Flashy Flash Flash - Wedding Report!

The big day!:

All things considered, I slept pretty well. I had been running round like a loon on the Friday trying to get everything ready, and my initial ‘head to my parents at 4’ ended up with ‘Dad collecting me at 5, and driving me round to the places I had left to go’. This sums me up to a tea as I’m notoriously disorganised, never allow enough time to do anything and had a few hiccups along the way. We eventually got back to my parents around 8, along with pizza for me, my parents, my brother and his wife (my brother very fortunately received his temporary travel documents for his green card application with about 11 days to spare, so booked their flights and were able to make it) I can’t remember what time I went to bed, but I think it was probably around 10.30 and I fell asleep pretty quickly, in my childhood bedroom with mine and my bridesmaids dresses hanging on the curtain rail.

I woke up naturally around 6 and went and had a shower before the others woke up. Me and mum headed to the venue where we were getting ready and left the others to get ready at home. At this point the sun was still shining, although the weather forecast for the day had deteriorated significantly over the week. We arrived to the venue looking a bit chaotic with guests etc still there from the night before. Obviously the staff had all been working the night before and were asleep, and there was nobody there to greet us (the cleaner actually asked why we were there… err I’m getting married!) I was a bit apprehensive at this point. The guests from the previous day had until 10 to check out so we couldn’t get ready in the bridal suite, but had been told we could use some of the downstairs space which we did. My bridesmaids arrived soon after, followed by the hair and make up ladies. We occupied ourselves downstairs with prosecco and bacon rolls (the order for which had luckily been passed on to the kitchen by the wedding co-ordinator!) to the soundtrack of ‘paw patrol’ to pacify my goddaughter. The next few hours passed in a blur. We did make up downstairs and then our rooms were ready so we went and got settled upstairs and had our hair done. Everyone kept commenting on how well we were doing with our timings, and then I blinked and it was time to leave and nobody was in their dresses! There was still no sign of the main venue staff - just the temps who cover events and all of the things I’d left downstairs to be set up were still in their boxes. I guess it’s possible that they would have done it when they woke up, but instead me and my MOH ran round setting things up, which didn’t help the delays. In my timetable I’d factored in 20 minutes for us to get some nice pictures of us pre-wedding just me and the girls, but we were running so late we didn’t have time, but fortunately our tog got some lovely ones of us getting ready anyway so I’m not too disappointed!

I sent my mum and girls off in the car for the first run, and waited with my dad at the venue. I had a card to give him that I’d left downstairs that had vanished, which was a bit disappointing as the words were definitely made for giving on the morning as they talked about how proud I was for him to walk me down the aisle etc. It did turn up again later - I never found out where it went!

The car returned for me and my dad and before I knew it we were on our way (albeit very late!) We arrived about 25 minutes late, and we were greeted by the vicar. He said lots to me about where to go and where we had to stand etc and I remember precisely 0% of it. By this point all I could think about was not tripping over my dress and being desperate to see my very nearly husband! I tried (to no avail) to rub what I thought was felt tip off of my paige boy’s face (it turned out to be lipstick and was later removed before the photos!) The music started and we were off. Seeing everyones faces as I walked in was quite emotional, and I very nearly cried when I got to the front but I managed to hold it together. The vicar made our announcement as requested not to take any photos, and at that precise moment my groom’s phone alarm went off (set at 1.30 every day to remind him to go back to work!) He’d put his phone on silent but apparently as we learnt this doesn’t apply to alarms! Everyone laughed (me included) and the vicar took it in his stride and added a second announcement for everyone to turn off their phones. It actually really broke the ice and I felt that as a result a lot more people felt comfortable and engaged in the service. The ceremony whizzed by, and before we knew it we were out the back again. It was mercifully still dry, and we managed some confetti but had already made the executive decision not to try and take pictures outside the church. (We did take some down in the grave yard as Hubby’s grandfather is buried there so we went to see him) Confetti done, we jumped back in the car and the second we closed the door the heavens opened - we couldn’t have timed it any better.

We got back to the venue and the co-ordinators were finally there and the place looked amazing. We took our formal shots inside as the weather showed no signs of letting up. We took lots of couple shots too, and then headed in for dinner. We’d had a chat with the photographer and it wasn’t looking like we were going to get outside for any photos, but after pudding it dried up and the sun started to peak through the clouds, so we headed out with the photographer and with the help of some very creative lighting got some beautiful shots.

Back inside for speeches etc. I went upstairs to try and bustle my dress but the train was massive and it proved very difficult. As a result we kept everyone waiting for cake and first dance but there was no way I could dance with the train on my dress down. Eventually it was done and we headed back down. The rest of the night passed in a blur. Before I knew it everyone was leaving. Those of us staying over sat in the bar for another hour or so, before heading up to bed and that was it, day over! I definitely wouldn’t change a thing if I could do it again, which is the main thing.

If I could pass on any wisdom to future brides-to-be, it would be not to panic, (it’ll all be fine, and even if it’s not, you probably won’t care!) and to pick your photographer wisely! I was told before we picked our TOG that lots of people can take photos in good light, but it takes a great photographer to take photos in poor light - and you don’t get to choose the light on your wedding day. Our photographer was resident HIB Chris Giles, and (in my opinion) he got some amazing photos despite the fact he really had his work cut out with the conditions on the day. (Not mentioning the fact he did a brilliant job of stopping me freaking out when I saw the weather forecast, and calmed my mum down on the day when she flapped, and kept me and bridesmaids chilled etc etc) Hopefully he doesn’t mind me putting his photos on here!

Wine if you got this far!! And now photos!

Hubby's DIY project - rifle case button holes

My bouquet charm. Photos of my late grandparents, my late nan's wedding ring and locket, and my mums christening cross.

My saint of a MOH adjusting my petticoats!

More pictures soon..

My DIY orders of service

Trying not to blub!

Turning off his phone

DIY Wedding favours - personalised m and m's inside!

TBC...

We made it outside!

Evening entertainment (hubby is a gamekeeper)

Thanks for reading!

Really enjoyed reading this

It looks like it was a fantastic day - you made a beautiful Bride

Congratulations to you both

xxx

Oh wow! Looks like it was an amazing day! I'm so glad everything ended up brilliant in the end dispite the potential hiccups!

I love love love the evening entertainment idea with the 'duck hunt' - did you set that up yourself or did someone come do it for you?

Congratulations Mr & Mrs! Amazing photos, you looked fab & so happy! Love all the photos too (especially that last night time one) - well done Chris!

Loved reading this! Great report and it looks like a gorgeous day. Congratulations

Oh I do love a good wedding report!! Your photos are lovely, you look stunning, I have the joy of bustling my dress to come - I'm not looking forward to that wrestling match!

The button holes are really cool, lots of personal touches. I may have to steal the jigsaw guest book idea

Congratulations to you both xxx

I love reading everyones reports! I especially love seeing and reading about all the different ideas we all have!

Congratulations, everything looks perfect, love your dress! And couldn't agree with you more about things going wrong. Who cares when you've married your man?!

P.S LOVE your last pic from your engagement shoot - so natural and happy!x

Congratulations! You look beautiful. The long reports are the best!

Such a lovely read. It all flowed lovely and the pictures really are amazing.

Sounds like you had your fair share of drama in the led up, but your faces on the day - you're right, none of it matters, you both look so lovely!