 Mark
and I met on a blind date, we went out for dinner and
it was love at first sight - well at least by the time
the main course had arrived. However, Mark claims that
he was more reticent and waited until the dessert course!
Our wedding day was almost exactly two years later.
I spent the night before our wedding at my parents' house
and when my dog woke me up at 6am I planned to play it
cool, let him out and go back to bed and sleep until at
least 10am. Then it dawned on me... IT WAS MY WEDDING
DAY, it wasn't raining and for some reason the kitchen
ceiling was covered it balloons. Well after that I was
like child on Christmas day, I bounced on my parents'
bed and woke up Mike (Mark's five year old son).
We had a great morning, the mundane chores of walking
the dog and taking him to kennels blurred into insignificance
amongst the taking pictures of the balloons and having
champagne and strawberries for breakfast.
We arrived at Tree Tops Country House Hotel at 12.30,
at the same time as my seven bridesmaids, five pageboys
and their respective parents, once more the fun started.
I expect to an outside observer the scene represented
organised chaos; 12 excited children running around, their
even more excited parents greeting, kissing and giving
presents and cards to me and each other, whilst making
futile attempts to dress the children, and all the time
my poor mother was desperately trying to feed everyone
lunch.
This continued as more and more guests and then the florist
appeared, I chatted and drank more champagne until at
2pm someone reminded me to get changed. Fortunately my
preparations were simple and after a quick peep in the
marquee to see the amazing scene wrought by the florist
(Flower Style by Laurie) I was ready for the onslaught
of photographs. Mark had arrived by this time but we were
kept apart by a very diligent best man Jim and his wife,
Sarah, as we met with the registrar. I had to hide in
my room with my matron of honour Julie at one point -
never mind it was another opportunity to drink champagne!
When I left my room at 3pm and the place was deserted,
I walked with my dad up a funnel of gold and ivory children,
wonderfully organised by Julie - well if your having 12
little attendants you have to have a school teacher to
keep them in order! Everything was perfect!
 This Is My Moment by Martine
McCutcheon started and Mark's son bravely led us down
the aisle of the conservatory carrying the rings on a
cushion. Everything at this stage became a bit blurred
all I could focus on was Mark at the end. By the time
we got there he was fighting back the tears.
After the registrars introduction my friend Clare read
I Knew That I Had Been Touched By Love. Following our
vows we had beautiful rendition of Us
Two from Now We Are Six by AA Milne by Megan an eight
year old bridesmaid. She read this animatedly and earnestly
and got a deservedly huge round of applause. My sister
closed the ceremony with an emotional rendition of the
Apache
Blessing that left everyone reaching for a tissue.
We walked out to The
Overture from The Marriage of Figaro with huge smiles
on our faces. The guests were handed bubbles
by our two ushers as they left the ceremony and were served
Bucks Fizz and canapés whilst the photos were taken.
We had originally planned to have a receiving line but
it got cold so the guests went into the marquee, I also
dispensed with my veil as it was annoying me and my mother
had given me a beautiful hand painted silk wrap which
I wore for the remaining photos. We entered the tent to
a round of applause and as I sat down and faced our guests
I was quite overcome to think that all those people were
there, all dressed up, for me. I think that that was the
moment when I really relaxed and started to enjoy myself.
The food was delicious and after the main course we had
a break whilst we cut the cake. The cake, a magnificent
4 tier extravaganza, decorated with delicate sugar daisies,
had been made by Mark's mother, and I was very reluctant
to cut it since I knew all the effort and concern that
had gone into its creation and transport to the venue.
We kissed and cut it as what seemed like thousands of
flash bulbs went off. The 20 children present left the
marquee as the speeches began to be entertained by John
Harding of Archimage Productions. My dad's speech was
quite tear jerking.
but my mum followed it with a witty poem, in Lancashire
dialect, that she had written describing Mark's and my
lives and how we had met that earned several laughs. The
best man's speech was funny and not too rude (thanks I
think are mainly due to his wife!).
 The evening reception started
almost immediately, the candles were lit and the lights
dimmed, after a brief interlude Mark and I started the
dancing with Van Morrison's Have I Told You Lately That
I Love You? The DJ, Gary Anthony and Jazz band, Razzamajazz,
alternated keeping everyone entertained. The wine continued
to flow and thing once again became a little blurred.
Mark and I moved from one group of friends to another.
The evening seemed to be over almost as soon as it had
begun and we said goodbye to our guests. At 1am Mark and
I had a final romantic dance alone on the dance floor
- the perfect end to the perfect day.
The next morning, after enjoying breakfast at Tree Tops
with the guests who stayed the night, we went home to
continue our wedding celebrations by having a barbeque
that over 60 of our friends and family attended. The following
day we took as much of the wedding as possible to my grandmother
who was too ill to attend the ceremony. By the time Wednesday
came we were all "weddinged out" and very glad
to leave for our honeymoon in Feuteventura although having
my matron of honour, two bridesmaids and a guest travelling
with us ensured that the celebrations did not stop there!.
Do Differently: I'd do it all again exactly the
same at the drop of a hat. Next time I'd worry less, people
are flexible and everyone wants to enjoy themselves.
Groom's Comments: After what seemed like an eternity
of preparing for the wedding, it came as a bit of a shock
to me when the day itself actually arrived. Janet and
my son Mike had decamped to her parents' house - a wise
move! Our house was pandemonium in the morning with my
parents, grandmother, best man and his family all stopping
over. After a bit of a panic to finish my speech, my best
man and I arrived at the hotel in good time for some Dutch
courage only to be told that no alcohol was allowed before
a civil ceremony! Janet looked fantastic and it made me
realise just how fortunate I was to be marrying her. The
rest of the day just flashed past and it was great to
have all our friends and family in one place to share
it with us. Janet worked very hard in organising the wedding
and her attention to detail paid off - I lost count of
the number of favourable comments - and helped to make
it a very special day for both of us.
Comments: Many thanks to WeddingGuideUK.com. We
got so much advice, help and support. It was wonderful
to have somewhere to go to share the highs and lows of
wedding planning. I shall truely miss it. |
If
you would like to contact Janet and Mark, you can e-mail
them.
|
