** Little Madam's wedding report ** updated with proffesional pics

Wednesday - W-2 days!!

Wednesday however was madness. We got up and picked up my PIL – we headed straight to the florists and sorted the last few bits there and at the end Jack asked me to leave so he could “sort something out” and I agreed but as I left I said “OK, but DON’T change anything, I know you probably don’t realise yet but all the trimmings are there because they need to be” – I was trying to get across to him that the little white bits I’d asked for in my bouquet etc were in there because they picked up the details from my dress, but obviously couldn’t say that!! As soon as I left he said to the florist “Right, lets change everything” and from what I gather, she was a bit shocked, as it turns out though he just wanted some help with a surprise for me.

Once we had been there, we needed to go over to the suit shop, which was back to my village and then out the other side, but we were right by our venue and I was aware that my PIL hadn’t yet seen the venue – so we headed over so that I could show them for the first time. They were suitably impressed and uuuumhed and aaaaahed in the right places!!

Then it was over to the suit shop, before racing back to pick up Jacks sisters etc from the train station. My little pageboy tried on his suit for the first time, and seemed to love it – he screamed when he had to take it off and looked so cute that everyone’s heart melted a little bit!

Then, it was that time… Rehearsal time!! We parked the car and as I walked up the drive I could see my Auntie Deb and Uncle, and no one else – my brother wasn’t there, no bridesmaids, no best man... Eek. Luckily Dad arrived 5mins after and mingled well with my Auntie (Moms SIL) who joked about his loss of hair and broke the ice after it’d have been 9 years since they saw each othr. Mom then arrived, and Jacks family and my brother showed up in his lovely coverall and tool belt! He’d been busy at work again so literally just ducked out!

We sat down and the Vicar called me and OH to the front so we stood quite awkwardly in the aisle, and he said “Ok, where is the best man…?” Erm, yeah he’s not here… “The bridesmaids?” Well – I have one out of three?! It seemed that because we had a very widespread family that not all of the key people were there – oops! We went through the details and we had to practise our vows. Jack said his in the most mono-tone, fast voice ever in a bid to just get them over with; I meanwhile, just couldn’t stop giggling!

At the end the vicar asked if we’d any questions and S, my other FG raised her hand and said “When is it my turn to be a princess?”

We finished the rehearsal and Jack asks the Vicar “If I don’t say the EXACT same words as you – will it matter?” I was in hysterics! He couldn’t get the “till death us do part” and kept saying “till death do us part”. Bless him.

So we were all done, and about to walk back when… L (My CBM) bursts in, Costa cup in hand claiming to be “stuck in traffic” and thinking it was a 7:30 start…. Most brides would have screamed, but not me – L is always always late! We said a final goodbye to the vicar and I assured him I planned to be early and the guests had been asked to be seated for 2:45 so to please make sure they were…

So, it was off home for us, and me and OH went straight up to bed as OH then started to write his speech, which he didn’t want me to see at first.

Day before the wedding

We woke up early on Thursday morning as it was going to be very busy indeed – the day before the wedding. My first job was to hoover (for the 50th time) the room that my wedding dress was going to hang in and to do some washing for my Mom, then I packed the venue bits and pieces and sent OH to load the car and also packed OH overnight bag,

I then needed to shower as it was the last time I could wash my hair before the wedding. So off I popped and just as I was shaving my legs (good timing…) OH pops in and starts reading me his speech. There was one line, which he read out which just made my eyes water – soppy mare that I was!

I soon recovered though, and headed off to my SiLs who was taking me to get my dress. I got to the shop, picked it up in a nice big bag, nice, quickly and efficiently and then, erm, kind of dropped it outside the shop!! Luckily there were no puddles, as the weather really hadn’t been very good. We quickly got it into the back of the car, pulling the seats down and draping it over the back and were soon at my Moms. Me and SIL dragged it up the stairs and into the spare room where SIL hooked it over the curtain pole. She then unzipped it, having not seen my dress before, and just went “Woooow!”. We took the train out and hung it over the ironing board so that it wouldn’t get creased and then I said “***, where is the lace up for the corset?”. We searched and searched and I couldn’t see it, so starting to panic I grabbed the phone to call the shop. Thankfully my SIL dived into the dress and pulled it out – phew!! We just looked at each other and smiled, didn’t say a word as we were just relieved!

She then dropped me to the hotel where OH had driven to pick up PIL and the best man and his GF were waiting there – I’d not seem BMs GF for over a year so we had a quick hug and jumped into the car to go off and set up the venue.

We got there, and were told the venue coordinator wasn’t well (!!) but there were plenty of other members of his team.

I made a start with Best Mans GF and my MIL of setting up the sweety buffet while the men put out the table names, favours, checked there were the right number of chairs on each table and all those other one million and one jobs that needed to be done. I expected this might take ages, but we were done in an hour and while we were there the chair cover lady was finishing off the set up – and it all looked seriously fab, I was so pleased!!

I then took out my Mr and Mrs letters that I’d planned to put on the gift table, but instead found the perfect shelf behind the buffet table, and it looked seriously cool – made my morning, looked very cool. I then popped to the loo and came out saying – we need some bleach and some air freshener in there, I can’t have them like that… (Another one of my silly stresses coming on?!).

We then raced back, dropped PIL back to the hotel and got into one car with BM and went to pick up some trousers we’d left at the suit shop. We then dropped the men off at the pub/hotel to check in and went off to get our nails done by a friend of a friend at my Moms house.

It was booked for 3pm and I got there at 2:50pm. I then suddenly realised, no one had booked taxis for OHs family – I’d been asking for arrangement details of who was/wasn’t driving for ages and didn’t get any, so hadn’t done it. I’d asked PIL to get onto it and give me numbers but they hadn’t. The wedding was now, erm, tomorrow and still no taxis. So the numbers came through and including BMs, Best man etc I needed a taxi for 28 people!! Luckily all to/from the same place!! So I started calling round and couldn’t find anywhere who could fulfil the booking. I found one place, but they wanted me to pay the full fee upfront!! So I rushed down to the waiting guests in the lounge get my card but it then turned out they couldn’t do it after all.

I called OH in tears, saying it was stressing me and ruining the night before our wedding. This motivated his to get the phone book out (!!) which is an unknown for my hubby but he sensed my panic. He had no luck either.

Eventually I resorted to calling a bit of a dodgy local taxi company, who are always late, but I was desperate. They took the booking, I gave the bridesmaid and best man the taxi number and told them they were in charge and I didn’t want to hear about it again.

I got back downstairs at 3:45 – there was still no nail woman?! Where was she?! I declared that “if she isn’t here by 4:00, I am going back to the hotel that OH is in, and having my nails done there..” Thankfully she was there 5 minutes later, and got started on our nails.

Lots of giggles were had, SIL managed to crack her toe nails by running them over with a shopping trolley so requested acrylic on her big toes to smooth them out and just kept saying “I’m so sorry they look like this, I am so embarrassed”.

My 4 year old flower girl was looking on, loving it, and then asked if she could have hers done. Her Mom agreed and so she had red polish to match her dress with little love heart stickers.! She loved it.

I then had a lovely bouquet of flowers come, which I assumed was my surprise from OH as arranged at the florist the previous day, but on checking, they were from a friend of mine. When I started wedding planning she was going to be my bridesmaids, but we fell out over her dating my ex and him not being welcome at the wedding, so the flowers were a lovely touch as we had only just recently started talking again.

