So my last day at work I was ordered to go for a drink at home time, and was a little anxious as OH's Sister and Brother in Law (whom I had never met before) had arrived from Canada and I had to meet them, however as they hadn't called I tried to relax and go with it. My workmates presented me with a massage, manicure and wax (!) a photo album, guest book and the best gift, a night in the honeymoon suite at a lovely hotel nearby which panicked me slightly as my Brother had already informed me he had booked a room for us, I tried not to let the panic show whilst frantically trying to work out what to do, until they put me out of my misery by telling me my Brother was in on it and hadn't booked anything - phew!
Left work and went home to find my little girls all dolled up and waiting to go meet their Aunt and Uncle, but still no call. Didn't want to harrass but the girls were getting upset; was just about to call when the phone rang and it was OH's Sister, they had fallen asleep after their 24 hour journey and just awoken, understood if we didn't want to get together. The girls were jumping up and down like crazy so we arranged to collect them at their hotel and go to a local chinese buffet and headed off almost immediately, nervous as hell. The first thing my little girl said to her Uncle upon meeting him was "I don't like you, you kill animals" (facebook photo related comment) at which point I thought about just leaving! but it was fine and the nerves proved to have been completely unnecessary, within minutes of meeting OH's Sister we were firm friends, chatting as if we had known eachother forever. Spent the week getting to know them, visiting museums and generally preparing bits and bobs for the wedding, but annoyingly had no cash until the day before so it was a case of making lists and planning really. As the week prgressed I wanted more and more to ask OH's Sister to be a Bridesmaid but wasn't sure how to go about it, then finally just blurted out the request which she accepted, delighted. The friday came and I was up early to get everything done, met up with OH's sister and sped around getting all the bits necessary. At 1:45pm went for my massage and manicure (decided a wax the day before my wedding, probably not a great idea!) very relaxing and wonderful BUT came out of the salon at 4:45pm, by which time the market was closed so couldn't get the flowers, OH had left for his pre-wedding night accommodation and kids were cranky so couldn't do anything else really. Finished table plan that evening (after 14 drop-outs) and went off to bed, exhausted.
The morning of the wedding I was up at 5, couldn't sleep but as no childcare couldn't go out and get everything printed/flowers etc. Got everything ready to take to the venue, chivvied up the kids and got out by 9am. Got my Bridesmaid and Head Usher on the case of getting the wine and delivering the cake, wine and dress to the venue. Went and got the twins nails done, quick McDonalds breakfast, bought the flowers and headed home, by which time we were already running behind schedule and had no table name signs or orders of the day. Got a taxi to the venue, dropped the final decorations off with my friends who had kindly agreed to do the name places etc and headed off to the office to print out the final bits. Whilst there my friend called who was at the venue waiting to do my hair, my Bridesmaid called to see where I was and I got lots of texts which were lovely, but distracting. I thought I had been so organised and was getting quite frustrated with the time everything was taking and the delays, so when I got back to the venue to find EVERYONE (I mean like, 10 people) having to pitch in to sort out the name places which were somehow now not in order and being a total nightmare I just felt so horrendous, I had let everyone down and I just crumpled into tears. I tried to keep it together and help, but I hadn't even had a shower and it was now gone 1pm. My friends were all amazing, they just took control and sent me off to get ready but I was in a state, feeling like I had failed, the whole thing was a disaster etc. Took me a while but I finally with the help of my Bridesmaids, Daughters, OH's Sister and friends, pulled it together and got into the shower. Couldn't work out how to make it warm and so had a very quick, cold rinse and then proceeded to get completely lost in the maze of stairs and corridors of the venue!
Finally found the room we had been getting ready in and sat down to have my hair and make-up done, at which point my little girls walked in looking beautiful and I almost cried again! It was at this point that I realised I had FORGOTTEN to make the bouquets up! went into absolute meltdown - what kind of bride FORGETS to make her bouquet?! for gods sake! OH's Sister and my Bridesmaid reasssured me all was fine, it was taken care of (lies) and disappeared whilst my Neice went and nicked the bottle of wine her Mum had bought with her and gave it to me to sip from which helped ALOT! particularly when my Bridesmaid told me that the playlist was not working. By this point I was just past being able to deal, and sent her off with my phone to call OH and get it sorted, which they did, and she assured me he had arrived.
