Next to the Old Treasury Building is a beautiful garden aptly called The Treasury Gardens. Here, you can take a stroll under trees older than your generational traumas; watch the fountain squirting out water like water fountains are supposed to do; or sit on one of the benches and watch people walk dogs that look eerily like them.

Whatever rocks your boat.

El and Romaine used it as their photo shoot location. As we were already in the location anyway. All they needed, on this special day, was to turn off their self-consciousness and turn on their romantic poses to make love to the camera under the pressure of Jeff’s booming instructions on where to stand, what to do, and move a bit forward more! more! more! so they can get the best light filtering through the branches to reflect the stars dancing in their eyes.

I stopped to watch the modern fairytale documented in front of me and thought Awwww….. before moving on to sit on a bench and thinking So glad it’s not me there.

Because I don’t know if a lot of people know but photo shoots are hard work! Doesn’t matter what kind. It takes a lot of energy to put yourself out there. And that works both ways — for the photographer too. So I have a lot of respect for models and porn stars alike because it’s a tough gig. And they do it professionally! How much more for the ordinary folks who only want to transcribe their special day with nice pictures to remember them by?

But they did really well and the photos turned out great. Which is all you want anyway, especially if you’re the minimalist kind like my sister is.

Of course, as we were all there too, we couldn’t escape a little photo shoot of our own.

Lunch reception was held at Pure South Dining by the Yarra River, with its beautiful three-course menu and the couple sharing them with their equally beautiful friends and loved ones which turned into a wonderful surprise when May-Ann and Dennis generously paid for the bill.

Indeed, it was a gift that kept on giving.

*Raven at 8 years old