Wedding Ceremony & Reception | 29 July 2011 | Julianne & Luke | Tea Room Gunners’ Barracks, Mosman, Sydney
From my first conversation with Julianne and Luke, it was obvious that they are a warm, genuine and fun couple. As they are both currently based in Japan, the first opportunity to meet face to face was on Monday before the wedding – this meeting not only confirmed my initial impressions, but also revealed that they are a beautiful couple, both inside and out, possessing very fine qualities and so very much in love.
Julianne and Luke selected the beautiful Tea Room Gunners’ Barracks as the location for their ceremony and reception. With the sun shining down on their love from the heavens, in a month when Sydney had experienced its wettest July in more than 50 years, they were blessed with an absolutely perfect day.
View from The Tea Room Gunners’ Barracks
The 75 invited family and friends gathered in the Gunners’ Barracks Courtyard for a beautiful ceremony officiated by Sarah Oluk. As Julianne, who looked positively stunning, walked down the aisle escorted by her Dad, she had the most beautiful smile. Luke’s face lit up at this vision and I am sure it will be a special moment he will treasure forever. Surrounded by those near and dear, Julianne and Luke held hands, exchanged vows and rings, and became one in marriage as the sun slowly began to set.
“From the moment I first met you,
I knew you were the person that I
wanted to share my life with,
Your beauty, charm, heart and spirit
inspire me to be the best that I can be.
I promise to respect you, honour you,
protect you and love you for eternity.”
~ Luke
“I choose you in friendship and in love,
in strength and weakness,
to share the good times and misfortune,
in achievement and failure.
I will cherish and respect you through
all the changes in our lives,
forever being grateful that we found
each other.”
~ Julianne
Following the ceremony, Julianne and Luke were able to relax and mingle with their guests on the verandah, enjoying the fabulous view, drinks and canapés as the sun finally disappeared into the horizon. Shortly afterwards, everybody began making their way into the main room for the beginning of the reception.
Luke made a short welcome speech before everybody was served their delicious entree. Speeches by Luke’s Mum, Lorraine, a toast by Luke’s Dad, Michal and, an unscheduled, surprise few words from Julianne’s Dad, David. A beautiful main meal before we heard from Maid of Honour, Karen who went on to detail some of Julianne’s adventures followed by Luke’s best friend and business partner, Zeeshan recounting in a humorous manner, facts about Luke and the courtship.
Gunners’ Barracks staff then served guests a decadent dessert which was enjoyed by all and in no time at all, it was time for the cake cutting. I absolutely love the photograph (see below) that I managed to capture of Julianne and Luke’s kiss….a very special moment…you could feel the love and tenderness that they both share.
Guests were then invited out to the courtyard for Julianne and Luke’s first dance. To Angus and Julia Stone’s The Wedding Song, they danced under a canopy of fairylights and stars. Joined partway through by the members of the wedding party and then the guests, it was now party time. The rest of the evening was spent celebrating the union of these two beautiful people – some partied hard and others caught up and chatted away, fulfilling Julianne and Luke’s desire for a relaxed, intimate and personal wedding.
Julianne and Luke are very much connected and are so perfect for each other; every time they look at each other they both break out in a smile, almost as if they are the only two people on this earth – it literally made my heart sing. I am extremely honoured that you invited me to be part of your wedding day and that I was there to witness the deep love you share for one another. I know this love will continue to grow and your life together will be full of happiness and magical smiles. May love, laughter and music fill your lives forever.
