ASH + EMMA
When: March 2020
Where: The Zodiac Garden, Robertson SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS NSW
Photography: Samantha Heather
Ash + Emma’s Story:
When I think of Ash and Emma, I think two peas in a pod. Upon our coffee meet up, I could tell instantly how well they go together and I was thrilled to be their celebrant for many reasons.
Emma and Ash are vibrant, down-to-earth, happy, hilarious and wonderful, both in their own right. They’re fun to be around and I really loved what they had planned for their ceremony.
A very funny story they told me took place on their first date. The conversation flowed as did the beers so Emma decided to order a chicken pizza to soak up some of the alcohol. They ate it, as they laughed and chatted into the night. When they spoke the next day, Ash told Emma that she mostly doesn’t eat meat. Emma was mortified, this was Ash’s way of telling her she was vegetarian!
When it came to their plans they were already so organised. They knew how they wanted their ceremony to be. They had their wedding attire, rings, flowers and their vows underway. For the ceremony, they were organising drinks upon arrival for guests and wanted a casual start to their day of celebration. They had everything down pat.
Then, less than two weeks out from their wedding…the world stopped. COVID reared its ugly head. Regulations on social gatherings were imminent. Ash and Emma called me. Remarkably calm, they were going ahead with their wedding but it’ll require major changes. They had very important international guests here already. There was concern that the borders were closing soon and their guests may not be able to return home. Drastic measures were required. They handle it all with such resilience and grace. The wedding was brought forward, sadly guests numbers reduced to immediate family only and the location changed. They had an ideal plan B, thanks to their family having a very suitable property for a celebration, in the Southern Highlands.
They pulled everything together within a matter of 48 hours, and there you have it. Their wedding was all systems go, exactly one week earlier and just in the nick of time. Three days later the strict COVID restrictions were laid out, a max of five people could attend any wedding (the couple, the celebrant and two witnesses). Phew!
Their day had arrived. It couldn’t have been a more perfect March day in the Southern Highlands. Warm and sunny when typically, you’d find it icy cold and very fresh. Everyone could feel the extra special buzz in the air, given the whirlwind of week they had to get to that point. With gratitude and even more appreciation for their freedoms, Ash and Emma were so elated to be getting married. All in the comfort of their family property with most of their closest circle there with them.
Talk about a perfect way to start a marriage, plan B style! Huge admiration for making it work.
Congratulations Ash + Emma!
Testimonial:
“Jacqui is a fantastic celebrant. In the run up to our March wedding she was highly organised, patient with our questions and had plenty of useful advice on hand. She was also just excited to share in our wedding day.
Because of the pandemic, we rescheduled our wedding — with some family already having travelled to Australia, we brought it forward with fewer guests, and with about 48 hours’ notice, in a totally different location, Jacqui helped us pull off a perfect intimate ceremony.
Despite the craziness, on the day her absolute professionalism and passion for her work really shone through.”