I'll try and keep this short and sweet as we know that the photos are the best part!
The week before was pretty hectic as there was still quite a bit left to do. Monday - Wednesday was spent bagging up favours, having my nails and eyebrows done, writing placecards and putting the sweets for our sweetie table in jars.
Thursday 4th
Today was spent running around doing last minute things like packing 3 bags! 1 for my mums that night, 1 for the hotel and another for minimoon. Also went to get some flowers for our mums. In the afternoon, we went up to the venue to drop off the sweets, favours and placecards and go through last minute details with our co-ordinator. My then h2b dropped me off at my mums where we said goodbye. Me and mum ordered pizza, watched crap tv and opened a bottle of wine. Got to bed about 11pm and took me ages to get to sleep.
Friday 5th - THE BIG DAY.
I woke about 6am and could not get back to sleep. Eventually got up about 7am and went downstairs. Made a coffee and watched some tv before the madness started. My CBM arrived about 9am, shorly followed by the hairdresser (Vicki). Mum made us all a cooked breakfast. i couldnt eat much and only managed 1 sausage, 1 bacon and an egg. I was feeling very calm and tried to take everything in as it seemed very surreal. My other BM arrived about 9.30am. Vicki started on my CBM while the rest of us ate breakfast. Next it was my turn for hair. It was perfect and just how i wanted it. I set to work on my make up and just as i was finishing the Photographer arrived about 10.30 and got straight to work. Flowers were delivered about 11 and were just perfect. There was glitter and diamantes scattered on them which just made them gorgeous. The champagne was opened and went down well as it settled me for the photos. My face kept twitching from all the smiling. I was still feeling calm at this point.
Before i knew it, it was time to get into my dress. I was laced up and after all the panic i had gone through, it fit perfect!
The car arrived about 12.20 and we headed off about 12.30. Got to the end of the road and realised i had forgotten something important. The car ended up doing a 3 point turn and going back. Off we set again. Some of the glitter kept rubbing off the flowers so by the time we got to the venue, i was covered in red glitter!!! (it all added to the effect)
Arrived at the venue just after 1 where i was interviewed by the registrar. I was still feeling incredibly calm and relaxed. My BMs and mum were shocked about how calm i was. Met our co-ordinator who talked me through what to do. I heard the prelude music playing and then it stopped. My song started and thats when it hit me. I took a second and tried to compose myself. I tried to hold back the tears walking down the aisle. I was still trying to hold back the tears during the ceremony so H tried to make me laugh by squeezing and playing with my finger. The ceremony went very quickly and before I knew it, we was husband and wife. We went outside for a few photos before the heavens opened. So off we ran inside to finish off the photos. After the photos were finished me and H went for a drive in the car. There was a bottle of champagne waiting for us. Did a bit of mingling on our return and then it was time for the wedding breakfast. The food was delicious - especially pudding. profiteroles. They were yummy and were demolished!!
Next was the speeches. My mum went first and made a short one which was great and brought a tear to my eye. H was next and his speech lasted 42 seconds!!! He doesnt do speeches so i knew it was going to be short. I didnt think it would be that short though! He even forgot to mention me!!! BM was next and his speech was brilliant. It lasted about 30 minutes and included a powerpoint presentation and plenty of stories. Everyone commented on how good it was. Theres a video of it on my FB if anyone wants to see it.
Speeches over, we were kicked out so the room could be changed around for the evening reception. Queue more mingling. MIL and FIL had to nip back home as H forgot the guestbooks and my overnight bag for the hotel!!
7.30 and time for first dance. We had got a wedding singer (Tris) in and he sang for our first dance. He was amazing. After the first dance, it was time to cut the cake. HUGE N&P FOR JULES40. The cake(s) were fantastic and everyone commented on them. It was time for Tris to take to the stage again. He was brilliant and we got so many comments from everyone of how great he was. The dance floor was looking a bit grim so i dragged my BMs up and everyone else followed. The dance floor was full all night from then and i danced the night away.
The whole day went by so fast. I did take advice from the OMs and took a step back every now and again to soak it all up. The day was perfect and i wouldnt change anything. Even if we had spent £40k on the wedding, it wouldnt have beenj any more perfect!!!. The sweetie table went down a storm and there was hardly anything left by the end of the night.
I keep asking people what time it was as i knew that it would all be over at 1am and wanted it to last forever. I'm not normally someone that wants to be centre of attention but i loved every second of it!
Before i knew it, it was 1am and time to say goodbye. It is true what everyone says. Time really does fly. I wish i could do it all over again. The stress of planning really is worth it. Just seeing all the planning come together and seeing everyone enjoying themselves, knowing that you've planned it is a very satisfying feeling. I dont know what i'm going to do with all my spare time now theres no wedding to plan.
Well done if you got this far, it ended up being a bit longer than i expected.
Heres what you've been waiting for. We havent got the professional photos back yet so heres some taken by some of the guests.
