The mother of the bride rang me to ask if I was available to perform her
daughter's wedding at the end of July 2007. No worries I
stated and I would be delighted to do so, Ah Ha! And
away we went. You see Cherie and her handsome beau were
residing in Georgia, Russia. They had been school chums,
and had been partners for many years having two gorgeous
children together Max and Finley.
I must say that Max was a bit of a trick at the wedding and kept taking
the microphone and licking it and blowing into it! It
was very hilarious.
Finley was very serious as she threw the rose petals as
she walked down the red carpet to her daddy.
Back to the complications of a couple in Russia marrying in Australia.
As I have stated a Notice of Intention must be signed
and received by the officiating celebrant at least one
month and one day before the wedding. Now if you look at
Georgia it is stuck right in the middle of Europe and
English is not widely spoken there. The couple visited
the notary public in Georgia to have the documentation
signed and the official refused to sign the
documentation because she didn't speak English. An
interpreter was involved, but the notary public thought
the interpreter was dodgy and still refused to sign the
documentation.
The ball was back in my court again! I then contacted Births, Deaths and
Marriages in Melbourne and they requested that I get all
the paperwork faxed over and this date could be used as
the official beginning timeframe for the legal
requirements of a marriage in Australia.
Cherie arrived at my doorstep about 10 days prior to the wedding, and
Adam the groom arrived 2 days before the ceremony. We
worked hard at creating the ceremony and there was a
fabulous excerpt read called 'Oh the places you'll go'
by Dr Seuss. Everything ran very smoothly at Annapurna
Estate, Tawonga South, with lots of hilarity and tears
as well.
I want to include the verse. Here it is:
'Congratulations! Today is your day.
You're off to Great Places! You're off and away!
You have brains in your head. You have feet in your
shoes.
You can steer yourself, any direction you choose.
You're on your own. And you know what you know.
And YOU are the couple who'll decide where to go.
You'll look up and down streets. Look 'e, over with care.
About some you will say, "We don't choose to go there."
With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet, you're too
smart to go down, any not-so-good street.
And you may not find any you'll want to go down.
In that case, of course, you'll head straight out of
town.
It's opener there,
in the wide open air,
Out there things can happen, and frequently do to people as brainy, and
footsy as you.
And when things start to happen, don't worry. Don't stew.
Just go right along. You'll start happening too.
OH! THE PLACES YOU'LL GO!
Regards,
Annie.
