, Ron and Celeste celebrated their union through a candle lighting  and  Blessing of the Light ceremony.

Ron's 'Hot Rod', parked outside Amelie's Cottage, provided a lovely light hearted back drop to their wedding photos taken by Deborah Boots.

Romance at Clovelly Estate

Dale and Jaime had planned to wed beneath the beautiful Jacaranda tree in the gardens of Clovelly Estate, Montville.  Some heavy rain meant a move to the veranda was necessary, but they didn't let that spoil their special day. In fact, it gave their photographer, John Reyment, the opportunity to take some dramatically beautiful shots after the ceremony.

Dale's eyes filled with tears of awe and joy when he first spied Jaime, on her Dad's arm, wearing her stunning silk 'Fiorenza' gown and carrying a bouquet of lovely cream tulips prepared by Mel from Flourish Design of Montville.  Jaime entered to the gentle sounds of Pachalbel's Canon in D Major, played by Angel Strings.
Hand in hand, looking into each other's eyes as they spoke their vows from their heart - they looked quite stunning!  Joyous laughter and tears abounded.

This was a lovely intimate celebration of love and commitment - celebrated later with close family and friends over a degustation dinner at Clovelly's 'The Long Apron' restaurant.


Dale and Jaime - I wish you much happiness.

A Montville Rainforest Wedding for Karla and Joel

Karla and Joel were wed at Tree Houses of Montville in the quiet lushness of the rainforest understory.  With the carolling of the birds and the babbling waterfall below as music, they exchanged vows and committed themselves to each other.  Their guests gathered on the two platforms above and Karla made a grand entrance on her Dad's arm as she slowly descended the steps to the bottom platform where Joel was waiting.  She looked lovely in her almost Grecian gown with her lovely curls cascading down her back.  This private, somewhat secluded spot may not be the easiest place to take candid photographs, but it is certainly a very romantic place to hold one of the most important ceremonies of one's life!
Karla & Joel - I wish you every happiness in your life together.

Jason and Pam Marry at Clio's on Rosemount

Jason and Pam choose to celebrate their marriage at  Clio's on Rosemount - sister venue to Clio's at Palmwoods and just as lovely.  Jason and Pam are two very different people, yet their connection is something quite special to witness.  This 'tough Aussie bloke' has a real marshmallow heart (soft and sweet) and it was so very touching to see Jason's heart swell with emotion and immense pride at the first sight of his beautiful bride in her georgous A-line strapless gown, as Pam began her walk down the aisle to stand with him after her dramatic arrival in a open-topped Mercedes convertible!
Romantic red was the theme for the day and beautiful red roses adorned the aisle and the gazebo in which the ceremony was held. Jason and his grooms-men looked very swanky in their long line suit jackets and red rose button-holes which complimented the lovely Pam's rose bouquet and her attendants lovely red gowns.

Jason and Pam enjoyed a relaxing and romantic honeymoon in Fiji.

Mary Cairncross Park Wedding

Oh what beautiful day for a wedding in Mary Cairncross Park, Maleny!  And another stunning location in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland for a wedding.

Russell and Rebecca, being locals, know of all the best spots around for a wedding.  They choose the Butterfly Platform just where the open parkland merges with the lovely rainforest of Mary Cairncross Park, Maleny.  We were almost thoroughly drenched during the rehearsal the day before as a storm passed over us, but the wedding day proved clear and fine.

Russell and Rebecca faced many challenges together, each one making them stronger as a couple so it was a very real delight and honour to be a part of their magical wedding day!  They were joined by family and friends from many parts of Australia as well as from New Zealand - People who know just how special this couple is and thus made the special effort to be with them as they made their pledges for life.

As a very special touch, Russell made a series of wire 'hearts' to line the pathway that Rebecca, her bridesmaids and her Dad walked along to the Ceremony Platform - just lovely!

This is a couple, not just 'in love' but deeply loving the other.

