Well its taken me a wee while but finally its here!!
My photobox link is at the end, which fingers crossed should show you a selection of pics from the day taken by my sister!!
I'm still waiting on the togs link but I'll post that when I get it!!
So here it goes!!!
We left Nothern Ireland at 7am on Monday 1st Sept and got the ferry to Stranraer then drove the 2hrs to my parents house in Paisley!!
On arrival I showed off bits and bobs that we bought and my mum showed me my cake topper etc etc!! We had an appointment later on that day with the videographer to give him pictures, music and a general run through of timings etc. It was Stephen's first time meeting with him as I went on a trip to visit my mum one weekend and without Stephen when we booked them so it was good to get them to meet!! Stephen was very pleased with them so all was well!!
Later on that evening as we were getting ready to go out shopping we recieved a phone call from Stephen's dad - the hotel that all our guests had booked into (because it was across the road from the reception venue) had called one of his aunts to advise they had over booked by 15 rooms and therefore could not accommodate our party!! So we headed down to the hotel to try and sort out the mess as the majority of rooms had been booked since January. It got sorted and they assured us that we would get the 21 rooms booked!
Tuesday 2nd was a very uneventful day - we went into town and picked up our marriage schedule and I went to try my dress on, all was perfect so it was left at the shop to be steam cleaned.
Wednesday 3rd - Another normal stress free day (not) - Stephen went to collect the kilts and pay the balance of his, Kyle fell over in the shop whacking his face off the side of a glass table and gave himself a black eye!!!!! We had our rehersal, which was fun, our minister was perfect for us and enjoued a good laugh and joke!! We left the rehersal and went shopping as the table decordation idea didn't pan out so we needed something else - luckily Ikea Braehead came to the rescue!!
Thursday 4th - Well until midday all was fine, at 12.15 the reservation manager from the hotel called to say they couldn't accommodate all of our party after all!!!!!!!! The annoying factor was they waited until after the cut off time for cancellations (midday) so said that those who were being accommodated could not cancel their rooms as they'd be charged full price for the whole stay!! I went back down and fought with the hotel reservations manager. When I arrived I asked for her and was told that she was in a meeting and I couldn't talk to her so I told the receptionist to cancel all the rooms, low and behold the manager came out of the back office!! Some meeting!! Well my degree in Tourism came in very handy, especially my course in tourism law as she tried to explain that it happens to ensure the hotel is not empty so I was able to come back with what I'd been taught during my studies and also from experience in working in the industry!! She quickly got the message that she'd picked the wrong bride to mess with!!
She said that they would pay for taxi's for the guests who weren't staying at the hotel to get back up to the hotel to get the coach that we had booked to collect them all to take them to the church!! The alternative hotel was in the middle of an industrial estate and had no restaurant facilities so it was a no no!
At 4pm she called back to say a group had called and mysteriuosly(sp) cancelled their rooms and they could accommodate all of our party after all - I found this very very strange but they were in so I didn't really care!
Friday 5th - All of Northern Irish and Canadian guests were arriving today in drips and drabs so we were constantly getting calls and messages to say they'd arrived etc etc! We went down to the hotel for our dinner that night and met with all our guests. I complained to the general manager about the reservation manager attitide and blatant lies so they gave us free house wine! That kept Stephen's aunties happy!!
Saturday 6th - Our Big Day!!!
I woke at 7.30 - I'd shared a double bed with my 5 & 6 year old neices so I didn't really sleep - I could hear water running - so I thought it was raining and by the sounds of things raining hard!! Well no it was my dad in the shower!!! I got up and into the kitchen and sat with my mum and read the paper then my morning sickness kicked in - after I'd got over that my dad made me rolls and square slice & rolls and bacon.
The hairdresser arrived at 9.30 and started on the children, my dad took stuff to our recption venue and collected the 2 best men, FOG & MOG - the boys were dropped off at my sisters house and MOG came to my parents to get ready.
A deliver came at 10am for me, that was a single red rose, a teddy, a balloon and swarovski crystal jewellery (necklace, earrings and bracelet) from Stephen with a note saying "see you at 2 love Stephen xxx".
The videographer arrived at 1pm and did some shots etc - the cars were late - 1st car was supposed to arrive at 1.30 and my car was to arrive at 1.40 but the 2 cars both came at 1.50 as they'd got lost!
Mum, FG, MOG, BM & Kyle left in the first car and we waited 5 mins and left in the 2nd car. The weather was dry but a little windy - nothing to worry about! We arrived at the church and the piper and drummer started playing - they were fabulous and dressed in full regimental no1!!
I stood at the doors and watched through the stained glass as Stephen ect walked out from the vestry and the minister told him not to turn around. The organ started playing Cachabel's Canon in D and the church officer opened the doors. So we walked dad and I went first to set the pace for the children, the 2 girls and kyle followed me then my sister followed them (to keep them moving and to ensure they didn't stand on my dress!!)
The chuch service passed in a flash - no sooner had I walked down the aisle than we were heading back up and out the church to get our pics done!
The whole day went on time apart from the cars!! Even tough they were late it didn't put the timings off at all! The meal was fab all 5 cousres and the DJ was something else!! He was a 70's style DJ complete with afro wig, white Saturday Night Fever Jump suit and gold medallion!! He was so funny and had the guest laughing all night so everyone loved him!!
We left at 12am even though we both wanted to stay til 1am but the car had been booked to come back for us 12 so we left and went back to my parents house as they were going to a hotel and we needed to get organised for our honeymoon!
N&P's
Catereing - Top Class for the meals, drinks, cars, cake, buffet, entertainment and staff
Venues - Thomas Coats Memorial Church, Paisley and Paisley Town Hall. Especially Rev I.D Ralph
Photography - Art Image, Paisley
Videography - Memories, Erskine
Flowers - Celebrations by Just Devine, Paisley
Dresses - Juliette's, Paisley
Alterations - Napier's, Paisley
Kilts - Kilts 4 U, Hillington (both for hire and bought)
Hair & Make Up - Ruth Chalk of Beautiful You, Paisley
Piper & Drummer - Strictly Piping (thanks to debs, braw wee chanter, for the recommendation)
Tiara's - Aliya Rose, Cupar (thanks girls for all your advice)
My Shoes - Hitched for sale board!! BNIBWT - £30!! RRP £90
Veil - Internet bargain again - January Sales - the wedding veil shop
Thank you also to all hitchers for your support, advice and for keeping me sane for the past year and half!!
Ok so here are the pics - my sister the BM took these -
http://www.photobox.co.uk/my/album?album_id=71058151
Lots of Luv
Mr & Mrs Doak!!!
xxx
