So here goes, I'll do my best to remember all the details - it really does go so fast.
The week before the wedding:
I finished work the Tuesday before and so had 3 days in which to sort all the final bits and bobs. On Tuesday my boss and I spent some very er, productive time stamping paper doilies with OH an I initials and printing out the inserts for the orders of service. Wednesday I had a mad shopping trip for ribbon (I eventually had to go and buy more ribbon 4 times as I kept underestimating the amount I'd need for the OOS!!!) and was desperately awaiting several packages (Bridal party gifts!). On the evening I had all the girls round my mums for a craft extravaganza which included glueing the paper doilies, ribbon and a pearl to the front of the OOS and lots of stamping - incluing a gorgeous one of a bride and groom on a bike which we stamped on the back.
We also made our post box which used my Dad's old army suitcase, my table plan, and the luggage tags for the tea cup place names. Several of us ended up with staples in our fingers and glue in our eyes, but it was a good giggle and we got everything done by midnight!
Thursday I went to get my nails and eyebrows done which was a lovely relaxing hour. I then had to drop off the glass cake stands for the centrepieces at the florists and the boys went to collect their suits, all was running smoothly!
Friday - We used 3 cars and spent 4 hours dressing the room. Vintage glass bottles were filled with flowers and dotted around the room, tea cups had luggage tags tied to handles and were placed on the tables. The suitcase postbox and table plan set up and wicker hearts hung from the walls. My Mum and I came to blows as she had a hissy fit about the table with my Nana on being too far from the top table culminating in some last minute amendments to the table plan! As predited, she did my head in but by the end I was happy with the result!
So by 4:30 I was home and packing - eek! As OH and dropped me off at my parents I gave him a huge cuddle and a kiss and told OH 'See you tomorrow, I'll be the one in white". And they were gone. Soon enough my BM's arrived and we sat and ate roasted lamb with pittas and tzatziki (sp?) as requested by me and cooked my Dad! My Mam presented me with a poem she had wrote and a lovely lace garter which had us all teary. We had some champers an giggles and they left, due back the following morning at 8am - my Wedding day!!! We had a bit of drama in that I was paying hair, makeup, DJ and band the following day and had forgotten to withdraw the money - which exceeded the daily withdrawal limit at ATM machines, cue frenzied texts to OH, transferring money between accounts till we found a way to get all the money out we needed taking some out now, and some the next morning! At that I text him saying no more texts! See you tomorrow. I rang the best man to tell him where OH present was and asked him to give him it in the morning - silver and mother of pearl cufflinks.
The Big Day
I woke at 6:30, my tummy filled with butterflies. I pottered round wondering what to do with myself for a while, had a coffee and jumped in the shower, putting fresh PJ's on. Soon enough the BM's arrived and we had a huge breakfast of sausage buns, croissants and fruit, all washed down with champagne at 9am! Nothing wrong with my appetite at all! The make up and hair lady arrived shortly after and so the great preparations began! Small disaster when my BM got eyelash glue in her eye by the MUA which had her squealing for a good 5 minutes before it stopped hurting and she recovered - for a minute I thought her eye was going to be glued shut!!!
The flowers were delivered at 11am and I was over the moon - exactly as I hoped they would be. At 11:30 the doorbell went and OH had arranged for a gorgeous bouquet and bottle of champagne to be delivered with a message that had me almost ruining my make up.
" I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you. I love you more than words can say. See you soon"
To put this in perspective, my OH really struggles to show his emotions and isn't the most romantic of men so this was really special for me.
It seemed we had loads of time before the 1:30pm service at the nearby church, before we knew it though I looked at the time and realised we were cutting it very fine indeed. After the calm and relaxation of the morning complete chaos ensued as people were running in all directions pulling on clothes, looking for stuff and helping the flowergirls in to their outfits. At one point I was ironing the sash of one of the FG's dresses while she was wearing it!!!
We spent a good 30 minutes getting various people to tie the sash on my dress as no one could get the bow right, eventually I was happy and I finally came downstairs at 1:10. I then presented the bridesmaids with freshwater pearl bracelets and earrings, the flowergirls with bracelets an my Dad with cufflinks. In return my Dad gave me some beautiful pearl and marcasite earrings I'd seen months ago but hadn't been able to afford - I was touched and thrilled, beaming from ear to ear.
The tog got some shots of us all outside and we were ready to go!
