Annie & Will - sheer joy on Easter Saturday!

Everything about Annie and Will made me happy. The fact that when we first met, we sat on the floor of their brand new home, with absolutely no furniture, shoes off and giggling. And that they were such good friends with a few other couples that I have married - or were still to do - so they kept popping up at each other's weddings. I am really attached to this bunch ( Annie, Will, Nancy, Patrick, Cindy, Stanley, Lien, Lars, Lucille, Andrew - big hugs to all of you ) - so the day itself was a hug-fest. (Yippee!)
I loved they trusted me so completely - even though they kept me waiting - for everything - all the time. ( Like all of their friends.) When they did their homework they gave me the real them - the way I like it - so there was so much to celebrate. I was excited about this wedding for so many reasons.
The ceremony itself was in the most beautiful place - Tumbling Waters Retreat - at Stanwell Tops. It was a little like a fancy modern balinese resort - very elegant, but very private, with ocean views and gorgeous gardens - and I am sure that it was the only place that day where there was no rain. I drove through an hour or more of it to get there - but the skies were clear above us - a wedding day miracle.
It wasn't the only one - the long walk for Annie to come down the aisle with her Mum and Dad, was a moment of breath holding for everyone. Annie's Mum was unwell and barely walked at a snail's pace. I think we were all tearing up before the ceremony began.

But once we got going, it was tears one minute and giggles the next. Absolutely one of my favourite moments of the year. We had a giggle when we sent two helium balloons up into the sky, as part of a Chinese story about the man in the moon and his clever match making skills - but they got stuck in a tree. They didn't quite make it to the moon - but I was quick to point out, that they didn't pop - and that the balloons were still together in the tree - it was good enough!

When they finished their vows, they high-fived each other. ( They have a special nose rub, too;) When they kissed, everyone stopped breathing and when all was said and done, we all sat down to a picnic in the garden before it was time to head off. ( How could I resist more time with all of these lovely people? Or a friand? Or a gourmet sandwich?) I also couldn't resist lining up Annie, Will, Nancy, Patrick, Cindy, Stanley, Lucille and Andrew with me for a photo - still waiting on that one!) But I left a very, very happy girl.

Annie and Will had told me, before the big day, that nothing could go wrong - they had assembled a "dream team". They had Daniel K Cheung to take these amazing photos ( gorgeous, even though the poor fellow had a terrible migraine on the day and couldn't drive - but he still managed to keep smiling like a trooper). They had the incredible, delightful, and gogsmackingly fabulous Ferry and Santo from Paper Cranes for video (whose pre-wedding video surprise on the night was to die for).I cannot wait to see what they did with the video for the wedding). And they said, they had me.  That puts me in very, very good company. Smile. xxxxxxx