I do... AGAIN: Couple travelling the world searching for the perfect wedding venue tie the knot for the 68th time on a remote island after getting permission from Aboriginal elders
- Alex Pelling and Lisa Gant are searching for the perfect wedding location
- They've travelled the world for four years and held 68 wedding ceremonies
- The pair married at Queensland's North Stradbroke Island on Wednesday
- They originally planned to settle down in Australia but plan to travel more
- The couple, from Manchester, will hold their next wedding in Jordan, Petra
- Weddings include vampire-theme in LA and traditional Zulu in South Africa
- They're yet to take part in a legally binding ceremony but plan on doing so by travelling back to their favourite wedding location at the end of their trip
Grey skies and torrential rain.
It wasn't exactly the idyllic Australian setting Alex Pelling and Lisa Gant were hoping for their big day.
The couple, from Manchester, northern England, have been globetrotting for four years to find the perfect wedding location.
As part of their quest, Alex and Lisa have had a traditional wedding at every destination they have visited but are yet to legally exchange wedding vows.
And on Wednesday, the love struck pair held their 68th matrimonial ceremony in Australia - where they had planned to officially tie the knot for the final time.
However, it appears the couple are not quite ready to settle down just yet.
Scroll down for video
Alex Pelling and Lisa Gant held their 68th matrimonial ceremony in Australia - where they had planned officially tie the knot for the final time
When the wedding ceremony began on Wednesday morning, there was a down pour of rain
But Wednesday wasn't exactly the idyllic Australian setting the English couple were hoping for their big day
The couple, from Manchester, have been globetrotting for four years to find the perfect wedding location
The pair married at Queensland's North Stradbroke Island on Wednesday but did not legally exchange vows
There was only one word Alex, 35, and Lisa, 32, could use to describe their 68th wedding at Brown Lake on North Stradbroke Island, southeast of Brisbane.
'Epic.'
The couple had gained permission to wed on the sacred site from an Aboriginal elder who also held a traditional blessing during their wedding ceremony - an experience like no other for the English couple.
'It was an absolute whirlwind and I really haven't had time to even absorb it all,' Lisa told Daily Mail Australia.
'We had planned for a sunrise ceremony and although we had all made it in time for it, we actually saw no sunrise because of the clouds.'
Then there was the rain.
'During the ceremony it became torrential and even our guests sat through the pouring rain for us,' Lisa said.
'It certainly wasn't a typical Aussie setting, that's for sure.'
'During the ceremony it became torrential and even our guests sat through the pouring rain for us,' Lisa said.
The couple had planned for a sunrise ceremony but the overcast weather ruined their plans
The couple say they've never experienced wet weather during any of their ceremonies and certainly didn't expect it in sunny Queensland
'It was an absolute whirlwind and I really haven't had time to even absorb it all,' Lisa told Daily Mail Australia
The couple say they've never experienced wet weather during any of their ceremonies and certainly didn't expect it in sunny Queensland.
But yes, as most love stories do, there was a silver lining.
'I actually got up early at about 5.15am to go to the site by myself before the wedding,' Alex told Daily Mail Australia.
'To my surprise, the Aboriginal elder Aunty Evelyn was there too and funnily enough we got talking about the weather.
'I was telling her how it had never rained at any of our ceremonies before and how a lot of people during our journey had told us that rain on a wedding day actually signifies that we will have a blessed life.
'Aunty Evelyn then put her hand on my shoulder and just gave me a look.'
Even by this point, Alex was yet to realise what his big day had in store for him.
'During the ceremony, it was like someone had flicked the switch because it was dry one second and the next thing you know it's bloody raining - and I'm talking about torrential rain,' he said.
'That's when I looked over at Auntie Evelyn who gave me that same knowing look. Almost like she knew.
'That was a special moment for me.'
Wedding photographer Shane Shepherd told Daily Mail Australia that he couldn't believe how nervous the pair was, despite it being the 68th time they've held a wedding ceremony
They were still so smitten with each other and from my perspective as I was shooting, it felt like the first time the couple were getting married,' the wedding photographer said
The weather later cleared up for the couple who were able to take some beautiful shots after they changed out of their drenched outfits
Although the couple's original plan was to settle down in Australia, they don't seem completely convinced that they've found exactly what they're looking for.
