After waiting 20 years for same-sex marriage to be legalised, John Conway and Hector Vera finally tied the knot at the Old Butter Factory in Bellingen on Saturday February 23.
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The day dawned ominously cloudy and Hector managed to misplace the rings, but everything turned out beautifully in the end, and the grooms and their 87 guests, some of whom had travelled from Florida in the United States, celebrated a wedding that was heartwarming and colourful.
The couple, who have lived at Kalang since 2005, made their vows in the garden outside the Nexus Gallery.
John's grandchildren participated in the ceremony, carrying rings and the Unity Candle, and Padrinos De Lazo (the lasso tradition) from Hector’s Hispanic Catholic heritage was a key component.
The 'padrinos de lazo', or lasso godparents, wrap the cord around the couple’s shoulders in the form of a figure eight (infinity symbol) to mark their everlasting love.
The padrinos are a married couple who come to support the freshly pledged pair. John and Hector chose longtime friends Rick Pratley and Simon Lardner from Sydney, who are indeed a married couple, to fulfill this role.
Rainbow lights flashed while the guests enjoyed the wedding reception, followed by the cutting of the cake and much dancing.
The celebrant was Clare Bath, Master of Ceremonies was Guy Morgan, Best Men were Robert Tauber and Nou Nou Phothirath, Groomsmen were Bart Barrack and John Wenborn.
Glorious music was supplied by string quintet Coffs City Orchestra Chamber Group and wedding party photographs were taken by Fox and Kin at the CasaBelle Country House, Bellingen, and included the couple's Ruby Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Millie.