Victoria's Blog

Cristian & Bec – The Old Swan Brewery

I married the lovely couple Chris and Bec on what ended up being a fine, but windy day in November 2011 at the Old Swan Brewery on Mounts Bay Road, overlooking the Swan River.  Another lovely couple I have to say.

This first met at high school. There was not a sense that there was a connection between them, and they went their own ways in life. Oddly they say, there was an “azateric connection”, (the groom’s words here), being created that they were unaware of………..they shared the same friends and connections without ever meeting, they travelled the same places just missing one another, they worked in the same regions of the “far North” but never laid eyes on each other. All a mystery till such time as the universe pulled their two souls together, “not by mere chance” but by the connection of love, it is suggested.

They often laugh and reminisce with great fondness about their own teenage lives and their adolescent adventures remembering the events that happened, people they knew and places and parties they went to, and the craziness of it all, just living several blocks from one another. This connection with all its memories is something they say is comforting and in essence makes the bond between them closer.. How these two lovers came together full circle 25 years later to reacquaint is a gift they say has been given to them and one, they take with open hands and hearts. And from this day forward, they have begun writing up their next adventures together.

Bless you both and best wishes.

“For a wedding Celebrant in Perth, or near you, please contact Victoria Wheeler

Happy Days

Zoe & David – Millbrook Winery Jarrahdale

The Groom & his Merry Men

Wow………….In early November, I married the adventurous and cheeky Englishman, David to his laid back Aussie girl, Zoe, at the picturesque MILLBROOK Winery, at Jarrahdale, just off South West Highway.  A match made in heaven, some would say.

 They were actually recommended to me by Michelle, their photographer, from Michelle Dean Photography,  she saying” I know just the Celebrant for you………………Victoria Wheeler”.  We connected instantly and I thoroughly enjoyed preparing their words for the ceremony and of, course the day itself.

 The weather threatened all day, (it was that sort of November).

 David was his usual “wise cracking” self on the day, although I could see he was  a little nervous as he and his band of merry men waited for the arrival of the Bride and Bridesmaids, 3 of which were the Bride’s, sisters. The sun came out as the Bride arrived, she looked beautiful, They promised to continue to be comrades in mischief, etc, etc,  and shortly after the ceremony, the rain did start, but knowing this couple nothing will have dampened their spirits and the celebrations would kick on for hours.  After all he is English!

“For a wedding Celebrant in Perth, or near you, please contact Victoria Wheeler

Finally married David & Zoe

Nichole & Ben – Peel Manor House, Karnup

Hi All

Ben & Nichole have been together for quite awhile.  They have had  a little boy together, and he is very much a part of this wedding ceremony today.

This ceremony was held at Peel Manor Huuse at the bottom end of the freeway at Karnup.  In essence pretty easy to get to although it sounds difficult, but it is not, really.

“For a wedding Celebrant in Perth, or near you, please contact Victoria Wheeler

The Proceedings

Laura & Blair – Upper Reach Winery – Baskerville

Well, what a day for me as a Celebrant, as I watched Laura and Blair share their vows in marriage and I had a “wow”,  of a time doing it.  The weather did threaten for a short while, but in the end, it recovered so that this great couple could do it in style.

This was my first wedding at Upper Reach, in downtown Baskerville, just off Great Northern Highway and it is a very cosy and cute venue.

As you can see by the photos, (thanks for the happy snaps, Laura) you look so  happy and relaxed and look like you enjoyed it as well.  Which, to be honest, if you can’t enjoy things on your wedding day, then when can you!  In an email back to me with the photos,  apart from a big “thank you”, it was just perfect for them, Laura said.

I can’t thank them enough for choosing me as the Celebrant and I wish them many years of marital bliss.