At this point things seemed to speed up even more and everyone was just buzzing around me, readying themselves and me, reassuring me everything was going to be fine, lacing me into my dress etc. My friend did my hair and make-up beautifully, exactly as I had wanted it but then had to quickly pull her dress on and leave the room for the Registrars to interview me which was very weird. Thankfully they had a copy of my vows as I had (obviously) forgotten to print them!
Next thing I know, everyone has gone, it's eerily quiet, and then I hear "A Little Less Conversation" by Elvis start up and I know that OH is making his entrance. This is really happening!
My Wedding Co-ordinator appeared and told me it was time to go, to which I replied "Oh god I can't do this" - I thought I was going to be sick. She took my hand, said "yes Kirsty, you can. Deep breath" handed me a bunch of roses tied with ribbon and led me out of the dressing room and the fire exit! to the lobby and start of the aisle where my Bridesmaids were waiting to start their journey down the aisle to an instrumental version of "If You're Not The One". Apparently the twins raced down the aisle but luckily the older girls took their time so I had a moment with my Dad, who I firstly didn't recognise standing there in his suit until he spoke to me! he was smiling ear-to-ear and his lip was trembling as he told me I looked beautiful and offered me his arm. We turned towards the doors as they opened once more and I saw all my friends and family stood there, awaiting my entrance. My Wedding Co-ordinator nodded at me, Green Day "Time of Your Life" started up and off we set. I saw OH close his eyes and smile as the music began, and I walked down the aisle, so proud to be on my Daddy's arm and feeling like a million dollars!
That walk was the most surreal occurence of my life! Nothing felt real, I felt like I was watching someone else do it, cos it couldn't possibly be me! As we reached OH my Dad shook his hand and moved to one side, but the Registrar kind of ushered him to sit down next to me, where my Witness should have been. OH's Witness came and sat down next to him and I tried to tell the Registrar but she had started the ceremony and just brushed me off, I wasn't going to let it go, having asked my friend specifically, and had to get quite forceful with the Registrar and actually turn around and ask my Witness to come over, I think Dad was embarrassed but it was fine and we finally both had our Witnesses beside us. The Registrar carried on with the ceremony and it was just the oddest experience I have ever had! my two (surrogate) Neices came up and did their readings beautifully, and as she approached the bit with the rings, the realisation dawned on me that I had left OH's ring in the changing room! I started very discreetly gesturing to my Wedding Co-ordinator who was finally able to decipher my sign language and went and retrieved said ring just in time.
OH and I couldn't stop smiling at eachother and giggling, and getting the rings on was an issue as we were both shaking so much but we got there. We read out our personal vows to eachother, through teary eyes and smiles:
OH to me: You know, even better than I do, that I am a little different. I always have been. But the thing is, you made that okay. You have spent the last 10 years letting me know in a million different ways that it was okay to be me. For that alone, I should marry you a thousand times over. But that wasn’t even the best gift you had up your sl...eeve. You also gave me you. Your love, your understanding, your kindness, your patience and, frankly, your general all-around hotness. You gave me a life, a home, two beautiful children and, above all else, the knowledge that we can get through anything, together. I love you beyond measure or reason. And so, I promise, not to forget that. I promise to spend the rest of my life trying to come up with ways to tell you this all over again. I very much doubt there is a man alive who actually deserves you, but, if it’s okay with you, I promise to take my insanely good luck and run with it.
Me to OH: Wow. It's hard to believe we're actually here. It's been a real emotional rollercoaster ride. From that cold grey night when I first laid eyes on your handsome (and quirky) self and just "knew", through the good and bad days, the crazy days and the ones when I didn't think we would make it, to today, when I'm standing ...here, in front of everyone we love, marrying my best friend. I've never met anyone quite like you. You amaze me, frustrate me, overwhelm me and infuriate me in equal measure, but mostly, you just love me. No matter what, and that's all I need. We've been married in our hearts for very a long time and made lots of vows, but now that it's formal; I promise to be your anchor when the kids are screaming and life is chaos, yo be your helium when you need support and encouragement to achieve your dreams, to always offer an honest opinion on your songs, whether you want to hear it or not! and to forever fill your days with love and smiles and pasta.
