Wedding on the lake

Yesterday we celebrated the wedding of Zoe, Garry’s niece, and Ben. The happy couple tied the knot on the shores of Wallis Lake, about 14km south of Forster. The ceremony was held at the Green Cathedral, an outdoor amphitheatre set among trees and native palms overlooking the lake. The reception was held at Palms Pavilion, a dedicated events venue nearby.

The location was chosen in part because Nicole and Jason, Zoe’s parents, own a holiday house at Bluey’s Beach, a coastal resort town opposite Wallis Lake. The house is part of a holiday resort set among native trees, directly opposite the beach. Garry and I rented a house at the resort for three nights, as did many of the wedding guests.

The wedding was a joyful occasion. Ben and Zoe were blessed with relatively warm and sunny weather. The bush setting also sheltered us from any lake breeze. Earlier in the day, the weather forecast had predicted a light sprinkle as the ceremony was ending. However, in the end, we experienced the briefest of misty raindrops while waiting for the newlyweds to finish their photo session, more than an hour after the ceremony itself.

Guests were bused to and from the event. As a result, Garry and I were able to kick back and enjoy ourselves. The speeches were all hilarious, and my mother-in-law Rhonda’s memory was invoked more than once. I’m not too proud to admit that I cried when the bride walked down the aisle, and again when Rhonda’s name was mentioned at the reception.

Perhaps one of the most memorable personal touches at the reception was a photo montage that Zoe prepared. She framed images of family members and their partners on their wedding day, or their earliest photo as a couple, with a message reminding everyone that she and Ben were following in the footsteps of those who’d gone before. She’s lovingly included a photo of Garry and me. The newlyweds also wrote a personal note to every guest on the back of each table place card.

It’s crazy to think that I first met Zoe almost 23 years ago. She was a toddler sleeping in her cot. Now that little girl owns a house and has a husband. Likewise, we first met Ben when he joined the family for Christmas lunch at our house in 2018. That’s him with Zoe and Adam above.

Garry and I wish the happy couple a life together filled with love, laughter and joy.