An Injune wedding ‘InMarch’ – at our place

Mrs J is the kindest, most caring and obliging person in the world, so when one of her best friends from days long ago, at Fairholme College, told her that her daughter was to be married, it was insanely obvious that the reception would be at our place, no matter what.

Shouldn’t be too hard I thought; tennis court, a never-ending convoy of vehicles of all description, portable toilets, audio visual, 130 guests, marquee, tables, chairs, catering, music, weather contingencies and only eight months to prepare.

And prepare Mrs J did. Singlehandedly she rescued the Toowoomba economy with 1000 odd jobs to be performed in our yard, purchased white blooms from every local nursery and undertook meticulous garden care as not seen before – watch out Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers, we’ve got your measure!

To be fair, the groom, and isn’t it wonderful having a carpenter in your family, and bride worked tirelessly.

Most of the guests were from Injune, home of the soon-to-be bride and groom, and I reckon most of the townsfolk made the five-hour drive to Toowoomba.

Having said that, and recognising the affection shown to the couple, guests also arrived from Broome and Derby in Western Australia, and from Victoria.

The Master of Ceremonies, me, got proceedings off to a flying start by welcoming guests with humour; “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to our home, we were going to have the wedding Injune but we decided to have it InMarch,” – one unidentified person applauded, and the 129 others did not.

All these years later, as I reflect on the occasion of wedding receptions, it seems to me protocols haven’t changed too much.

Sure, you can have children before you marry without too much chagrin, and you don’t have to be male and female to commit, but otherwise the agenda is unchanged save for the reading of telegrams which is poorly replaced by emails and “smses.”

Women delivering speeches, perish that thought many years ago, but the loving presenters including mother of the groom, father of the bride, a bridesmaid (whom I referred to as “flower girl,” oops), a groomsman and another groomsman and finally the groom – beautiful, sincere words, confidently and well put.

Rum was in abundance, well it does get very thirsty in Injune, and the bar and dance floor were popular places indeed.

At 9pm I told the “music man” 10pm was the cut-off for noise and I headed off to bed only to return at midnight to reinforce the 10pm deadline.

T’was a marvellous occasion, and we wish the bride and groom an extraordinarily, wonderful life together in Injune, not March!