A sad start

First times of all experiences can be magical. My first wedding as a celebrant was at Kangaroo Valley Bush Retreat and it will always be special. It was the wedding of some very dear friends and the venue is absolutely stunning. The ceremony was held in a natural rock walled cathedral and all the guests commented about how beautiful it was.

Sadly today I heard that Kangaroo Valley Bush Retreat was devastated by the bushfires affecting so much of Australia. To hear that somewhere so beautiful and special has been destroyed is just heart breaking. It was one of the most popular venues in New South Wales and so many couples have amazing memories of their special day there.

This is the first time that bushfires (which are not uncommon in Australia) have directly affected people I know and it’s the first time I’ve been worried for so many Australians. Another couple I know had booked to have their wedding at the Bush Retreat in the first half of 2021. This kind of thing will be happening all over New South Wales and Victoria. So many people are opting for weddings at venues like this, surrounded by beautiful bushland which is so vulnerable.

Hopefully all these venues can get rebuilt and back on their feet relatively quickly.