Wedding photographer Shane Shepherd told Daily Mail Australia that he couldn't believe how nervous the pair was, despite it being the 68th time they've held a wedding ceremony.
'I was genuinely surprised,' he said.
'They were still so smitten with each other and from my perspective as I was shooting, it felt like the first time the couple were getting married.
'They were so in love and both were so nervous before the ceremony.'
Manchester couple Alex Pelling and Lisa Gant got married for the 67th time in Queenstown in New Zealand
The loved-up pair were given traditional Maori cloaks to wear throughout the ceremony
The lovebirds have placed New Zealand in their top five of most perfect wedding locations so far
Although the couple's original plan was to settle down in Australia, they don't seem completely convinced that they've found exactly what they're looking for.
'It's all kind of up in the air at the moment,' Lisa said.
'We intended out circumnavigation to end in Australia but while we were in Pakistan our holiday actually came to a stop because our van broke down, so we planning to go back to finish it off.
'We've changed a lot since we first started our journey and I guess we want different things now.
'But so far our plan is to finish up in India by January next year and travel through Singapore and Asia before then.'
And the next wedding destination?
'The date's been set for 18th of May in Jordan of Petra,' Lisa said.
You wouldn't know the blissful couple had already tied the knot 66 times when they first laid eyes on each other before their 67th big day in Queenstown
The intrepid pair rely on the goodwill of friends and strangers to help make the weddings happen
The reception was held at the Mount Nicholas sheep station which you only only get to by boat or helicopter
Most of the previous weddings involved the couple getting ready together in their camper van but in Queenstown they were given the opportunity to get dressed in separate rooms
And while the couple are still trying to take in the events from yesterday, they've both agreed their ceremonies in New Zealand and Ireland have left a lasting impression.
They will be travelling back to their favourite location to legally exchange their vows once completing their journey in India.
The couple held their 67th wedding in Queenstown, in New Zealand, in January.
'New Zealand shocked us every corner we went around in our camper van - it's just been beautiful with every turn,' Lisa said.
'It was a perfect reflection of New Zealand as a country - it was laid-back it was heartfelt, it was beautiful.
'Everyone went the extra mile to make it all of the things we hoped it would be - everybody just pulled it off.'
Most of the previous weddings involved the couple getting ready together in their camper van but in Queenstown they were given the opportunity to get dressed in separate rooms.
Lisa left it to the Kiwi photographer Emily Adamson to organise most of the finer details for the big day.
The hopeless romantics have only been reduced to tears a few times through their 67 ceremonies - and Queenstown was one that really moved them
The blissful duo will decide on the perfect location after a ceremony in Australia and Singapore
Another unique experience for the blissful pair was taking their first ever helicopter ride to Cecil Peak to have their photos taken overlooking the dramatic backdrop of Lake Wakatipu.
'I was petrified beforehand but I was fine as soon as we took off and the scenery was stunning,' Lisa said.
The couple walked down the aisle together to receive a traditional Maori welcome by Adamson's husband, Joe Cowie, and then the pair were presented with traditional Maori cloaks to wear throughout the service.
'We felt privileged to have a Maori welcome - it set the scene for the entire ceremony,' Lisa said.
The hopeless romantics have only been reduced to tears a few times through their ceremonies - and Queenstown was one that really moved them.
'The celebrant had us crying because she was talking all about our hands and how we are going to be together for all of time,' she said
Joe Cowie does the hongi - a traditional greeting with Alex after the ceremony
'We really like each other - that's what keeps us going,' Lisa said to describe their chemistry
The wedding party ended the night sitting around on picnic blankets mesmerised by a spectacular bonfire
The adventurous pair took their first ever helicopter ride to Cecil Peak to have their photos taken overlooking the dramatic backdrop of Lake Wakatipu
The couple, who have a Facebook page and blog documenting their expedition, came up with the idea when they decided to move to Australia.
'We both applied for residency and thought we would circumnavigate the world testing out possible locations and then settle in Australia,' Lisa said.
The journey has taken a lot longer than they expected but the duo will finally arrived in the land Down Under in January - the day after their New Zealand jaunt.
They first flew into Melbourne and travelled across Western Australia for about three months to plan where they wanted to have their ceremony.
