In Canberra we are having the
most extraordinary spring I can ever remember! Many Saturdays have been rainy,
reminding me that ‘wettings’ was the word our small daughter used to say for
‘weddings’.
We had a glorious warm sunny Saturday on 9 October when Jami and Daniel married at the National Botanic Gardens, and that’s the only warm sunny one I can recall. By the next day it was very cool and overcast again for the wedding of Kylie and Troy at Rose Cottage.
Jami and Daniel were the clever couple who picked the best Saturday in October |
At our son’s wedding on Saturday October 16 at The English Gardens in Yarralumla, we were gladdened by a
gentle burst of warming sunshine, right on cue for the ceremony. Glad too that our back-up plan was Oaks Brasserie so we could gather in the warm marquee for our post-wedding party before the reception in Narrabundah.
Other grooms and
brides have been lucky with their timing too. For the wedding of Selina and Ben
at Rose Cottage on Saturday October 23, there was light rain before the bride
arrived, cloud cover and good light for the ceremony and just after I left,
another downpour! I'm guessing all the guests were celebrating inside by then.
(I plan to write a post soon about Rose Cottage, near the Monaro Highway in Gilmore. It's a great location for a family
wedding, and under new management.)
Last Saturday, November 6, when I was
driving to the wedding of Femke and Tyson at the Senate Rose Gardens at Old Parliament House, I drove through rain almost all the way. Of course I
anticipated a call about moving to Plan B but it seems the rain was localised
and at the Gardens it was fine. Cool, but fine. We had a very happy party afterwards in the Gardens. Since I was invited as a guest I had the added pleasure of dressing as a guest.
I'm sure that the frequent steady rain this Spring has gone deep into the soil, allowing hungry plants and trees to access nutrients they simply couldn’t access when the soil was dry. As a result, everything is bursting with vigour and beauty.
Roses, roses, roses
I'm sure that the frequent steady rain this Spring has gone deep into the soil, allowing hungry plants and trees to access nutrients they simply couldn’t access when the soil was dry. As a result, everything is bursting with vigour and beauty.
The Rose Gardens at Old Parliament
House this year are absolutely stunning! I’ll mention here in case you don’t
know it, this is a FREE wedding venue. You can book your favourite part by
contacting the National Capital Authority.
Like my daughter and son-in-law were able to
do for their early March wedding a couple of years ago, you may even book a whole garden. It then
feels like you own a huge estate and you’re getting married in your own
magnificent garden. Your guests will love you for it! Book early, I found out
on Sunday that there are twelve weddings booked in these heritage rose gardens between
now and Christmas.
Newlyweds Tyson and Femke in the Senate Rose Gardens at Old Parliament House |
In the two major Rose Gardens (Senate on the right side of OPH and and House of Reps on the left) if you wish to use one of the kiosks to serve drinks to your
guests, you pay a deposit for the key and it’s refunded on the key’s return.
An old favourite of mine - 'Just Joey' in the House of Reps Garden |
I think this will be a long post
as I couldn’t resist taking lots and lots of photos when I was at the Gardens for
the wedding of Femke and Tyson at 3 on Saturday, and the wedding of Danijela and
Dalibor at 3 on Sunday. Dalibor and Danijela were so lucky to get the nonstop sunlight that we are more used to in Canberra in our peak wedding season of October/November.
The generous perfumes of
the enormous old roses in the warmth of the sunlight took me back to perfumed stationery I used to love using
when I was a girl – was I ever not a writer?
Danijela and Dalibor arrive for their
wedding on a lovely sunny Sunday
|
If you’re thinking of having a
‘rosie’ wedding at our wonderful national treasure – the heritage Rose Gardens
at Old Parliament House, it’s too late for the spring flush. Remember that your
Notice of Intended Marriage must be lodged with your celebrant at least one
month and one day before the event.
Of course the rose gardens will be lovely in the summer as well. Many roses will still be looking good. There are plantings of other pretty flowers, the trees are shady and the lawns are very well-maintained. But if it’s the spendour of roses that you’re after, I suggest you plan your wedding for the autumn flush around March/April.
Of course the rose gardens will be lovely in the summer as well. Many roses will still be looking good. There are plantings of other pretty flowers, the trees are shady and the lawns are very well-maintained. But if it’s the spendour of roses that you’re after, I suggest you plan your wedding for the autumn flush around March/April.
Just before I
finish, I’ll mention a new favourite of mine. “Julia’s Rose’.
‘Julia’s Rose' is
actually brown. Beautiful creamy brown. There is nothing else like her. She’s
not a hardy rose so she’s not as easy for florists to source as many other
popular roses. My new daughter-in-law had some in her bouquet on Oct 16 so I
can cut a photo and paste it here.
My Heart Garden is also looking superb this
amazing Spring. At no extra charge, you’d be most welcome to have your small wedding in this tranquil secluded garden on any
weekday. (And yes, I certainly do have a rose garden - two in fact.)
Here are some more photos from the Old Parliament House Rose Garden weddings. You'll find even more photos from recent weddings in the slideshow to the right of this post. Sometimes it works for me to take photos at weddings, other times not. What's easy now though, is Picasa's new upload system for adding photos to blogs and blog albums.
SIMPLE (BUT STILL) SPECIAL SERVICE in THE HEART GARDEN
PLEASE NOTE: I have changed the Simple (but Still) Special Service I
introduced on September 1 this year. It’s proven a very popular service, especially
for couples who’ve found out we have no Registry Office celebrants in Canberra.
Please disregard what it says in the PDF about
keeping everything minimal. If you wish, I will bring out the crystal champagne glasses for
you and your guests (up to five) after the ceremony (which can be as short as
five minutes) and you’ll be most welcome to linger for photos.
This is a
natural conclusion to such a happy event and it didn’t feel right without the
option of celebration drinks and lots of photos .Also, I will print your simple ceremony
in your chosen font on heavy parchment and put it, with your certificate (also
in your chosen font), not in an envelope but in an attractive clear plastic
wallet for you to take with you. (See in the photo below, certificate and wording for Danijela and Dalibor, in clear plastic wallet for safekeeping.)
Here's an idea: Dalibor and Danijela hired from Kennards for $50, a table, two elegant chairs and a best quality heavy white cloth. Very classy! |
I love my celebrant work and all the joy and
beauty it brings into my life. If you would like me to officiate at your
wedding, please call me on 6161 0718 any day between 9am and 9pm, or email me.
Click here, or fill in the contact form (see Wedding Pages top right in this
blog).
Whether you wish to book my services or not, please feel free to call me
or email me with any questions you may have about getting married in Australia
in general, or specifically about getting married in Canberra or nearby NSW. I'll be happy to help.
Till next time
Sincerely
Michele
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