Adelle + Brenden

These hopeless romantics had a long running joke that they’d get married on 04.04.2020 as it’s the day of their 8th anniversary, which also happens to fall on a Saturday. And so when the world went into Corona virus Pandemic lockdown Adelle and Brenden’s grand plans of being married at the beautiful grounds of the Heidi museum had to be postponed. However we kept our eyes and ears peeled for the latest news regarding the rights to marry in these uncertain times in order to honour their intent to marry on their dream day.

As it stands weddings have the green light to go ahead as long as it only had the bare minimum of participants of 5 people, which include the couple, celebrant and 2 witnesses. It took us some time to process the new restrictions and then we just ran with it. So instead of having their wedding celebrations with all their loved ones as originally intended. We devised a super intimate elopement getaway to Mount Donna Buang, the site of their misty romantic wedding proposal. As for their 2 witnesses we enlisted the help of their photographer and videographer duo Isla and Brendan from Emotions and Maths along for the ride.

All week leading up to Adelle and Brenden’s big day we had our eyes on the news and weather hoping for a clear ‘go ahead’ for our elopement ceremony. The weather was turning, with some rains forecasted through the day and as Adelle and Brenden had also learned from their engagement trip, the temperature dropped dramatically as you made the ascend to the mountain’s summit. But nothing prepared me for the scenic drive up the majestic mountain through mountain clouds, rain and hail all the way to the chilly 5C summit, it was breath taking!

I had found a cute little nook in the Mount Donna Buang info hut for our legal signing set up. I made my way around the hut trying to keep warm I was greeted with waves of heavy rains pounding down the roof above. And just as the huge wave of rain subsided Adelle and Brenden arrived on site with Isla and Bredan in tow. Our soon to be newlyweds had spent a night at an accommodation nearby and then gotten ready in anticipation for a mini first look reveal with their photographers before making their drive up to the ceremony site.

We began with completing some legal paperwork by filling out their Declaration of No Impediment to Marriage form before heading out to be amongst the misty gumtrees for our ceremony. This was the exact spot where Brenden had previously proposed to a shivering cold Adelle. This time around they were a little more prepared for the elements and fully embraced the wild chills. The ceremony was simply beautiful and full of heart, it was a truly special moment shared between Adelle and Brenden. They had honoured their intent to marry and captured the wonderfully romantic moment amongst the moving fog and gumtrees.

We then headed back into the hut to compete the rest of the signing of their marriage certificates to finalise their legal marriage. We parted ways vowing to reunite in the near future to celebrate their commitment with a celebration ceremony where I’d finally be able to give them both a massive hug.

Marriage Celebrant: Celebrant Jam
Photographer: Emotions and Maths
Florist: State of Nature Floral Stylist

Shaunagh + Errol

“We knew that we had found the right celebrant straight after our first meeting with Jam.  She is super cool, easy-going and professional. Jam got to know us and our story as a couple and created a beautiful ceremony that we were so happy with. The ceremony was very meaningful but also entertaining for our family and friends. Jam encouraged us to write our own vows, which I’m now so thankful for. We kept them short, sweet and personal. We loved her incense and the polaroids she took throughout the process. 

Our plans were turned upside down in the week prior to our wedding. We were thankful to have Jam as our celebrant as she was very professional and helped us remain calm. She adapted to the last-minute changes with no fuss or worry! Jam is amazing and we would recommend her to all future couples.”

Shaunagh and Errol are just two of the most beautiful gentle souls you’d ever meet.

Shaunagh first laid eyes on Errol as he was rocking out on stage back in Brisbane. She was immediately crushing on this super handsome guy behind the guitar with them bright blue eyes and thought he was very talented. So when she was introduced to him after the gig by some mutual friends, she found that he is even more lovelier in person. She remembers listening to Errol speak in this very kind voice and being charmed by his very distinctive laugh. Errol was equally taken by his first meeting with Shaunagh, they bonded over their shared love for music and the band ‘A Tribe Called Quest’. So when Errol Facebook friended Shaunagh the next day, our two lovers embarked on a classic online romance where they had slowly gotten to know each other over the course of the following few weeks.

