Well I'm finally a 'Mrs' and I had the most amazing and magical day of my life!
Apologies for wittering on in this report but just writing this is making me smile so I will enjoy reliving every minute!!
Morning; I woke up at about 7am which was actully a relief as I had slept really well and felt quite refreshed. My sister and my best friend (both BMs) were staying over with me and we all had showers and breakfast (I had small bowl of cereal as really didn't feel huingry but knew I should have something). We started loading the car up with all the candles, table decorations etc and I managed to tick everything off my list of things to take (helpful hint...be a 'list' person as otherwise you'll forget stuff). Because our venue was a private house, we had it from 11am so we left in plenty of time to get there. As my hair and make-up lady was meeting us there I just drove my own car in my trackie bottoms which felt nice and relaxed. Driving towards Cain Manor it really started to hit me and as we approached the building I really started to get butterflies in my tummy!
11.30am- 12.30pm: My hair and make-up where being done by Natasha Wiggins and she was excellent at helping out on the day. She started by putting my hair in rollers, then left me to put up my BMs hair. We had some 'chilling' time in the room and then the venue brought up some sandwiches, tea and coffee. My sister made me eat 2 sandwiches even though I really wasn'r hungry. It all felt really sureal at this point but I was very relaxed. A good tip Natasha gave me before the day was to bring my ipod and speakers to play music in the room whilst we were getting ready...because the venue was so remate and very quiet, this really helped, otherwise I would have been listening out for people arriving. My florist (Georgina Parks) also arrived and started to bring the bouquets up...they all looked so amazing and she showed me the table buckets which all looked brilliant. She had even made a few extra buttonholdes and also a small wand for my flowergirl with a rose at the end...even though I hadn't requested these. It was so sweet of her!!
12.30pm: At this point both my sets of parents arrived, my Mum and Step-Dad and also my Dad and step-Mum. They knocked on the door and gave me big hugs. Then Natasha could sense I was getting a bit nervous and aggitated by all the people in the room so she kindly suggested they might like to leave and my sister helped shush my parents out the room. We closed the door so no-one else could come in. Our photographer then arrived so as I was in-between hair and make-up I invited him to come in. Our photographer (Chris Barry) was brilliant. He was in the room whilst we were getting ready but it didn't for one minute feel like he was in the way. Between myself, Natasha and my sister and best friend we were having right old girlie banter and Chris was just laughing along with us. He helped us all feel very relaxed.
1.30pm: My hair and make-up was complete and Natasha (who was brilliant at keeping time) suggested I might want to get ready for putting on my dress. Everyone left the room whilst I changed my underwear and bruished my teeth etc. I think it was at this point I started feeling my heart beating faster...it was so quite in the bathroom brushing my teeth that i could really feel and hear my heart going, I felt a bit short of breath. Natasha and my BMs came back into the room whilst Chris went off to take some photos of the cake and the venue. They took my dress off the hanger and the 3 of them arranged my dress so I could step into it. My sister couldn't remember how to lace up the back and Natasha was brilliant at showing her and helping us (even though It wasn't really her job).
1.50pm : So my hair and make-up were complete and my dress was on. I suddenly realised that the coach that was brinigng my husband to be hadn't yet arrived and I started panicking as he was supposed to be at the venu for 1.30pm (all his family were on the coach). My BMs text him and apparently the coach was so big it had got stuck up the narrow road getting to the venue...they were only about 1 mile away but it was taking them forever to climb the hill as they had to keep letting other cars go to pass. This made me feel a bit nervous as I was worried my other half was going to be late.
2.00pm: It was only about this time that I managed to actually get in front of a mirror and see my self all dressed. I was so impressed with what Natasha had done with my hair and make-up and despite losing over a stone in weight. my dress fitted so perfectly (the girls had done a great job at lacing it up tightly). I was so excited. I then had about 10 mins of Chris coming in the room and taking various photos of me. At first I couldn't relax in front of the camera but he was brilliant at outting me at ease. He also showed me some of the shots and assured me some of my hangups about how my teeth and shoulders look in the photos were just me being silly. I heard the coach arrive and really started to get excited as I knew my groom was here!
2.30pm: I went outside on to the landing area to meet with the registrar and the legal person. My Dad was standing waiting out there and he shed a few tears when I walked out. He was so proud and I got a little emotional. K (My groom) had already met the registrar downstairs. The registrar was lovely, he was very warm and friendly and made me feel relaxed. He explained how the ceremony would go and then I had to do the legal bit with his assistant whilst she filled out the marriage certificates. He then said my 'groom was waiting for me at the end of the aisle' and he'd see me shortly. It was then I started to feel a real mixture of excitement and nerves. I was so happy to have my Dad there beside me.
2.45pm: 15 mins later than scheduled I stood outside the ceremony room waiting to walk in. The venue organiser (Kyla) was lovely and really reassured me that everyone was seated and K was smiling from ear to ear. I heard my chosen music start ('You take my breath away' by Eva Cassidy). My BMs went in first (My sister, my best friend and K's niece), my little niece who has only just started to walk was also the flowergirl . She was a bit star struck when she walked down the aisle as she started crying a bit, but soon stopped when she got to the end. Kyla then said my BMs had reached the end and it was my turn to make my entrance. My Dad stepped through the narrow door first then waited for me to take my arm. I felt soooo nervous and my heart was beating two fold. I stepped in the room and because the door was off to the back left of the room I had to walk past the back row of guests first. They all turned round grinning and I spotted all their faces. I then reached the top of the aisle and saw my handsome groom at the end. K was so shocked when he saw me he physically jumped backwards a little (he said he just couldn't believe how amazing I looked). I remembered what Kyla had told me to try and walk slowly down the aisle and savour the moment so I did. I reached the end and met K's eyes and knew this was the defining moment in our relationship. We just grinned at each other like school kids! I could tell me was nervous as his hands were shaking and he was sweating a little on his head but he looked so handsome that none of that mattered. My legs felt a little unsteady and I thought at one point they might buckle a bit! We started our vowels and at one point I started to cry and had to repeat my words as the registrar couldn't make out what I said...K also had tears in his eyes. Then we had out first kiss as husband and wife and it literally took my breath away because it was such an emotional and passionate kiss and it all felt so right!!
