Alison and Glenn following their ceremony at Sittella Winery in the Swan Valley.

I first met Alison and Glenn a little over a month ago, soon after Glenn proposed.  Alison's family were going to be in Perth for Christmas from the United Kingdom so it was a wonderful opportunity to extend the celebrations with a wedding.

Sitella Winery is one of the many wonderful venues in the Swan Valley where you can enjoy the ceremony and reception all in one location.  With the weather forecast for a hot and humid 39°C, the helpful staff at Sittella had lots of iced water at the ready and had set up additional market umbrellas to ensure the guests had plenty of shade.  By the time the ceremony started just after 4pm, the skies were overcast and the temperature had dropped just a little - perfect!

Alison walked up the aisle on the arm of her father Bill and was accompanied by her maid of honour Tania and three little people..... her gorgeous son Alex and Glenn's neice and nephew Alex and Charlotte.  Alex carried the rings to best man (and brother of the groom) Wayne and then sat proudly with his grandparents as his Mum and Glenn were married in one of the loveliest ceremonies of the year for me.

The ceremony had lots of family participation with Alison's brother Andrew reading Love is Patient and Kind adapted from 1 Corinthians and Glenn's sister Claire reading one of my favourite pieces, Wilfred A Peterson's The Art of Marriage.  I have included the words from this popular reading below.  Alison also lead the bridal party and guests in a prayer for the marriage which was a very personal touch to the ceremony.  As a civil marriage celebrant, I love how there is so much flexibility to write a ceremony that reflects the couple's individual beliefs and values - incorporating religious readings and prayers of any denomination is a wonderful addition to a ceremony.  Alison's brother David helped out with the music and the signing of the marriage documents was accompanied by sister in law Hitomi on keyboards and neice Selina on the violin - absolutely beautiful.

Like many of my couples, Alison and Glenn took the time to write their own personal vows to each other which they said to each other for the first time during the ceremony.  This is always one of the most emotional parts of the ceremony and we all felt the love and commitment between Alison and Glenn as they took their vows and exchanged rings in our presence.

My sincere congratulations and best wishes to you both, to Alex and your growing family.

Ann XXX

The Art of Marriage, by Wilfred A Peterson
Happiness in marriage is not something that just happens.
A good marriage must be created.
In the art of marriage the little things are the big things...
It is never being too old to hold hands.
It is remembering to say "I love you" at least once a day.
It is never going to sleep angry.
It is at no time taking the other for granted;
the courtship should not end with the honeymoon, it should continue through all the years.
It is having a mutual sense of values and common objectives.
It is standing together facing the world.
It is forming a circle of love that gathers in the whole family.
It is doing things for each other, not in the attitude of duty or sacrifice, but in the spirit of joy.
It is speaking words of appreciation and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways.
It is not looking for perfection in each other.
It is cultivating flexibility, patience, understanding and a sense of humour.
It is having the capacity to forgive and forget.
It is giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow.
It is finding room for the things of the spirit.
It is a common search for the good and the beautiful.
It is establishing a relationship in which the independence is equal, dependence is mutual and the obligation is reciprocal.
It is not only marrying the right partner, it is being the right partner.
It is discovering what marriage can be, at its best.