And when they did finally go on their first official date in person, our nervous Shaunagh had her sister Lauren on hand to ply her with beer, Korean friend chicken and a good old pep talk before heading off to meet Errol. Errol brought Shaunagh along to a movie date to watch ‘Trolls 2’, a cult classic comedy-horror flick that’s been dubbed the Best Worst Movie, (yep I had to google it!) not your average date night rom-com. And when the movie came to an end, neither of them wanted to say goodbye. So that night they walked home from the city to the burbs, chatting the whole way back.

Their journey to married life came upon some unique challenges, in the form of an emerging world pandemic. 2020 was shaping up to be one hell of a ride! In spite of the ever changing state of affairs we kept our spirits up and soldiered on. Armed with our elbow taps and hand sanitisers, we came together to triumphantly see these two lovers officially join their hearts and hands in marriage.

Errol and Shaunagh’s wedding ceremony was simply magnificent. Their wedding day took place down in picturesque Portsea, with their ceremony set within Shaunagh’s legend of a sister Lauren’s gorgeous home. Our lovers also hired out the architecturally impressive residence across the road to get ready in and for our nervous soon to be newlyweds to have their ‘First Look’ shoot with our photographer extraordinaire Elsa Campbell.

We all gathered, were witnesses to Shaunagh and Errol’s beautiful ceremony of love and we were all just so happy to be able to be there in support of these two lovely individuals. I look forward to one day seeing them again and to be able to give them both a great big hug!

Marriage Celebrant: Celebrant Jam
Photography: Elsa Campbell

Jess + Matt

“Thank you for making our day everything we hoped it would be. You were the perfect balance of relaxed, serious, funny and just plain awesome!!! Thank you for making us feel so comfortable and looked after throughout this whole experience. We will forever be grateful to you for starting off our life as a married couple on such an epic high!!”

These two absolutely stunning babes share an epic love saga!

Jess and Matt’s story opens down at their local Chisholm Pizza shop, where our young teenage Jess scored her first part time job. Matt and Jess met and flirted through Jess’ first shift, bonding over their common love for the TV show ‘Scrubs’. Matt eventually got Jess’ number from the roster sheet, they met up at the local park and decided to ‘date’ that night. Their teenage romance, consisting of make out sessions in the storeroom and behind the pizza shop, fizzled out eventually.

It was 10 years later where both Jess and Matt moved to Melbourne, when Jess woke up one day with the sudden urge to call a number that she had memorised. Lo and behold Matt picks up the phone on the other end and the two thought this would be a good opportunity for them to catch up. They decided to hang out and reminisce by watching some good old ‘Scrubs’ together. Next minute they found themselves transported right back to them teenage days and overcome with those strong feelings of attraction for each other, which naturally lead them to share one hell of a kiss!

The second time round they really took their time to get to know each other and it was months before they decided that they were officially ‘dating’ again and a few more months before Matt was introduced to Jess’ lovely daughter Abby for a play date at the zoo. Needless to say everyone got along famously!

For Jess and Matt’s big day they had gathered all their family and friends for a day at the enchanting Chateau Wyuna. Their ceremony was so vibrant and full of heart. At one point Matt knelt down to address Jess’ daughter Abby to thank her for sharing Jess with him and to vow to take care of them all going forward, he presented her with a necklace for the occasion and we all felt the love.

Marriage Celebrant: Celebrant Jam
Photographer: Silvertail Photography
Ceremony: Chateau Wyuna
Flowers: Vidda Flowers

Mia + Ross

These two absolutely adorable sweethearts are just bursting with love for each other. Their wedding day was simply a chance for them to invite their nearest and dearest to join them in celebration of their epic love.

I fell in love with Mia and Ross from our first meeting and knew straight away that they were my people!
Over drinks down at my local pub they excitedly shared their story of meeting at a call centre where they were working together at the time and how they’d each be hoping that the other would be working the same shift. They both had huge crushes on each other and just couldn’t get enough of each other! And when they finally started dating they became even more obsessed with each other because when they’re together, life is a blast no matter where they are.

They had dreamt of getting married so they could look forward to a sweet life together, and Mia had always wanted to be the one to propose to Ross. So when Ross took a trip overseas, Mia thought to seize that moment and get things happening. They had planned a romantic “Weekend-In” upon Ross’ return. And as Mia took the train into the city in preparation for their weekend she casually popped in to see my old mate Chris at one of Melbourne’s hidden treasure’s Corky St Clair down at their old Flinders Street underground boutique. It was there that she found the perfect engagement ring for Ross. Mia was bursting with excitement for the rest of the day and could barely finish her first glass of wine that night before she asked Ross to come into the bedroom and close his eyes so that she could present him with his engagement ring and ask him to marry her!

