CAROL RICKARD

Let me help you plan an amazing
wedding ceremony

Ceremonies within a Ceremony

Sound System

Marriage Licence

Check List

Handy Hints

Wedding Showcase

Showcasing other Wedding Services

References

Contact Me

The perfect site for life's
Most important
ceremony

CORINNE AND AUSTIN'S WEDDING CLASSIC ROMANTIC Corinne Dukeson and Austin Brooks were married at The Elms, Tauranga on September 16, 2006. Corinne tells their story: Water skiing brought us together when we met through mutual friends at our favourite lake. Any girl who owned and drove her own ski boat would have a head start with Austin who was a NZ champion barefoot water skier! But he proposed on land – at the top of Mount Maunganui at 6.30am. Mum’s last wish. We set the date for January 2007 and, being my usual highly efficient self, I got onto the organizing immediately. When my mother became very unwell with cancer we brought the wedding forward to December, 2006. Mum then deteriorated rapidly and her only wish in her remaining months was to see her baby girl get married. So in mad panic we brought all our arrangements forward to a month out. Some guests must have wondered when they received their invitations with a “reply urgently” note on them! Much to our grief Mum passed away 12 days before our wedding but made me promise that the day would go ahead and be a happy one. If I cried she would find a way to trip me up. Chocolate with cream inside. I knew straight away that the theme for our wedding would be my favourite colour, chocolate brown. Luckily Austin never argues and did not even mention wearing his wet suit. He looked very handsome in his chocolate textured waistcoat under a black suit. Everything from the metallic brown invitations with our names embossed (and personalized stamps) to the bridal party’s clothes to the table decorations followed the classic theme of variations of chocolate and cream.

CORINNE AND AUSTIN'S WEDDING (continued...) My gorgeous gown. Luckily I had organized this as my dressmaker had to produce it in two weeks. Auckland based European designer Anna Schimmel created my strapless gown in silk with a full skirt and bodice strewn with Swarovski crystals. I chose a colour called “blush” and felt absolutely superb in it. Austin thought I was a vision and the guests seemed to agree. The bridesmaids wore chocolate Vera Wang dresses and we carried clusters of soft pink roses. Roses all the way. I was amazed to find no butterflies attacked me as the day flew past from hair and make up which started at 8am till I walked down the rose scattered aisle in the beautiful garden of the historic Elms at 3pm (well maybe a few minutes after!) on the arm of my beloved Dad. Laughter and tears. The ceremony was a mixture of joy and sadness. I did shed a tear when I lit a remembrance candle for my Mum while the song I had dedicated to her and played to her the day before her passing ,“Wind Beneath My Wings”, played. Our celebrant, Carol Rickard, understood completely as she had officiated at Mum’s funeral the week before. Her gentle humour put us at ease as we exchanged the vows we had prepared so carefully for this special day.

CORINNE AND AUSTIN'S WEDDING (continued...) Memories are made of this. Austin’s friend Mathew Henderson took our photos and the weather which threatened to break but didn’t dare (thank you Mum!) actually enhanced the photos. The wind at the beach helped create some dramatic shots as my veil flew in the air. Toasts and cake. We held the reception at Fahys Motor Inn where staff were extremely helpful. The tables looked lovely but the best sight was that of all our family and friends sharing it with us. Some of the speeches would have won a comedy contest! Our chocolate and pink iced “mad hatter” style cake was a bit of whimsy in our classic romantic wedding. Our first dance. We danced to our favourite song, “The Scientist” by Coldplay, then everyone joined us to boogie the night away. I’d do it again tomorrow. While people, including me, were amazed at how well I coped so soon after Mum had passed, it was the most fantastic day. There were mixed emotions but I knew that above all this was what Mum wanted, and I was thrilled she’d had time to get to know Austin and knew how happily married I would be. And I am! (And Austin is not arguing!)