We did the usualy signing the registrar (with Craig Armstrongs 'Portuguese Love Theme; from the film 'Love Actually' playing in the background - this was the first film we ever saw together) and took some photos and then made our out of the room (Craig Armstrongs 'Glasgow Love Theme'). We were met with a bucks fizz and because the day was so lovely went straight out into the patio. Our guests followed and we mingled for about 20 mins before we started taking all the group photos. It was at this point K told me he's left his jacket on the coach and had to borrow the best mans...I hadn't even realised the best man wasn't wearing a jacket during the ceremony...that's how focused I was on my husband!!
4.00pm: After some of the group photos we our guests then made their way into the wedding breakfast whilst K and I stayed behind for a few more official photos with Chris Barry. He did some amazing shots of us walking through the grounds and even got his ladder out to take photos from different angles. My Step-Dad then came out and told us everyone was waiting for us so we made our entrance as 'Mr and Mrs B' and everyone stood up and applauded. We had out speeches before the dinner was served as didn't want Dad, K or the best man to sit through dinner all nervous. The speeches were amazing and I cried through Dad's and K's.
4.30pm: The food was served and it was amazing...although I had absolutely no appetitie...I tried eating about half of my food but everyone else said how amazing it was. I had only drunk a glass of champagne at this point which I was pleased about as really wanted to pace myself and not get drunk! We then cut our cake which was made by Debbie Bone. We had personalised cake toppers troo which were hilarious. We had two tiers of chocolate fudge and one of victoria sponge and it tasted amazing!! In fact we only came back with about an 8th of the middle tier so it really went down well with the guests!!
6.30pm: Dinner was over and we went outside for coffee and tea. I had a chance to really catch up with everyone then and we also had another stint of photos with Chris as the early evening light was picture perfect.
I love this photo of me and my niece outside...I can't even remember what made us so suprised!!
7.00pm- 8.30pm: The evening guests started to arrive and it was lovely meeting and greeting everyone. I think I consciuosly made an effort to go and talk to everyone but also managed to have a few sneaky kisses and hugs with my new husband!! The disco started about 7.30pm and because it was such a sunny evening it took a while for people to start dancing...ony the few who'd had a few drinks were on the dance floor.
8.00pm: We had our first dance to Take That 'Rule the World'. We hadn't practised or anything and we were both really nervous but just clung on to each other and swayed...K was singing in my ear which was so sweet..
I then had a dance with my Dad to 'I get a kick out of you' by Sinatra...Dad was a bit drunk by then so was swinging me round the dancefloor...it was so funny!!
8.30pm: Because my husband's family are Hindu we had a presentation ceremony for his family to give me gifts, so we had K's cousin come in with these really loud drums, followed by his sister with a statue of his gods, we were sat down at the front whilst all his little cousins kids came with gifts to present to me, loads of Sari's which were amazing (and very useful as we have two of his cousin's weddings to go to next year!).
After this the DJ played some Bangra music and everyone was on the dancefloor...even K's older aunties and uncles. K was on someone's shoulders and practically all the guests were on the dancefloor dancing 'bollywood' style to this Indian music....it was amazing and really made me feel so welcomed into K's family!! My family loved it too!
9.00pm: The evening buffet was served and people were getting 'lubricated' so the dancefloor was packed. There was so much food left over but it just didn't matter. Luckily there was also tonnes of wine left over from the wedding breakfast (we had half a bottle per person) so we had about 9 bottles to serve free of charge over the bar. The boys started on the liquers! The DJ played one last song which at our request was 'New York, New York' by Sinatra. It was great as all the guests formed a massive circle while I started dancing with my Dad, he then handed over to K's which was a very special moment (like handing over the responsibility and care of me to my new husband). We danced and people were swinging their legs in the circle. Then at the very end everyone flew in to the middle and embraced K and me in a tight circle with lot's of cheers and applause. It was the perfect last song!
12.00pm: The evening went so quickly and we had loads of dancing, hugging and chatting. It was so lovely to see everyone enjoying themselves (maybe my Mum a little bit too much!). The people who weren't staying at Cain Manor had to leave by midnight but it felt the right time to start winding down...my feet were killing me and I just wanted to start being alone with my new husband. We stayed up with some of my family and friends till about 12.45pm as they were staying over at the venue and the bar reopened for them. We took my ipod speakers down and played a bit of cheesy music and we were singing and dancing in the lounge area and drinking champagne.
K and I went upstairs and my BMs had decorated our room with balloons and streamers, they had also put confetti all over the bed, which was hilarious. I'm ashamed to say I did just kind of 'dump' my wedding dress on the chair...I won't give you any more detail at this point!!!
Next morning: K and I woke really early and just stayed in bed talking through the day, reliving some of the memories. We then met everyone that had stayed over for breakfast downstairs. It was lovely seeing everyone - even if most of them were looking quite jaded...ha ha!! We then gradually went our own ways home and K and I were the last to leave the venue.
And that my friends...was our day in a nutshell!! It was truly the most perfect day and one which will make me smile from ear to ear everytime I think about it. I will post official photos when I get back from honeymoon and also write my N&P post. We're off to Singapore tomorrow for 3 nights then on to Koh Samui in Thailand for 11 nights...I can't wait!!
Take care all and happy planning...I'm so jealous you have it all to look forward too
xx