Their wedding day held at the Abbotsford Convent was simply glorious. Both Mia and Ross looked like royalty proudly walking into the ceremony together arm in arm. Their wedding ceremony was full of laugh and light, captured beautifully by another one of my good mates, photographer Ryan Wheatley. And as Ross and Mia went to exchange rings during their ceremony, they had a special guest appearance of their adored ginger kitty cat Fuji, with his photo adorning the inside lid of the ring box.

Marriage Celebrant: Celebrant Jam
Venue: Abbotsford Convent
Photography: Ryan Wheatley
Florist: North St Botanical
Rings: Corky St Clair

Haydn + Niama

“We can’t recommend Jam highly enough. Choosing Jam as our celebrant was one of the best decisions we made for our wedding because not only was she an absolutely incredible celebrant, she met with us numerous times in the months leading up to the wedding and offered all sorts of great advice and insights that ended up being extremely useful. Her dedication to our wedding day vision paired with her patient, uber chilled out vibes made her an absolute pleasure to work with. We felt so confident in her and had such a magical experience with her on the day. We’ve been to a lot of weddings and often the celebrant can be a little stale or formal, so it was so refreshing working with Jam who is fun, energetic and vibrant, while still maintaining a professional demeanour. All-in-all, she’s the ultimate celebrant. Knowledgeable, gentle-hearted, confident, organised, adaptable and really, really friendly. Again, we just can’t recommend her highly enough.”

Haydn and Niama are two fiercely passionate individuals who came together to form one of those
“SUPER-couples” that everyone adores and gravitates to. They also know a thing or two about how to have a good time so their wedding day celebrations were sure to be spectacular!

And for me, being a part of these two lovers’ big day was a real full circle moment. For I had the absolute honour in starting my life as a celebrant through helping Haydn’s big bother Ryan marry my best friend Fatuma 3 years prior. It’s pretty special to keep it in the family and to see some familiar friendly faces coming together again in celebration of life and love.

The temperamental November Melbourne weather added an extra element of drama to Niama and Haydn’s outdoor ceremony held by the weeping ‘Kissing Trees’ down at Coburg Lake. Our lush green ceremony spot was beautifully framed by wildly romantic floral towers, arranged by florist Katie Burgham. “I Only Have Eyes for You” by The Flamingos, marked the beginning of the ceremony with our ‘Love Squad’ of 20, each holding a single red rose and dressed impeccably in black, making their way down to us and forming a semi circle behind me. We were then greeted by our stunningly radiant wedding couple dressed in their signature bold red ensembles, walking together hand-in-hand to stand proudly in front of all gathered.

At one point in our ceremony we performed an incredibly moving handfasting ritual. Niama had witnessed her sister Jas perform a version of this when she married her wife Kate many years ago and had recalled just how special it was to see them declare and set their intentions for their married life ahead. And so for Niama and Haydn we had adapted 6 declarations for them to perform along with the blessing from 6 dear friends who came forth to present individual cords to be bound together over their intertwined hands. The knot made with the 6 cords is symbolic of the coming together of Haydn and Niama’s lives and the promises they have made to each other on the day.

Right after Haydn and Niama sealed their wedding vows with a kiss the skies above opened up and we were greeted by the rain. We quickly sign the official wedding paperwork under the cover of umbrellas, with their mums as their witnesses, and then I was able to proudly present our newlyweds to the happy crowd.

The wedding party then made their way to the second destination, the Vizzini Social Club just up Sydney Road, where our newlyweds was able to light up the dance floor with their sweet moves. It was there that the celebrations continued well into the night and I was told that they had planned a special Hungarian Candle Dance called 'Gyertyafény keringő' to be performed at midnight. It is a Hungarian wedding tradition for the newlywed’s closest family and friends to gather and welcome the newlyweds into their first official day of their married life as New Woman and New Man.

Marriage Celebrant: Celebrant Jam
Photography: Simon Aubor
Florist: Katie Burgham
Reception: Vizzini Social Club