Hello! So after a fantastic hot week in Spain, I am back and thought I would get my wedding report done whilst it is still fresh in my head. It is a tad long so apologies for the length of this but just wanted to get everything down so that I would remember it. So, here goes…
Friday 31st July
I woke up at around 5:00 very hungover! After the rehearsal on the Thursday night, we went out with some friends for what should have been 1 drink, however it turned into 1 bottle for me. I laid on the sofa for a couple of hours in hope of getting a couple of more hours sleep, but it just wouldn’t happen. I phoned one of my bridesmaids at 9:00 and we had breakfast together. Then, by about 10:30, I started to bake brownies (part of best mans thank you present) and then had to load up the car to get everything to my Mums house as we were going to the hotel in the evening. The car was jammed pack and could barely move. After getting it to my parents house, there was a present from my Mum and Dad’s next door neighbour. As I was leaving, they pulled up outside and were so sweet. They are a very elderly couple but just wanted to wish me the best of luck etc and it started to make me quite nervous. Set off home again to start packing for all my stuff for the Friday night at my parents by which I was running very late. Chucked a load of stuff in a bag and then went to pick up one of my bridesmaids and my sil to go to my Mums. When we arrived, one of my other bridesmaids was there and we (and Mum) were all going to get our nails done. Off we went and had a lovely arm massage whilst they were doing them. First time all week that I wanted to fall asleep. After the nails, got home and my bridesmaids gave me a couple of presents. I got a bottle of champagne and a garter. Eventually, my other bridesmaid arrived and we loaded up the cars to take all the stuff to the hotel. I was gobsmacked when we arrived. The lady was putting the chair covers on and the room just looked beautiful. We set up the room as best as we can and then went off for a quick bite to eat before going home. Got to the pub with my Mum, Dad, brother, sil and 3 bridesmaids and ate. After the meal, I felt terrible. Had an awful stomach ache – no doubt nerves – but felt awful all the same – so thought it was best that we all got going home – it was already 9:00 and I still needed to go home and have a shower and wash my hair. Got to the car park and there were 2 ambulances blocking us all in so couldn’t actually go anywhere. Ended up sitting there another 45 minutes until they were ready to move. Got home at 10:15! Then had a bath, washed and dried my hair and got everything ready for the morning. We all finally went to bed around 12:30. A lot later than I wanted! I managed to fall asleep quite easily although one of my bridesmaids said I was making some very strange noises in my sleep.
Saturday 1st August
Woke up at 5:45 – and originally wanted to go back to sleep but it just wasn’t happening. Eventually got up running into everyone’s rooms shouting “I’m getting married today”. Went downstairs and made everyone a hot drink and washed up. Couldn’t sit still for 5 minutes. Looking outside the weather was cloudy but looked like the sun was peeping through. Everyone was really positive about it. When everyone was up, had breakfast and I ate loads! Didn’t think I would be able to eat, but certainly wasn’t a problem! All then had showers and the bridesmaids and I had to go to the hairdresser. By this time, it was raining and raining pretty hard. The hairdressers greeted us with bucks fizz and got to work straight away. 2 of the girls were off sick that were meant to be doing 2 of the bridesmaids hair but they said they would manage. They did over run by quite a bit which was annoying although didn’t really get to me. The only thing that annoyed me was another girl came along and started on one of my bridesmaids hair and botched it up. She started by saying to her, I’m not a hairdresser. Grrrr. I asked the girl doing mine to stop and do her hair. After putting in my veil and tiara and buying a super can of hairspray, we left. Was very amusing driving home, everyone kept staring and had to put my veil over the back of the seat so as not to lean on it. It was still raining hard!!
Got home and had nothing to do for a little while. The make up lady was there and all the bridesmaids needed their make up done before I had mine done. My CBM put my veil into a sandwich bag which was very attractive as I kept leaning on it. She is very bossy! Put on all of my wedding underwear and then waited until it was my turn to have my make up done. We drank some champagne and I helped one of the bridesmaids get into her dress whilst I waited. The photographers eventually arrived just as I started to have my make up done. The florist had phoned to say she was going to be about another half hour with the flowers. Photographers made me feel a bit strange at first. Although they were lovely, felt weird having people snap away at me even when you aren’t looking. After make up, and still no flowers, I got dressed. Putting on my dress made me feel extremely nervous and started to feel like I was going to cry. Got completely ready and went downstairs where had some more photos done – inside as still raining outside – and the first car arrived – about half an hour early. The flowers eventually arrived and I could have cried again. They were beautiful. It was my aunty’s friend who made them and although I had heard good things about them, I never quite imagined how beautiful they would actually be.
After a few more photos inside, we left. The bridesmaids had to help me get in the car as even though it had stopped raining, there the ground was sopping wet. Everyone was stood outside on the street wishing me luck and seeing me off. I didn’t know where to look. After finally getting into the car, the driver let the limo which was taking my mum and the bridesmaids go first. He then said he had no idea where he was going and needed directions. The car was an old vintage car with no windows at the side. Within about 5 minutes of being in it, it started raining again and I had to squash up next to Dad as I was starting to get wet. The journey there was very emotional. I could hardly speak and was very close to tears. I really can’t explain what I was feeling. After arriving at the church, I saw 2 work people waiting outside for me (2 older ladies that had just come to see me go in) I went and said hello and then had some photos done under umbrellas.
