CEREMONIES OF LOVE AND LAUGHTER
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15/2/2020

2019...What a year

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As it is February 2020 I can reflect with much joy on the wonderful year 2019 was and the couples I have married. Each wedding ceremony was a wonderful, fun and romantic affair that each couple and their guests have enjoyed and received amazing feedback from.

A HUGE Thank You to my beautiful Husband Alan...xxx

Alan plays such a large part of each wedding as he drives me to the ceremony venue, then sets up the PA, makes sure the music is right on cue, takes photos of the ceremony and then once it is all done packs everything away and drives me back home... he is my roadie!

Thank you to all the couples who have trusted me with being their celebrant and marrying them through out 2019. It was a joy and an honour to share your special day.

Already by mid February there have been several weddings I have officiated at and so, many more to come... Can't wait!!!

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25/3/2019

March 2019 weddings are done

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My final wedding for March 2019 was held amongst the beautiful backdrop of Burbrook Forrest in Kuitpo and the ceremony was a fun and beautiful event shared with friends and family. Such a gorgeous couple with a sense of fun, love and togetherness. Thank you Rebecca and Toby for asking me to share your special day with you all... I loved every moment...xxx

Photography: DianaM Photography
Videography: Adorn Visuals
Celebrant: Martess Dowling
​Candid Photography: Alan Dowling
Venue: Burbrook Forest

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To the right you can see Russell from DianaM Photography lying down, smack bang in the middle of the aisle taking a photo... the end result was sensational!
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19/3/2019

Busy, Busy, Busy

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It has been a little while since I have visited and written on the Wedblog only because I have been busy meeting clients, attending rehearsals and marrying people... to each other, not to me!!

My two weddings over the weekend were simply beautiful...

The first ceremony was for a couple who were both married for the second time. David and Su are so in love and the warmth from their family and friends was just moving. The setting was gorgeous Partridge House in Glenelg and the Bride even had her family there from Vietnam, which made everything extra special.

Photographer: DianaM Photography
Celebrant: Martess Dowling
Candid Photos: Alan Dowling
Venue: Partridge House


The second wedding on the weekend was at Ayres House... gorgeous venue with beautiful staff that made everything work smoothly for the exceptional amount of guests present at the wedding.

A small delay then saw Emily and Lloyd become Husband and Wife in spectacular settings of the Grand Ballroom on such a glorious March day. The little flower girl stole the show as she beamed with delight at being allowed to stay in the photograph... utterly gorgeous wedding. 

Photography: Fiona Thurlings Photography
Celebrant: Martess Dowling
Candid Photography: Alan Dowling
Venue: Ayres House

​Thank you to both couples for asking me to share your special dat...xxx
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5/3/2019

It was a hottie!

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Unseasonably hot weather for March 2019 saw a 40 degree centigrade day and a wedding in the open grounds of the Aston Hills Golf Club... beautiful setting... great staff and lovely venue, except no shade at the rose garden.

Groom and his wing men ate naturally in the shade nervously bantering and the question was then asked "Are we still going to have an outdoor ceremony given the extreme heat?

Groom (young and strong) replied, "yeah, heat doesn't worry me!"
Similar comments were made by the wing men!

Me: OK, Just so you know you will need to sign a waiver saying that you are wanting to have the ceremony at the outdoor location even though there is no shade and the heat is 40c and even though I have advised you otherwise.
Groom: Yeah, that's fine.
Me: I will also have to give the copy of the waiver to the Paramedics should anyone succumb to the heat and collapse as I will have to explain to them why I let the ceremony happen out doors in this heat.
Groom: Um... OK.
Me: Are there seats enough for everyone?
Groom: Um...
Me: Are there any Elderly people, young children, anyone pregnant or people who are not well?
Groom: Yeah... (Wing men stop their banter and move closer)
Me: These people also need to be considered in your decision... (staffer comes strolling by carrying a signing table) ...Ok, have a think and I'll just go and get the table set up then, so please excuse me.

Three minutes later another staffer joins me in the infernal heat and I ask if there is an alternative indoor venue we could conduct the ceremony... she says yes (with much relief)... so I ask the other staffer to take the table back inside.

Return to the Groom and his wing men... Groom and some of the wing men are perspiring profusely.

