Welcome to my first blog for 2018!
It’s been an awesome first quarter filled with much love and celebrations. One of the most recent highlights was the wedding of some very close family friends.
What a glorious day it was all round! The weather gods put on a great show, and the rest was courtesy of the tireless planning and organisation from the bride, the groom, and their families.
The attention to detail for every aspect of that event, would surely be a professional wedding planner’s dream portfolio. Arriving in luxury Tesla SUV’s, the entire bridal party stepped out onto the beautiful gardens of Vaucluse House for the ceremony.
The sunshine, the stylish props, and the live music were spectacular! The whole setting just oozed with a positive and infectious vibe. The main event featured yours truly as the marriage celebrant and let me tell you it was such a buzz!
To unite any couple is always so exciting for me, but for someone you have known since they were just a twinkle in their parents eyes, is something else!
The civil ceremony was personal, playful and romantic, and the order of service featured a traditional greek crowning ceremony. I love a ritual during my ceremonies, and have covered a few from hand fasting, blending of the sands and candle blessings, but this one will go down as “The Crowning Glory”.
During their vows, he said “You are the Jerry to my Elaine, the cracker to my cheese”
She said “I promise to be as loyal to you as Tim Duncan was to the Spurs“
Both said “I do” and they stepped out on to the white carpet together, as the new
Mr and Mrs Anemogiannis.
We all kicked on to Rose Bay for the celebrations. Pre dinner drinks were served at the Empire Bar, followed by a beautiful reception at Catalinas. The entire event was tasteful and elegant, yet energetic and fun.
There wouldn’t have been many guests that didn’t have sore feet, legs or heads the next day. Or in my daughter’s case, bruised palms from slapping the floor, whilst executing some sharp greek dance moves! It will be a day to remember and I was so honoured to have been part of it.
The glory continues for the gorgeous newly weds, who are currently enjoying a well deserved honeymoon in the Maldives.
Cheers to all the blissful chapters to come for Anthony & Jennifer.
🥂
A few weeks ago, I joined 40 other celebrants from across the region, at the 40th annual Mardi Gras Parade to celebrate marriage equality in Australia. And what a celebration it was! Last year we were campaigning at the parade for same sex marriage to be legislated. We rejoiced in a landslide victory before the end of the same year!
The LGBTQI community’s quest for equality was celebrated in style at this years event. Allies from all walks of life participated in the bustling extravaganza. It’s been such a privilege to be involved over the past couple of years, and to say we went out with a bang is an understatement.
It was just brilliant to be amongst the jubilation and excitement from everyone in, and out of the parade.
Sydney truly celebrated a festival of love, and I take my hat off to my fellow colleagues for the organisation of our float, as well as the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade for coordinating a world class show!
I can’t believe how fast the new year is going and that Easter is almost upon us!
It seems like yesterday we were preparing for Christmas, the holidays, and of course the summer weddings. The early line up consisted of a couple of personalised smaller gatherings and home ceremonies, with the eastern bays of Sydney proving popular this season for the bigger events.
The weather has definitely been favourable on all occasions in our gorgeous harbour city. I’m just hoping it holds out a little longer for my next harbourside wedding, this time across the bridge, on the lovely shores of North Head in Manly.
Jason & Samantha Zagni, Dunbar House, Watsons Bay.
To all of my happy couples, I wish you love, laughter, and forever after ❤
And to you one and all, a better late than never, fabulous 2018🍀
Tina 😉
make my day, tina 