Clare & Nik, Mollymook, NSW

Clare and Nik are the reason I became a marriage celebrant! Aussie Clare met English Nik through mutual friends in London, and there was chemistry on a 1o-hour brunch double date. Over the next two years, their love grew; and Nik proposed to Clare on the footsteps of the same church in Willesden, London where Clare’s grandparents were married more than 50 years ago.

They vowed to love each other every day and to make each other laugh. Nik also vowed to calm Clare to help her sleep and to pretend to enjoy watching trashy reality TV with her. Whilst Clare vowed to help Nik organise his life and let him watch all the Manchester United games. Way to go! See their awesome video here by the very talented lads at The Dreams Collective

Clare and Nik chose a poem for each other and asked two of their best friends read them during the ceremony. They also included a few unique rituals in their ceremony, which are described all below.

signing-the-register

Readings:

‘The Promise’ by Eileen Rafter

The sun danced on the snow with a sparkling smile; charlotte-reading
As two lovers sat quietly, alone for a while.
Then he turned and said, with a casual air
(though he blushed from his chin to the tips of his hair)
“I think that I might like to get married to you.”

“Well then,” she said, “there’s a thought.
But what if we can’t promise to be all that we ought?

Can you promise me, say, that you won’t rage and shout,
If I’m late yet again, when we plan to go out,
For I know I can’t promise I’ll learn to ignore
Dirty socks or damp towels strewn all over the floor.
So if we can’t vow to be all that we should,
I’m not sure what to do though the idea’s quite good.”

But he gently smiled and tilted his head
Til his lips met her ear and softly he said,
“I promise to weave me dreams into your own,
that wherever you breathe will be my heart’s home.
I promise that, whether with rags or with gold,

I am blessed.
Your smile is the jewel I will treasure the best.
Do you think then, my love, we should marry – do you?”

“Yes,” she said smiling, “I do.”

‘Yes, I’ll Marry You’ by Pam Ayers

Yes, I’ll may you, my dear,
And here’s the reason why;
So I can push you out of bed
When the baby starts to cry,
And if we hear a knocking
And it’s creepy and it’s late,
I had you the torch, you see, nik-clare-karen
And you investigate.

Yes, I’ll marry you, my dear,
You may not apprehend it,
But when the tumble-dryer goes
It’s you who has to mend it.
You have to face the neighbour
Should our Labrador attack him,
And if a drunkard fondles me,
It’s you who has to whack him.

Yes, I’ll marry you, my dear,
You’re virile and your’e lean.
My house is a pigsty
You can help to keep it clean.
That sexy little dinner
Which you served by candlelight,
As I do chipolatas
You can cook it every night!

It’s you who has to work the drill,
And put up the curtain track,
And when I’ve got PMT,
It’s you who gets the flak.
I do see great advantages,
But not of them for you,
And so before you see the light,
I do, I do, I do!

Rituals:

Pledge to Enjoy – a short promise the guests make to talk to and laugh with strangers, drink champagne and thoroughly enjoy themselves. Goes down a treat!

all-the-guests

Palm Ceremony – a moment where you are ‘in the moment’, holding hands and reflecting on how these hands will love and support you throughout your marriage. It’s a beautiful pause in a busy day.

palm-ceremony

Love Letters read by Mothers – Clare & Nik wrote love letters to each other and had their mothers read them out. A very touching and emotional moment, I honestly don’t know how they kept it together!

jane-reading

Music:

South Coast local band The Escalators are inspired by vintage sounds with a love of Swing, Soul and Reggae. They were the perfect musical match to Clare and Nik’s laid back, beachy vibe.

Bridesmaids’ Entry: The six beautiful bridesmaids entered to their own song, Jason Mraz’s I’m Yours.

bridesmaid-entry