A First Wedding Camellia House, Palmwoods

Camellia House was once a pineapple farm, but the owners have transformed it into a lovely wedding venue - beautiful gardens full of, as one might guess, camellias and the old packing shed has been transformed into a rustic but very elegant reception venue.   Paul and Amy choose this lovely venue to celebrate their wedding.  Reflecting Paul's heritage, the wedding had a distinctly Scottish feel - Paul looked very handsome in his Black Watch kilt, and Amy was simply stunning in her ivory, almost Grecian gown.  After they had exchanged vows and rings, Paul and Amy choose to seal their vows with a, ancient Handfasting ceremony, again using a Black Watch tartan bann for the handfasting.

The ceremony was to have been held in a lovely garden grove by the wee lake, but unfortunately the one day of rainy weather in the whole week meant that we had to move it inside. Nevertheless, we did not let this spoil the occasion it was still a beautiful ceremony, followed by a quite wonderful reception from all accounts!

Bob & Carmen wed at Tree Houses of Montville

Bob and Carmen are a truly lovely couple who crossed a lot of bridges to get to one another and they wanted a ceremony to reflect their journey, their growth and most importantly, their love for one another.  Carmen's Mum travelled all the way from Switzerland for her daughter's wedding.  The day before the wedding we all wandered around the lovely Tree Houses of Montville Resort to find the perfect location - we checked out the waterfall platforms - beautiful, but perhaps some of the steps were a little steep for guests in high heels to safely navigate, the gardens around the wee lakes - lovely for photographs, but perhaps not private enough for their ceremony.  They finally settled on the verandah of Picnic Creek Cabin - where they were staying.  This verandah was big enough to safely hold the 30 or so guests in attendance, overlooked a very picturesque lake and was surrounded by the forest, with the occasional visit by a scrub turkey.  The dappled afternoon sun provided a lovely soft light for the proceedings.  After the ceremony,they all enjoyed a special celebration at the Tree Houses Restaurant.

Another glorious day for a wedding at Flaxton Gardens

Brooke and James's wedding at Flaxton Gardens was a wedding with a difference. James, being from Ireland, wanted his family priest involved in his marriage ceremony so I had the great pleasure of meeting and getting to know Father H the night before the wedding as we worked out how we would co-present this very special ceremony - meeting all the requirements of Australian Law, whilst incorporating significant elements of James's Irish Catholic heritage and still ensuring a joyous and meaningful celebration of love and marriage.
James and Brooke are such a vivacious, bright and bubbly couple that anything less would have been meaningless for them and their family and friends. Father H was a delight to work with - highly intelligent with a great sense of humour, style and occasion.  He included some special words on Love in his introduction of this young couple:

L ~ Listening and learning

O ~ Openness and sharing

V ~ Vivacious with a  sense of humour

E ~ Everlasting

 

As usual, Alan, Georgina and their staff at Flaxton Gardens excelled themselves in the preparation and presentation for both the wedding ceremony and reception afterwards.

Jen and Ben's Spotted Chook, Montville Wedding

What a truly glorious day Jen and Ben were granted for their wedding.  Jen and Ben asked for a ceremony that was warm-hearted and fun and, with their input- that's just what they got.  The bridal party entered to the signature-tunes from well known family shows - "Growing Pains", "Perfect Stangers" and  Jen and Ben they announced their arrival together to the theme song from "Family Ties".  Quite perfect!

Family and friends contributed through the sharing of stories - Close friend, Linda shared  a very moving chapter from Antoine Saint-Expuery's "The Little Prince" and Jen's Mum, Lorraine shared the picture story book "Instructions" by Neil Garmen.

The bridal party were simply stunning in their Victoriana-Steampunk inspired outfits. Jen looked gorgeous in her lace trimmed bronze gown as she stood by her man. 

A lovely warm wedding for a lovely couple!

A Baby Blessing on the Range

A couple of weeks ago I had the very great pleasure of stepping in at the last minute to create, plan and present a wonderful Baby Naming and Blessing Ceremony for the Porter family of Melbourne. 

The parents wanted a spiritual, but not religious ceremony and choose Montville for its beauty and its proximity to family who lived nearby and the Brisbane Airport for themselves and family who travelled for the occasion.  I first met Mum and Dad and their beautiful, beautiful baby daughter at 4pm the day before the wedding - so after an hour or so together gathering information about what they wanted, it was a quick draft, off to see them again to ensure I was on the right track, and then a wee bit of midnight oil burning to polish and ensure all was as they wanted it to be.  I am not sure if the highlight of the ceremony was Mum and Dad's anointing bub with precious oil or the grandparents together lighting her blessing candle - both were beautiful moments.