Everyone’s nails were finally done – me (French manicure), Mom (Lime green!!), Auntie (blue), SIL (coral-red), Bridesmaids (red and French), Best Mans GF (grey), everyone really! And we grabbed a taxi to the pub next to the hotel where all OH and his family, my BMs and all the out of town guests were.

We had a fab fab dinner – I scoffed chicken and chips (who said brides don’t eat?!) and took a million photos of my flower girl who just loved the camera and kept demanding pictures of everyone with her pink bunny ears. (I prayed she wouldn’t insist on this tomorrow as she seemed quite attached to them – she’d wore them to pick up my dress too!)

At 9pm my Mom called me out and said we needed to go. My goodbye to Jack was quite quick, and I didn’t get much privacy to say what I wanted, but he knew and he pulled me close and told me he’d see me tomorrow. Oddly I’d gone through the whole day not realising this was my last day as a Miss!

We dropped my Bridesmaid home, who was totally hammered and I made her a bet with her (remember, the one who was late to the rehearsal), betting she wouldn’t be there for 9:30am as requested on the wedding day.

Then, it was bedtime for me. I’d checked hitched for the last time, had already ready my Good luck thread to calm me down on the Tuesday when I was watching the news on the riots, and switched my phone off.

My Mom chose then to burst in and say “Kayl, do you think I should put my tights in the fridge?”. I mean… What do you say to that?! I told her, do whatever she thinks…

Bloomin heck LM! you are setting the bar here my love! Will pop back later once its all done- could never be dealing with cliffhangers!!

Please come back woth more ASAP! I now have to go out

The wedding day

Once I’d put my ear plugs in the night before the wedding, I was out like a light! I didn’t wake up until 4:50am when I could hear my Mother coughing outside my bedroom door (thanks!).

Turns out she couldn’t sleep and so had gotten up at 4:20am and swept the floor following the party we’d had the previous night, she’d then had a cigarette (hence the coughing) and had come back to bed.

It must have taken half hour for me to get back off to sleep, and I didn’t wake up again until my Mom burst into my room at 7:05am to tell me that my friend Tash was on the phone. Tash was the person who was with me the night that I met OH, o naturally was always going to be bridesmaid, however, on the Tuesday before we were ordering the dresses she calls to say that there has been an opportunity for her to go and work in New Zealand for 4 months, however it was across the wedding, and how upset would I be if she took it? Well, I was totally thrilled for her.! I knew that she really wanted it, and we’d thought it would take months and months to come through but they snapped her up in a matter of days. Anyway – so she has called from New Zealand to talk to me and to wish me all the best. Was sad not to have her there, but at the same time, I knew she was thinking of me.

So, that was a lovely start to my day. I wandered back into my room and looked out of the curtains and yep – very dull with lots of rainclouds as predicted, oh well!! Then I went downstairs to find Mom was diving for the shower and my stepdad was pacing around the house asking if anyone knew where the special hanky I’d given him on Father’s day was? (No one did).

I went and got dressed into the cream bandeau maxi dress I’d bought for getting ready and as I was coming out of my room, saw that the makeup and hair lady had arrived, with her sister here to help. She quickly came in and they started on my Mom.

At 7:45 I realised I’d not showered and that the makeup lady was wanting to do be a base coat of make up before starting my hair, as with my awful skin, we knew it’d need a good few layers!! So I jumped in quickly, and got dressed and then by 8:00am B, my bridesmaid had arrived and was starving, so I set about making her some Special K.

It was then that my Hair lady’s assistant (her sister) came over really unwell, and she rushed outside onto my Moms newly laid patio to be sick, (the patio which laid especially for me to “walk on, in my dress”). My poor bridesmaid was eating her breaky, and called upstairs for me to bring the “Curling spray” – I am thinking what the hell is Curling spray? I shouted back that I don’t usually curl my hair so don’t have any!! She kept repeating it and I still didn’t know what she wanted, when Mom shouted “The stuff you got to cool you down in Mexico” – ohhh the cooling spray!!

So we handed that to the poor girl who was by now sat outside in the rain because she was too scared of being sick inside. The hairdresser called her Mom and Dad and while her Dad took the ill sister home, the hairdressers Mom stayed to assist us.

The makeup lady then applied my first layer of foundation etc before putting me into rollers.

I was then left to wander off and went upstairs to my Bridesmaid who was putting on false eyelashes in my bedroom and sat cross legged on the bed. I said I wondered how OH was getting on, and hoped he was OK. She said “well, erm, yeah I hope so!” - I was like, OK tell me what you know… She said her OH had seen my OH in the Foyer to the reception and OH had commented that he hand yet to go to bed..? I was more than a little bit scared for a moment, in fact, that was the only time I felt nervous, however 10mins later the Best Mans OH had text to say it was a joke and he was fine – phew!

Ohs wedding present, a pair of personalised Nike trainers then came – talk about timing, and so I raced upstairs and sat on the laminate flooring cross legged in my dress wrapping them for him, before giving them to my stepdad to take with him as all the men were meeting at the little American Diner place we’d previously had dinner for their getting ready shots.

My OH was all set to go....

This is when time seemed to really start to fly. It was definitely past 9:30 and there was still no sign of L my bridesmaid, so I’d won the bet – I knew she would be late!! My uncle then showed up but was too scared to come into the house so I sent him off to the boys. He asked if I’d spoken to OH and insisted they “had a good night” and that he was “sorry for leading them astray” – I’m still no clearer on the details now.

Great report so far!! Looking forward to the rest!

I remember my Mom leaving the house to go and check the venue with the specially prepared folder and lists of tasks (including putting out the air freshner) I had given both her and my Auntie and I remember ringing both her and my Aunties Mobiles trying to find someone to buy me some chewing gum too.

The hairdresser started my other bridesmaids Beckys hair, and my 3rd bridesmaid Tara arrived with her sister who had bought lunch supplies – fresh sandwiches, cakes and little bits and pieces.

By this point I was starving so grabbed two slices of toast and started eating them as the poor hairdresser was trying to do my hair, but I was just so hungry I wasn’t waiting. It was then that I noticed Tara had arrived in PJs for the getting ready shots – haha, we all had a good giggle and once I was done in the chair for hair, I took her up to my room to find something suitable. I riffled through my wardrobe which was half empty (as I technically moved out of Moms before the wedding..) and so had to riffle through my honeymoon case for a jersey maxi dress but as I am a size 10-12 and my bridesmaid about an 18, there were significant amounts of boobage showing, so we had to attack the dress with a safety pin!

Soon after the photographer arrived, telling me OH was one hell of a nervous groom, poor love. What I now know, which I didn’t know then was that during their breaky/pre wedding shots he had managed half a sausage and slice of bacon before rushing off thinking he was going to be ill! Poor love. The photographer also saw my brother arriving as he left – and recognised him from another wedding he had photographer and so says to be “You never told me your brother was Cowboy Matt?” Hmm.. Turns out at another wedding he had shown up for the pre wedding pictures wearing his casual jeans and white belt with cowboy style buckle.

I asked Neil our TOG what he wanted first and he said “A cuppa, please”. So cuppa done and my bridesmaids took him off upstairs to show him my dress/necklace/shoes and all of that stuff. I left Neil to the photos and opened two bottles of champagne which I really wanted by that point! I used the wine charms that Lynsey @ Lynseys designs had made me to identify everyone’s glasses as there must have been about 12 people in the house by the end of it all.