Songs selected by Bride and Groom;
Bridesmaids Processional: “Canon in D” by Pachelbel
Brides Processional: “Canon in D” by Pachelbel
Register Signing: “Ice Cream” by Sarah McLachlan, “It Must Be Love” by Madness
Recessional: “Is This Love” by Bob Marley
Cake Cutting Song: “The Book Of Love” by The Magnetic Fields
Bridal Waltz/First Dance: “The Wedding Song” by Angus and Julia Stone
Bouquet Toss: “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)” by Beyonce
Farewell Dance: “(I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life” by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes
Final Farewell Song: “Let’s Go Crazy” by Prince
Other Wedding Professionals
Celebrant: Sarah Oluk CMC
Photographer: Blumenthal Photography
Floral Design: Buds and Bowers
Cake Design: Sharon Wee Creations
Fun On The Dancefloor
Wedding Songs – I Do by Colbie Caillat
While a lot of songs that have to do with marriage end up being ballads, “I Do” by Colbie Caillat is an upbeat, happy song that captures the joy of realising that you are with the person you want to spend your life with. The acoustic arrangement, the shuffling beat, and the vocals floating along like they are propelled on a gentle ocean breeze make it a very sweet song and perfect for a wedding! It could be used anywhere, the processional, the recessional, first dance, in the wedding video…
I Do
It’s always been about me myself and I
I thought relationships were nothing but a waste of time
I never wanted to be anybody’s other half
I was happy staying out of love that wouldn’t last
That was the only way I knew ’til I met you
You make we wanna say
I do, I do, I do, do do do do do do do
Yeah, I do, I do, I do, do do do do do do do
Cause every time before it’s been like
Maybe yes and maybe no
I can live without it, I can let it go
Ooh what did I get myself into
You make we wanna say I do, I do, I do, I do, I do, I do
Tell me is it only me, do you feel the same
You know me well enough to know that I’m not playing games
I promise I won’t turn around and I won’t let you down
You can trust I’ve never felt it like I feel it now
Baby there’s nothing, there’s nothing we can’t get through
So can we say
I do, I do, I do, do do do do do do do
Oh baby, I do, I do, I do, do do do do do do do
Cause every time before it’s been like
Maybe yes and maybe no
I won’t live without it, I won’t let it go
What more can I get myself into
You make we wanna say
Me, a family, a house, a family
Ooh, can we be a family
And when I’m eighty years old I’m sitting next to you
And we’ll remember when we said
I do, I do, I do, do do do do do do do
Oh baby, I do, I do, I do, do do do do do do do
Cause every time before it’s been like
Maybe yes and maybe no
I won’t live without it, I won’t let us go
Just look at what we got ourselves into
You make we wanna say I do, I do, I do, I do, I do, I do
Love you
Timeless Movie Quotes For Your Wedding Ceremony
Stuck for ideas on writing your wedding vows? Don’t worry!!! Some of the most inspirational and moving words of heart-felt love can be found in some of your favourite movies.
Listed are a selection of some of the most memorable, romantic and timeless movie quotes from equally timeless movies. I hope that these movie quotes give you some extra creative spark needed to help you convey your love and create “blockbuster vows” for your wedding day.
(a) “Poets often describe love as an emotion that we can’t control, one that overwhelms logic and common sense. That’s what it’s like for me. I didn’t plan on falling in love with you, and I doubt that you planned on falling in love with me. But once we met, it was clear that neither of us could control what was happening to us. We fell in love, despite our differences, and once we did, something rare and beautiful was created. For me, love like that has happened only once, and that’s why every minute we spent together has been seared in my memory. I’ll never forget a single moment of it.” The Notebook (2004).
(b) “Love is a gift…not an obligation” Fools Rush In (1997)
(c) “I love you. Very simple, very truly. You’re the epitome of every attribute and quality I’ve ever looked for in another person… I can’t stand next to you without wanting to hold you. I can’t look into your eyes without feeling that longing you only read about in trashy romance novels. I can’t talk to you without wanting to express my love for everything you are… I’ve never felt this before, and I like who I am because of it… There isn’t another soul on this… planet who’s ever made me half the person I am when I’m with you… I’m forever changed because of who you are and what you’ve meant to me.” Chasing Amy (1997)
(d) “I am just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her.” Notting Hill (1999)
(e) “You make me want to be a better man.” As Good As It Gets (1997)
(f) “Only you, you’re the only thing I’ll see forever. In my eyes, in my words and in everything I do.” West Side Story (1961)
(g) “It seems right now that all I’ve ever done in my life is making my way here to you.” The Bridges of Madison County (1995).
(h) “I love you. You complete me.” Jerry Maguire (1996)
(i) “I guarantee there’ll be tough times. I guarantee that at some time, one or both of us is gonna want to get out of this thing. But I also guarantee that if I don’t ask you to be mine, I’ll regret it for the rest of my life, because I know, in my heart, you’re the only one for me.” Runaway Bride (1999)
(j) “I love that you get cold when it’s seventy-one degrees out. I love that it takes you an hour and a half to order a sandwich. I love that you get a little crinkle in your nose when you’re looking at me like I’m nuts. I love that after I spend the day with you, I can still smell your perfume on my clothes. And I love that you are the last person I want to talk to before I go to sleep at night.” When Harry Met Sally (1989)
It would please me greatly if the above movie quotes provide some inspiration in writing your own wedding vows. Should there be some favourite romantic movie quotes that you personally love, I would really love to see them. Please share them by leaving a Comment.