“For a wedding Celebrant in Perth, or near you, please contact Victoria Wheeler

“For a wedding Celebrant in Perth, or near you, please contact Victoria Wheeler

Blair & laura walking back to happiness

Katherine & Matt – The Hidden Gardens of Caversham House

The Signing

On the day that Katherine and Matt married, at the Hidden Gardens of Caversham House, back in March 2011, I had left my camera in the car.  And for those who know the venue fairly well, there are  humungous amounts of stairs to climb up and down, so I decided to leave it at that, and not blog on this occasion.  And to my delight I recently received a couple of very nice photos of them, so here is their blog.

Just a young couple who have actually done a lot, together, Katherine in their early days, did a European trip, and Matt was able to catch her up on the Irish leg…………..where he proposed, and of course, the lovely and intelligent  Katherine said yes. And since then they have bought their first home…………….where they are now known as the “Winchesters from Winchester Way>  How cool is that.

 From memory their wedding day went very well, there were no probs, the weather was fine, everyone performed their jobs impeccably and just another day in the life of the Perth Wedding Celebrant, Victoria Wheeler.

Best wishes to our couple for  a long and happy marriage.

Sallyanne & Neil – Queen’s Gardens – East Perth

Also way back in June, I married Sallyanne and Neil at Queen’s Garden’s in East Perth.

Marriage for these two was more than making a commitment to each other. In their own words, they had made that commitment some 15 years ago, (but who is counting) when Neil did formally propose, and long before they found “the right time to marry”.  And I can tell you that there is never is a “right” time………………..the right time, has to be when you stand in front of someone like  a Civil Celebrant, like myself.  And our couple would not be standing there happy and smiling without their 3 children, Nathan, Aleesha and little Justin. The  marriage between Neil and Sallyanne, this day,   was also a formal union between them and the children, who are a vital  part of their lives.

Slight problem, the brother of the Groom was around 50 minutes late with the couple’s wedding rings, but the weather that had been hovering around held for them, although the limo driver had to leave for another booking.  Just part of wedding day festivities and a good lesson for any Bride and Groom-to-be. You must be organised.

But in any event, eventually, I read the “Blessing of the Hands”, revised by Rev. Daniel L. Harris, they said their vows and the rings were given,  I blessed their marriage and asked that their married lives be all that they wished for.

Finally married

“For a wedding Celebrant in Perth, or near you, please contact Victoria Wheeler

The Celebrant Victoria Wheeler in action

“For a wedding Celebrant in Perth, or near you, please contact Victoria Wheeler

Carolina & Mauricio – Hamilton Hill

I was asked to officiate as the Wedding Celebrant, at the wedding of a close friend’s family,  a Latino couple, from Chile, South America, way back in June.  It was to be held at the bride’s brother’s, (Ceasear) back verandah in Hammy Hill.  Quite a small area, as I found out.  The wedding was supposed to be at around 5.00pm on a Friday afternoon, but by the time they were ready to roll, the dark clouds had rolled, in and at just about the time we started the ceremony, it poured down, hitting the corregated roof so hard, it basically drowned out my PA system and with all the young guests trying to crowd into this small area and me trying to not let the wedding documents get wet from the prevailing winds and rain and it continued to pelt down, until  long after I had left the reception at around 11.00pm, the degree of difficulty was high.  The weather bureau, said it was a once in a decade downpour……yeh, right…………..just what we needed.

But it did not deter our couple, young, free, pragmatic and vibrant, they just had fun and partied on regardless, as any well adjusted Latino couple would do.  And just happy to be married.

I probably don’t need to say much more, but here is one of the photos that I can show you. I probably could not show you too many more, as the couple, ended up having their first matromonial kiss on the verandah deck……….which was interesting to say the least.

The happy bride and groom!

For a wedding Celebrant in Perth, or near you, please contact Victoria Wheeler

Kitty & Kai – The Burswood Shell – Burswood

On referral from another young Chinese couple I had married earlier in the year, I was  privileged to marry young Kitty and Kai to each other in the gardens at the Burswood Shell  with the backdrop of the swan sculpture in the background.  It is said, that “swans mate for life”, so let’s hope the symbolism holds true for these two.

