Eventually, my car arrived and how lovely it was! £45 for an executive taxi – an S-Class Merc no less and the lovely man had even put a ribbon on the car, despite me saying I wasn’t that bothered by the wedding garb.
Quick posing on the front drive, and a few of the neighbours came out to give their best wishes and took some photos. Just as I was getting into the car, I was thinking that there was something missing – the sodding flowers! So out came the front door keys again! Cue a Dad’s Army moment - Don’t panic Mr Manwaring!
The neighbours and my mum, and Amy and her hubby were, eventually, safely dispatched and dad and I travelled in the car together. Again, the feelings that hit me while in the car were all a bit mad – a little bit like dunking your head under the bath – you know something’s going on but it’s almost like you’re not aware of it. But dad held my hand the whole way and told me repeatedly how proud he was of me – it was a real struggle not to cry! (And my tissues were in my handbag in one of the other cars!)
In the meantime, the guests were arriving at the venue…
We eventually got to the venue to find that most of the guests were still milling around (or in the case of our Portsmouth supporting friends, dragging themselves out from the bar!) I ended up sitting in the car, chatting to all the passers by and, to be honest, most of the guests had already seen me in my dress (goddammit!)
Meanwhile in the ceremony room...
The Best Man needs some help getting dressed...
While the groom gets some last minute advice from his brother in law...
By 1.45, I was given the all clear to get out of the car so I could have my chat with the registrars. Jean and Jane were lovely, and I’d almost had my pre-ceremony interview without realising it! A few checks to make sure they’d spelled my job title correctly – advisEr or advisOr? I’m an Er girl, but Jean decided she preferred Or, so advisor I am!
Michelle, the venue co-ordinator came out and said that we’re ready to go , so I collected my thoughts, and we all bundled into the small corridor leading to the ceremony room. Michelle got the CD music ready – I think I had another little panicky moment because, the CD player said 2 and I thought it was on the wrong number – after all there’s a big difference between walking down the aisle to Pachelbel’s Canon and Booker T’s Green Onions – but no, it was the second CD. It’s amazing at the things you can find to panic over!
Ben, our ring bearer, went first and, although I couldn’t hear it, Paul later told me that our guests let our a collective “Awww” at him in his miniature tails :o) Ben was an absolute superstar and grinned for all the cameras and held the ring cushion beautifully. Tillie (2), on the other hand, decided that the wedding day was the one day that she didn’t like dresses, didn’t want to smile and didn’t want to hold her wand, so I think she might have been half dragged down the aisle by Amy.
So it’s just me and daddy waiting. Through the door, I could see a friend grinning and waving and clapping like a demented, performing seal and that set me off into fits of giggles.
And then we walked up the aisle ourselves, trying to smile at everyone, avoiding the ridge in the red carpet and also trying to focus on my incredibly handsome husband to be!
