The beginning, again

This blog has now been 'live' for some five years. I've shared many events, thoughts, emotions, journeys, travels, arrivals and departures over time, but now the time has come to bring it to a close. Wanting to end on a high note, I'm posting as the last post a report written by my love about our wedding... a joyous end to our first five years of travelling together, and the beginning of so many more.

Thank you everybody for the many cards, presents, donations, messages, texts and for those who were able to be there on the day, your presence. We are very grateful and overwhelmed! 

The best day

We’ve written a bit about the day on the following pages to hopefully transmit some of the happiness and joy of the day! 

The photos

The beautiful photos that the photographer took are here. There are some shots that were taken by a drone. At one point, we’d thought the drone could follow us on the horses but Duchess wasn’t keen on that!

The day

It was perfect in every way!

Rehearsal the day before

Fortunately, we had decided to get married in the hall and so that is where we were. During our rehearsal a huge branch of a Moreton Bay Fig tree crashed down. Many people get married under that tree, so we took it as a fortuitous sign. 

Pearces Creek Hall

We got married in Pearces Creek Hall. All around this area there are lots of halls like this one. There’s a stage, and seating. They are used for many activities ranging from Guides to community dinners to weddings and funerals. This is situated just up the road from us and we pass it on one of our rides. It has a spectacular view over the valley.

What the groom wore

From the beginning we had wanted to canter up the hill on the horses, and also Hans didn’t want to wear a suit or anything traditional. So he had two shirts, his jodhpurs, and riding boots!

The ceremony

We worked long and hard to have a ceremony that was legal, (obviously) beautiful, and meaningful to both of us. For Niki that meant having a certain spiritual element – although for a long time, she wasn’t really sure what that was.  So, this is what happened.

We walked in together and the celebrant greeted us. We took our places – facing each other in such a way that we could see our friends and family, and they could see us. Tess read a poem that Hans had written for Niki way back in 2009; Anjès read a passage by Louis de Berniėres; Niki’s Dad read part of a letter from St Paul to the Corinthians, and the Alstonville Anglican minister Graham spoke about faith, hope and love. We exchanged rings: Niki’s is a simple band of white gold with ‘para sempre’  engraved, and Hans’ an existing ring engraved with the same phrase. We exchanged our vows. Niki read hers and then Hans surprised her – as always! By playing the guitar and singing his vows! Then, as we signed the register, Yarrow’s gorgeous voice, accompanied by two amazing musicians, filled the hall with the words and music of Somewhere over the Rainbow/ Wonderful World. As witnesses, Niki had asked Jenny who lives opposite, and who we both ride with, and Hans had asked Ian – who together with his wife Helen have housesat for us, and who have become very good friends.

The food

The Harvest Café in Newrybar catered for us. We go there often and we love the place and their food.

It was absolutely delicious – and although the vegetarian option was good, many were heard to declare that they still ate fish! Pasteis de nata and pavlova were dessert. 

Immediately after the ceremony the guests were served a glass of champagne and helped themselves to bread, cheese and cold meat as they wanted. This was a chance for the photographer to snap away, take Hans and Niki away for official pics and for the guests to mingle.

Music

A few months ago, we had been in Byron having dinner with Yarrow and a couple of musicians had been playing live. We both loved their music and knew it would be perfect for the day.  They did a fabulous job accompanying Yarrow during the signing. You can hear their music on the video.

That dress 

For a long time, Niki was going to wear riding jodhpurs, then palazzo pants but then wondered if anyone would actually know who the bride was if she wasn’t wearing a more traditional affair! Tess hopped online and within about 30 minutes the dress had been found! It was ordered and arrived about 7 weeks later.

Colour me coral

Inspired by a pair of funky shoes a friend had bought for a wedding, and not wanting to wear all white/ivory/silver, Niki searched for ‘something different’. Hence the coral-coloured shoes! Perfect – and great for wearing after!

Traditions

Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue .

In the same order: earrings that had belonged to my grandmother, shoes and dress, necklace from my Mum (it’s an Australian opal set in silver), undies! J

As it happened 

Two weeks before: Guests from abroad arrive – Niki’s parents, Hans’ mum and brother in law, and his eldest daughter Anjès and her partner, Jon.

• Wednesday: Niki starts to feel nervous.
• Saturday morning: cloudy skies, breakfast, Hans’ goes up to the hall to hand over the key to the caterers and check the corral for the horses, photographer arrives, final checks.
• 9.15 Niki and Hans decide to calm down by grooming their horses, and going for a long ride alone.
• 10.30 Niki and Hans wonder whether they should get linger a while longer or gallop up the hill.
• 10.30 At the hall guests are arriving and cries of ‘they’re here’ are falsely called out!
• 10. 45 Niki and Hans arrive on horseback – successful canters up the hill – horses behaved perfectly
• Niki and Hans clamber over the fence with the two sets of steps – up the back of the hall to change. Mother of the bride panics as the bouquet seems to have been mislaid. Found. Phew!
• 11.00 ceremony. 
• No idea of time… champers and nibbles, photos, lunch

Speeches

Spontaneous and not spontaneous speeches included: Niki’s Dad proposing a toast, Hans, Arthur – Hans’ brother in law thanking everyone, Tess and Yarrow   and Niki also made a little speech in Portuguese for her Portuguese friends. You can view here and here.

A surprise visitor

A python in the gents was spotted and photographed making it a true Aussie experience.

Aftermath

We have been overwhelmed with presents and cards and text messages and Facebook messages. Also we’ve had a house full of guests, which has been wonderful. And we’ve been on holiday – so no working – equally fabulous!

Flowers

We have a beautiful garden filled with flowers and greenery. In the florists buckets on the stage were; warratah, grevillia, bottle brush, cheese plant (yes, it grows outdoors here!). We added 5 lilies and 3 birds of paradise for scent and colour. On the end of the benches Niki’s Mum and Hans’ mum had tied milk bottles with raffia and filled them with small garden flowers including nasturtiums, wild violets and African daisies. These bottles were then used as table decorations during lunch.

There’s a short video that you can view online here. Our friend Phil produced it, and it gives you a lovely flavour of the day. Thank you Phil!

Niki’s Mum made her bouquet consisting of deep red kangaroo paw, orange cordifolium, red warratah and a white native flower