The Registrar then pronounced us Man and Wife, we kissed and "Be My Yoko Ono" by Barenaked Ladies kicked in and everyone was clapping and smiling and cheering. It was wonderful! We signed the register and posed for photos to "The Greatest Thing" by Elvis Costello and "You and Me Versus the World" by Space, then our Ushers started moving everyone to their tables and we hugged and kissed people and generally just socilaised, then the Registrar presented us again and everyone clapped again and we took our seats. Champagne was served and my Brother did a wonderfully touching, funny and very truthful speech which everyone loved, then one of our Groomsmen got up and did a very short bit, then me and OH went up onto the stage and I thanked everyone who had made the day possible and left him to his speech which was lovely and almost made me cry again! Another Groomsman was acting as MC and announced "Grub's Up". The buffet was amazing, almost everyone mentioned how great the food was and our cake looked great, with the Smurfs atop! I managed (under strict Bridesmaids orders) to eat a little in between trying to get round and speak to all 186 guests. All of "our" songs were on a playlist which played during the food, and then our cinema usherettes appeared with ice creams and wowed our guests. Everyone was commenting on what a lovely atmosphere it was, stunning venue, great food and ice cream, music and that it was just so very "us" which made me very happy. My Wedding Co-ordinator came and told us we needed to get onto the first dance as they were running out of music so at the announcementof our MC, we took to the dancefloor to "Secret is to Know When to Stop" by Tom Cochrane and danced together, laughing and chatting and kissing, whilst what seemed like everyone in the room took photographs and videos from all angles. When the song finished he went off to the MC as "ALl the Single Ladies" by Beyonce kicked in, who requested that any unmarried ladies in the room please report to the dancefloor and I took to the stage where my Wedding Co-ordinator had untied all of the roses, ready for me. I stood with my back to the girls, all gathered on the dancefloor, and threw the roses up and backwards, letting them split in the air, then turned to see them all running to catch a bloom each - that was such a highlight!
At this point our dancefloor mix kicked in with "Sex on Fire", Kings of Leon and my Bridesmaid dragged me to dance. I danced ALOT, in between trying to make sure I spoke to everyone and saw my Husband (weird) every now and again, and taking a moment to take in the amusement of a friend I have known for 20 years and never ONCE seen even tipsy who absolutely plastered! My new Brother in Law managed to get very very drunk and disappear for quite a time which displeased OH's Sister greatly, and to be fair, if I had travelled 5000 miles to be somewhere special and OH had done that I think I would've been a little miffed too. My Mum was pretty tipsy which was funny, and I had a few tears with my Grandad over my Grandma not being with us (she passed over about 7 years ago). The children ran around and danced and got on perfectly (although I don't think the staff appreciated the sliding down the bannisters game!). There were alot of "I love you's" between friends and family, and alot of catching up was done both off and on the dancefloor.
Lots of people left early which disappointed me a little, but alot of our guests had travelled to be with us or had young children so understandable. At about 9:30pm the cake was cut and served with tea or coffee, again my Wedding Co-ordinator excelled at her job by identifying a problem (i.e. a misunderstanding, no-one had been paid to provide this) and just dealing with it immediately. My little girl berated me for buying a chocolate wedding cake, was given another party bag and went off again to play happy and I carried on enjoying the evening, chatting, laughing, dancing and generally just being in total awe that it was finally happening, and how stunning and amazing everything was.
At about 1:30am almost everyone was gone, just a handful of us were left dancing and drinking, and at the point where my friend got onto the table and managed to smash one Martini glass with his foot and then swung his jacket around narrowly missing another, we finally decided it was time to depart, so I changed from my ruby slippers into my Nikes, put on my coat and hat, said our thankyous and goodbyes to the staff and our little band of revellers trekked off to find taxi's, everyone complaining that they didn't want to go home cos then it was over! So sweet. Back at the hotel we talked for ages, going over everything and just giggling and chatting before finally giving in to the inevtibaility of the end of our day and falling sound asleep. Waking up to him saying "Good Morning Wife" was quite possibly the most wonderful moment of my life. The Honeymoon Suite was amazing and we took full advantage of the tea and coffee making facilities I can tell you! 
It was the most amazing, awesome, surreal, fantastic day of my life and I am incredibly sad it's all over, but insanely happy to be Mrs Hall ❤️
Just a small selection of photos, anyone who's friends with me on facebook (www.facebook.com/kristaltipps) can see more, as well as videos.
Finally, just want to say a HUGE thankyou to all of you who helped with my planning, it was very much appreciated and I hope to chat to you as old marrieds! x
