The garden is full of colour and life and the warm sunny summer here on the Sunshine Coast has enhanced it tremendously. This particular event, a Sunday wedding, was so beautiful. Table cloths fluttered in the breeze as it blew through the huge tent, causing the decorations to sway and dance from where they were hung. As this was the third event of this size, we have got it, almost, down to science. The team had been hard at work for several days with food preparation, gardening, cleaning and now it was ‘show time’ as the guests began to arrive. They gathered on the front lawn to enjoy some sangria, papaya salsa, goat cheese and marinated olives as the hired musicians serenaded them from the porch, and they awaited the arrival of the newly married couple. We all stopped to watch as the family and friends gathered to welcome the couple and then see them all follow some wonderful rituals that were important to the Jewish bride. Later they all feasted on the banquet we had prepared and worked so hard to make tasty, attractive and at the same time fit the specifics they had requested in their menu.
The lights in the tent gave a soft glow over the 97 people gathered beneath it for the reception. As I moved back and forth between the tent and the house, helping to keep water jugs full on this hot evening, collecting dishes no longer required, moving food away and bringing out dessert there were a number of things running through my mind.
I was remembering that almost a year before, on a beautiful September afternoon, I had arrived at this very place with my brand new husband. Together we had come here to Linwood House to celebrate our marriage, our new journey, with friends and family who have loved us and blessed us so richly. This new couple I was watching now were having this same blessing bestowed upon them by friends and family. I remembered the beauty of the garden and the abundance of flowers that had been artistically prepared for us. But what I remembered was so much more than the amazing flowers, the amazing buffet of Italian food, the singing, the harpist and violin music together. What I remembered was the feeling of being treasured and honoured with my husband in this sacred space of blessings being given. It was almost too much for my heart to take them in and receive them but over the last year they have come to sit within more richly. It was hard to take in that this abundance of love and beauty was poured out toward us, but it was easy to see that this was not for David and I alone but for everyone. This blessing was love that was to weave around every person that had gathered with us on that September afternoon. So many people had worked behind the scenes to create this sacred space for our wedding celebration. They may have been standing back but their work and what all could see and enjoy was blessing each person. A year later people are still speaking to David and I about the wonder of that afternoon at Linwood that was so significant to them. It was so significant to us.
Now another couple has experienced this sacred space in this summer. Another couple will experience it in the following weekend as they celebrate their marriage at Linwood House. Blessings will be carried and given - received and embraced, and new journeys will begin in life.
~ Stephanie Moul
