Our name is Love

The day couldn't have been more perfect for a wedding. Sunshine aplenty, the air retaining just the right degree of chill. It was a clear day and you could see forever, putting a spring in our steps.

I suppose there is something to be said about being in a church that makes one . . . compliant? The guests were well-behaved, speaking if at all only in whispers and refraining from using their cameras during the ceremony, much to the minister's delight. We all stood when we were told to stand, ditto sit, although our (lack of) attendance in Presbyterian church ongoing became blatantly clear when it came to hymnal time. Only a handful knew the tunes, even fewer hit the notes. But no matter, we had a grand time.

And the bride walked down the aisle to Steve Jablonsky's uber moving "My name is Lincoln".

When the newly weds exchanged their "I do", I suddenly recalled reading somewhere something about how you don't just marry someone you think you can live with, you marry someone you can't live without.

These two are clearly made for each other.

. . . . . .

St Peter's in North Sydney, where the wedding ceremony took place. Beautiful day, wonderful church, gorgeous couple - what a perfect occasion!

The elegant programme du jour - from the collective efforts of the groom, the bride and the bride's mom.

. . . Perfect Peace, Perfect Love, Perfect Life. simply Perfect.

Down this aisle the bride will go to say, "I do".

The dashing I-am-not-nervous groom. Simply irresistible, as the bride will ought to say.

The Maley, Young and Oldknow 2/12 mechanical organ in St Peter's, installed 1885. If you are into organs and that sort of contraption, you might like to know it's stats.

Don't you just love the white lilies?

Pam and Terry, the bride's vivacious parents who are married for 36 years; to each other, in case you get any funny ideas.

Yay, we are married and you are now mine . . . and what's yours is also mine . . . as Karen reached for Duncan's wallet.

The bride's family and the newly weds beaming for the camera.

Cousins joining in for a happy snap.

Friends of bride's parents putting their best front forward.

Mother of the groom putting in her bit to capture the happy moments.

Nana and the newly weds. These people looked to be natural smilers, don't you think?

The groom's family and their latest addition, posing for the camera.

Matt giving the bride a brotherly tease in the Drawing Room of the Observatory Hotel. Terry seems to be saying, "Go get 'em, tiger!"

". . . . we will always be there for you, Karen."

The newly weds hanging on to every word Terry said. Not a dry eye in the room.

Table setting in the Dining Room of the Observatory Hotel, where the wedding banquet was held. Very elegant.

First flavour - my choice is a red onion tart with prosciutto and baby rockets, on a streak of aged balsamic vinegar. Lovely to look at, delightful to munch on.

First flavour - John's choice was the crab avocado and tomato tower salad with chipotle aioli. A twist of lemon brought forth the sweetness of the crab meat, contrasting well with the soft buttery avocado and sweet moist tomato salsa.

Principal dish - my choice is the barramundi, pan-seared to perfection, served with a cucumber & celery salad and black pepper sauce. I raised eyebrows with my choice because I am known to veer away from fish and it's ilk when it comes to culinary choice.

Principal dish - John's choice was the beef tenderloin, with kumera mash, greens and shallot-mustard toffee. The beef was a little too rare for my liking, and I thought the greens were a tad over-cooked. Please, don't ask what I mean by "a little" or give specifics on "a tad". However, I am please to let you know the 2007 Chris Ringland Shiraz that accompanied the beef in the decanted mode, was very good.

Dessert - my choice is the strawberry souffle glace, served with almond tuile. Molto delizioso. My only regret is that there wasn't enough of it. I wanted more, and no one at my table was prepared to spare nor share. @#$%

Dessert - John's choice was the coconut pavlova with seasonal fruits. John gave me a forkful of the pav, but only after I offered in exchange a spoonful of my strawberry glace.

Crumbled Macadamia nut wafers were served with coffee. These bloody wafers were very addictive; once you start you can't stop. Okay, it was more like once I started, I couldn't stop. The others were elegantly abstemious.

These two are so going to make beautiful babies. Just look at how beautiful both are!