The adventruous pair have been living out of a campervan for three and a half years
Next on the map is Australia before the intrepid duo finally finish their blissful mission in Singapore
The travellers rely on the goodwill of friends and strangers all over the world to help them out after they both threw in their jobs and sold their possessions to take on the challenge.
'We just had to sell our house back in England - the world is bigger than it looks on a piece of paper,' she said.
'So now we are homeless in a campervan and couldn't be happier.
'We have warned friends that we will be turning up on their doorstep begging for a bed.'
The kindness from the complete strangers has been very overwhelming.
'We couldn't have done it without the help we have had,' Lisa said.
'It's not about spending and being lavish - it's about giving time.'
After their fair dinkum affair in our Great Brown land - the next stop on their adventure will be Singapore and then driving through East Asia, China - and finally down to Nepal and India before deciding on which location will be the most idyllic to officially become husband and wife.
The Mancunian lovebirds at their most recent ceremony in Pakistan, where they're currently based
During their third wedding in Michigan in 2011, near the beginning of their search
Lisa and Alex had been friends for eight years when they began dating in 2008.
In 2011, after four years living together, Alex and Lisa made the brave decision to uproot their lives and follow their dream to relocate in Australia, beginning their location hunt.
Just one day after they said I do for the first time in a traditional ceremony in their hometown of Didsbury, they started their search for the very best place Down Under.
The couple rented out their house and sold their possessions to get funding for their trip. Lisa quit her job as a retail manager for Marks and Spencer while Alex sold his car body repair business.
On their way to Australia, the couple decided to travel the world and their idea slowly transformed into finding the best place in the world to wed, by trying each one out, embracing the local marriage cultures and traditions as much as possible in every location.
Their aim was to find the most exceptional and unique wedding locations possible, blogging about their experiences so others could better chose where to tie the knot themselves.
Shortly after this first ceremony in Didsbury, the pair quit their jobs for a trip around the world
The couple were friends for eight years before they started dating in 2008
Alex said: 'Lisa and I are crazy romantics - we had looked at getting married in the UK but found that most things on offer were very conventional and we really are not.
'So we thought about looking for unusual places to get married in each country as we travelled around.
'We thought we would share our experiences via a blog for those out-of-the-box thinkers like ourselves that didn't fancy the usual wedding.
'Then, a bottle of wine or two later, we decided it would be a good idea to have a ceremony everywhere we went so we could experience them all first hand.
'Our friends and family thought we were crazy, but once we explained the idea they loved it - as long as we didn't get legally married by accident.
'The point of our journey is to experience the way other cultures celebrate marriage. It is one ritual that the whole world has in common - unity.'
The couple getting hitched on an Air Tahiti flight on their incredible journey
Hilton Waikaloa Village in Hawaii during one of their weddings - but they're yet to legally marry
Guatemala, where hopeless romantics Alex Pelling and Lisa Gant, from Manchester, got 'married'
Taking part in a traditional Peruvian wedding on their 21st Big Day in Peru in June 2012
Introducing themselves on their blogthe couple say: 'We are Lisa and Alex, a couple in love, who, on failingto find the answer to the all important question; 'Where can we getmarried', decided to have a wedding ceremony in every country we visitin search of the perfect place to tie the knot!
The beautiful Villa de Leyva was the location for this traditional Colombian farmer style wedding. Lisa arrived at on a donkey and they had a sheep as a guest 'as it is tradition'
After a traditional Mayan service in Quintana Roo, Mexico, the couple had an underwater photography session
A map of Alex and Lisa's extrodinary journey around the globe
Their blog has had millions of views, and their Facebook page has more than 47,000 followers, as they experience the wonderful variety of cultures and traditions around the world.
Introducing themselves on their blog the couple say: 'We are Lisa and Alex, a couple in love, who, on failing to find the answer to the all important question; 'Where can we get married', decided to have a wedding ceremony in every country we visit in search of the perfect place to tie the knot!
'On an adventure of a lifetime, we are going to drive (and ship) around the globe in our 27-year-old camper van Peggy exchanging vows in the most unusual and unique wedding locations we can find.
'Not wanting to drag a "White wedding" around the World, we decided to try our hardest to embrace the culture and local traditions of each place we visit.