Me: I have made a decision regarding the outdoor ceremony... we need to have it indoors.
Groom: OK
Me: I was out there for three minutes and already I was reddening up.
Groom: Yeah, that's fine we will have it indoors...

Excused myself to go help set up the ceremony room.

I was fortunate the couple were so accomodating in regarding their guests comfort and safety under some very extreme weather conditions... they were absolutely great and we loved sharing part of their special day with them... guests were happy... staff were happy... photographer ad videographer were happy... good move having it indoors.

Unfortunately, other Brides in the past were not so generous and insisted on having no alteration to the place they wanted to get married or the length of the ceremony nor had they any regard for their guests having to stay in the heat, waiting for her to arrive in her air conditioned Limo.
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I now have a 'Special Weather Policy' contract in place.
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25/2/2019

Our official logo

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Well it's official... Our Logo is now unveiled!

Part of the fun of setting or establishing something is getting every component worked out, in place, decided upon and then activated... the same was said for out Logo.

Thank you o all my Facebook friends who commented, gave advice, voted and then helped Alan and I decide upon out new logo... we both love it!

There is actually meaning behind this logo... the Chinese believe that "an invisible single red thread connects those who are destined to meet, regardless of time, place, or circumstance. The thread may stretch or tangle, but will never break"' 

Of all the people I have married there seems to be this connectedness that can only be described as "destined" and so the idea of the red thread became the inspiration for the logo. 
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25/2/2019

The logo wil be decided today

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Logo still not decided as the recent poll, deadlocked!

I can now fully understand what it means to be a logo designer and have to teal with the creative as well as the practical aspect of the design.
Asked all my friends to pick which one they liked and provide feedback... bless them they stepped up!!
​The two choices are as follows...
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Equally loved this left me with a dilemma because half my friends loved the first and the other half loved the second BUT some interesting points were made and I have taken them all on board  and am grateful so many people took the time out comment.

The Jury is still out on this one!!
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After much discussion with the cat and my Husband (in that order) it is unanimously agreed... this is our new Logo!!! Wooooo Hooooo!!! *flings confetti*

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18/2/2019

Our New Logo

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Well it finally happened, the new logo has been revealed and I love it... but more so, I love that others love it too.

It depicts two hearts in one continuous motion, together but not joined, representing the uniqueness of each individual but linked together with the rings... everlasting circles of precious metal with no beginning and no end.

The hearts are not fully closed meaning they are always ready to receive and share and always willing to be open to new possibilities... and although incomplete together they are whole.

The contrasting colours are representative of the yin and yang... balance in all things.



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16/2/2019

Emily & Matt's Wedding

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Wake up to a gorgeous day for Emily and Matt's Wedding out at the Adelaide Botanic Gardens and the beautiful Diana from DianaM Photography and her darling partner Russell will be there to capture the ceremony... can't wait to see you all and be part of your special day...xxx

Mid Afternoon...
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Arrived to the most beautiful set up by the Botanic Gardens staff and soon the guests arrive... all beautifully dressed for the wedding and all congregate in the shade of the beautiful old gumtrees... lots of fun with bubbles walking back down the aisle... such a beautiful group of people.

Thank you Emily & Matt.

Shout out to the Wedding Providers

Photography: DianaM Photography
​Videography: Life Sketch Films
Candid Photography: Alan Dowling
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15/2/2019

Now that the Interim Logo is done...

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Outgoing Website... From This Day Forth Weddings

Incoming Website... Ceremonies of Love and Laughter

Domain Name Registered ... CHECK
Website Registered... CHECK
Business Name Registered... CHECK
Other Important People Notified... CHECK
Sixth Cup Of Coffee For The Day... CHECK
Logo Design... PENDING
Facebook Page... CHECK

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15/2/2019

A Day In The Life Of A Celebrant

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Needed a logo  photo for the interim while everything else is getting done...

Saw a cute piccie on Google search that was 'Me-To-A-Tee' so decided to take inspiration and make my own ...
(Did I tell you I am a photoshop junkie... tragic really...)

Head out doors to take a photo of my fingers...

Hubby opens the back door and asks "What are you doing?"
(A question he asks me... OFTEN... with exactly the same perplexed look on his face!!)
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"Taking a photo of my fingers" I reply.
Hubby: "Why?"
Me: "Because I forget what they look like..."

He walks away...
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​Below are the before and after shots to see the photo progression!!
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