Hey Girls and the occasional guy!
Well what can i say!! I had an absolutely amazing time of which i cant wait to share with you (and lots of flashes too!!!)
The day was PERFECT!
so i think i will start with a litte bit of background of the week before the wedding.
The in laws had thought it was best that i did not see my husband until the big day on saturday! This was possibly the worst news i could have had! Stressed already then not having him there to help with final details was killing me! (he is in the navy so we have had hardly anytime to do the wedding things together as it was) Not a great start. Bridesmaids dresses came a week before the date! most of them had fitted but the 2 chiefs didn't, so after being sent down to london, pinned and sent back again it was straight to the seamstress who said they wont be ready until friday....
Thursday 21st April
Running around like headless chicken! my 2 chief bridesmaids were arriving from london today! i had spent the morning with my mam changing all the beds then i surprised her with a trip to the beauty salon where we had out nails done!
Into town then as it was one of my chief's birthday and we were going to TGi fridays for a meal. I dropped and a cake and balloon off there and also picked up a hubby to be card.
Made my way back home just as my chiefs pulled up! So excited! i hadnt seen them since my hen do and had missed them so much! Both of them were really excited which just excited me even more 
The seamstress had taken in the dresses but had not quite finished so wanted to see the dresses on the girls! (luckily the seamstress lives 3 mins away!) so off we went, it was the first time i had properly seen the dresses! They were stunning and they fitted!!! Great!!
leaving the dresses with the seamstress to do the hems we started getting ready for the meal. Thankfully my husband was 'allowed' to come on the meal i had organized it was so great to see him, i had missed him. With full stomachs all round and the birthday girl suitably embarrased we headed home and straight to bed.
Friday 22nd April
Packing all the wedding things up into the cars, loading all the kilts and the dresses (i had picked up the CMs) packing the overnight bag. In goes my dress, still feeling its not real. Printing off the final lists like jobs for the ushers and burning the cd with the processional and father daughter dance. After we were all packed and ready to go my mam, 2 chiefs, and 1 bridesmaid with my self all headed towards the castle! the last time i would see my house as a misses!!
It was fanastic weather and we were praying it would last for tomorrow aswell! i was just so anxious to see the castle and start setting everything up.
We pulled in and the castle does not disappoint it looks so grand it was fantastic!!
We unpacked all the stuff into the gatehouse where we were staying (3 bedrooms but open plan) and i want to show the girls where the easter hunt will be so thats where we will have to hide all the chicks! we turned the corner. there were 3 builders digging up most of the area i was planning to use!!! Panic!! they didnt speak english so we couldnt ask them if they will be finished by tomorrow! Now we were trying to find the coordinator (Jason). To reception they said he was in a meeting but shouldnt be too long. anxious to be doing something i suggested taking all the favours and other things for the reception into the conservatory.
After grabbing several boxes each we made our way! even with the room half ready it was stunning! we all stopped and stared before we cracked placing all the favours and all the cameras, confetti and i-spy cards.
This was when i had spotted that 2 tables needed to be swapped!! Panic yet again! still couldnt speak to jason to sort it! So my mam and the girls decided we would grab and drink and chill until jason was ready and we could chat. we were out in the courtyard in the sunshine but i was iching to do things but there was nothing i could do that second. Finally jason arrived and said the swapping the tables is not problem and the builders wont quite be finished but will cover and block the small hole that will be left when they are done so not to panic!!
He ran through the cermony for me to tell the others later when we do a rehersal. Here comes my in laws, husband, auntie and uncle, and another bridesmaid. We were all here for the rehersal. Processional was pachebel's canon in D, classic. I had his parents walking down first, then my mam and her dad, the page boy with a junior bridesmaid, then the next pair all the way up to my dad and myself! all the girls grad their wedding shoes and the room is on a slight slope downards to show a stage. Then we had a go, making sure everyone went on the right beat, they were walking too fast and where they would be sitting. Becuase i want my family to see my face when im up on stage with my husband, i had them sat on ryans side and visa versa, this caused a bit if trouble try to figure out how everyone would sit but we got there in the end. A nice touch was the my dad gave my had to ryan to help me up the stairs of the stage. (problem one.. see later)
After everyone was happy with the ceremony, my bridesmaids, mam, auntie carol and myself went to the meal i had booked for us. we were all starving now it was around 6pm the food took an age to come but was delicious! we all wolffed it down!!
