I was in New Zealand getting married to the man who is surpassing all my dreams. I couldn’t be happier.
 |
| Us with our two Best Men |
Phil and I pop over to NZ several times a year to see our 16 tonne baby, and on the last visit he proposed. (While I was under the yacht painting … long story) So we decided to marry at the Marina.
Since then it has been a whirlwind of invites, and preparations, and planning that resulted in what I modestly claim is the best wedding I have ever been to.
Why? Well for one thing we played pass the parcel.
When Phil suggested it I was surprised and not particularly convinced but I decided to give it a go since he has just said yes to my plans to have several quizzes and a PowerPoint presentation.
We had just six tables of close family and local friends and it was the ideal size to have some fun.
After the short ceremony we took photos and then led a group down to see our yacht. It is the perfect yacht for making people feel okay about not having a yacht. She is sound but needs so much work. Some of our guests even took photos by a different and more photogenic yacht.
When we returned we had a quiz about our courtship. Not even close family got more than half the questions right. We asked things like what we did on our second date. The options were
A. Crashed our rental car into a taxi
B. Set fire to a boat or
C. Took a midwinter swim in frosty Wellington
Of course it was B (you knew that right?) and we have photos to prove it.
Then we had our second quiz asking people to match our close family members with a fact about each of them. This way we achieved our objective of having my family get to know his a little better.
The only speeches were short and funny and definitely not formal. My dad told jokes and sang I am a Little Teapot (another long story). My brother interjected with funny comments and Phil and I both had a Best Man (we have only sons)
All in all it was just what I wanted.
And the pass the parcel? It was a big hit.
It ended up with Phil’s sister who won a book of humour to read in the toilet. (It was more tasteful than it sounds.)
We ended the night with dancing and the visual presentation of wedding jokes and quotes such as Rita Rudners gem “I think men who have a pierced ear are better prepared for marriage. They've experienced pain and bought jewellery.”
If you want to steal any of my ideas, please do. It was an unconventional wedding and lots of fun. I thoroughly recommend it.
And as for my travels.
Phil has been a big part of my Australian adventures and so there will still be plenty of them. Stay posted.