An hour of makeup then proceeded – I got my colour on eyes/lips/cheeks etc, she did my Moms make up and Jack sister and niece arrive, along with my brothers GF and daughter – my 2 flowerers and their parents. We called lunch and went outside to have some food and I gave out all of the gifts. Bridesmaids had their necklaces and their mirrors, my auntie had a bottle of wine, and some choccies and whole host of goodies. My mom then gave me a gift from her, and my gift from OH.

I’d asked for no hints on the gift as I love surprises, but had wanted to wait until the TOG was there to capture me opening it so that OH coul

d see later on. It was a gorgeous sterling silver pen engraved with “Kayleigh, with all my love 12/8/11 xxx”. I loved it!

The final pressie was one for me to give to my Mom. I knew that she was feeling unappreciated and wanted to show her that really wasn’t the case, and the pressie proved just that. She’s been looking at my Pandora bracelet for a while now saying she liked it, so I got her one, with a love heart shaped “MUM” charm. My Mom, the ice maiden, started welling up, so I busied myself helping her into the package but she gave me a huge hug and it was such a lovely moment.

I’m not sure when exactly but at some time during the morning my flowers arrived. Despite putting names into the clutch bags which were holding the mothers corsages that gave my Moms bag to MIL and vice versa so that had to be sorted. I saw the flowers, and if I am really honest, didn’t have any kind of “wow” feeling that fellow Hitchers talk about – I mean yup they were lovely, but I wasn’t madly in love with them – guess I am just not a flower person.

It was then all “go, go, go”. My bridesmaid, Tara is fabulous at cake making and had made cakes for us all, so the TOG sat on the kitchen side, next to me getting my hair done, scoffing the cupcakes she had bought for me. It was seriously cool.

I then called my flower girls into the lounge and got the 2 special gift bags I’d made for them and pulled out their necklaces, of 2 little angels made my Lynseys Designs. They went bonkers for them, and really loved them, and again, those 2 moments sitting on the lounge floor with my 2 little princesses was so very precious.

Just then I realised there had been a card come in the post to me and that my Mom had put it on the bookcase for me. I realised it must have been from OH. I grabbed hold of it and had a read through, really quite quickly as it was really quite soppy and I was scared I’d cry – so I put it down and the TOG asked me to have a re-read of it so he could photograph it. I just kept reading the same line “I can’t wait for you to be my wife” but couldn’t read the rest – making me well up now thinking of it!

Then it got a little bit mad – I popped on the most unsexy, but comfy and practice wedding undies I had bought and headed down to have my hair and makeup finished while the Flower girls were being done. At one point I called one of my FGs (Brooke) and asked “Can I have one of your crisps please?” – The answer is always “NO” – she is my brothers little one for sure and does not share food, but today she said “Yup” and slipped her BBQ Hula Hoop into my hand – aww.

It was then all stations go – I was shouting through the lounge for the BMs to start getting into their dresses. I had 2 in their dresses by 1:15 and my hair and makeup was still being done. The TOG had made it clear he wanted to start taking pics of me at 2:05 and the stretch limo would be there at 2:15 for Mom, Stepdad, Flower girls, their parents etc so it was all go go go as we really were running later than I had hoped – I’d wanted to be in my dress by 1:30pm so I could take everything in.

I kept worrying about time, and so at 1:45 when I still wasn’t done I sent my bridesmaid upstairs to get my bits and pieces. Tara came running down with my deodorant, Liz had my shoes, garter and necklaces etc before Becky came down at about 1:50pm – just in time to see Liz slipping her hands under my dress to put my garter on – ha-ha!

The men all then returned, as they had all stayed with my uncle to get ready so I had my brother, stepdad, and 2 uncles all in the house struggling with their buttonholes. My auntie deb put her corsage on the wrong way around, and we had one buttonhole left which puzzled me – I know I’d ordered the right number so told my brother to just take it to church with him instead.

At 1:55 I was complete, and really getting worried for time now, I’d asked for my dress to be bought downstairs, so off I ran to the loo before diving into the dress. By now all the men were standing on Moms patio, and the back wall of her house onto the patio is just one huge glass door spreading the length of the house, on my way up to the loo I’d told them to move around to the side of the house as I’d be getting dressed in the lounge, but they didn’t move. I told them again when I got back downstairs. By the third time I just shouted “Look, I’m gonna take this dress off to put my wedding dress on in 3 seconds so unless your move you’re not gonna have a very nice view” – cue the TOG running out and round the house. Haha.

By this point the FGs had raced up the stairs with their Moms and were being put into their dresses. I was so glad I’d gone onto Vista print and got them little bags with their names on as in each was their socks, shoes, tights, cardigan, dress sash, bouquet etc, which meant I knew their outfit would be complete and didn’t have to worry.

With everyone upstairs with the kids, I had to call my bridesmaid down my help my Auntie lace me in. My Auntie is usually as cool as a cucumber but as she started pulling the laces through my corset I could feel her physically shaking like a leaf, not just a little bit but literally enough to make my whole corset jiggle! The poor love. Finally though I was in! I looked at myself in my floor length mirror that my stepdad has bought down into the lounge and I was happy – very happy with the way I looked.

Time was absolutely flying, so the TOG quickly lined me up and took some photos on Moms patio – which were lovely and he kept commenting how he knew I liked things “a little bit different” and so tried a few new shots too.

The babies then came down, as did my Mom, and I was just so proud – they all looked fab. The kids kept stepping on my dress (it was literally huge) and it took all my patience not to shout at them.

The TOG then lined me up with my Mom in front of me and asked her to give me one last piece of advice, she said “Don’t do it”. Haha. The TOG was then happy with his shots and raced off to see the men at church – and I my mind then turned to Jack. How was he coping, I know how nervous he’d been – was he OK? I knew he was nervous, but I also knew how much he loved me and so I just knew he’d be there and OK. I was right! check out his smile!

Before I knew it, the limo had arrived for the girls, and Jacks favourite car had arrived for the Bridesmaids. Everyone piled into the Limo and the girls waited a moment before they were going to get in. I was just having a heart to heart with the girls when Mom raced back in, I’m not sure what for, but she said “Are you sure this is what you want to do?”. I said “Are you shitting me, I’ve not gone to all this effort for nothing”. And she smiled, but tears welled up in her eyes and her voice broke as she said – “Ok, see you at church, good luck”. The bridesmaids then left, leaving me completely alone in the house. I just looked at myself in the mirror and thought “Wow, this really is it, I’m off to get my husband”. I told myself to breathe and took lots of deep breaths. I then realised I’d left Dads thank you gift upstairs, but I was alone so I hitched up my huuuge dress and tried to get up the stairs, but managed to get the skirt stuck on the corner of the bannister of the stairs. After a few swear words, I was up, retrieved it and was back down again.

Because Mom and Dad are divorced it has been 10 years since Dad has been in his old house and my Mom was reluctant to have him inside, but agreed he could come in once she had left. So, I gave Dad the “all clear” call as Mom got in the car but to my delight my stepdad got out the car to greet my Dad – they’d never met before, because of the tension between Mom and Dad, and gave him the house key asking him to lock up. Dad came in, and I don’t remember seeing his reaction to my dress, neither of us wanted to look at each other because a) I’d put my spare make up in my emergency bag which was now on its way to church so I wouldn’t be able to touch up my make up after tears and b) It was a bit weird having him in my Moms house.

