Danielle & Mark ~ 25th June 2016
My favourite part of my job has always been the people that I meet and get to know, and sometimes in life you meet people and straight away feel like you have known them for years. This is exactly how I felt the first time I met Danielle and Mark.
We bonded over chats about family life, about work and study, and, of course, weddings, and Danielle absolutely won my heart when she made me a roast chicken lunch!
Venue: Ayers House
Photography: Lucinda May Photography
Videographer: Daniel Koularis, Gallery 11
Florist: Bella in Bloom
Cake: Cara Mia Cake
Danielle and Mark were never just planning their wedding, they were planning a life together as best friends, as a family, and as husband and wife. When I asked Danielle how she imagined her wedding day she said “I don’t really imagine the day, I imagine the marriage to my best friend”.
The priorities for the wedding day though were family, being laid back and having fun, laughter, and most importantly… good food!
The wedding was held at beautiful Ayers House in Adelaide’s city centre, and while it was a cold day, the sun was shining. Danielle was the first bride I have spoken to however who wanted it to rain on her wedding day hoping to get some rain photos. Lucinda from Lucinda May Photography still absolutely delivered without the help of the rain and had Danielle dancing for joy with the snaps straight from the back of her camera.
As we stood in The Ballroom of Ayers House waiting for the bride, Mark was definitely one of the calmest grooms I have come across. As he waited for his bride with his five groomsmen he seemed relaxed; no pacing, no fidgeting, he was just ready to go! When I mentioned this to him his response brought a big smile to my face. He said “that’s because I know I have made the best decision”.
As expected, our organised bride and her bridesmaids arrived right on time and was escorted down the aisle by her mum, Marilena and her son, Charlie, to Jason Mraz's Lucky.
The smile on Danielle’s face was from ear to ear and absolutely glowing, and she was greeted with a hug and kiss from her groom.
As we began the ceremony the smiles did not stop, and I don't think Danielle and Mark's eyes left each other.
It was very important for Danielle and Mark to acknowledge their loved ones who had passed away, especially their daughter Sofia, who was greatly missed on this day. As part of their ceremony the bride and groom lit a Memorial Candle surrounded by photos of these special people…
“Although they have been separated from us physically, faith and love have bound us eternally. Though we cannot see you, we know you are here.
Though we cannot touch you, we feel the warmth of your smile, as Danielle and Mark begin a new chapter in their lives.
Today we pause to reflect upon these special people, who have shaped our character, moulded our spirits and touched our hearts. May the lighting of this candle be a reminder of the memories we have shared, a representation of the everlasting impact you have made upon all of our lives.”
In their almost 7 years together this couple, and their families, have been through many ups and downs and it was important to me to capture in the ceremony the strength and bond that they have developed through all that they have endured.
"From those first encounters, to this moment now, you have grown together and your relationship has continued to deepen and strengthen through all of life’s ups and downs. You have learnt, and continue to learn from each other every day.
You now know each other as best friend, your rock, your support, your safety net, your strength…
While you share many interests, such as food, cooking and eating, watching movies, travelling the world together, spending time with Charlie and with your families, gardening and Mark’s awesome jokes, you also balance each other out and empower each other to be strong and unique individuals with your own path’s, own dreams, own loves, and own interests. This lays a strong foundation for a long and happy marriage."
When I first meet any couple I always mention that I feel the vows are the most important part of the ceremony. This is where your personality really shines, this is where a couple make their promises for the future, and where they express before their family and friends why they are committing to spend their lives together as husband and wife.
Danielle and Mark did not originally plan on writing their own wedding vows but as I got to know them, and as I witnessed the connection they share I encouraged them to reconsider. I felt that had a story to share, and I knew that my words could not quite capture the depth of their commitment and their own words would add something very special to the ceremony.
I am so glad they changed their mind... there was laughter, tears, jokes, promises, and references to their favourite love story of Carl and Ellie (Disney's Up).
"Danielle, I promise to love you and adore you, no matter where we are.
I promise to make you smile, even when you don’t want to.
I promise to supply you my heat during the night, even when your feet feel like ice, and I don’t want to.
I promise to support you and be your rock, but also push you to be the best person I know that you are,
But most of all, I promise to always smile when I call myself your husband"
"I make the next promises knowing that they are to a man that is my soul mate.
I promise to be the big spoon when you need it.
I promise that I will watch the Matrix one day and not fall asleep.
I promise to keep cooking for you and at least once a month make you something ‘fatty’. I promise to keep our adventurous spirit and help fulfill our dream of travelling the world and being grey nomads together.
I promise to love you, and even if we have to work for it sometimes, I will fight for us always.
As the greatest love story we know, Carl and Ellie, ‘You and me, we’re in a club now’ and I can’t wait to continue our next adventure together. I am so proud that I get to be your wife."
After exchanging these vows and their rings the pronouncement of them as husband and wife could not come quick enough for Mark and Danielle, and there was a great applause as they shared their first married kiss and a long hug.
As Danielle and Mark signed the Marriage Register with their witnesses, Maid of Honour, Kate and Best Man, Steven, Patrick Dansereau's cover of "You are my Sunshine" played, a very special song to this couple, and a reminder of their beautiful baby Sofia.
Following the ceremony the newlyweds visited Danielle’s Nonna in her nursing home to share the day with her:
“Danielle’s Nonna unfortunately could not make it here today but her influence on Danielle and Mark is significant. She has taught them to love fiercely and unconditionally, and that the greatest love stories are about patience, respect, compromise and good cooking.”
The Reception had hints of Danielle and Mark’s love for movies, Disney movies in particular, with themed tables (from Toy Story, to Frozen, to the Avengers…), quotes in their vows, arrival to their reception to “Everything is Awesome” from the Lego Movie, and my favourite touch of all, the “Up” fingerprint canvas guestbook.
Their wedding cake came all the way from Geelong, and was made by Danielle’s great friend Cara from Cara Mia Cake. The cake was delicious layers of mud cake filled with Nutella and Mars Bar Ganache, and decorated with flowers from Bella in Bloom. The cake topper read “I love you like a fat kid loves cake”.
Nutella also made another appearance (and is fuelling me along as I write this!) decorating the tables and as a thank you to the guests for being there to celebrate with them.
There was great food, heartfelt and funny speeches from the Mother of the Bride, Father of the Groom, Maid of Honour, Best Man and Groom, dancing, drinking, and so much love throughout the reception.
Following Italian tradition, during the newlyweds first dance, to Peter Gabriel’s Book of Love, they were wrapped in colourful paper streamers by their guests, bringing them in as a family and showering luck upon the happy couple as they left to start their new chapter together.
Danielle and Mark, thank you again for sharing your special day and the whole process with me and my family. Very early on you were no longer clients to me, but friends. I hope your day was all that you hoped for and I look forward to watching you continue to grow, laugh and love together in your marriage.
