By Sally Hughes, Melbourne Marriage Celebrant
When Julia and Kit shared their vision for their wedding with me, it was clear: they wanted a relaxed and joyous gathering where family could come together, enjoy good wine, delicious food, and lots of laughter. Their wish was for a celebration that truly embodied the spirit of Melbourne, and I couldn't have been more excited.
On a sunny Wednesday afternoon in Autumn, Julia and Kit and about twenty of their nearest and dearest gathered at the Melbourne Supper Club to enjoy wine, canapes and lively conversation. About half an hour later, as the final song in their pre-ceremony set played, I invited guests to replenish their glasses and gather near while Julia and Kit took their places before the iconic arched window.
Julia and Kit chose a micro ceremony, preferring not to delve deeply into the story of their relationship. However, they did allow me to share a few significant and amusing moments, which helped create a ceremony that was both personal and interactive, mirroring their easy-going and sociable natures.
What truly stood out during the ceremony was the range of emotions that swept through the intimate gathering. There was an overwhelming sense of happiness, but also deeply moving moments that highlighted the love and connection within this small group.
After heartfelt and humorous vows were exchanged, Julia and Kit’s scene-stealing son kept the laughs rolling with some off-the-cuff commentary and his unique style of ring presentation.
Julia and Kit were keen to include a further three children in their ceremony. When we discussed their ages and comfort levels I suggested that they be the ones to declare them married. I was confident that it would add a sweet and memorable touch to the proceedings.
Though I was ready to step in if needed, I knew after my pre-ceremony pep-talk that they’d nail it. They did.
After one of the funniest certificate signing sessions I’ve ever known (awesome banter Leanne and Leigh!), I closed the ceremony with a toast to the newlyweds.
As their guests refilled their champagne glasses (their celebrant included), Julia and Kit took to the streets of Melbourne for a photo session with the talented Julieanne Perara. They later rejoined their adult guests for a long lunch, their favourite pastime, bringing a perfect end to a perfect day.
Reflecting on Julia and Kit's wedding, I'm reminded of why I love being a celebrant. Their day was a beautiful blend of love, laughter, and genuine connection—a true celebration of family and togetherness in the heart of Melbourne.
Congratulations Julia and Kit. What a joyous and heartfelt celebration that was. Thank you for placing your trust in me to prepare and present your ceremony. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with you and your lovely family. xx
LOVE NOTE
“Sally is an exceptional Celebrant. She is engaging, funny, warm and thoroughly organised. She made sure that all the admin happened seamlessly in the background which took a lot of pressure off us and was greatly appreciated.
Where her real value lies, though, is in the personal touch she offers and the ways she helped us plan and run our ceremony. She has a wealth of information available that helped us with our vows, and the order of ceremony - as well as great recommendations for photographers, florists and other service providers which we used. She also helped with practical, logistical things such as furniture placement, where to stand and how to best put on our rings to ensure the best photos, patiently coaching the kids involved in our ceremony on their roles and lines… it really felt like she went way above and beyond expectations to ensure the day went exactly as we wanted it to.
She then delivered the most heartwarming, humorous and fun ceremony we could have hoped for. She was warm without being cheesy, funny without stealing the show, flexible and adaptable and a lot of fun. She even went so far as to dress so as to match our autumnal theme.
We feel very lucky to have found Sally and don’t think there’s anyone who could have done a better job of making our day so perfect. Thank you Sally, we are forever grateful.”
Celebrant: Sally Hughes // Photographer: Julieanne Perara Photography // Venue: Melbourne Supper Club, Managed by Spring Street Events // Julia’s Outfit: Scanlan Theodore // Julia’s bag: Kit’s Suit: Calibre // Flowers: The Road Stall