As I walked to him though, he saw the back of my dress and he was more than a little bit shocked at just how big it was – completely shocked. Now, as I said earlier there were buttonholes left over so I’d made my brother/Mom take them to church. It was at this point, at 2:40 that I realised it was my Dads!! ***! I got my phone out and text literally everyone I knew would be there – Jacks sisters, stepmom, brother, stepbrother, 2xstepsisters, Brother GF, Stepdad, Jacks mom, all 3 bridesmaids to say what I’d realised and to have the button hole at the back door..

Dad then asks “I thought I had FoTB cufflinks” and I remembered I’d hidden them from Mom in my bedside cabinet, along with his thank you gift etc. So, he went outside to see my stepmom while I again hitched up the dress and ran upstairs. I got back down to find that, as predicted I needed a wee!

I told my Dad and he said “sorry you’re on your own there” – so again, more hitching up the skirt which was fine as I had a hoop, despite the fact that it was a huge dress. I thought of the using the loo backwards trick but there was no chance I was ever going to be able to get my undies down and off – so I battled and went to the loo ok. I just stood there, facing the bathroom door, having a little laugh to myself at the predicament I’d just been caught up in.

I then headed down, the car man told me it was “time” and I headed out the door, Dad locked up and I went out to the car. The clouds were looking mightily black so I hitched up my skirt and headed for the car. As I did, I saw a woman from the house at the back was putting her bin out. She stopped and looked at me, but didn’t wave, smile or actually say anything at all. So, I carried on, and was told to reverse into the car bottom first, so did (this bride stuff is all so glam!). The door was then closed and as soon as it was the rain belted it down, not just a little bit but mega mega heavy. Dad and the driver raced back round and they just kept saying “It’ll be fine by the time we get to church” – it was about 2 miles away!! I remember the journey well, people staring and giving way to the wedding car. A few people waved, and I waved back. As we approached the roundabout of our local shopping precinct we were saying “Wow, these cars aren’t built for rain” as the little window wipes were struggling. As we went through the one way road my Dad was asking the driver if he still had to get an MOT and road tax (yes to both, but road tax is free so to speak).

I know Dad squeezed my hand as we got there and that there were people I don’t recognise hanging over the church wall cheering me on. The rain was still coming, but not as bad. The TOG and videographer were waiting for me, but everyone else was inside the church door due to the rain and the drive is about 150 meters long. I waved at the random people (I now think they were my FGs Dads, Mom) and I got about 10 steps in before my underskirt came falling down – I tried to fix it but in the end had to ask my bridesmaid to come running down from the door of the church, where they were stood because of the rain, and asked her to shove her hand up my skirt and to tuck the netting of the skirt into my corset. So classy me!!

So, we walked on and the first thing I remember seeing in Jacks uncle – he’d come 250miles for the wedding and was in his military uniform. He seemed a bit dumbstruck by my image as is usually a cheeky git and so I said “Fancy seeing you here”. I then saw my brother, who likes my Dad, I couldn’t look at, but he looked shockingly handsome and had the hand of his stepdaughter – so cute!

The TOG then sent my brother to escort my Mom back down the aisle as she’d decided she wouldn’t be seated until I arrived so that she’d be the last to be seated in accordance with tradition. The TOG got a little snappy with the kids parents as they were so excited they were running riot a bit outside church and I know now the reason for this is that I was ten minutes late. Oops – I’d told the vicar I’d be 10minutes at least early!!

So, we then all quickly lined up and it was time to walk down the aisle.

I was holding onto my Dad arm, and the Vicar lead. We remembered to let him walk in front a little bit and everyone turned round to see us. The aisle is an L shape, and as I walked in I could only see those who sat at the back. I saw my FGs grandma at the back and I saw my Cousin and his GF. Half way down the aisle I noticed my stepmom and my Mom was looking on proudly.

I was then aware of a bit of faff behind me –the pageboy was carrying the rings on a cushion and had managed to untie one of the bows and had dropped Jacks ring. Someone had gone to retrieve it and my auntie had quickly whipped the other one off, to hand to the bestman when we got to the end of the aisle. This really did make me giggle.

I saw Jack, but he wasn’t looking at me. He looked so handsome, so tall and strong and I could see him looking up at his best man. As I got closer down the aisle I laughed and giggled with my Dad, and far from it feeling rushed I really enjoyed the moment. During this time Jack hadn’t looked around once, and he’d already told me he wouldn’t if he felt really nervous. When I got to the front I looked and him and the poor love was in tears, as was his best man. Apparently he’d asked his best man what I looked like and had previously briefed him that he wanted to know the colour, length, style of my dress etc but all the best man could manage was that I looked “Fucking awesome mate”. I then asked my auntie who was directly behind me to pull back my veil but kept hold of my bouquet, which was in my right hand, but then Jack was so nervous I wanted to hold his hand so I had my arm through my Dads to my left and was holding my bouquet and just squeezing my poor man’s hand. I felt such a rush of “My goodness, I love this man so much” and then the vicar spoke for the first time, welcoming everyone to our wedding service. To us, it then seemed like we were straight into the first hymn.

This was the point when all the bridesmaids who followed me had to take their seats – the pageboy (2.5years) was ushered to the front and I’m not sure what happened to the others but they were soon seated). All that remained was me, Jack, Dad and the best man. The vicar gave us hymn books to sing (even though we’d chosen “One more step along the world I go” so thankfully knew the first verse at least!) and told us the hymn number, but we were all in such a daze that none of us picked up the number and were left looking at each other having a giggle. I then went into the index and found it – and showed the others.

I then literally sang my heart out, as it was a hymn which meant a lot to me. When I was younger we used to have an annual event in which all the Sunday school kids got on stage in our pretty white dresses and sang 10hymns, and this was always the song we walked in to. I also had chance to whisper to jack “Are you ok”. And he nodded and just kept saying “You look amazing”.

At the end of the hymn the vicar asked who gave the woman in marriage and my Dad handed over my hand. We then went on to the vows. Jack went first and managed to get all his worlds out very clearly for everyone to hear, much much better than in the rehearsal. He did however still get the till death us do part” as “till death do us part”. Bless him. I then said my part, which felt lovely, and I thought about all the promises I made, again just checking over in my head that I really meant it. (Bit late now..). We then got to the ring exchange and I remember the comments on Hitched from OMs saying that there would always be a stumble with the rings but ours went on perfectly – both of them, which surprised me. That said, Jack did put my shaped wedding ring on the wrong way (not that I pointed this out. Soon the vicar had blessed our rings and was inviting us to take a seat at the side. This was the first time that Jack saw the extent of the size of my dress, and offered me a hand to help.

As we sat, the first reader took their place, which was my Auntie Deb and she was reading from Corinthians – explaining that marriage in front of god, binds two people together, and that this bond may not be separated. Given the formality of the reading, all I felt was proud, very very proud of my Auntie for doing it so well. The Vicar then invited Jacks Uncle to do his reading which was called “The one” – it went “When the one whose hand you’re holding, is the one who holds your heart” and Jack then looked at me and gave my hand a little squeeze. He continued “When the one whose eyes you gaze into, gives your hopes and dreams their start, When the one you think of first and last Is the one who holds you tight, And the things you plan together Make the whole world seem just right” I then felt terribly emotional, knowing that these things, these words meant so much to us, and really did represent how we felt about each other. I tried to not thing about the words too much as he finished “When the one whom you believe in, puts their faith and trust in you, You've found the one and only love, You'll share your whole life through”.

