Claude and Christine didn’t want a big family and friends wedding – to which they would have to invite 200 people. Instead decided to just to invite immediate family – their parents, Christine’s three brothers and partners and a nephew and niece - on a cruise ship wedding. As I am located in Brisbane, where the ship departed, and they are from Melbourne they decided on me as their celebrant (saw me in a site “australiaworstcelebrants.com”). Although I dealt with them over many months, I never met them until 3 hours before the wedding. Going through customs with people over a period of 2 hours you really get to know folk and I discovered what a brilliant family they are. P & O handled the complicated fact that Claude and Christine didn’t wish to see each other before the wedding with aplomb, forward scouts reporting back that Christine was now out of sight so we could all move through.
The P & O staff were very welcoming on board the Pacific Dawn. Trish and I scored a free cup of coffee and we chatted with Claude, his Dad and a few other guests in “Charlie’s Bar” while Christine and attendants prepared themselves in their cabin. Finally we were escorted to the Captain’s Lounge - how spectacular was that room - a small, intimate room near the top of the ship, chairs set up , red carpet, wedding arch, a view of the beautiful Brisbane River from windows, about eight crew in attendance (2 videographers, a photographer, someone to handle the music, a cake monitor, champagne pourer, and Nick and Nick two delightfully happy crew members who grooved with the music during the ceremony and were designated to look after us). It was a magical ceremony, during which occurred lots of laughter as well as tears from both sets of parents (tears of joy no doubt). A crew lady handed around the champagne before the ceremony had concluded and we toasted Christine and Claude with a giant family hug ensuring that no champagne was poured down dresses or on suits, after which they cut the cake.
Trish and I were then politely escorted from the ship, while the wedding party were due to attend, in 30 minutes, a safety briefing with thousands of passengers who boarded after us. For the next seven wonderful days they will sail north cruising the Queensland Coastline – to Cairns, Port Douglas and other such places. What a great idea for a wedding. For Claude and Christine, the new Mr and Mrs Sandor, a very engaging and talented couple - it was the dawn of a new era, specifically the Pacific Dawn.
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