Friday - Still not excited or nervous at this point - wondering what is wrong with me! ha ha. Best friend turns up at 11am and we hug and laugh and she is very excited so it feels good. Loads and loads to get done and waiting for mum and dad to turn up at mine so can get started - they are late so I get fidgety and when they do arrive I apparently had my first and only 'bridezilla' moment and shout 'can't believe you are late I will never get done now'. And that was it, stress over and back to fun. Filled the car to the brim and headed off to the hotel with my best friend, We got there and the porter nearly ran when he saw all the stuff, ha ha ha. We got it up to the room and all I could say was 'wow, this is really happening'. It was amazing all the owners and managers and guests kept coming to see me I felt like royalty, and the room was amazing!! Took my dress out to stop it getting creased and more hugging and lots of pics -
We then realised how late we were and how much we still had to do and that my H2B still hadn't appeared - he had 'nipped to town for half an hour to see a man about a dog' 3 hours earlier. We picked him up and went home - packed our bags and said our goodbyes and then all the butterflies woke up in my tum - we were saying bye and next time we saw each other would be saying our vows!!
Off I went and had my nails done and got showered and changed- and off out again! My brother was on the way. He had landed in the country from New Zealand this afternoon and 16 of us were having a meal at my favourite restaurant. Couldn't wait to see him, it was 10 years since the last time I'd seen him. What an amazing night. From then I just knew it was going to be a brilliant weekend. We had such a good laugh and my early night turned into drinks in the hotel bar until 1am - oops. But it was a fantastic night!
Saturday - My best friend/bridesmaid had stayed in the hotel with me the night before and I woke at about half 7 - not too bad but my god I was tired, tried to snooze but there was no way it was happening. Up we got and down we went to me my other best friend who was taking the balloons to her work place to use their helium, he he. Me my BM and sister and neice then went for brekkie which was a full english buffet and cheeses and fruits all with bucks fizz - awesome!
Me and BM went back to the room. my H2B's disappearing act then became clear. He had been trying to sort me out a surprise but it went wrong so it is saved for another time. But my BM gave me a gift bag from him. Inside was a book I had been after - very thoughtful as I didnt think he even knew. But 2 cards were there too, and one was a lucky monster because H2B couldn't be with me to help all go well so he was there to help all go to plan. So cute. And another card saying very nice soppy stuff, I won't repeat but it was perfect, me and BM who never cry were wailing. It was so lovely.
Then it all began - Hair and make up lady came at 11am and did me, my mum, my neice and my BM's hair, make up and nails. Loved being pampered!
Then it was just mad rushing - checking everything was right, getting ready and being photographed. I gave my mum a card and present, we cried. Gave my BM a card and we cried, gave my sister a card and we cried. THen the hotel manager came up and gave me the bad news. :-( We were meant to be getting married in the gardens but it had started raining - gutted!
3.30 came, I threw on my dress in a panic and my Dad came in. We had a moment and off we went. Down in the lift and met the registrar in the hotel lobby with my BM's. - best friend, neice x 2 and H2B's little girl. Thought I was going to faint so hotel were running round after me. Then brilliant news. The rain had stopped, we could go ahead as planned. I was over the moon. 10 mins later and show time!! We got in position and we walked round the edge of the gardens into place through the galss corridor. H2B had to close his eyes so he didn't get a sneaky peak. Everyone in the gardens were smiling and waving and I just beamed. I was terified but so so happy. When we were ready the music started and then I can't remember much from walking up the aisle apart from grinning my head off. My sister said I looked terrified and I clung on to dad so hard it looked like I was about to fall over! Then I saw H2B we both smiled at each other and the nerves just went. Dad 'gave me away' and put my hand in H2B's. Looked at him and he welled up and just said 'It's amazing, I'm speachless'. I said what about my dress, ha ha do you like. And he just said it was amazing he couldn't believe it. :-)
The ceremony went to plan and then it was champagne and photographs. It is all very blurry because it just felt so fantastic. We went for a peak at the room for the wedding breakfast and it just looked so beautiful the hotel had done everything just right. The usual pics and well wishes and confetti and then a beautiful meal on our 'thrones'. The speaches were perfect, so touching and everyone cried and laughed through them all. It couldn't have been any better. Everyone showed up, everyone had a good time, and we did it!! We are married.
Now what you are reading this for the pictures -
A couple of pro pics 
the now step kids :-)