He then finished and walked off back to his seat, and I was over my little emotional spell as Jack pulled around my left hand and rubbed his fingers over my ring before admiring it. I then laughed, telling him it looked ridiculous on the wrong way, so turned it around and then put my engagement ring back on (from my right hand). So much for never taking off the rings once they had been blessed!!

The vicar then went into his sermon. He was very good in realising that not all our guests were regular church goers, and so to bring them in, and make them understand he was talking about Bruce Almighty, explaining that Bruce in the film couldn’t change destiny for people in love. He then contrasted that with the Corinthians verse we’d had read, explaining that Jesus was talking about divorce, and how that the bible says there can never truly be a divorce once a man and woman had been joined together by God. It was then I realised – Sugar, Mom and Dad got married here in this very church 20years+ ago and were now divorced, and with their new partners!

I was soon distracted by Jacks nephew who was saying “Kayleigh, Kayleigh, Kayleigh” – his Mom had given him the Oos to distract him, but he’d seen my picture on it and kept calling my name – so I was looking over at him, giving him a little wave. That was the first time I really noticed everyone that was there – I could see my stepmom, parents, the flower girls, bridesmaids etc. Another LO then started crying and I could hear my Mom tut at the parent not taking them out, so me and Jack looked at each other and had a little giggle. We also kept having little chats and reassuring each other before I said “Shh or the vicar is going to get cross” – we were like two little kids chattering in assembly at school!

Once that was complete, the vicar asked us to kneel at the front and we prayed, and he blessed us before asking us to follow him to the altar to do the lighting of the candles. I don’t think he realised quite how difficult it was for Jack to bend in his very rigid and stiff uniform – when we got up again he asked me where I needed his help getting up and he asked me! Haha

We then went off to the lighting of the candles, me trailing far behind the vicar as it had taken so long for me to get up!! Jack was ready to light the candle well before I was and nearly lit the joint candle before me – I laughed, thinking what that would symbolise about our marriage if the bringing together of the candles to one represented the joining of our souls. We lit the candle and I gave my small one back to the vicar to blow out – Jack struggled to get his out and so had to pass it back to the vicar!

We then walked back down, with Jack carrying the candle and we needed to kneel back down – Jack said “Be careful with that dress”. Soon we were onto the second hymn and the vicar was announcing us husband and wife (cue huge cheer and lots of clapping) and Jack was told he could now kiss his bride! We’d talked about this and OH had warned me he was going to go for it – so I went in for a long kiss and he gave me this little peck causing me to giggle. The guests then all chapped and cheered again, which really was a lovely moment. I didn’t see any tears at this point – I couldn’t believe we’d got all the way through without any Moms/Dads and me! crying – wow!

So we followed the Vicar into the lady chapel to sign the book and he, the verger and Jack were crowed round the side table – I couldn’t see what was going on, so turned around and was chatting to the photographer who said “Your meant to be interested in this part” – I laughed and went over to give Jacks back a little stroke. Michael Buble’s everything was playing and I was swinging my hips – haha. OH signed his name, and then it was my turn to sign, still in my maiden name. We then sat down while the witnesses signed and the Vicar set up a couple of shots. My Mom came into the little sectioned off area as for some reasons she thought she was going to be singing – I said no, we’d asked the Dads/Stepdad to. As we sat Jack also chose this time to tell me he was Mic’ed up – which mean my mad singing would be recorded on the video for ever more – arrrgh!

We were then lead out and the verger asked whether we wanted the parents lined up to walk out – I just said, “no it’s just too much hassle” and so we wanted our without being lined up – the bridesmaids followed closely behind though. As we walked back down the aisle, we saw lots of happy faces and Jack said to everyone, “Right, me and the wife will you at the reception”.

Then it was on to the group photos. We did parents first (Pageboy hated every second and screamed the whole time). Then we had my Immediate family then we had anyone who was related to Jack, and then had my uncles (5xMoms and then 4xDad) all with partners etc then the TOG lined up my Dad and stepmom. Eek – I looked over at my Mom, but she had just turned her back and was happily laughing away with her friends.

Soon the rain clouds looked really threatening and I wanted pictures of all my Dad’s family which is huge – Nans 4 sons, have had 15kids between them (Plus partners), who’ve then gone on to give nan 4 great-grandkids (and one heavily pregnant grand-daughter). So the TOG asked me to get everyone in and I was heard shouting “Jump in anyone who is a **** (my last name), married to a ****, the son/daughter of a *****, the GF/BF of a *****.. Well, you get the picture..”.

As we got this snap there was the teeniest drizzle of rain, which lasted no longer than a couple of moments – and everyone gathered under the old oak tree that is so special to us. My parents and grandparents had previously got married at our church and had a wedding photo there, so I’d specifically asked to have the same.

By 4:20pm we were all gathering by the gate for the confetti shot as confetti wasn’t allowed outside of church. The TOG told everyone to throw it into the air, as high as possiblse – and so off they went and we were literally covered in the stuff. It was going ring down my top and was being caught in the pin tucks in my dress overlay! As it was going down the top Jack was peeking down, and was caught on camera doing so – naughty naughty!

The TOG made me stand still while he did some random shot of the confetti on the train of my dress before me and my new hubby were lead back to the door of the church to have pictures taken. The taxi’s and car started arriving and everyone headed off to the reception, where I knew tea and cake would be waiting.

This was probably my most favourite time of the day – it was me, Jack, the videographer, the photographer and the car man. The latter 2 worked together a lot and so just kept on laughing and joking.

The TOG lined us up into all of these different shots, and we kind of laughed, joked and kissed our way through the photo’s – far from being the annoyance that I thought it was going to be – it was a lovely lovely time, just the 5 of us.

It was just a lovely, light hearted time. The TOG had a list of predetermined shots that he wanted to get through, and we got to the point where he was happy he’d gotten all we/he wanted. He’d lined us up on the step of the church and got me to jump up and kiss Jack – a long way! He’d sat us on the old bench, had Jack whirling me round, a few of me on my own (meaning Jack could have a secret cigarette he’d been wanting all day!). He starts to say that we are done Jack then interrupts “Actually, there is one more we’d like… “Then continues to set up the shot! Haha, he was really embracing this posing thing!

We then started walking back down the drive when the videographer reminds us “You really wanted a shot with the old Oak tree”. So we all laugh and again set up the last photo. Soon me and Jack are walking down the drive, hand in hand, smiling like loons at each other thinking that no-one was really taking any notice of me. I was wrong, the videographer was down on the floor wigging behind us, I guess filming a nice exit to our video. Poor love, ended up with my bottom in his face!

Soon though we were back in the car and me and Jack just sat there is silence for a second, him just holding my hand and looking at my ring. I can remember certain bits of the journey, but there are lots of ways to go where we were going and even now, I can’t remember which way we took, or what we saw – me and Jack were just so wrapped up in each other and in this kind of childlike giggly state.

I do remember at one point saying to me “Oh ***, we’ve not practised our first dance” – oops!

When we got to the reception we needed to have a few more pictures – ones with the car etc and there was a gorgeous lake that we wanted to capture – the weather really wasn’t loving it though and the wind was getting up a little.