Back to the castle then i needed to set up a few more things in the castle after which we all pilled off to the hot tub! This is were i started to relax, i could do nothing more so just enjoyed it!
Quick showers then back to the room for pampering! My cus who is also a bridesmaid said show would do all our nails for the wedding, she started that i went to put on my pjs realising i had completely forgotten them! So im my friends tank top and my knickers i was ready to do some prep work things like bleaching my moustache.....
By 1 am we were all done! to bed to be woken by 6.30 as the hairdresser arrive...
Saturday 23rd April 2011 The big day!
I slept amazingly!!! I thought i would be so awake thinking of things but nope!! I got into my bridal underwear and my dressing gown awaiting the hair dressers who were on time. It was nice and calm, 3 hairdressers just working away chattting it was lovely. The TOG i thought was due to arrive at 7 to see my make up and hair being done. Due to a miscommunication he was due to arrive at 9.30. Ce la vie. Still not stressing surprisingly calm. The junior bridesmaids turned up and had their hair done and by 9 we said goodbye to the hairdresser and went off the breakfast!
Im shocked that i had an appetite! it was really exciting as all i had left to do was put on my dress and walk down that aisle was i had another 2 hours to wait!!! Whilst enjoying breakfast with my bridal party and bucks fizz the venue dressers turned up with my cake and the rest for the room! eager to see everything they banished be until it was complete. We moved all our stuff out of the gate house and into my mams room as the boys will be getting ready in the gatehouse at 10. I gave the girls their necklaces.
Yay! fluff! they said!
The TOG turned up and took some dummy make shots and then photos of my dress and just general ones of the girls before he went had photographed the boys getting ready. We chilled, my chiefs were running around trying to get the last little bits off ryan to put in the room. I could hear the boys outside the window but obviously the curtains were shut so no peeking for me. it was really frustrating hearing everyone outside mingling and was stucking in a room waiting until 11 to put my dress on! eventually 11 came and all the girls got dresses! it was lovely to see all the dresses together i loved them! i had missed my dress and couldnt wait to put it on!!
The TOG took photos of us girls together and my mam fiddiling my veil etc. The flowers arrived!!!
and then we moved into the other room to be escorted over to the theatre.
This is where my heart would go at any knock or sound just waiting for jason to say were going now! i thought it was best to try weeing in my dress now so armed with a chief bridesmaid to help i went backwards on the toilet! that is one amazing tip!! now i was ready and then what seemd like a age Jason appeared and said it was time. all the girls went before me out into the court yard, jason made sure everyone was inside whilst i stayed hidden in the room. That is when everything hit me! I'm about to get married!! after a small panic attack and some encouraging words from my CM and the offer of a double vodka from jason i was ready!
Across the court yard i saw my dad waiting to lead me down the aisle in his kilt he looked amazing! The choir (my dads choir) made a corridor for me to walk between them and they clapped and wished me good luck! it was so lovely i was already welling up! My brother in law just infront of me told me how amazing i looked. I kissed my dad on the cheek and the first people started walking down the aisle! I could bearly hear the music i was focusing on walking. O gosh it was now my turn, properly holding onto my dad we turn the corner and there his was in all his glory shaking but smiling! I saw no one else! (im crying just writing it now!!)
My dad making sure i kept pace otherwise i think i would have ran to him. I got to the stair at the obttom of the stage where my dad gave my had to my husband with my bouquet in one had and Ryan in the other and had no hand to hold up my dress to step up so i ended up stepping on my dress! (theres the problem!) We sorted it out and there i was staring into Ryans eyes already welling up. I was given a tissue as my earlier little cry had made my nose run a little. I couldnt stop looking at him. He was amazing! we said the first part of our vows and then my dad had written a poem for us as our reading. It was funny and sentimental just perfect!
