 The
question we were often asked after we announced our wedding
plans was "Why are you getting married in Australia?"
The short version to a long story is this: We always wanted
to get married abroad and fancied somewhere different
to the norm. Anthony's parents had been to Australia the
previous year visiting relatives and their photographs
looked fantastic.
Let me set the scene to where we had booked. We decided
to get married on Hamilton Island, which is part of the
Great Barrier Reef. The brochures showed an almost deserted
beach, clear blue water, palm trees, bright sunshine,
exactly what you would want on a tropical island.
The brochures also listed lots of activities such as helicopter
rides, diving, various restaurants, bars, swimming pools
and a wild life park - plenty to keep us and our quests
occupied. The island has four types of accommodation,
the reef view hotel (my mum, stepdad and anthony's mum
and dad were staying here) small bungalows, self catering
apartments (Anthony's Australian relatives were staying
here) and the beach club, our accommodation, which promised
beach side location and views, private reception and pool
plus limited rooms (the building was only two storeys
high).
As our departure date crept nearer we started to get a
bit nervous about what we would find on the island. Would
the weather be that good? Would the beach be packed? Would
we find Club 18-30 instead of paradise? This is what happened.
We arrived on the island on Saturday 6th February. Even
though we had stopped over in Singapore for two nights,
we were all very tired from the flights (we were travelling
with Anthony's parents). What we needed more than anything
was some serious relaxation. As we walked through arrivals
at the island airport, we saw someone holding a sign with
our names on. We made ourselves known to the beach club
representative and after identifying our cases we were
driven to our accommodation. Now, whilst it sounds flash
to say we were in a limo, it is worth pointing out that
virtually all of the vehicles on the island were golf
buggies, so a limo buggy isn't quite as smart, but is
certainly more fun than a normal limo.
The beach club, the beach and the island were exactly
as promised in the brochure. The weather was well into
the 90's, The beach was almost empty, the sea was warm
and the room luxurious. At this point, we only had one
concern, we didn't know where we were getting married
and what type of ceremony we were having. We made an appointment
with the wedding co-ordinator for the Monday and started
to look around the island. Monday arrived, the weather
was still perfect and we had arranged to get married in
the little white, air-conditioned church. We would meet
with the celebrant on the morning of the wedding to discuss
the ceremony. All that was left to do now was meet the
guests - as Anthony's Australian relatives were due to
be arriving on the Wednesday afternoon.
 On the day before our wedding,
the sun was shinning, the guests were arriving and the
nerves were beginning to start! Everything was going to
plan until about 3.30pm when it started to rain, not any
old rain, but the tail end of a cyclone! It rained constantly
for the rest of the afternoon, the evening and the night.
We went out for a meal with all of our guests that night
so we weren't strangers at the wedding. Everyone said
the rain would stop, but we were both awake throughout
the night listening for rain. We both put on a brave face
saying it didn't matter and that the photos would still
be perfect but deep down we were both disappointed. We
got up at 7.00am and it wasn't raining but still looked
really grey. Anthony and I swapped gifts. He thought the
ball and chain cufflinks I bought him were hilarious and
he bought me a beautiful pair of diamond earrings. My
mum came over with cards and presents from England (it
was also my birthday) which made feel a bit homesick and
sad that the rest of our family couldn't be here to share
our day. Breakfast arrived at 8am but I was getting nervous
and couldn't eat anything.
At 9am we went to the hair and beauty salon. We met the
celebrant Colleen and ran through the service. Anthony
and I said our goodbyes and I went inside to be pampered.
I had visions of an old fashioned hair salon, but they
understood exactly what I wanted done. Anthony went to
his mum and dad's room to get changed and the rain was
still holding off. at 10.40am I was finished. The wedding
co-ordinator, Jo, came to pick me up and give me my bouquet,
which was made up of white Singapore orchids and was better
than I ever imagined. She then took me back to our room
so I could get dressed.
As I was running a bit late, the photographer was waiting
and the car was on its way. I rushed inside, quickly got
dressed, phoned Anthony to say I was ready and that he
could come over - I didn't even have time to look in a
mirror.
The photographer wanted to take some before shots, so
he was rearranging the room when anthony arrived. When
I saw him I filled up and asked him to stay outside otherwise
I would cry. Before we went, Anthony placed a 100-year-old
silver sixpence
in my shoe and I was ready. Anthony couldn't get his orchid
buttonhole on so the photographer helped him out. Now
we were ready.
We had a Rolls royce take us to the church and we walked
down the isle together with Truly Madly Deeply by Savage
Garden playing. I looked at our mums and they both had
tears in their eyes.
 Throughout the service, we stood holding
hands looking at each other. Colleen read poems and the
vows she chose for us to say felt very personal. As we
were signing all the legal bits, we had I Love The Way
You Love Me by Boyzone playing. Colleen then pronounced
us as Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Smith and we walked out of
the church to As by George Michael. The church bells rang
to let the island know we had got married and Anthony
said he had never seen my smile so big. Now it was his
turn to fill-up.
As soon as we got outside, Jo handed us glasses of Champagne,
which she kept full the whole day. We took wedding
bubbles for the guests which must of took them back
to their childhood, as they couldn't put them down. The
cake was a miniature two-tier fruitcake, which was placed
on a bigger base for the photos (it was miniature so we
could take it home).
We then went on a photoshoot around the island, which
was great fun. The photographer, Robert, had us climbing
in bamboo, lying on a jetty, walking on a beach and the
sun shone the whole time. everyone was so relaxed and
couldn't believe how professional the wedding was. We
had Japanese people taking our photo and people were waving
to us as we drove around the island. It was a truly magical
day.
 The
Australians thought it was a high society wedding as all
the ladies were wearing hats (apparently only the rich
or famous wear them at weddings, over there) which made
them all feel special. After the photos were finished,
it started raining (we couldn't believe our luck) and
we all went to the beach house for our reception and have
a drink with Robert, Jo and Rohan (the driver of Rolls)
who were all brilliant. The meal was seven courses including
Greek salad, calamri, chicken, scallops and a warm chocolate
pudding. Anthony made a lovely speech, which started his
mum and dad feeling very emotional. We were given the
champagne glasses, wedding cake and a little book entitled
our wedding day which had the wedding service inside.
We stayed on the island for another two days before travelling
to Brisbane and Sydney for our honeymoon, which lasted
another two weeks. We had 91 photos in three satin albums
to take back to England with us. We couldn't have asked
for anything more. It was perfect.
Do Differently: Nothing, it was the most beautiful
and perfect day of my life. |
If
you would like to contact Michelle and Anthony, you can e-mail
them.
|