It was a joyful celebration of new life on the balcony of "Seadrift" with the lovely Sunshine Coast as a backdrop.  Baby M - I wish you joy and happiness throughout your life.

Winter in Montville

Well, winter is almost over, the sun is shining and the pace of weddings and other ceremonies in Montville and the Sunshine Coast picks up for the next few months.  Christmas - New Year bookings are coming thick and fast, so please don't hesitate to contact me if you are planning a wedding for this special time to secure your booking.

During the couple of weeks lull that winter offers, I managed to get my latest news letter written.  These Newsletters aim to give the public information about the practice of  a Civil Celebrant, what's happening in Montville and surrounds and other information that may be of use to couples planning a wedding, or families planning another special celebration.
If you would like to be on the e-mailing list for these quarterly Newsletters please drop me a line at "merlin@ceremoniesinmontville.com".  This is the first one I have published to the web.  If you are a celebrant I am happy to include you on my mailing list.

or

Click on the Title above to go directly to the page.

Sunshine Coast Hinterland Wedding Venue

A delightful new venue for Sunshine Coast Weddings is about to open and I had the opportunity for a sneak preview as I am to conduct a wedding there in a couple of weeks time. 


Camellia Place is in Palmwoods - just 15 minutes from Montville and 15 minutes from Maroochydore.  It was once a pineapple farm, and boasts a simply gorgeous homestead and stunning gardens.  There are some lovely locations within the garden to choose from for your ceremony.   The old pineapple packing shed has been renovated in an elegant though rustic style and makes a perfect location for a lively wedding reception. 

A wander along the meandering pathways of the gardens divulges opportunities for great photos.  The owners, Doreen & Peter, have included many whimsical yet authentic touches designed to give a creative photographer great scope.

If you think this may be just what you are looking for for your wedding ceremony and reception - please contact me and I'll put you in touch with Peter and Doreen at Camellia Place, Palmwoods.
 
My phone number is 0418 980500.

Why Montville as a wedding destination?

I was asked today by a friend, who is yet to visit Montville, just what makes Montville, Maleny and the general Hinterland a great wedding destination.  In a couple of moments I came up with:

• Romance wherever you turn
• Great accommodation for everyone - ranging from lovely budget level motels and cabins through to luxurious 6* resorts.
• Spa treatments - massages, facials - all the treatment right there in you own room if that's what you want.
• Everything you need for a small intimate wedding or a grand lavish affair is right here on the range- florists, hair & make-up artists, venues for your ceremony & reception, fantastic, award winning photographers and of course, yours truly, Montville's professional civil marriage celebrant.
• Lots of things to do -from the bush on our doorstep to beach just 30 mins away.
• Shopping to keep everyone happy - with regular 'hubby seats' to allow them to rest awhile.
• Scrumptious food set in unbelievable surroundings.

And I could go on and on.
Take a look at
http://www.montvilleguide.com.au
http://www.montvillecoc.com.au


To think I live and work amidst all of this - how fortunate can one be.

Ceremonies to Remember - Montville

Simon and Beth were recently married at Clovelly Estate, Montville.  Theirs was a wedding with a difference, a unique ceremony, held under the sparkling jewels dangling from the branches of the ancient Jacaranda tree, containing touches of Celtic tradition combined with some Buddhist ideals.  Here's wehat they had to say afterwards about their cerlebrant:

Thanks guys - it was a real pleasure working with you.

Montville Bar & Grill - a perfect place for a wedding.

Francis and Emma choose to be married at the Montville Bar & Grill - a place that holds special memories for them.  They have enjoyed romantic getaways at the Montville Mountain Inn right next door and many a fine meal at the Bar & Grill.

It is just lovely to see a couple overcome the odds and find true love in each other.  Emma and Francis are so well suited and much happiness awaits them as they walk into the future together. 

