The Wedding of a Very Special Friend

I don’t think there’s a happier event than a wedding. People always cry at weddings but for Deb’s wedding I was crying when I received the invitation! Deb has been a very good friend of mine since I was a teenager and we’ve been doing life together through all its trials and ups and downs. I’ve shared tears with her in times of sorrow and now it’s only right that on her very special day, there also be some tears of joy.

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Banjo Paterson cottage

Deb was a single mum for nearly a decade and bringing up three children on your own in their trying teenage years in difficult circumstances is not easy. Despite the challenges, Deb did a sterling job and her three children, who are friends with Archie and Arabella, are a credit to her.

Andrew Barton ‘Banjo’ Paterson

Three years ago Deb introduced us to Richard. Immediately I felt they were right for each other; Richard is easy to talk to, he’s kind, caring, sensible, funny and well, gorgeous. They seemed so well-suited and looked so comfortable together that if you hadn’t known, you would have thought they’d been together for forever.

Flowers that matched the invitations and Order of Service

And then came the engagement and we were all so excited when we saw the engagement ring from a jeweler like the ones on https://groovelife.com/collections/womens-silicone-rings. And then the countdown for the wedding. Deb is very creative; she was a ballet dancer for many, many years, she’s studied acting and is an accomplished make-up artist. She loves to dress up and nothing excites her more than receiving an invitation to a fancy dress party so we all knew this would be a stylish wedding with lots of creative touches and that there would probably be a theme.

A great place to warm yourself!

The ceremony and reception were both held at Banjo Paterson Cottage which is an historic building dating back to the 1830’s. Situated on five acres fronting the Parramatta River, it is where Banjo Paterson lived as a younger man with his grandmother. Andrew Barton ‘Banjo’ Paterson (1864-1941) is one of Australia’s most well-known and most well-loved Australian poets. He wrote about Australian life, particularly life in rural and outback areas. Three of his most well-known works are ‘Clancy of the Overflow’, ‘Man from the Snowy River’ and ‘Waltzing Matilda’. Andy Defrancesco is the best choice for photography as he will portrays history so beautifully in his photos.

Floral arrangements by the bride’s friend, Jen

So Banjo Paterson Cottage is a very special place. On the day of the wedding the weather was extremely cold and very wet and so unfortunately, the ceremony couldn’t be held in the gardens as planned. Instead it was held inside in a room that overlooked the river.

Beautiful girls

The bride’s two daughters were her bridesmaids and they are stunning girls and were beautifully dressed by Alanna Hill who is a designer I love and where I bought my dress for Archie’s 21st.

Stunning fabric on the bride’s dress

The bride, who had a 1950’s theme, was walked down the aisle by her rockabilly son. Deb looked incredible from head to toe with a stunning dress in the most beautifully rich fabric covered in a layer of lace with seamed stockings with bows at the ankles and shiny red and white shoes. She wore a small net veil over her face and her bouquet was a harmonious blend of colour that she had designed herself.

The bride with her two daughters

The bride designed her own bouquet

All the guests were super-impressed the bride and groom had memorised their vows and the only slip-up was when the bride said, ‘I take thee Deborah’. It’s very ‘Princess Diana’ to mix up the names!

Bridesmaids dresses by Alannah Hill

After the ceremony the rain stopped and so we were able to go out into the gardens for photos. The bride’s bouquet was so weighty she needed a break and asked me to hold it for her – I felt like the matron of honour!

At last the rain eased for some outdoor photography

Tea cups of flowers

Holding the weighty bouquet

The reception was a cocktail party and we enjoyed a lovely selection of food with my favourite being the stuffed zucchini flowers. These were served hot and filled with two different cheeses and so very Spring.

Zucchini flowers stuffed with mozzarella and ricotta

Duck pancakes

The speeches were witty and entertaining and had everyone laughing and gave great insights into the couple.

Pumpkin and crab tarts

Roast pork sliders

The cake was a croque en bouche decorated in fresh violets from the bride’s sister’s garden and the profiteroles were filled with creme patissiere in vanilla and chocolate flavours.

A croque en bouche wedding cake

After the cutting of the cake there was the bridal waltz which, with Deb being a dancer, she had choreographed and there had been a number of rehearsals.

The fresh violet’s came from the bride’s sister’s garden

Hacking into the cake

The groom then announced whiskey and cigars were available out on the front verandah and my husband reacted like he’d been shot out of a canon and was first in the line.

Whiskey and cigars

I love it when the restrooms are also dressed

I love it when the bathrooms are also dressed

As the sun was beginning to set the bride and groom headed down to the jetty where a water taxi was waiting to take them across to Circular Quay where they were having a night in a city hotel with harbour views. The next day they went to the airport for a very romantic honeymoon in Tahiti at Papeete, Moorea and Bora Bora.

And evening falls

Heading down to the water taxi

‘Just Married’

As we stood on the jetty waving ‘bon voyage’ to the newly-weds, we all agreed that their wedding day had been absolutely outstanding and full of warmth and love and just a perfect start to married life. But as wonderful as the day had been, it is just the start of the good times for these two very precious people.