Up early!  No rest for the weary travelers and no time for breakfast!   It's time to get to the wedding!  I was dragging but I pushed the adrenaline through my channels, picked up the family and headed over to the ceremony.  

Dan and Rowena's wedding took place out of doors in a garden near the Beck home.  Because many of the guests didn't know Dan, I tried to introduce myself as the groom to anyone who would believe me.  I think the only person that bought it was an older lady who only spoke Chinese.

The ceremony was fairly short, highlighted by the best man, who dropped the wedding ring at exactly the wrong moment.  What a dolt! 

Afterwards, I was looking forward to a hearty meal, but alas it was time for the entire bridal party to drive into Melbourne for five hours of photographs.

The Gardens

While most of the guests headed off for lunch at their homes or the homes of relatives, the bridal party hopped into the classic car and headed toward Melbourne.    The Fitzroy Gardens are a beautiful place to spend an afternoon, assuming you've had at least one decent meal that day.

We spent the afternoon in the gardens watching the photographer snap photos of the bridal couple.  For some reason, every Japanese tourist in Sydney wanted to get their picture taken with the bride. 

The Party

We ended up back at the hall in the evening for some long-awaited sustenance. 

The reception was a lot of fun.  Someone had taken the time to plan out most of the presentations.  There was a Master of Ceremonies, who hosted the event.  He was a local radio personality, who had also made a name for himself as a professional golfer.  He kept the event lively.

Many of the family members (myself included) offered a few words of felicitation to the bride and groom.

Because so many of the guests came from overseas, there was a lot of opportunity to meet new people.  As I've pointed out before, Aussies are quick to make new friends.

The Pub

The reception hall eventually threw us out, but some of us did not want it to end.   Doug, Sherrie, Sam, and I retrieved Rowland from the boot of his car and headed to the local pub for a couple pints.  A terrific 2-piece rocking band occupied the corner of a too-small dance floor. 

We closed down the pub before heading back to the house, anxious to sleep.