Love is in the air

The Wedding of Todd & Anna, Coffs Harbour

With a few crazy days left to complete a list of stuff as long as my arm, Monday through Wednesday were quite hectic, but in a good way. I gave myself a full day to finish off

the Kashmir holiday video and plenty of time to pack etc. By the time Thursday had finished, I’d been able to catch up with Sydney friends and even spend some quality time in the pool.
On Friday morning, Lauren and I travelled up to Coffs Harbour. We’d left much earlier than we should’ve though and wound up crashing out in the rented house near Sap

phire Beach... by the time the other guys arrived, we were pretty much back on track and I’d had a chance to get some beers in. We then headed out via a minibus expertly driven by the Groom (keen to not drink the night before his big day) to one of the local tap houses... yet more reunions with old friends, and meeting of the couples parents too. With a few beers inside us all, we were removed at just the right mo

ment I think... next day was the big one.

It all started round at Ems place (her family home always in Coffs - and what a great place it is!) where her father cooked 20-30 hungry wedding guests a BBQ brekk

ie. With that done, everyone split and begun their routines that had been planned to lead them up to the afternoon ceremony. Before 3 o clock rolled around, me and some of the guys managed to get in a few ocean swims and even a game of beach volleyball. The girls were all busy getting themselves ready when we joined them to throw on our threads and slap on some Brut!
A shuttle bus got us to the Price family home that had been amazin

gly decked out for the occasion, of course my cameras shutter went nuts from the get-go throughout the day. I watched on as the groomsmen got their act together (Todd with Aaron, Wedge & Lowen) and th

en as all the guests started to arrive. There was a great buzz once everyone was waiting for Anna to arrive around the rose petalled garden corner.

Once she did, there were gasps gallore as she walked elegantly around the corner

with her parents. I took a quick glance over at Todd and could see he was exploding inside with emotion, it was seriously awesome to see!
The registrar took the lead and brought up Anna and Todds sisters to read poems to the congregation. Tears were flowing amongst many of the friends and family present.

The moment came, and the pair were kissing having just exchanged rings. The sun was tucked half between the clouds and the hazy blue Coffs sky as the ceremony br

oke for Champagne. The signature ink and bubbles flowed straight after one

another.

Once the photo’s and formalities were done, the guests were shuttled down to the reception venue of the Beach Stone cafe. Leaving a window for me to so a small photo-shoot with the guys... muchos fun.

At the recepti

on, Salmon and Lamb were served after some of the most awesome little aperitifs were gobbled up by everyone before the limelight went to the fathers and best man. After the laughter was done, the dance-floor opened up for Todd and Anna to take a dance... kisses, more tears, and then drunken dance-offs finished off the evening.

Best Wishes to Todd and Anna, the future

holds so much for you guys. Thanks again for letting us be a part of your day.

* * *

The morning after the day before had everyone up at Todds place again for a breakfast, and then the goodbyes began. Many people had flown in from various parts of the cou

ntry and the world, and some had to start leaving as early as midday. This was a

lso an emotional part of the weekend for me too, having to say goodbye to some amazing mates that I've come to know over the last several years living in Sydney.

A few of us took another ocean swim, which would turn out to be my last of these for the foreseeable future. An easy Sunday followed where I also got to show off my Kashmir snow video (2years in the waiting!). A delicious BBQ grill finished things off nicely before an early start of high emotion saying goodbye to my friends.

A few hours after arriving home, I discovered from our agents that the flights we were expecting to be on the following day had been bumped much later in the day - it opened up a large portion of our remaining days for some slightly more relaxing things like topping up sun-tans and playing with the dogs.

This bonus day was a blessing in disguise, we were totally ready to go, so all we could do, was swim and bask in the sun, for the final time this year or next. Later that day, we moved heavy baggage into the back of Laurens dads car and it was time for another of those emotionally charged points in life... till check-in, and then the walk around the security clearance point of no return.

You've been awfully good to me Australia, I can't wait to be back.