'We want to experience the difference in every ceremony and find out what it is that makes the bringing of two people together, such a worldwide tradition, and of course let YOU know!'
A million-dollar yacht, a canoe chapel and, you guessed it... a wedding! Lisa and Alex's Bora Bora nuptials
This wedding was held at Mitad del Mundo (the middle of the world) in Ecuador, where artist Cristobal Ortega held the ceremony. The highlight, say the couple, was being blessed with smoke by the entire congregation
A Texan ranch wedding held in a stunning location Las Brisas Farm. The entire wedding was made completely from reclaimed materials and covered in fairy lights. The couple clambered on hay bales and Alex even lassoed his bride!
A truly traditional Tahitian tying of the knot! The wedding took place in a Tiki village on the island of Moorea
The wedding in Utila, Honduras, took place at a magical wonderland all created by one man. Glass marbles, coloured stones and pottery, even cutlery adorns every surface making the place sparkle in the amazing sunlight
A wedding in Portugal which included a tour of Lisbon by tram, motorbike and sidecar. The wedding was held on the highest point in Lisbon overlooking the stunning city
The couple have experienced a vast range of unorthodox ceremonies in more than 30 countries, including a vampire wedding in LA.
They have also enjoyed their 'big day' in destinations most people can only dream about, such as Las Vegas, New York, Hawaii, Marrakech and Bora Bora.
They've tied the knot in an ancient Pagan ritual in Lithuania, and even had a topless Embera tribe wedding in Embera, Panama where they were painted with traditional tribal tattoo designs and beads.
Their experiences have been supported by local experts including shamans, Zulu chiefs in South Africa, pastors, vicars, rabbis and even a Voodoo priestess.
And even got married 30,000 feet above ground on board a flight to Tahiti.
The couple's topless Embera tribe wedding in Embera, Panam,a saw them adorned with ink and traditional beads
The incredible ceremony at the 'Centre of the World' in Quito, Ecuador
Lisa throws her bouquet after the couple's Ecuadorian nuptials
The wedding in the Toledo Villages of Belize was conducted with the help of the TEA Belize, a volunteer organisation who helps the local villagers see some of the benefits and profits of eco-tourism
After the wedding Seattle, which took place in the Pike Place Market. Alex and Lisa are the second couple to marry at the market
At the Chappelle St Agnes Vineyard in Quebec. 'We stumbled upon the amazing European-inspired vineyard, complete with chapel and heart shaped lake, while on a wine tour'
Lisa said: 'We are together 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and live in a 6 feet by 16 feet space in the camper van.
'And we take it turns to make each other breakfast in bed every day.
'If there is anything that can make a couple sure that they are meant to be together it is surviving this trip without a single argument.
'But we still get nervous before every single ceremony.'
Lisa and Alex's pagan wedding in Lithuania
Their Turkish wedding was in two parts: first, the couple took part in a A henna ceremony before marrying on a boat against a backdrop of ancient tombs
The El Salvador wedding took place at sunset on the beach
Wedding on horseback! The couple married in Banff, Alberta, Canada at Warner's stables. It was Lisa's first ever time on a horse and Alex wore a cowboy outfit on their big day
The wedding in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica was held in crashed plane with a mysterious history overlooking the coast of the beautiful country
After their wedding in Chile. The couple wore typical huasa and huaso for the wedding in the small fishing village Horcon. People gathered around to wish them well after the small intimate ceremony
Pictured in Ireland last April on their 41st wedding, a Celtic ceremony on the beach of Doonbeg Lodge
Each wedding, along with its preparation is captured by a photographer, who also shares their experience on the couple's website.
Their first wedding was a traditional English ceremony in Manchester, attended by 40 of their closest friends.
Lisa chose a stunning cream Charlotte Balbier gown, which she has worn at 14 of her subsequent weddings (including one underwater!), and carried a bouquet of peonies, sweet Williams, lavender, mint and vintage English rosebuds for her dream ceremony.
'I felt like a very spoilt princess!' Lisa says on her blog. 'About 30-40 of our family and friends sat there to see our first wedding!'
And the loved-up pair have no plans to stop until they find their dream spot.
No comments:
Post a Comment