A good number of guests were outside the venue – smoking as usual! My brother was there, the bestman was, my sisters, stepbrother, father in law etc. Again the first thing that I did when we got out of the car was to think how I needed to pull up the underskirt. My bridesmaid came running down again to help me, and it was then that I realised just how sheer/see through the underskirt was – oops! I must have been flashing all day!

Soon we were clutching our first drinks, and posing for the final load of photos. The fun then came as we needed to get all 120 guests out of the venue and down onto the embankment. The reason being that we wanted a huge group shot of everyone, but there wasn’t the right space/background in the venue. So everyone came down – my stepbrother, at 14 years old had to act as my stand in bridesmaid and pull my dress around.

We all lined up for the photos and my two flowergirls were at the front. Little Brooke turns to me with two lollipops in her hand (both half eaten!) and asked whether I’d like one… Erm.. No thanks. So she then instead gives one of the half eaten lollipops to the other FG, Shannon – yuk!

We had the pictures taken and then me and Jack were escorted back inside while everyone was asked to wait outside. We went in and did a mock cut of the cake for the video man and TOG and they then both went off to capture the main room in the venue as they’d not had chance to see it empty, thanks to me insisting I wanted everyone to go straight in, and to be seated immediately.

We then invited everyone back into the main room, so that we could make our grand entrance, which was really quite lovely – everyone stood for our arrival and were clapping and cheering – the Best man had announced us in (he was doing such a fab job!). Me and Jack had made the decision that because we weren’t having a full sit down meal, we’d leave 2 chairs on my Moms table for us, 2 on my Dads table and 2 on Jacks parents table. So we walked in and kind of laughed in this awkward silence as everyone watched us make our way over. Looking back – we should have gone with a temporary sweetheart table in the middle of the room!

This is the first report that i've read that has made me laugh aloud and cired. You've written it so well, really makes me feel every emotion you were experiencing on the day.

You looked beautiful on your wedding day. I must admit i flicked through the pictures but i am going to come back later and read your report.

XXXXXXXX

Jeezo LM, I needed more than one bottle of wine to read that! haha

Beautifully written, and the pics are fab!!! xxxxxx

Haha it's not that long...... Is it?! Still loads to go but might do some short hand summarising!

Aaawww, this is lovely LM, glad you had such a wonderful day! Looking forward to the next installment.

This report is great! I have laughed and cried!

Please can we have the next bit!

Been waiting for this one Little Madam, I love your writing and detail..feel a real part of it as we shared our ups and downs in our planning!The day looks great fun, so glad it was all you wished for.

Wow aren't you and your groom a handsome couple!

Looking forward to the rest Madam! xx

As soon as we got into the venue properly I asked Tara (BM) to take me off to the loo – and she kind of loitered around which was weird as I’m really not one of those ladies who goes off with her friends to the toilet! I needed her to help me sort out my stupid hoop though, which was really not behaving at all.

I came back out and the DJ was setting up and getting some background music going. I rounded up Dad, Jack and the bestman and asked whether they were ready for their speeches! They really weren’t ready – the bestman had insisted all the way through that he wasn’t doing a speech and the one which he had was written down on the hotel paper from the hotel he checked into the night before the wedding – so it really was last minute. Literally a few minutes before they were going to start he said to me “But.. Don’t you want to just have a little look and make sure it’s all ok”. I really didn’t – I trusted him.

So, I sat at my Dads table and waited for his speech. My Father in law then came running over to tell me that the Videographer had agreed to film our first dance if we did it straight after the speeches so I quickly briefed the DJ and made sure he had the right song for us.

Dad went first with his speech, and I could see the others getting nervous as my Dad was doing so well. He shared with the room a memory he’d kept for himself for the whole of my life (or so he said) going on to say “When I first met Kayleigh, in the special care baby unit, the woman asked me if I wanted to feed her and I said “Wow – me feed that tiny thing?” It was the most special precious memory I have of her and I’ve never shared it with anyone, not even her until today.” He went on to say my Nan and Grandad who came to the wedding, but couldn’t make the reception would be having a glass of whiskey in a toast to us and asked everyone to think of missing loved ones. Moments before he’d started I’d asked him to amend his speech which had included the name of my Mom’s mom and dad who are no longer with us (me thinking that this might upset Mom). This inevitably upset my brother and I shed my first teeny tear of the day.

Dad then explained that he knew me and Jack were right for each other, and that he would look after me equally as well as he had done. He went on to say how proud of me he was, of my achievements in my professional qualification, saying at aged 13 I’d always told him that’s what I’d do. He then contrasted this with Jack, saying he was proud of him too and that just like me, he knew what he wanted to do from an early age.

We then went onto marriage advice. To Jack: A man’s wife is the person most likely to murder them, however, there is no record in history of a man being murdered while washing up. To me: A man is like a fire, if you leave him unattended for too long, he will go out. Elaborating that love itself is like a fire inside, and needs attending to make sure the fire doesn’t go out.

Finally Dad wished with an extract of a poem he’d found “May you only remember what’s worth remembering and may your worst day, be only as bad as your best”. Or something like that – it was gorgeous!

He then handed over to Jack, who walked into the centre of the stage and the Videographer asked me to join him. Jack started by thanking everyone that needed thanking, then realising he didn’t know where the Mom’s thank you boquets were – and so saying “So as a token of our appreciation, we have some flowers for you.. Well, I think we do somewhere”. He thanked his best man saying “Scott, my best man, I’d like to thank you. I’m not sure what for, but the template says to thank you…”

He went onto the line that had made me wobble when he’d read it to me. He said “2 years and 2 months to this very day I first met Kayl, and all I could think was “wow. I’ve pulled”. Now, I love her more than anything because, well, just look at her”. Which I think I survived without any tears – will have to check the wedding video when it comes. From then on in, I don’t remember much else that Jack said, but I know that as I looked at him, he was so confident despite his hatred of public speaking and I was so proud to call him my Husband!.

He handed over to the bestman, who again was extremely reluctant to do it, but did a fab job! My favourite line from the speech was “The promises that Jack and Kayleigh made in church today were about taking each other for better, and for worse, which is ironic really as Jack couldn’t have done any better, and Kayleigh couldn’t have done any worse”. I laughed very hard at this part. Sitting here now, it’s difficult to remember everything else he said – but it was fab. He went on to raise a glass to the New Mr and Mrs **** before thanking everyone and sitting down.

Me and Jack then took to the dancefloor – as we’d said in the car, completely unplanned. I kind of grabbed my husbands side and our song started to play so I sang the song to my husband – we’d specifically picked the song because of the words. We had Alicia Keys – If I ain’t got you.

“Some people want it all
But I don't want nothing at all
If it ain't you baby
If I ain't got you baby
Some people want diamond rings
Some just want everything
But everything means nothing
If I ain't got you, Yeah.

We waltz around the dance floor, not really having a proper plan in terms of what we were going to do. I’d purposely not bustled my dress and so had to keep sticking my leg out to swing my huge train around – but it was a lovely moment. As we got towards the end of the song our Bridesmaids came up to join us and quite a few other couples in the room did so too.

