Wedding report with flash

Morning all...First full day back from HM so thought Id better get a report on the go, and now we have some better photos from the tog.

We had the week before off to sort out the final things, which generally meant me making about 8000 menus, OOS etc! It did mean tho that the last week was rather chilled out. We had a bit of a mare with the suits we picked up for the ushers etc, when one of them had buttons and clasps missing, but Moss Bros sorted it and we had a better suit ready for the day before the wedding. On Thursday OH stayed at the hotel with his BM and I stayed at home alone - to be honest, this meant that there was no wedding talk (although there may have been a little Hitching!) and so I was quite relaxed all evening.

THE BIG DAY!

I woke up at about 545am and there was no way I could get back to sleep! OH brother was staying at ours while we were on honemoon to catsit so I set about tidying up the house for him. The hairdresser came first about 15 mins early so as soon as she arrived I got in a right stress! As she was finishing up, all hell broke loose when the make up lady, tog, mom/dad, my 2 sisters, CBM and 4 children arrived at the same time! I went upstairs to get my make up done as there was no room downstairs, and I could just hear my sister shouting at her kids to behave! This was not relaxing me....!!

Also by this time it was raining! Not a torrential downpour or anything but a fair bit.

The make up lady was a bit late in finishing up, and then there was a mad rush to get everyone ready. CBM got ready and about 1245 (when I should have been leaving for the church!) she helped me into my dress - she did a sterling job of strapping me in!!

We ended up leaving a little late - I had arranged taxis for my mum and the kids but the taxi driver refused to take 2 babies in his car so at about 110pm - already late - I was feeling a Bridezilla moment coming on!! Luckily the extreeeeeemly nice chuaffer that was driving my car said that the spare baby could ride with us - so me, dad and Phoebe-Rose made our way to the church.

Got there about 20 min late, and got a slightly stern 'We need to get going now' from the vicar!! The rain had stopped however so that was good, and the ground had dried up a bit. I think that this point the adrenalin was going and I wouldnt have cared if there were thunderstorms!!

Walking down the aisle was ace! I tried to look at everyone to take it all in, but then realised that there were a LOT of people and this wasnt going to happen! OH kept his eyes to the front until I got right next to him, when he turned to look at me and just said 'Stunning' (I have since argued that, at that point, he had to say something nice and couldnt possibly have said something like "Hmmm not sure I like the dress!" but he says I should just take the compliment!).

Service went well apart from my little neice Lily having a huge crying fit at the start - I had to give my sister the eye and tell her to take baby out. I think everyone forgot about that pretty quick though - by the end of the night people kept coming up to me and telling me that she was uber cute and they wanted to take her home!

Everyone had a fab singalong to the hymns, a giggle at our nods of approval when we got the rings on okay, and cheered at the kiss (I liked the kiss bit!). When we came out of the church the temperature had dropped so I and BMs were FREEZING! So a few quick photos and off to the venue.

Speeches were really good - my Dad totally stressed about his but lots of people said that they loved it - One of my friends spoke to him later in the night and congratulated him, and you could proper see his chest puff out with pride! Dads are funny. He did then proceed to moan at me for about 2 hrs on the evening until I asked the DJ to play the Macerana.....

OHs - now hubby! - speech was good too - advising people that marriage was like 'being married to your best friend, only he lets you feel his boobs!'. I believe I have Homer Simpson to thank for that nugget! He got a little teary eyed at about 3 points in his speech -his sister and family were moving to Australia to live 2 days later -they had put off their new jobs and the move so they could stay for the wedding, and he said a little goodbye to them in his speech which choked him up. Plus the old 'absent friends bit' and at the end when he was doing the toast to his new wife. I REALLY wanted to reach up and hold his hand when he was going all red and getting a little weepy, but I was worried that might just turn him into a blubbering wreck!!

BM speech was good too, although he was a little nervous. Nick is very sensible and so there werent many terribly embarrasing stories, but each table was presented with a 'tasteful' pic of hubby on his stag do, dressed as a bride...

I had been most worried all day about the food, but that was a pointless worry because it was YUM! So many people complimented the food, so it made me relax to know that everyone was happy with it.

Then onto the evening party, much dancing and drinking, and the fish and chips went down really well (a few hardcore members of the wedding party were still eating the cold fish goujons at about 1 am....!). Our last dance was to The Glory of Love by Peter Cetera (from Karate Kid II!). This went down a storm! I had secretly made OH a Karate Kid headband which I whipped out at this point - so I didnt really get a last dance with him, more a last karate session - cue the crane and lots of wax on wax off (my apologies to younger viewers who have never seen Karate Kid and have no idea what Im talking about!).

After that, Hubby and I went to bed and stayed up to open our cards and presents.

Everything went so perfectly. Hubby was given the task of setting up the room in the morning and he did a fab job. Our cake was fab, the Ramada were brilliant and their staff helpful (Although Im a bit gutted that I only realised at about midnight that if I went to the bar for a drink the barstaff would refuse to take my money - "Bride not pay on wedding day!" I was told by the lovely Polish barlady! Apparently this applied to OH too!!)

Anyway - I have rambled for too long so here are some pics for you all.......