 I
finished work on the Tuesday before the wedding, so I
had two days to do all the last minute things that had
to be done.
I woke up Wednesday morning feeling sick; it was just
nerves but it was scary! I tried to finish tidying up
but I didn’t manage it so I left that for Graham
to do. I had a major panic when the kilt shop phoned to
say there had been an error on their part and that the
McLeod kilt we had ordered in February had actually been
double booked so there was not a McLeod tartan kilt available
for Graham for his wedding!! We went into the shop and
kicked up such a stink that they gave us the whole outfit
for free! He got the Pride of Scotland tartan, which was
actually a lot nicer than the McLeod tartan but it was
annoying that being a McLeod himself, he couldn’t
get that tartan on the day! After picking up his outfit
which was rushed altered, I went over to Kirkcaldy that
night, getting quite excited.
The day before the wedding and I am getting more excited!
Graham was in Glasgow and he was going to meet my bridesmaid
Christine from the train station, who had travelled from
Belfast.
The two of them were being picked up by Graham's best
man Paul, who was going to drive them to Kirkcaldy. I
went to the dentist, then picked up the marriage lines.
It all began to sink in then! Mum and I sat and put all
the labels on my favours that afternoon. My favours were
tartan pot pourri sachets that I had bought from Gretna
Green earlier in the year! I seem to remember rushing
about doing loads of different things and wishing I had
done them earlier but they were things I could only do
the night before the wedding!
My friend Liz and her boyfriend Paul were travelling up
from Carlisle that day and she had asked me if I could
organize a buttonhole for her and Paul so I had to rush
out and find a florist for that. Back at my parents' house,
the beautician arrived to put false nails on mum and me!
Very weird, not had this done before but they were lovely!
Eventually Graham, Paul, Christine and Pam arrived at
my mum and dad’s house. It was good to see my great
buddy Chrissie again. She has been such a star with all
this planning and her being so far away. We were all going
up to Balbirnie for a mini-rehearsal - mini, because we
weren’t actually rehearsing as such. The minister
wasn’t going to be there and we weren’t going
to go all the way through the whole ceremony. I thought
it would be nice for them to see the place and know where
they were to be standing etc. It was a weird feeling driving
into Balbirnie and thinking gosh, the next time I do this
will be the last time as a single girl!
We sat down in the Long Gallery and discussed the ceremony.
I was getting quite annoyed at Paul and Graham as they
weren’t listening to what I was saying. It was when
I noticed the pair of them had smoked about three cigarettes
in as many minutes that I realized they were both really
nervous! Paul and Christine were reading between the two
of them, the Hands Of The Bride And Groom; it didn’t
occur to me that they would be nervous about reading it!
We eventually went through the whole ceremony. We were
interrupted by one of the waiters of the hotel who asked
if there was anything he could do for us. Poor boy asked
the wrong person! I started harassing him about this and
that! But he was really good about it. We walked out of
the Long Gallery (where the ceremony was going to be held)
into the Garden Room, where the signing of the register
would take place. Instead of just one table and two chairs,
there was a huge set of table and chairs. I should have
asked that friendly waiter about this, but I assumed that
it would be cleared later on for tomorrow.
We wandered round the gardens where the photographs would
take place and also the West Room where the cake would
be cut. We dropped off at the reception area, all the
favours and disposable cameras and other various bits
and bobs that the hotel were going to put out for us.
Then we drove to Leslie, a small village 4 miles away
from Balbirnie where Graham, Paul and Pam and some other
guests were staying the night before the wedding. It was
lovely to meet up with Liz again after not seeing her
since college at the beginning of the year. We all sat
and had a lovely meal together. Chrissie and I then left
for my parents' house for the night. I thought I would
have been really nervous and so excited that I wouldn’t
be able to sleep but we both were so tired and exhausted
that we fell asleep straight away.
