 John and I met at
an Irish club in London in March 1997, and he proposed
to me three months later.
It was my decision to marry in Ireland, for two reasons.
Firstly, it was a chance for John to spend time with his
family (living so far away, he doesn't see them as often
as he'd like). And secondly, given a choice between marrying
in Harlow, where we live, or in Donegal - well there was
no contest. The chapel near John's family home is like
a picture book, nestling under Errigal, one of the highest
mountains in Ireland.
We'd been in Ireland for four days before the wedding.
John reckoned we wouldn't have anything to do, but it
turned out to be the most hectic time imaginable (including
a riotous joint hen/stag night on the Thursday!).
On Friday night, I took a sleeping tablet, just to make
sure of a good night's sleep. I woke bright and early
on Saturday morning. Tricia, John's sister and a bridesmaid,
drove us to the hairdressers, half an hour away. When
we arrived, I realised I'd left my veil and head-dress
back at the house. I also realised for the first time
that I felt quite calm as this little set-back hadn't
sent me into a blind panic. Anyway, poor Tricia had to
go back to the house whilst my hair was being put in rollers.
Before the rollers were taken out, I was driven up the
road to the beauticians to have my make-up done - thank
goodness I'd had my nails painted the day before! By the
time I returned to the hairdressers, the three bridesmaids
were almost done, they looked fantastic with fresh gold
rosebuds and Gypsophelia in their hair. The hairdresser
Tracey (now my sister-in-law's sister) took out my rollers
and put on my head-dress - it looked great! My hair is
really fine and she had managed to make me look like I
had a grand head of hair!
By now it was midday and the weather had taken a turn
for the worse; the wind had started howling and it was
raining off and on. (They don't call Ireland the Emerald
Isle for nothing!)
We raced back home, where John's mum had bacon, tomatoes
and toast waiting for us. All of a sudden we seemed to
slip into a time warp, where time flew by twice as fast
as usual. My mum arrived looking really lovely in her
dusky pink suit, and started helping me get dressed. The
bridesmaids, Tricia, Sara and Rebecca, were milling around
painting their nails and generally trying to get themselves
and me ready. They looked beautiful in their gold dresses.
Mum had to sew my train onto my dress, in case the hooks
unhooked themselves; her hands were shaking so much that
she could hardly manage it at all!
My brother Steve (who was giving me away) arrived, then
the car arrived to take the bridesmaids, and mum went
in the car with John's parents. I'd been really calm up
to this point, but once Steve and I were alone, I felt
a huge surge of emotion and had to really steel myself
not to start sobbing! Luckily the Mercedes arrived then,
which took my mind off my emotions. Despite the desperate
weather, all the neighbours and their children were outside,
in their wellies and umbrellas, to wave us off.
The drive to the chapel is usually so pretty, but the
rain was pelting down and the wind was blowing a gale.
We couldn't even see the chapel or mount Errigal because
of the mist and clouds. As we drew up to the chapel, the
driver backed the car up right next to the door, and the
photographer held a great big golfing umbrella up so that
I wouldn't get wet. By now, I was exactly half an hour
late and being late is a Donegal tradition - but I hadn't
done it deliberately, I really couldn't have made it on
time if my life had depended on it!
 I took a deep breath and Steve and I followed
the bridesmaids up the aisle, to the strains of Ave Maria.
John didn't look round until I was almost level with him,
and I shall remember the look on his face for the rest
of my life. He kept whispering "you look so beautiful"
and looking at me with such love in his eyes.
I felt so proud and happy.
The wedding mass was wonderful, the priest really made
my friends and relatives feel welcome. John and I lit
a candle each, then after our wedding vows, we lit a single
candle from our individual candles and blew these out,
to signify that two had become one. We signed the register
to "Suil a Ruin", a traditional Irish love song
that we adore, and which the singer had learnt specially
for us. We walked back down the aisle as man and wife
to "Truly, madly, deeply".
The
weather meant that we couldn't have any photos outside
but Joe the photographer, took loads in the chapel (as,
of course, did the guests!). We drove to the reception
sipping champagne and listening to the soundtrack of "Titanic",
with all the guests' cars following us, their hazard lights
on and beeping their horns all the way. We couldn't believe
we were married at last!
At the reception, everyone was greeted with their choice
of spirits, or hot drink. We had a little time to talk
to guests and we managed a quick drink before being whisked
off for more photos in the hotel lounge. The photographers
were like a comedy act, they really made everyone feel
relaxed.
John's brother and best man Hughie really did well with
his ad lib speech, then Steve did his speech; we all got
really choked up when he said "thanks to my little
sister for the honour of giving her away". Then it
was John's turn - he had been dreading it so much he hardly
ate his meal but he did really well. I'd told him all
he needed to say was "my wife and I" and everyone
would cheer!
We presented photograph frames to the two mums (bouquets
weren't practical as my mum was travelling back to the
UK in two day's time). We'd also bought some champagne
for Hughie and his wife Eileen as a thank-you for all
their help with all the arrangements. John handed me the
microphone, so I did make a little speech of thanks after
all. Eileen wasn't expecting this and she told us later
that she burst into tears!
 After dinner we
were whisked off for some photos outside, as the weather
had improved and the sun was just setting. Before we knew
it, it was time for our first dance. John had chosen "I'm
in heaven" by Bryan Adams; it was lovely just to
be on our own for those few minutes, concentrating on
each other.
The DJ did a splendid job, he played something for everyone
including, of course, some "diddly dee" Irish
songs. When Riverdance was playing, everyone formed a
circle around John and made him dance like Michael Flatley
- and they wouldn't let him leave the dance floor till
the song ended! The DJ organised some games, which meant
everyone made complete fools of themselves - it really
got everyone mixing! The Irish certainly know how to enjoy
themselves and the English contingent were with them every
step of the way! It was wonderful how everyone, both our
families and all our friends, got on so well.
By 3am, only John and I and two of our friends were left.
We had managed to out-party everyone else! We wearily
made our way up to our room, to find that our so-called
friends had put 4 lbs of rice in the bed, together with
loads of confetti and an "emergency kit" of
condoms and flavoured body-paint!
We flew back home on the Monday, said goodbye to the cats
and left for a wonderful honeymoon in Margarita, Venezuela,
the next morning.
We really did have the wedding of our dreams - an absolutely
perfect day, which all our friends and family enjoyed
just as much as we did. Our wedding day may be over but
our marriage has only just started. |
If
you would like to contact Corinne and John, you can e-mail
them.
|