I glanced a look at my mam she was in tears as was the rest of the front row with all my bridesmaids! Then we were man and wife!! We signed the register with the choir singing what a wonderful world and I believe. it was beautiful! And we left to this is the moment! i could belted it down that ailse but took it slow and took all in! We had did it! Mr and Mrs McGregor!!
Lots of photos and huggs later the usher handed out the bubbles for our 'confetti' shots! They worked surprisingly well!! It was so much fun and the photos are fantastic!!
After mingling for a little while i went to get a drink and some welsh cakes that my nan had made for me which were delicous!! After a drink a little cool down as the weather was boiling! we had family photos taken
and then Ryan and I went off for our photos and the kids did the easter hunt (i say kids.. my brother who is 24 joined in!)
On our photos my dress dragged up most of the wood so a bridesmaid fished it out for me. I love having our photos we got to chat and i got to see him properly see all his little details. it was lovely.
Back up to the castle we were told it was time for the reception. The guests were all seated awaiting our arrival. We were announced by my brother and off we went! that was a lovely point to quickly look at everyone as i made my way to the top table! When sat i looked at everything! The room was stunning! every little detail was perfect! i had already eyed up the cupcake i was going to have.
A little touch the TOG had put cards with out pre wedding shoot photos on the front and our details for the days pictures on the back it was really nice!
I hardly ate any of the food. I mingled in between courses and managed to see everyone even for a little while. Then it was the speeches, my dads was short and sweet, the grooms was all the thanks, the 2 best men ones were fantastically funny espech ryans brother, only just turned 18 he was truely amazing! And then it was me! I had a few lines not much, thank my girls for the hen, thanking bethan for the nails and thanking laura one of my bridesmaids for all her help with the invites and the rest of the stationary. As soon as i stood up and started to speak i blubbed! Properly blubbed! i dont know if anyone understood any of it as i made my way over to laura to give her the pressie i had got her but she knew what i was thanking her for! I was a mess!!!
Then we all went outside to the ice cream trike!! It was perfect weather for it! it was so amazing! I had white choc avalance! yum! We then had to do bridesmaids and groomsmen photos had we hadnt had time yet so we whisked them all off to a quiet place.
With the photos done ryan and i went off for a little bit of time by ourselves which i really needed as i had hardly seen him all day. it was only for 5 -10 mins but it was enough! We went back into the castle and cut the cake!
by which time the band and DJ were all set up and the room was ready. The only problem was that it was an hour later than planned! Which meant the band were playing when it was meant to be the DJ ready to do the first dance and the father daughter dance! The DJ was nowhere to be seen! the band were playing but no one was up dancing! Finally it was all sorted. The first dance - hey there delilah by the plain white t's was lovely
and then the father daughter dance heartland - i loved her first i couldnt look at anyone i was blubbing again!! And so was everyone else apparently!
then the party started with the band Rock house! Who were brill!!! everyone loved them! i only went and sat down when the buffet opened!!! ate some cake and then the dancing started again!!
towards the end of the night i started to feeling a little queasy, i thought i was going to be sick but wasnt thank god. I perked up for the last few dances and that was it, the end of the night! All i wanted to was to go to bed, in my husbands drunken state he didnt know what he had done with the key! luckliy it was handed in at reception and off we went. We had a nice relaxing bath before bed!
Sunday 24th April
Breakfast with everyone was lovely. one of the presents i got Ryan was a t-shirt which said Groom - under new management which he happily wore! We packed everything up and left in his car which had been decorated! We got to my house and we unwrapped our wedding gift which was nice. We went out for sunday lunch there were around 30 of us! The food was lovely i was stuffed. My friends asked about my signiture which i when i said i hadnt practised or anything so i had a little go there! Went back to the house, sorted a few things out, pressed some flowers and put the rest in the vase, they lasted really well considering they were out of wather for 2 days and it was boiling! that was it, chilled with my girls. Ryan had gone to say goodbye to his side of the family. We played a game later on in the evening then went to bed.
So i would like to thank....
you for reading, everyone who helped, debbie graham jewellery for making my ribbon tiara, all the fantastic advice every step of the way and i leave you with a few little flashes xxxx
