True love is not just the big, grand gestures.
Celebrants speech
An excerpt from Celebrant Nikita Bell’s speech: Nikita Bell – Marriage Celebrant – FB
“We are here today to give Samantha and Nathan the celebration they deserve, but missed out on when they planned their wedding last year. One benefit of this is that today, we don’t need to worry about the legal stuff, and can just concentrate on having fun!
Today, they will make commitments to each other – and then celebrate with all of the people they love the most.
You may have noticed, by the horse drawn carriage, that Samantha loves romance and fairy tales. I wanted to start today with a sweet, family friendly story about the love that stands before us. Unfortunately though, that would mean I would need to skip over the first, and second time Nathan and Sam met.
How they met
Their first encounter was not quite the fairy tale beginning you would expect from a couple that were destined to spend their lives together. It was messy. But isn’t that how the best stories start? The first time they met, at a pub nearly 12 years ago, it was complete, and utter chaos.
Samantha’s very first impression of him was what most people would think about the guy that just poured beer in their shoe – “another drunk idiot in Griffith!” He did start apologising immediately and offering his credit card for Sam to buy new shoes. Nathan’s first impression of Samantha was “wow – she is gorgeous!” Nathan was so apologetic, that Sam eventually felt the need to give him a chance, as he was trying so hard to make amends. They got talking and would message each other daily, and from there their relationship grew.
As they got to know each other, Nathan realised that Samantha wasn’t just gorgeous, but she also had a kind and compassionate nature. He is so proud of her resilience, especially through all of the times they have moved house.
Samantha is his best friend
Nathan couldn’t pinpoint a moment he fell in love. It happened gradually, over time. Samantha is his best friend. He knows that life has its easy moments and its hard moments but there is no one else he wants to spend the rest of his life with. She is amazing, and he loves her.
Samantha told me that she never really knew what it meant to love someone outside of her family, so after Nathan told her that he loved her, she turned to her mum. She quickly realised that she always wanted him there, and always wanted to talk to him. He made her laugh and feel special. It was clear that she loved him – and from there, their relationship continued to grow.
It wasn’t love at first sight, or at the first try. If it had been that kind of love, it wouldn’t have needed the necessary and rewarding effort, attention, and hard work that these two have put into understanding who they are alone and then who they could become and the life they could create when together.
True love is not just the big, grand gestures.
The special moments
Among the big milestones, there are a lot of smaller “in between” moments that are more quiet and subtle. These shared but quiet moments are where the bonds of a relationship are truly made or broken, where two people figure out if they can remain in motion with one another forever.
For Samantha and Nathan, love is shown in the tiniest actions – from Nathan andomly buying flowers or going out late at night to fulfil Sam’s craving of cheeseburgers, to the moments you share together with your children.
You know all there is to know about each other, including each other’s quirks. Like the way Samantha has a very specific way she likes to hang out the laundry, or Nathan’s atrocious Dad Jokes.
This is a love that is found in the most important things, like the way you have supported each other, and overcome challenges that many couples would never truly understand.
They understand how easy it is to love someone in the beginning when everything is new and exciting, when they are at their best or life is going well – in these moments love comes effortlessly.
Marriage is the choice to love even when stress, frustration or hardship would have us feel otherwise.
Together they are better
Nathan and Samantha have quite simply realised that together, they are better.
The both of you have so much of your lives together already, growing both as individuals and as a couple and holding each other’s hands whilst you navigate this life together.
I want you to hold each other’s hands, look into each other’s eyes and take a moment to think about all that you have been through and achieved to get to this moment right here, right now.
Your wedding rings are worn as an external symbol of your love. They serve as a precious reminder of the powerful bond you share.
When you look down at your ring, remember that your best friend will always be by your side, and how happy you are at this moment.”
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