 The big day had finally arrived! I woke
about 7am and realized that I had just had the best night's
sleep in months! I knew then that I wasn’t going
to get worried about anything on the day. I got up; Dad
was already up; forced some Weetabix down my throat -
I am not a breakfast person at all but I knew I had to
eat something! Christine and I then walked to the hairdressers,
where I was getting my straight long brown hair set into
curls for the day. The Hairdresser provided me with wine
all morning, so I was glad I had some breakfast! Eventually
we were both ready! All my hair was a mass of curls with
my silver diamante tiara and veil on; Chrissie looked
lovely with her hair all dried and her gold tiara set
lovely! Fortunately, we didn’t have to walk home;
I just phoned my mum and she collected us. We had to walk
a little to the nearest car park we got a few strange
looks! We picked up some food on the way then went home
and arrived in time for the beautician.
The florist’s husband turned up the bridesmaid's
and my bouquets. They were so lovely! Mine was white lilies
and white roses, with green ivy trailing. The girls had
wonderful colourful bouquets with roses and spray painted
gold ivy and a gold ribbon around them; they were hand
tied while mine was a traditional wired one. We put the
bouquets outside to keep them cool and then the photographers
turned up.
I then went to get dressed, putting on my hold-ups and
basque (pulled tightly by Christine so my tummy wouldn’t
stick out!). I then put on my dress. It felt so weird
putting it on for real this time. The photographer came
through and took some casual photos of Chrissie doing
up my dress at the back. Then they did a few shots with
Chrissie sorting my dress and me putting my necklace on.
I think this was the only time I panicked. My chain was
a birthday present from Graham, a few weeks previous.
My wedding present was a heart locket to go on the chain.
I was so busy trying to put on the chain quickly that
I then noticed that I had put it on the wrong way! Of
course having false nails on, meant that I couldn’t
change it myself so I was panicking a little trying and
get someone to take it off and put it back on the right
way.
The photographer took some lovely portrait shots of me
and my dad, then mum and dad, then me and Chrissie in
my parents' front room with the rocking horse and rocking
chair. My dad had a bottle of champagne to open so the
photographer thought it would be a good idea to get an
“action” shot of Dad popping the cork, which
nearly went through the ceiling - it was very funny! Then
my Rolls Royce turned up. Another little panic as the
other car hadn’t turned up yet. The same car that
was to drop off Graham and his motley crew at Balbirnie
was to then come down to Kirkcaldy and take my mum and
Chrissie to Balbirnie. The video guy turned up and got
a few moments of us all sitting drinking champagne. The
second car then just turned up so I was fine. I was actually
feeling quite calm apart from these little minor panics!
I thought I would have been bursting into tears but no,
I was fine.
 So it was now the time for my mum and Chrissie
to leave in the first car.
Dad escorted her down to the car. Some wee boys were running
along our front wall, trying to see me and some of the
neighbours were outside too.
Dad and I then had a few moments to ourselves then we
left. Although it was overcast, it was not raining - I
was happy! Dad escorted me into the Rolls Royce, so posh!
Because there were young boys about, he did a scramble
out of the window (this is a tradition where coins are
thrown out of the window of bridal car as it sets off
for the wedding). At the first set of traffic lights,
there was a knock on my window! The receptionist from
dad’s business was in the car behind and at the traffic
lights, she jumped out of her car to see me.I rolled down
the window and she was almost in tears, saying how beautiful
I looked and wishing me the best of luck! The drive to
Balbirnie House was very calm and we arrived at 2.25pm
- right on time. The place still looked a bit of a building
site as they were building a new annexe onto the side,
but to be honest, I hardly noticed it!
The red carpet was out and there were loads of cars around
the front door of the house but we managed to manoveure
around them. Dad and the driver got out; the photographer
told me to get out the other side of the car so he could
get some photos with the house in the background, so I
had to shuffle over quite inelegantly to get to the other
side, hoping that the video guy hadn’t got this on
camera! He took some photos of me getting out then walking
up the steps to the house. We then walked into the reception
area. All the staff at the desk were oohing and ahhing
over the dress and the flowers. I was a little shaky but
fine. I saw Emma the flower girl for the first time; she
was so pretty. She was in a gold dress with a matching
tiara the same as Chrissie’s and her hairdresser
had put gypsophilia in little bunches all over her curly
hair! It was wonderful and I almost cried because she
looked so pretty!