Francis and Emma choose ivory for their wedding outfits and it was a colour that showed off Emma's magnificent auburn hair to perfection.  The lace detail incorporated into Emma's dress added a lovely touch of elegance and glamour.

Emma and Francis concluded their ceremony with the exchange of Roses as their first gift to each other as husband and wife.  This follows on from Francis's personal tradition of giving Emma a rose as often as possible to show his love and care for her.

Emma & Francis - may you know much joy as you travel life's pathways together.

A wedding under the trees at Clovelly Estate

Simon and Beth choose the lovely Spicers Clovelly Estate for their magical Montville Wedding.  They held a very personal, heartfelt ceremony in the morning. Beth's Dad offered some poignant words of wisdom to the lovely couple - at times amusing, at times deep and insightful. Through his words he clearly demonstrated his love for his daughter and his delight in her chosen husband.

Beth paid great attention to detail as she set about creating hers and Simon's 'sacred space' for their marriage ceremony. Photographs of much loved, but absent family, adorned the signing table along with special trinkets and treasures.  An aunt created some lovely crystal bead work that was strung from the branches of the Jacaranda tree to sparkle in the sunlight as Beth and Simon stood beneath and took their vows.

Clovelly's marvellous chef, Cameron Matthews produced a mouth-watering high-tea breakfast for Simon and Beth to enjoy with their guests immediately after the ceremony. This was followed by an evening of degustation delight as the celebrations continued.

Once again, it was my pleasure to work with photographer, Jodi Macdonald.  Jodi is a consummate professional and her work is always truly stunning.

Montville Celebrant goes to Norfolk Island

I have been a little quiet for the last couple of weeks - lovely hubby and I took ourselves off to Norfolk Island for a spot of relaxation. 

Lots of lovely, if quite exhausting, bushwalking, spectacular, very dramatic ocean and cliff views, historical explorations, lovely gardens and of course, great food and just a spot of shopping .....

A "fish fry" at Puppy's Point, watching the sunset, listening to live music was a magical evening.

A glorious day for a wedding at Flaxton Gardens, Montville

Tom and Gillian made a deep connection because they each shared a similar view for their future - and so they chose the lovely Flaxton Gardens, with it's magnificent view across the coast, right down to the ocean past Maroochydore, to celebrate their wedding.  The beauty of their chosen wedding ceremony location reflects the inner beauty created by their love for each other.
I really don't think I have ever seen a smile as broad as Thomas's when he first spied Gill in her beautiful ruched ivory gown as she stood at the top of the steps with her Dad, Max.  Gillian radiated love, joy and absolute certainty in the commitment she was making - and Tom gave it all right back to her.  What a delightful couple!

Tom's lovely daughter, Ariel, was a lovely bridesmaid, caring for the two delightful flower-girls.  It was also her duty to present the rings to Tom and Gill at the appropriate time - this she did with poise and grace - Well done Ariel!
Shelby, Gillian's Maid of Honour, presented a lovely reading that brought tears to many an eye.
And finally, amidst great applause, the Certificate of Marriage was presented.  Tom and Gill obviously appreciate and value the close family ties and many friendships they enjoy together.

As I write this they are celebrating their marriage at the home of Gill's parents in Maleny.  Tom & Gill - I wish you every happiness and great joy as you explore your beautiful view together.

A break from weddings in Montville

I had to share this photo I took using the camera on my phone.
I went down to Lake Baroon (aka Baroon Pocket Dam) early this morning for a couple of hours of kayaking - simply beautiful.  The early morning mists floating gently on the dark, still surface of the water and slowly, slowly lifting as the sun rose and warmed the air. As the mist and fog lifted the the surrounding trees and blue sky and fluffy clouds water were mirrored on the lake's surface.   It was a brisk 16C, but the paddling kept the body warm.

The wonderful Montville resorts of Narrows Escape and Secrets on the Lake both border on Lake Baroon - both places provide superb accommodation and lovely venues for a wedding ceremony.