We met the two younger bridesmaids at the church and spoke to the vicar who said that due to the weather we could have photos done inside after the ceremony. We went into the porch of the church and I could hear the pachelbels canon in D starting. The bridesmaids went in first and I grabbed hold of Dad just wanting to get down the aisle. The urge to cry had completely stopped. We walked down and I could hardly look at anyone. Got to the front to see OH waiting there with a massive smile and he greeted me with “you look absolutely beautiful”. I completely forgot practically everything we had done in the rehearsal and my CBM had to tap me to get my flowers. During the rehearsal I was so nervous but I have to say, standing there, I wasn’t aware of anybody behind me at all. I just couldn’t stop smiling. Everything went really well in the ceremony. The hymns were lovely, the readings were fantastic and I the vows went swimmingly too. Also had a few laughs as I couldn’t get OH’s ring on. We went to sign the register and 2 of our friends played for us. They performed have I told you lately and it was just beautiful. Once we had finished signing, I looked over at them and my friend caught my eye and immediately burst into tears. I felt terrible! The vicar then asked everyone to be upstanding for us to leave but told them they weren’t allowed to follow us as we were going to come back down the aisle and have photos there as the weather was too bad outside. As soon as the music started, everyone burst out laughing and I couldn’t stop either – we had ironically chosen walking on sunshine!
After coming back down the aisle, we had lots of photos in the church with the bridal party whilst the other guests made their way back to the hotel. I haven’t seen the professional photos yet but I think the ones in the church will be beautiful. I can’t wait for them. After the photos, my new husband and I made our way to the hotel, where the driver needed directions again, and lots of people tooted and waved at us. It was all very surreal. We arrived at the hotel to the guests being inside and our banqueting manager greeting us with a glass of champagne. We had 2 rooms, the main room where we were having the meal, and an atrium next to it with a bar. We went into the atrium and mingled with the guests for a bit and was lovely to hear everyone saying how happy and beautiful we looked. We then had some more photos inside. After the photos and mock cake cutting, we had our receiving line, which even though lots of people don’t like them, I was really glad we did one. Gave me a chance to say hello to everyone properly whereas I don’t know if I would have had chance to otherwise. We were then announced into the room with a massive round of applause and cheering and sat ourselves down at the top table. The food was absolutely gorgeous although I hardly ate. We went round to the tables between courses and my Dad kept saying that even though he was sat next to me at the top table, hardly saw me. Lots of people got up and chatted during courses which we were really pleased about. Everyone got on really well and there was a lovely atmosphere. After the meal was the speeches and the cake cutting. The speeches weren’t too bad – my Dad’s was short but very sweet. It took a lot for him to get up and speak in front of everyone. OH’s however, was a little rude in places but that is him and didn’t offend anyone. Always done in a joker way. Best mans was also fantastic.
After all of that, we were announced out of the room and everyone made their way back out into the atrium although I made my way back in to instruct the waiters not to chuck away the wine and make sure it was given to guests. My friends were laughing as alcohol was my first thought. We took this opportunity to have some photographs of just hubby and I. Although it had stopped raining, it was still extremely grey and wet outside so we had some photos indoors instead next to a fireplace and a piano. Haven’t seen any of those yet as it was just us. After those, H went back to the atrium and I popped up to the bridal suite with my bridesmaid to reapply the make up and made our way downstairs to find the evening guests arriving. We made our way back into the reception room and the room looked absolutely fantastic. The DJ was set up and we were ready to start. When most of the evening guests had arrived we started the first dance, which was a surprise to everyone as we had asked our 2 friends to perform again. This time, they did islands in the stream which was fantastic. Soon after, everyone joined us on the dancefloor and there wasn’t any time that the dance floor was empty all night. The buffet was fantastic and I just remember looking around at everyone having such a good time. There was lots of dancing and H and I often found ourselves in the middle of a circle with everyone dancing around us. I even managed to persuade the barman to come and dance with us – he was lovely and kept giving me drinks on the sly - and he amazed everyone with his breakdancing. The evening finally ended at 1:00 with our friends singing Islands in the stream again after everyone requesting them to. I just couldn’t believe how quickly it had gone. It still didn’t feel like we had had the day. I can remember pretty much everything though! I then went around and said goodbyes and thank you’s to everyone and my new hubby and I went off to bed.
. After all my panics about the weather, it didn’t make the slightest bit of difference on the day. I thought it would and that I would get really upset, but it truly didn’t. I now can’t quite believe that it is all over! I would do it all again tomorrow if I could.
Well done if you have got this far. Wanted to get everything written down so that I would remember it. Here's the bit you have all been waiting for - the photos:
pics removed
Us with bridesmaids and best man
us having photos in church
At hotel
One of the only shots we got outside
Lots of crazy dancing!