We then went onto a song for me and my Dad – which was Luther van Dross – Dance with my Father. It’s a very special song to me and others in our family so I’d asked the DJ to invite all the Dad’s and daughters up – my God-daughter came up with her Dad, my niece came with her Grandad, it was lovely. We carried on with another few songs and then I danced with my stepdad to Adele’s “Make you feel my love”. Again telling him why I had chosen the song for us to dance to, because of the lines

“I could make you happy
Make your dreams come true
Nothing that I wouldn't do
Go to the ends
Of the Earth for you
To make you feel my love, To make you feel my love”

Which I know is intended for lovers, but it really sums up the love that my stepdad has for me – that he’d do anything for me.

With that dance over, it was finally time for food! I’d been flipping starving – I’d asked my Mom at 6:15 how long it was until we ate! The DJ announced that the food was ready – I was dancing away on the dancefloor at this point and Jack was having a Ciggie outside and the DJ said “If Mr and Mrs Lewis would like to line up first…” I had a little giggle to myself about an old Hitched post saying that this was the height of rudeness, and replied saying for guests to go ahead as I had no idea where Hubby was anyway!

After 5 mins, I was starving, so headed over to the buffet and grabbed the biggest plate of food – intended for me and Jack because I knew he wouldn’t go and get his own, and it would be gone before he came back in!

I had half a slice of garlic bread (which I am sure made me smell delicious!) when someone came over to say Hi! It was then like that for the rest of the night, and as much as I was really, really hungry – I only ever got the chance to go and have another teeny nibble or so! Gah.

Soon I went into the second room to see the kids. They’d not initially known about the second room with the kids activity packs, the balloons, bouncy castle, photobooth etc and so by the time I had got there, the sweety buffet had been demolished! Now though, they knew, and Neil, our photographer was setting up the photobooth for the evening. He’d given guests a postcard to write a message on which he then collected when they had their pics taken so he could match up for our photo guest book later.

I was so impressed as immediately there were a huge queue of people. I’d got some props to go with the photobooth, but the kids had gotten them and there was no way you were getting the inflatables back

The night then became more and more of a blur. At 8pm I looked at the time and thought – wow, the day hasn’t gone as quickly as I had imagined. I went back off and my bridesmaid had wanted 5mins alone with me to give me our gifts which she had put a lot of thought into. So we took ourselves off to the upstairs of the golf club and had a lovely moment opening these very special gifts – a Swarovski martini glass set and a digital photoframe too!

While I was doing this Jack was getting out of his very hot and very rigid suit – he’d given everyone a flash of his “Under new management” t-shirt before heading off to get his dinner suit on.

Once he’d come back down we had lots of photos taken with various guests – my poor stepmom tried to get all her family pictures in (but failed, as no-one was doing as they were told!). She did get a lovely one of the two of us though:

The evening really then did turn into a Blur – soon our singer arrived and was setting up – I was so excited to hear her as I’d only ever watched her on you tube/listened to her on a CD. The first song that she did was Eliza Do-little’s – Pack up. She was fabulous! I couldn’t get of the dancefloor.

I went over to her manager and told him how good she was, before heading back into the second room here the queue for the photobooth was getting long! The smoking area was full of the people (the men, mainly) who had joined Jack for a cigar – he’d had this box of cigars since we got engaged and has kept them to provide them to guests at the wedding. I’ve since heard from my Brothers GF that he took one too many and loaded his pockets – that is typicall of him!

I went inside to do a message for my new husband in our photobooth/book leaving a message saying “I’ve waited so long to be your wife – and WOW, does it feel good!”. Jack wrote on too…..

I had a little mingle with the kids, who encouraged me to go onto the bouncy castle – with the size of my dress, I was wondering how that was possible but the kids cleared my path so that I could get on. All was good – until the little monkeys all wanted to get on a join me!

I got back into the main room to find that our beautiful cakes had been cut up and placed out for guests to eat! Which I was momentarily annoyed at because we had yet to do the formal cutting of the cake. Still, I went and got myself a piece of gorgeous, rich chocolate fudge cake, which really was fab!

Our singer did more songs – included some of my Adele favourites - she really was great.

It was now around 9:30pm and as I went back into the second room my Mom was waiting for the photobooth and asked for a photo of me, her and my Auntie. But first she told me to go and touch up my make up. I’d literally not touched it since it had been done in the afternoon, so my bridesmaid did a bit of a touch up to my poor-skinned chin and a touch of lip gloss and I was ready to roll again.

The kids were utilisting their activity packs to draw me pictures, which they kept bringing over to me – so I took them to the wedding post box and showed them where they could put them. It was really lovely opening the post box to find:

I then spent some time with the kids, blowing them bubbles – which they loved! I then headed outside where everyone was chilling out because they were so warm from the crazy dancing which was going on! I looked at my little nieces dress and thought – hmm that doesn’t look right – so I peeked inside to find she was wearinig the wrong FGs dress! I knew this as one has been bought, and one had been made to measure to match the bought one – so one had a tag (Jack’s nieces) and one didn’t (My nieces) – I was a big cross because I’d taken my nieces back to be take in so that it fit heer better.! This happened because of the last moment rush and me not beinig there to supervise – damn it! When I look at the pics now, I can really see this:

With Shannon’s looking tight, and Brooke’s looking baggy! Argh!! I then said this outloud to which my niece went in to my Mom and said “I’ve got the wrong dress on, Shannon is wearing mine!”. Haha.

After 45mins the singer stopped for a break and the DJ came on, yet more dancing went on – at one point I was whisked off my feet by Jack’s uncle:

The singer came back on, I had yet more cake and everyone really hit the dancefloor! Me and my new husband (who never, ever dances) had a good old boogie together and I remember at one point us both looking up at the roof. It was a complete glass roof and so the darkness of evening had turned it almost mirror like and we could see all our loved ones dancing away – parents, couples etc.

Jack had a good old boogie with my Mom and I had a good old dance with his Dad, with the best man and with the Bridesmaids hubbby.

I got my Dad up to dance for a second time to Beenie Man – King of the dancehall which was one o his chosen songs! I had yet more visits to the photobooth – going in with my new Father in law, all the women in my new family and watching Jack and his Dad pose with his 2 uncles and each had their sons – a lovely photo.

At 10:30 had to insist that our TOG left. He really was fabulous at what he did and if I’d have let him stay – he’d have been there all night. I took him some cake, as he had been the one to recommend the cake maker, so I knew he liked it, and told him HE MUST GO HOME – he’d been with us 13 hours by now and the guests loved the photobooth so much they would have kept on coming all night, but I was confident everyone had at least on go by then!

It was then I realised, I’d not had a drink at all since we arrived. I headed to the bar and Jacks uncle asked me what I wanted – so I got an Orange juice. My Dad was also at the bar and so I asked for a second! Once I’d finished those, I was happy to have a nice Vodka, Lemonade and Lime!

By now the singer was almost at the end of her set. As she sang the end of the last song someone shouted “Please – one more” – this happened about 4 times before she did eventually end her set with Adele’s “Someone like you” which is a song I love! Everyone cheered and clapped away as the DJ came back on, and the dancing really did kick in then!

The DJ has asked for a list of songs we love – and as I boogied away the kids kept coming up to hold my hand for a dance which was mega cute! I love my R&B so a lot of my requests were that kind of music, but my 4 year old niece loves the song “Low” by Flo Rida – so I’d requested that in her name and my SIL laughed, telling me not to blame my bad requests on the babs!

The dancing went into the kings of Leons “Use somebody” which is a song very close to my heart because of the words . At this point Liz, my bridesmaid came and the two of us did a slow dance, at that moment, I remembered how cherished and special our friendship was.

