A Crash Course in Australian Wedding

I never thought I would experience this soon. But I did. I’ve played emcee/host several times in the Phils. That would include weddings of friends. Gabbing over the mike is nothing new.

Two eeks ago, a newly found friend invited me to be the emcee/coordinator of their wedding. That means, after only four weeks of stay here in Canberra, I will be the emcee and coordinator/floor director of a wedding. Parang mahirap yun because, one – Ive yet to know how weddings are done here; two – I’ve yet to know the “kiliti” of Australians which is very vital in keeping the party interesting; and three, I have never coordinated a wedding, nag-host lang ako.

But I can’t say no to the Bride who’s been very much of help to me. Besides, I felt so privileged to have her trust.

Okay so payag agad ko. It turned out, there is nothing much to coordinate prior to the wedding coz the bride and her fiancée have done it all. Diretso na tayo sa wedding.

Weddings in Australia are…………. SIMPLE in every sense of the word. As in, Australian Weddings would be utterly boring in the Philippine context.

Sa Pinas ganito eksena pag may ikakasal, sa Manila Hotel man o sa Sitio Dimalupig, Kiangan, Isabela. “O yung tutugtug sabihan mo na, susunod na sila…. yung choir pakantahin nyo na …. o yung pari nasan na, yung mike i-on nyo na… yung father of the bride magsasalita na...” Kaya naman kaylangan ng sandamakmak na coordinator to get things going.

Dito sa Australia, most of the weddings are civil ceremonies not religious. So isang hukom lang ang officiating person, wala nang sacristan, assisting minister, etc. Fifteen minutes lang ang seremonya. Pagkatapos nun reception na.

At ang reception, simpleng-simple. Sabi nga nung isang pinoy, “hay naku dito sa Australia basta bigyan mo sila ng pagkain, wine at kape tapos na ang reception.”

Of course, formal pa rin ang dinner. Usually, ala carte hindi buffet! Complete course with matching wine and champagne. Meron din syempre yung mga universal practices like the toast by the best man, speeches by the parents of the bride and groom, cake cutting, couples dance, etc. But the difference is, hindi kaylangan may event every minute of the reception. The one I emceed lasted for almost five hours. Out of that, baka 1 hour lang ang may nangyayari. The rest, usap-usap lang. Its so laid back that I have to walk around the hall to spend my adrenalin! I like it though, kasi may chance to connect with the people. Hindi gaya nung sa Pinas na sobrang busy.

It was such a learning experience. Pwede palang ganun.

n.b. A lot of the guest thought I’ve been in Australia for so long. They were surprised to learn that ive only been here for a month.