Chrystal and Matt’s Family Wedding

A Great Venue for an Intimate Family Wedding

Bendigo Botanical Gardens

A Family Wedding is a very special event! This gorgeous area of the Bendigo Botanical Gardens provided the back drop for Chrystal and Matt’s Family Wedding. The pond area was a lovely  feature behind the ceremony. The little ones enjoyed the ducks and searching for “dinosaurs”! Seating in the shelter was used by the guests who were then able to hear and see everything. It is a great option for a smaller, more intimate Family Wedding!

 

Children at Weddings

Children at weddings!!❤️❤️❤️

Matt and Chrystal’s wedding was a true family affair . Their  boys  had  roles of  carrying  the rings and a sign. They  were right up in the action to hear and see everything! At one stage, the whole family formed a circle holding hands! So cute!

Pledge to Children:

 Chrystal and Matt made a special pledge to the boys. They promised to care for and nurture them as long as they needed their parents!

Ritual: Sand Ceremony

Chrystal and Matt chose to include a Sand Ceremony into their Family Wedding. It provides a visual reminder of the family. Each family member poured a layer of different coloured sand into a jar. Something new and beautiful was created. Just like sand…this family would be difficult to separate! It is a perfect way to involve children in a wedding.

Ritual: Family Certificate

It is often asked whether anyone extra can sign the Wedding Certificate. Unfortunately, because this is a legal document, it is illegal for anyone but the couple, witnesses and the celebrant to write on it! But what I can do is create a Family Certificate that anyone can sign.  The children, bridal party, guests can all be included .And the bride can use her married name for the very first time!

Family Certificate This Family Certificate was created by the children for Chrystal and Matt’s Family Wedding.

What a wonderful memory for the whole family!!!

Celebrant: Vicki Coghill

Photos courtesy of Bec Gray- Bendigo Wedding Photographer

A Family Wedding at Home

A Family Wedding at Home for Kasie and Dean

A Family Wedding at Home

A family wedding at home (Kasie’s parent’s home where she grew up) seemed the perfect option for Kasie and Dean. Since I had known Kasie and her family since Primary School it came as no surprise when our first meeting included her partner, Dean, two of their children and Kasie’s mum and dad. Not only would the venue be the family home but  It wasn’t hard to see that this ceremony needed  ideas to include as many family members as possible.

Including the family

To start with Kasie and Dean included many family members in their wedding party. Kasie had her two sisters, Dean’s sister and their four daughters as bridesmaids, junior maids and flower girls. The groomsmen included Dean’s brother, Kasie’s brother , friends and young son and nephew as pageboys.  Kasie’s mum and Dad both walked her down the aisle to meet Dean. Both sets of parents were then called upon to welcome their children’s marriage partner to the family.

During the ceremony Kasie and Dean made a beautiful pledge to their children which promised to nurture them and care for them as long as they need them. The family was visually represented by creating a beautiful sand bottle  into which each family member poured a layer of  coloured sand. In doing so, they made something  new and beautiful but like any sand, difficult to separate…just like their family!

The ceremony concluded with a short reading by Kasie’s sister in law.

What a memorable day for all at  this special  family wedding at home! 

Celebrant: Vicki Coghill