Karlia & Samuel ~ 16th July 2016
When Karlia contacted me I had only been registered as a Celebrant for 4 days and when they mentioned that they would be having a Gothic inspired wedding, being so new, I wasn't sure if this was something that would be for me. After spending an hour chatting to them though, I was completely sold on the idea!
As a Celebrant I learnt a lot from Karlia and Samuel. After our first meeting I felt inspired by them, and had a huge amount of respect for them as a couple. They were very clear on what was important to them, and what was important for them on their big day, no matter what any body else wanted.
The main thing I took away from them: It is your day, so do it your way.
Karlia and Samuel's theme was purple and black, and Karlia worked hard for over a year hand making their decorations, from the hundreds of purple and white paper butterflies that were scattered on the tables and down the aisle, to the table centrepieces and Karlia's own bouquet. She was also right in to the theme, dyeing her hair an amazing purple for the big day.
The wedding was held at The Paddock's Centre in Para Hills and when I arrived I found Samuel in the kitchen preparing the food for the dinner that was to follow the ceremony.
As the time approached for the ceremony he was still rushing around sorting out all the final details and making sure everything was perfect and ready to go.
The ceremony shared Karlia and Samuel's story and about all they have been through as a couple.
"Today is about bringing together the lives of Karlia and Samuel but really they have been in and out each other’s lives for many, many years, and they believe that it was destiny that they should come together, to enhance each other, strengthen each other, and complete each other.
It was when Karlia and Samuel were very young children that they first met, when Karlia admits that she chased Samuel around like a lost puppy.
When they came across each other again only a few years ago, at Karlia’s sister’s birthday party, they clicked straight away.
Karlia remembers Samuel being strange and mysterious, just like her, and Samuel remembers how beautiful and caring Karlia was. They talked for hours and have been pretty much inseparable since."
It was also important to them to share the story of their family, involving their 3 year old daughter, Rose (who always made me smile by climbing up on to my lap for a cuddle at all of our appointments!).
This ceremony was also the first ceremony I have performed that included a handfasting ceremony:
"Karlia and Samuel have chosen to conclude their ceremony today with a traditional handfasting. This is a symbolic binding of the hands that inspired the terms "Bonds of Holy Matrimony" and to "Tie the knot"
Throughout history in many different ways and in many different parts of the world, the hands of the bride and groom were bound as a sign of their commitment to one another.
In many times rings were only for the very rich, while love knows no such bound. The cords are not permanent but perishable as a reminder that all things of the material nature eventually do perish, unlike the bond and the connection that is love which is eternal."
A mutual interest of Karlia and Samuel is dragons, and they included this as part of their wedding theme, with a dragon the centrepiece of their head table and sitting behind them during their ceremony.
We were also able to incorporate this love in to the ceremony, including a poem called 'Two Dragons':
".....that has also been used as a magic wedding poem, and as a magic love spell:
Two dragons come together, feel the drums together, two dragons dance. Two dragons dance together, take a chance together, two dragons sing. Two dragons sing together, take wing together, two dragons fly. Two dragons fly together, own the sky together, Two dragons are as one."
Thank you Karlia, Samuel and Rose for including me in your special day, and thank you for showing me so early on in my role as a Celebrant the importance of being true to who you are, and true to each other, especially when it comes to planning YOUR special day. I will continue to think of you as I encourage couples to be themselves as they plan their weddings.
Wishing you all the best for your future together as husband and wife, and as a beautiful family.
