Getting Civilised, Getting Unionised

[tcpip]

caseopaya and I held our civil union ceremony on Saturday - a very modern marriage. About 100 or so of our dear friends found their way into the Old Council Chambers of Trades Hall which suitably seats about the same number. Somebody might think I organised it that way. It was very good to bring together a range of people from different areas of our life and it was delightful to see the level of animated discussion that this could generate. The proceedings officially started at 12 noon, the brief ceremony held from about 12.40 to 1.00pm (whereupon caseopaya received a white gold and diamond ring and I received a selection of Waterman pens including a Le Man 100 Macasssar), and was followed by more mingling for the next two hours. Of course, the law of averages applies at such events and it means that one can barely get about two minutes time with each person present. Nevertheless, there was further opportunity with a group of about 30 or so attending a late afternoon and evening reception at Willsmere.



I'd like to take the opportunity to thank Peter Abrehart of the Melbourne Unitarian Church for his role of celebrant, Devour It for their catering, and Bella Union for the hall hire.

In the last post we purchased a Freemason's Lodge in Dunedin. In this one there's our Civil Union. What's could possibly be next?

Comments

[azurelunatic]

Congratulations!

[mundens]

Congratulations!

( Just saw the post, been very lax in looking at DW/LJ recently! )

[usekh.livejournal.com]

It was a lovely ceremony and reception, thank you so much for inviting me, and many congratulations. Best wishes for a long happy life together :)

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Yes, I've received a number of comments already about how much they liked the brief and secular ceremony (with a good mix of humour and formality) and the lengthier chit-chat and mingling...

[a-carnal-mink.livejournal.com]

And an excellent time was had by all. :) Huzzah!

Also - I'm seethingly jealous of your Masonic Lodge. *chiz*

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Masonic Lodge is tres cool. :)

When's your 10th B&D special?

[a-carnal-mink.livejournal.com]

Long way away - November. :) (as the B+D Day acknowledges the "real" wedding, not the "fake" one which happened the following April - O, it's all so complicated *grin*)

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

You know, I've heard on the grapevine that a couple of people were actually *shocked* and a tad upset at the "fake" wedding... But most of us were delighted that you had the chance to do it "properly" and elope!

[greenglowgrrl.livejournal.com]

CONGRATULATIONS!

[allandaros.livejournal.com]

Very many congratulations!

[mr-figgy.livejournal.com]

Looks like a great time for all involved, and I'm going to be overly cheerful that the next thing you'll do is form a sane political movement that attains the support of a two-thirds majority of voters in your country.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

I might already have that... it's just that people don't know about it yet!

[zhenzhi.livejournal.com]

oh how wonderful! very warm heartfelt congratulations to you both.
from my heart with a lot of love :-) :-) xoxo

[crankycoyote.livejournal.com]

Congratulations and best wishes for a long and wonderful time together!

[sebastianne.livejournal.com]

Congrats on a wonderful day :) I must *squee* once more about how gorgeous Erica looked! And clearly, all that is left to do is become Prime Minister!

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

It was so funny; with the spontaneous applause and gasp as Erica took to the stage, poor Peter had to double-check his lines to see what generated the reaction...

As for Prime Minister, maybe I should aim for something higher...

Congratulations

[ferret-otaku.livejournal.com]

Best wishes for a long and wonderful life together.

[ignusfaatus.livejournal.com]

What an excellent day!!!!!!!

[shehasathree]

Hearty congratulations to the both of you! :)

[http://users.livejournal.com/raven_/]

Congratulations to you both :

[niamh-sage.livejournal.com]

Congratulations, and all the best for a long and happy (continuation of) life together. And many, many ratties. :D

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Well, we've had ten so far... Jester, Montebanc, Harlequin, Vagabond, Rogue, Ragamuffin, Scoundrel, Calamity, Mischief, Trouble and Scoundrel... I suspect we'll probably have at least another thirty or so!

[niamh-sage.livejournal.com]

Yay! :D Great names, by the way. Very expressive of the energy and general delightfulness of rats.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Whoops, that second "Scoundrel" should be "Rascal"!

[angel80.livejournal.com]

Well congrats! Great photo too!

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

I'm expecting more soon... We didn't actually organise any photographs ourselves, knowing quite well that some of the attendees are very keen amateur photographers.

(There was one professional photographer, but he doesn't do animals, children or weddings)

[lederhosen.livejournal.com]

Congrats!

[mr-orgue.livejournal.com]

Congrats!

(We still don't have a good way to signal our non-married status - Civil Union Partner doesn't exactly roll off the tongue. Will be curious to see what you settle on. We do use 'husband' and 'wife' pretty freely though.)

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Thank ye kindly good sir... At the moment we're sticking with 'partner', but 'unionised' sounds good too :)

[direwolf23.livejournal.com]

Congratulations! ^.^

[pmax3.livejournal.com]

Many congratulations, mate! Wish you a life brimming with happiness together :)

[the-shadow298.livejournal.com]

So Happy for you both.

Congrats! :D

[sandypawozbun.livejournal.com]

Serious congratulations to you both!

[khrysha.livejournal.com]

Congratulations :)

[shadow-5tails.livejournal.com]

Felicitations! Sounds like a lovely day, and I'm delighted that it all came together so well.

Love how happy you look in that photo, too!

[txxxpxx.livejournal.com]

Thanks for allowing us to be part of it. Chuffed we is.

[tempusfrangit.livejournal.com]

Grats, Lev! Here's to many years of :D for you.

[grailchaser.livejournal.com]

Congratulations, Lev!