I understand that, from the time they met each other, back some four and a half years ago, in December, 2006, as they began their studies at Curtin University, here in Perth, and were, indeed, classmates, it would seem that there never was going to be anyone else for either of  them. In fact, ………..Kitty was Kai’s, first girlfriend, and she is very adamant that she will be his last and only. 

It is said,  an ideal relationship or marriage  is where one person fills in the personality gaps of the other.  Kitty,  with her quirky urban sophistication and Kai, an entrepreneurial young man, perhaps even a jester………..pardon the pun, (they run a Jester’s franchise), so obviously complement each other. Combine this with their mutual joy of living and working and study, their laughter, and their commitment to each other,  it makes for a wonderful and strong partnership.

Kai & Kitty

For a wedding Celebrant in Perth, or near you, please contact Victoria Wheeler

The Bride & Groom with their friends, the Celebrant and "the swans" in the background

For a wedding Celebrant in Perth, or near you, please contact Victoria Wheeler

Tracey & Leigh – Joondalup Resort

I married Leigh and Tracey at the delightful Joondalup Resort, off freeway north on a fairly hot May day. 

Our couple’s marriage was perhaps a “work in progress, after being together for some 11 years………….They met, in Port Hedland, where Tracey had moved to with her family and had, at the time, thought her life was over, having thought she had come to the “end of the  earth”.  Little was she  to know  she would meet someone there that would turn out to be the “love of her life, of course…Leigh”! Back then Leigh was a bit shy and it took him a little while to make the first move, but in hindsight he is very glad he did.

The proposal  of marriage came about in October 2009  – the sun was setting, the birds were singing, a perfect Yallingup Day, on a perfect deserted Yallingup Beach…well now that you have this in mind, this is how it was supposed to go!  Despite Leigh’s best efforts things went down a little differently that day.  But, somehow after letting nerves get the better of him over Tracey taking too long to eat a muffin, the timing of the sunset, getting drenched by a rogue wave and digging out a bogged 4 wheel drive, Leigh finally got his chance and popped the question. It wasn’t text book, but they say they wouldn’t have it any other way.

Had a slow day with the camera, so forgive me please, photo not great, although I can see that gorgeous, funky photographer Rob Watson, from Selected Impressions photography, directing traffic. Lucky I make a much better Celebrant, than a photographer.

For a wedding Celebrant in Perth, or near you, please contact Victoria Wheeler

Sarah & Willem – Peel Manor House

 I married Willem and Sarah at the lovely Peel Manor House, in Karnup, just of the southern end of the Kwinana Freeway, on May Day, 2011.  May 1^st – traditionally a day of welcoming new beginnings, new growth and rejuvenation, and so for them it was every bit that.

 And I suppose you are dying to know how they met?  Of course you are………..and I can tell you, that they met at  “band camp” way back in 1999, (for most Kiwis this would be quite funny, I understand)

Sarah arriving with her Mum

where Sarah thought “he’s a bit of alright!”. With Willem wearing a kilt at the time, she also wondered who was going to wear the pants in the relationship! And so, they met, and with a flourish of drumsticks and the help of a few vodka jellies, they sealed their relationship and their life destinies. They learned that falling in love with another person and getting to know them is a little akin to the exploration of a wild and wonderful place, into the bargain. And on a pure and sentimental moment in London, on Xmas Day, 2005, Willem proposed. And, I am happy to say that Sarah, said, yeh!

And since then, like any normal intelligent Kiwis, they took a leap of faith and moved here to Oz, the best idea that they have ever had, and of course, have made their home in Secret Harbour, with their dog, Lucy – they couldn’t be happier! 

Sarah was to me, the most unlikely of formal brides but she did the full bit………..veile, dress and the rest………..she looked lovely.

For a wedding Celebrant in Perth, or near you, please contact Victoria Wheeler