Photography by Athena Grace
A LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Hello lovely ones! Thanks so much for picking up this beauty! With every edition, we try our utmost to soak every page with love and inspiration for you. In the lead-up to your wedding things can get a bit chaotic and I hope that as you turn through the pages you gather a sense of calm and are relaxed by its simplicity. We’ve pulled together the most amazing creatives and writers, and the words of one of our much-loved writers, Richard Miller, have really resounded with me: “But love itself is not simple, especially through years—decades, you hope—of marriage. In this complicated and cluttered world, it’s a good thing to strive for simplicity—especially in the most important relationship in your life. It’s also good to recognise that even your most precious partnership will occasionally make you want to scream, cry, and curse the lack of clear instructions. Sometimes, your best guess at how to proceed will turn out to be wrong—and you won’t know until you turn the whole thing upside down.” Marriage definitely doesn’t have all the answers and I think that this is the beauty of it. The journey you’re about to embark on takes time and effort, but the adventure is well worth it. I do truly believe that marriage is more than the bit of paper issued by a minister or celebrant. There are some that may never hold a marriage certificate but are more committed and faithful in their relationship in more ways than we’ll ever know. There is something deeply spiritual and significant though in making a covenant promise in front of loved ones when you are entrusting your lives to each other. These people are your biggest supporters, cheering you on from the sidelines! I’ve been to ceremonies where the guests are asked to stand and make a vow back to the couple, to support the sweet pair through the thick and thin. We always stand and say, ‘We do,’ but I feel these symbolic words have become more of a nice sentiment that isn’t carried through when times get tough. I know I’ve dropped the ball in this and am conscious to not hold back when I recognise rough patches in my closest circle of friends. As you are about to embark on the next stage, recognise who the people are that speak into your life—this is important as an individual and as a couple. We all need trusted souls who have permission to acknowledge the things we don’t want to hear; after all, no marriage is an island. Always keep building trust—a united marriage is an unstoppable force!