So as I sat at the pub on Sunday with three men (one-married, one single, and one attached) and a baby, discussing weddings, I reflected on how different weddings have become. And how much COVID changed things. 

Yesterday was three years since my first ‘COVID’ wedding. The first wedding I did that meant top of the usual paperwork,  I had to check and double-check the rules.

Read the latest government updates.

Were masks required?

Was there enough open space and space between us?

Were those ‘people’ (their family) who were hiding behind trees and bushes at Matilda Bay, inconspicuous enough?

Check. Check. Check.

Jasmine and Jarrod got married Riverside with only a select few. I got attacked by a Swan as I crouched to finish the paperwork. And we said goodbye, knowing we’d get to do the ‘big’ wedding someday.

But look at this photo; look at the pure joy.

Despite a global pandemic, and rules that seemed to change every 45 seconds, they got married.

I can marry you with two witnesses off the street, and the legal outcome will be the same, as if there’s 300 present.

So if big, brash and bold is your jam, let’s do it.  

If you want to elope and do it in a car park at the airport before boarding a flight. I’m in.

And if you want me to hijack your ‘backyard launch’ as the fellas all stand there with an export in one hand, the other on the hip admiring your new lawn and discussing your sprinkler rotation, let’s skip the ‘irrigation’ and make it happen.

Don’t let stress ensue because you can’t think of a wedding hashtag or can’t afford the ‘must-haves’ you’ve seen on Tik Tok.

It’s ok. Take a beat, and remember why you’re getting married. Talk to each other. Get on the same page.

And remember it’s your day so you do you, you dig?