As I mentioned in the introduction,
I write a weekly column in the Border Mail. Here are a couple of examples that will show you the types of things I write about.

Thank you for the emails I received welcoming the column back after the six-week break. I trust "the read" will continue to be informative and light hearted. Upon reading through my emails I received a query 'Why do we have a Ceremony?

Rituals and ceremonies occur in all human cultures because they fill a definite human need. Ceremony does a number of things for us.

• It brings us together and reinforces relationships between individuals, families and friends and the wider community /li>

• It provides a forum where vows are spoken before a gathering of those who matter in our lives. Therefore, we make our commitment before witnesses

• Ceremony lifts us beyond the everyday life and words, actions and symbols heighten our feelings

• A ceremony is arranged to mark a special life-cycle event, a rite of passage, the most popular being weddings, namings and funerals

Often people ask me questions to gain some insight into a celebrant's day, so I'll tell you about last Saturday

7.30am - Up and atom, bright eyed and bushy tailed, Audio sound system
               charging.

9.00am - Hairdresser appointment so I look "spunky" - in the hair area
                anyway.

10.00am - Time to spruce up - the old 3s's plus a bit of putty on the dial.

10.30am - Pack bag for naming ceremony plus wedding ceremony.

11.00am - Head off!! - for naming ceremony at Waddingtons, Kergunyah.
                      (For those who don't know a naming ceremony is not a baptism nor
                       christening, for that service does not come within the field of the Civil
                       Celebrant. A name giving ceremony does not inhibit Baby from any
                       spiritual commitment she may wish to make in later life. In fact, it is our
                       responsibility to present baby with a broad and balanced view of life and
                       encourage baby in the things we believe in, such as honesty, integrity
                       and fairness towards other people. A naming ceremony reminds us that
                       being a parent carries a great responsibility; and we know that the coming
                       of a new child enhances the relationship of love which exists between
                      generations in a family.)

12:30pm - Perform ceremony and all goes well.

1.00pm - Back in car and off to Eurobin for Matt & Kara's 3.30pm wedding.

2.45pm - Arrive at Eurobin and everything is set in order. Upon giving the
               hair a last minute spruce up I fail, in my haste, to grab the
               hairspray and yes deodorant is used, my hair however did smell
               fresh - the silly things that happen. The wedding ceremony was all
               the bride and groom had hoped for - even to the pet dog attending
               the service with pearls around her neck.

4.30pm - A leisurely drive back to Albury.

5.30pm - Unpacking of the car and finalising all the legal paperwork
                required for Births, Deaths and Marriages.

Being a Civil Celebrant is definitely time consuming but a real passion of mine, I love it, especially meeting so many varied and diverse people.

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'You are the sunshine of my life',...
I think that is how the song goes and heavens above it was needed last Saturday, being the biggest day for weddings as a marriage celebrant for the 2005 year.

You know every year for the last four years, if my memory serves me right I've had more weddings than you can poke a stick at on the last Saturday in October and each year the day proves not kind. This is why I always insist on Plan B so as to allay the nerves and cause less stress, particularly for the bride, on her day of days.

So the plan goes, 12 noon Waddingtons, all went well and June and Gerard had a great time, no rain.

At 2pm a few spots of rain were felt as Helen and Brad exchanged vows.

During the passing of the wine ceremony a few drops of water plopped into the wine chalice and my mind turned to biblical thoughts of the water mingling with the wine, none the less I noticed the bottle was empty by the end of the ceremony.

2.30pm, wedding number three, the skies opened and the heavens were just not quite sure whether to deluge or simply bucket down. The guests, the bride Gillian and myself hastily, with chairs, PA system, presents etc must have looked quite a site clambering for the shelter of a big tree where we were somewhat protected. It was so gorgeous,

Christine and her father Keith walked down the aisle to meet his bride. Keith had a pink tie with a black and white striped shirt and a fabulous badge on this right pocket with blazing letters of 'I do' on it. Once again no-one got wet.

OK 3.30pm, and still at the botanicals conducting wedding number four. A phone call at 10 o'clock that morning where the decision was made that we would rally on regardless of the inclement weather. And did it come down.

Some quick thinking by one of the guests meant that a large umbrella was erected for the bridal party and the guests were all cheery as once again we found foliage for shelter. It was a fabulous moment watching the bridesmaids strutting their stuff in black frocks with red bouquets, smiling as if there was no tomorrow as an umbrella was held above their heads. Ben said to me that he thought Kirsten would be a bit peeved but she was totally relaxed and the wedding, to me, was a RIPPER.

The whole ambience of the wedding was certainly in party mode and I doubt that the rain had any impact on the celebrations.

Finally out to Table Top to wed Donna and Matt. Plan B was set in place at 10am in the morning. Guests congregated under the huge verandah and a makeshift marquee had been erected on the front lawn. By the time I got there no-one seemed to give a hoot and so that would have partied on as I wrapped up number five wedding for the day.

I'd just like to add a little footnote that I may need to charge a small fee for hair straightener and hair defrizz on days like these, otherwise a bramac and southwester, (raincoat and hat for those like my secretary that have no idea of this flash jargon).

This weeks ZIP or ZAP

Release butterflies or doves or balloons at your ceremony.

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Part of a civil celebrants 'role description' is to help the couple, planning a wedding, choose or approve their own wedding ceremony from start to finish.

Lots of preparation and networking will make the day fantastic, not only the ceremony but the reception as well.

The celebrant is only at the ceremony to make the wedding legal by the standards of the Attorney Generals Office and BDM in the state in which you are to be married. They are the legal representatives and only a person with a number registration can do this.

As I have said before in my column the monitum, or warning, the asking and the vows and the signing of the official documents are what make it legal in Australia.

So, get in and have a go and create your own special and unique ceremony. You only need to talk to your celebrant about this to help and guide you all they can and if not maybe you need to look for a celebrant further a field.

I've been quite involved with wedding cakes lately. I never realised how much work goes into them. It's a tradition that's been around since medieval times, but it is not compulsory so, if you don't want one don't have one. Your wedding cake is a great opportunity to express your individuality.

Wedding cakes were once seen as a sign of fertility and were white both inside and out. They have become a centrepiece for the reception room as everyone wants to take a photo of the bride and groom cutting the cake; it's a sign of unity. So, make sure it's both photogenic and yummy!!!.

Begin planning the wedding cake at least 4 months before the big day. A handy hint; use the size of your guest list as a guide to the size of your cake.

When thinking about the cake discussion is needed on who will prepare and/or ice this magnificent creation: -

• Will you out-source? Meaning made to your own individual design by a specialist cake maker. Cake and wedding magazines are a good place to look for designs.

• Will you buy your wedding cake off the shelf? - A pre made cake from a shop.

• Will a friend or 'word of mouth' clever person create your mouth-watering sensation?

Tiered fruitcakes are a great wedding tradition however, in the changing face of weddings, carrot cake, chocolate mud cake and profiteroles are just as acceptable.

I suppose a little warning might be for the beautiful bride. If the wedding dress is a tad tight don't indulge, as it would not be a good look to have a pearl covered button pop as you downed the last mouthful of the double chocolate custard filled profiterole YUM YUM!!

See you at the Bridal Fair

Regards

Annie

This weeks ZIP or ZAP

Have your cake reflect your wedding theme or personal interests.

Save a tier and eat a piece on your anniversary

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