We continued with more Sean Paul – which everyone knows I love, so the dancefloor was once more full. This mixed into Master of Ceremonies “Work (the broomstick song)” which reminds us both of being young and single! Some crazy getting down on the floor moves were going on!

Awesome report - sounds like a fab day x

Awesome report, love it!! ?

Dilly and Raincloud, I expect the same from my other August brides!!

Congratulations Little Madam and welcome back

I have read the first bit and bookmarked the rest to read in work this morning You look fabulous in your lovely dress and I can't wait to read about the whole day! Thank you for spoiling us with a detailed report!!

I already posted my report Little M - did you miss it? I'll try to find and bump it for you.

We managed to mix into summer of 69 – I’m not sure how and H and his friends made their return to the dancefloor

Then came a bit of Chelsea dagger, the MK Dons football team’s song, which means my MK friends had their time at being a little bit mad – we Grabbed Mark (who was about to leave) and made him have a good dance with us:

I’m not quite sure where the rest of the night went – I know I made another few bar trips but soon people were coming to say goodbye - and it was only then that I realised it was getting quite so late! I suddently began to feel exhasued, having not been able to change my shoes into lower ones because of the length of my dress – I’d taken to hitching it up / dragging it.

I don’t remember last orders being called (assume I was in the other room) but I saw the bar was closed and that Jacks dad and my Uncle wanted another drink, so I went over with Jack knowing they would serve us. We got one last drink, using our tab for the first time before withdrawing the rest of the cash. I asked my Dad if he wanted on last toast and he replied “I’d better not, else I am going to be really ill”. I suddenly felt so happy. I’d been worried the whole time about the Mom/Dad situation, but it had gone so well, and they had both made me so very proud. (Dad was already very ill - 3 times on the way house, as Dad doesn't usually drink ?)

Our Limo was booked for 12:20am and we soon got the call that it had arrived. It was then that Liz, my bridesmaid paniced saying “You’ve not thrown the bouquet” – obviously she was wanting to catch it, so that was my plan. So I quickly lined up everyone that was left (not many, by now) and threw my cheap throw away boquet. However, it didn’t quite go to plan because my brothers GF caught it… Oops! That wasn’t meant to happen.. (Although they do make a good couple)

Me and Jack were helped into the Limo and this was not the first time that I had sat in my dress since putting it on in the morning. I realised we had a lot of stuff in the venue that we needed to take with us so got everyone to load this into the car – post box with our cards, my emergency bag, etc etc. I then went to Jack “Where is our marriage certificate?” and he’d only left it in the room he’d got changed in – so off the best man raced to get it.

We had a lovely jouney in our luxury limo (not stretch) back to the hotel we were staying at, with Jack just squeezing my hand and rubbing his fingers over my wedding ring. We arrived and one of Jacks friends was waiting to help us unload – thank god.

We made it into the lift and by now I was becoming really uncomfortable in my dress – the metal bones were digging into my ribs. I said to Jack “I just need to really get out of this dress” but he said “No, you have to wait, I just need to check something”. So he and his mate went into the room to check whatever it was, and I stayed on the landing with Jacks friends fiancée – she kindly started undoing my corset for me so that I could breathe again!

As I walked into the room, I saw what the fuss was about (Jacks suprise from the florist...):

We were left to get changed, and Jack finally got me out of my dress (which he threw on the floor in a pile of material next to the bed - you can just see in the first picture above!) and then removed my garter, which he’d not previously seen.

We got changed and headed downstairs for a night cap with our guests. I then found out that there had been another wedding in the area, with the bride and groom also using the same night time - hotel as us. Jack filled me in that he was in the RAF and that his look wasn't a touch on Jacks (big head…. No?) and said the bride was “Nothing special” – Meoow!

We had drinks, and more and more guests arrived. I was wearing my hair still up, with Jacks T shirt which read “Keep calm and get the beers in” with my white linen trousers. My sides were killing me, where the corset had been but it was so worth it.

The lads had one final cigartette while the women told me how fantastic the wedding had been. Jacks Auntie Ginny told me that it was the best wedding she’d ever been for, a real family even as I’d considered the kids and her normal “Bradford weddings was normally a lovely ceremony followed by just getting pissed”.

We were pleased and happy as we headed back up to bed. We took my hair out – no mean feat as there were many many pins and Jack, a big baby couldn’t resist opening the presents we received – thankfully there weren’t many of these as it was now way past 2am and we’d arranged to meet everyone for breaky at 9am!

I'll spare you the rest of the details, but we had a lovely night and I spelt straight through to the morning when J woke me up saying "Good morning Mrs ****". We took another look at our rings, and then Jack bought our postbox onto the bed and we opened our many many cards. Had some very special personalised ones, partifcularly one from my Dad who'd taken a black and white photo of our church etc.

We both had a quick shower and then got ready for breaky – me in my new Mrs T shirt, slightly worse for the tiredness:

I ate breaky like I’d never eaten before – Bacon, Sausage, Toast, Cerials, more bacon, tea, OJ… I must have gone back 3 times! We sat with the best man and his GF and also in the room were my sister and her BF, Jacks mom and dad and the kids, jacks sisters, nan.. We kind of filled the whole place.

After breaky the race was on to pack the room up, which was a complete mess, go and take my hoop back, then go to the venue and pick up the vases but still be back by 12:00 for my hairdresser who was cutting off my hair pre-honeymoon!

We got to the dress shop, who were very excited to see me, but got to the house before we went to the venue. My lovely stepdad was already there clearing the venue for us – saving us a job.

I had my hair cut off – all of it, right up to just below my chin – the hair went everywhere. I had a call from my stepmom about returning my Dads suit. Apparently she had to stop 3 times on the way home as my Dad had been rather ill. He’d have liked to say it was the food, however the other 119 guests were just fine…

I’d text my brother and asked him to bring his suit, and his poor girlfriend and he had only just got up out of bed at 11:30 – which was so weird because everyone was so well behaved at the wedding and no-one seemed drunk at the time.

We had some cakes that my bridesmaid had made to keep us full on the wedding morning, and packed up the car for honeymoon, taking the million and one bags, plus the vases. As we said goodbye everyone came outside to wave us off – my Uncle and his son had also arrived and my Mom tipped a full packed of confetti over my head as I went to get into my (newly valeted) car – with my freshly done hair –argh!!

We set the sat nav and raced off to the florist. We got there and the doors were locked and the lights off. Now, remember this was a Saturday, that was very unusual. So after leaving 2 stroppy messages I went back to my Moms and dropped them there – leaving a final message for the florist telling her I wouldn’t be contactable for a while and she would have to sort out collection.

We then had yet more cake, and headed off finally making our way to Gatwick! It seemed like such a huge, long journey as we were both beginning to feel the tiredness and severe hunger too – so stopped for a KFC. As soon as we got in Jack ran me a lovely bubble bath into the huge gorgeous bath, while he got in the shower. We ordered room service from the in-hotel Italian and opened the bottle of champagne that Jack had got for us the night before. We were both so tired that by 9:30, we were just so ready for bed!

At that was it, the wedding was over. The marriage however began perfectly with 10idylic days in Mexico!

AMAZING report! Now can we have a honeymoon one for Mexico please???!!

Congrats, it all sounds and looks fab x

Thanks PB - Mexico report is here:

https://www.hitched.co.uk/chat/forums/p/259465/2483360.aspx

A little bounce for my updated report