Clovelly Estate, Montville - a joyous elopement

In the dappled shade of the ancient Jacaranda tree, Martin and Louise exchanged their vows in an intimate wedding ceremony in front of close friends, Analise, Jeff, Daniel and Alison. Their happiness was evident, firstly by the giggles emanating from within the cottage as the girls finished their preparations and once Louise appeared looking simply stunning in her strapless, ivory gown, both she and Martin wore smiles as wide as their faces would allow.  They certainly infected us all with their joy.
Clovelly Estate, Montville is a wonderfully romantic venue for an intimate wedding and its natural beauty was enhanced by lovely floral arrangements by Montville florist Mel of Flourish Design.

Martin and Louise's day was captured in photographs by the fabulous and fun to be around Jodi McDonald.

A Truly Spiritual Ceremony of Marriage

"I would rather spend one lifetime with you  then face all the ages of this world alone." ~ In my mind, this couple are the embodiment of the love shared between Aragorn and Arwen.
Caitlin and Shima chose a beautiful spot at Moffat Headland that is sacred to them. With the blue sky above and the rolling ocean below, nestled in their sacred grove of Pandanus, we celebrated their marriage.
The ceremony, that we created together, was quite free-flowing, but contained elements that held special meaning for Shima and Caitlin - from the beginning set up with the lighting of the candle and the presentation of the sword, their personal songs to each other at the exchange of rings and the finale as Caitlin sang her own beautiful composition "Love's Legacy". 

Even with the wee pause in proceedings, as Simon and Rosemary made a quick dash to retrieve the beautiful Claddagh rings from on the coffee table in the unit, was used as a special moment to reflect on our beautiful surroundings and the significance of the ritual being enacted!

The significance of the Claddagh Rings reflects Caitlins Irish heritage:

The hands are there for friendship

The heart is there for love

For loyalty throughout the year,

The crown is raised above.

Montville Country Cabins in April

Michelle and Dan chose a small, intimate ceremony to celebrate their marriage.  The lovely lagoon at Montville Country Cabins provided a lovely backdrop on an almost sunny day.  When we met the day before to go over the last minute details Michelle's biggest worry was that it would rain as she really wanted a lovely outdoors wedding.  We went to bed to cloud and drizzle and awoke to glorious sunshine!
Michelle and Dan make a truly lovely couple and we all smiled to see Michelle 'escorting' her Dad to the ceremony rather than the other way around - I think Dad was dawdling a bit too much as she struggles to contain her excitement.
Michelle looked quite stunning in her lovely bronze coloured lace dress with her hair done in a very elegant style by Mel at Velvet Hair and Wedding Boutique.
Brett & Kristie from ngg Studios were their photographers on the day.
A lovely touch at this wedding was Michelle's 3 week old nephew was the ring-bearer and he did a great job of not crying once nor dropping the tightly tied rings into the lagoon!

The photos you see here were taken by my lovely husband and are definitely not of a professional standard - but I love him for taking them for me anyway!)

At the Little White Wedding Church, Maleny

The Little White Wedding Church was the location that Meg and Dave chose for their wedding ceremony.  This is a beautiful little restored church that is ideal for couples, like Dave and Meg, who want a traditional feel to their wedding ceremony but who may not have any church affiliation.  Meg and Dave's family and friends came from as far afield as Melbourne and Sydney for a lovely weekend in Montville to celebrant their marriage with them. 
During Meg and Dave's ceremony a little of their personal journey as a couple was told, their beliefs and reasons for marriage we spoken of and a couple of close friends presented special blessings and readings to the happy couple. I loved Meg's 'thumbs-up' as they were pronounced 'husband and wife" - a lovely spontaneous gesture!

The Little White Wedding Church is a lovely venue in which to hold a ceremony.
As a celebrant - it has wonderful acoustics for both music and speaking thus ensuring all guests (it seats around 100 guests) can hear all aspects of the ceremony.  I also found Trevor very easy to work with and accommodating to my needs to ensure the ceremony was presented in best way possible.
As a guest - A lovely courtyard in which to wait and comfortable seating in air-conditioned comfort once inside.
As a couple - you can relax knowing that Trevor has all the little details under control, your guests are comfortable, the groom and his supporters have a comfortable area to wait and you have a wonderful location for some stunning photographs of your most special day.