SYDNEY WEEKEND - DAY 2 - THE WEDDING

On Saturday 22nd, we woke up early to a gray and and wet day, although some sun-rays were unsuccessfully trying to poke through.

Early morning over Darling Harbour - taken from our hotel room

View over the city skyscrapers - taken from our hotel room

We first went downstairs to one of the little cafes next to the hotel, and had a wonderful bacon and eggs breakfast.

After breakfast we went up to our room and my son arrived with his suit to get ready for his big day.
After showering, hair, make-up (for me only of course!) and with our formal outfits on, we were ready to leave in time to be at the function room one hour before the wedding ceremony.

A selfie of the three of us in the hotel garage

On arrival at the wedding venue - Le Sands Pavilion, at Brighton Le Sands -  we just had time to take a couple of photos outside before the rain came pelting down again...

The lapel flower made by the bride's mother from wire and stockings (just like the bridal bouquet and ring girl bouquet)

Inside, two small rooms were allocated to the wedding party - the room where the civil ceremony would take place, and the lunch room. The table had been lovingly decorated by the bride, that morning, with white roses, silver and white petals, and name cards that were hand made by her to match the wedding invitation. As you can see from the table it was a small wedding for 25 people only.

The room and table were lovingly decorated by the bride in white and silver

After the customary late arrival of the bride, this time due to the late arrival of the marriage celebrant...the ceremony started with the bride entering the room on the arm of her father.

A small ceremony ensued and after the signing of the paperwork by the witnesses and the bridal couple, it was time for the congratulatory wishes by the guests, and then we moved to the annexing room to take some photos.

They had wanted photos on the beach, as the venue was right next to the sand, but the weather didn't permit,, as you can see from the grey weather outside the window...

It was then time to sit down to a lovely meal. 

The menu

Before cutting the cake

The wedding cake with vanilla and chocolate cupcakes

The traditional Portuguese tarts were also present!

After the meal, the bride threw her bouquet and garter to the singles ladies and lads and had the traditional dance with the groom and with her Dad, to a music CD taped by the couple. 

All guests were later given the music CD as a thank you gift to remember the wedding.

The guest present and the place cards made by the bride to match the wedding invitation

It was a small but intimate wedding and it was a perfect day.
Don't my son and daughter in law look so gorgeous? I wish them all the happiness in the world!

A bit of background to their love story - Both Sara and Michael were school colleagues in the last two years of High school in Portugal. After High School, Michael came to Australia with us, and they lost track of each other. Just over 1 year ago Sara, who was raised in Sydney and then went to Portugal, joined her Dad in Sydney again. 
A common friend asked her if she had already met up with Michael, to which she replied that she was now living in Australia and he was in Portugal... Not so, said the friend, he also lives in Australia! And so she looked him up on Facebook, where else??  And so the fairy tale began... 
I think it was destiny!