 Aaron and I had
always agreed that our wedding would be the one that we
wanted, even if this meant being unconventional.
Although there was only ever one choice for my bridesmaid,
Aaron's seven year old niece Abra, choosing a best man
was harder. Aaron couldn't decide between his brother,
Silas, and two friends, Simon and Phill. In the end he
asked all three and all of them accepted, agreeing to
share the duties between them. As my dad died several
years ago, I asked mum to undertake the traditional father
of the bride duties. We decided to have a civil ceremony
followed by a reception, both at Cantley House Hotel,
local to where we live in Wokingham. The
service was at 2pm on Friday 2nd October. Mum, Abra and
I arrived at 1.45pm in a Rolls Royce Silver Spirit. Aaron
was already inside the Oak Room where the ceremony was
to be held, but several guests were still outside. While
mum and the guests went on inside, Abra and I went to
have the interview with the Registrar, she ran through
the ceremony briefly with us before taking us round to
the entrance of the room. The John Barry theme from Dances
With Wolves started playing, and I remember hearing the
first few notes, then Abra walked into the room, and I
followed her. As we entered everyone turned to look, as
did Aaron, and although I'm sure the music played through
I didn't hear any more of it!
 When we reached
the front of the room, Abra took my bouquet of roses and
eucalyptus and I took Aaron's hand whilst the Registrar
gave a brief introduction. Everyone sat down and Phill
came forward to read The
Art Of A Good Marriage. Then Aaron and I stood up
and made our legal vows. As we exchanged rings, we also
exchanged more personal vows that we had memorised, both
of us were proud that we could remember the vows without
prompting from the registrar. We signed the register and
then had to fake signing it again for all the photographs,
facing a battery of flashing cameras!
 After we left the
ceremony room to the sound of Rodrigo's Guitar Concerto
there was time for a quick drink of Bucks Fizz which didn't
touch the sides, before we had our receiving line with
mum and Aaron's parents. We were both glad of this as
it gave us a chance to say hello to everyone individually.
Greeting 55 guests didn't take long, and while they were
drinking Bucks Fizz, Aaron and I went off with the photographer
and Abra for half an hour or so to take some more intimate
shots. Halfway through Abra decided that she was cold
and disappeared back inside the hotel, although the rain
held off all day the weather was not particularly warm
and my feet were like blocks of ice by the end of the
photographs.
General laughter and mayhem ensued as the photographer
took family group pictures, several guests had wandered
off to the bar and couldn't be found.
The last photograph was taken by the photographer on the
fire escape looking down on everyone that was there. Phill
did a fantastic job at this point of rounding up all the
stragglers and chasing them outside for the photo.
 Everyone went through to the
restaurant after the photos and took their seats before
Aaron and I were announced. The meal was excellent, roast
duck or cheese in filo pastry for the many vegetarians,
including ourselves. I had made up goodie bags for the
younger children with colouring books, crayons, games
and bubbles before the event, and these had been left
on their seats. They proved to be a big hit and Abra spent
most of the meal time colouring in one of her pictures
in between polishing off a plate of chips and beans.
When dessert had been cleared away Aaron and I cut the
cake to another round of paparazzi flash photographs,
then it was time for the speeches. We had been adamant
that all the best men would be included at this point,
so Phill took the place of a toast master and introduced
all the speeches with wit and enthusiasm. Firstly mum
spoke, she compared marriage to the weather as Aaron works
at the Meteorological Office and then she compared it
to running a railway, my line of work. When she mentioned
that like trains, regular "servicing" was required
the room was in uproar! After she proposed a toast to
us Phill introduced Aaron who spoke about the personal
vows that we had made and how they related to us. His
speech was very loving and I was hard pushed not to cry.
I found out later that I wasn't the only one. He thanked
mum and his parents and also the best men before raising
a toast to Abra who grinned with pride.
Simon gave the best man's speech and was entertaining
whilst suitably embarassing Aaron, recalling among others
a school incident where the police were called in after
Aaron acquired the ingredients for gunpowder from the
chemistry lab. Finally Silas read out cards from friends
and relatives who hadn't been able to come to the wedding
and raised a toast to absent friends.
We went back into the main part of the hotel for coffee
and cakes, and I managed to get a quick chocolate fix
on After Eight mints. Several people went back to their
rooms to change or for a rest at this point, and Aaron
and I managed to get round and chat to everyone.
At about 7.30pm evening guests began to arrive, and our
band, Dalcassian started setting up. We had decided that
the only way that we would have an evening reception is
if we could provide something that everyone would enjoy,
which with our family and friends more or less ruled out
a disco. We'd agreed to have a ceilidh as having been
to one it was obviously something that all ages could
join in on, it provided to be a wise decision. The first
dance was a scottish waltz, and although it took a little
while for Aaron and I to get into our stride and we managed
a passable waltz, the little bit of practise that we'd
had before hand paid off. For the first couple of dances
we had a few willing participants, but we had to drag
more people onto the dance floor kicking and screaming.
After two or three dances though, momentum took over and
the dance floor was packed for the remainder of the evening.
What the dancers lacked in experience or room space was
made up by their enthusiasm, the results were hilarious,
and everyone had a good time. Aaron and I danced with
various partners for about one third of the dances and
spent the rest of the time chatting to guests.
 Eventually
it was time for the last waltz and Aaron and I danced
together again. After this we stood in the middle of the
room whilst guests formed a circle around us and sang
Auld Lang Syne, which proved to be rather emotional. Then
everyone formed a long arch and Aaron and I ran through
and up the stairs to get to the honeymoon suite. At this
point we realised that the door was locked and Aaron had
to sneak downstairs to get the key! We had a fight through
ballons and toilet roll all over the four-poster bed before
we discovered that it was an apple-pie bed. In the end
the easiest option was to climb under the duvet and on
top of the apple-pied bed sheets! It was the end of a
wonderful day for the both of us.
We left for our honeymoon in Florence and Venice early
on Monday morning and had an enjoyable two weeks.
Do Differently: Absolutely nothing!
Groom's Comments: The best day of my life.
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If
you would like to contact Maggie and Aaron, you can e-mail them.
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