We assembled in the correct order and just waited for
the minister to say the word. The processional music was
a piano piece written and composed by Graham, adapted
from a song that he had written for me when we first met.
It’s called Soul For Life and quite topical for us.
What Graham didn’t know that I had arranged secretly
with the singer to sing the chorus of this song as I walked
in with my dad. It was lovely! Dad and I had a bit of
a struggle getting down the aisle as it wasn’t wide
enough! Just before I went down the aisle, my florist
handed me 2 roses that I was to give away to the mothers.
After dad formally gave me away, I handed my bouquet to
my mum. I then turned to Graham and we just smiled at
each other and said hiya! It was such a relief to finally
be there with him. He looked so handsome in his kilt outfit
and his long blonde hair shone down his back! The ceremony
then started.
Paul and Christine then read the Hands Of The Bride And
Groom. It was lovely; Chrissie's Irish accent followed
by the Paul's Scottish accent. I couldn’t look at
Graham as I thought I was going to cry so I just kept
looking at his hands. We had a prayer then the Intent
to Marry. When Graham said “I will”, the minister
turned to him and asked him to turn towards the congregation.
Graham panicked as he didn’t know anything about
this (we had planned and written the whole ceremony ourselves).
However, it turned out that all the minister wanted Graham
to do was turn around and speak again but louder as he
was so quiet! It was funny! We then had the pianist and
solosit sing Graham’s song Say You’ll Be There.
The singer sung the song beautifully, pity about the pianist!
He made a complete and utter hash of it! It was actually
quite embarrassing!! I couldn’t believe he was so
bad! Fortunately, the singer held it together! Meanwhile
Christine gave yellow roses to the ladies in the congregation
from a basket that belonged to my late grandmother. The
song finished and then it was time for the vows.
During the vows, the minister told Graham to speak out
loudly! The poor boy; he got so emotional he burst into
tears at almost the end of the vows and could hardly say
the last few words. It was so emotional. I think everyone
in the congregation was crying too! I spoke my vows out
loud and clear. I then wiped Graham’s eyes with my
hanky that my mum had given me. Then Paul handed the rings
to the minister, he blessed them and Graham put mine on
but I had a huge struggle getting Graham’s on. He
was so hot that his fingers had completely swollen up,
so I was saying, “With this RING, I give YOU, a token
of my AFFECTION, and DEVOTION etc” I had such a stuggle
but again I just laughed it off. We were then offically
man and wife and the minister let us kiss. As we kissed,
the whole congregation burst into applause.
 We then left to go and sign
the register, and it was then that Graham was able to
tell me that the Garden room, when he arrived at Balbirnie,
was still set up like the night before but it also had
a pile of furniture in it. I was a bit annoyed about this
as we all had to dodge around the chairs and tables! We
signed the registar and then set back out to go down the
aisle. The minister said a few more words then asked the
congregation if pictures would like to be taken so it
was like standing in front of paparazzi, flashes everywhere!
We then went down the aisle and straight out to the front
door of Balbirnie House for photographs. Then all the
ladies had been handed a cone of rose
petal confetti on the way out. We then walked into
the gardens to have more photographs taken.
Outside, refreshments were served so everyone was kept
happy while the photos were taken. We mingled a little
then had the receiving line at the end of the garden before
going into cut the cake. It was pleased we had a receiving
as there were a few people who I never got the chance
to speak to again because they left early. Everyone was
now in the West Room ready for us to come in and cut the
cake. Willie, Graham’s brother, made a quick speech
and then toasted us.The icing on the cake was very hard,
so Graham just about broke my fingers cutting the it.
Everyone then left to go down stairs to the Ballingall
Suite for the meal. We then went downstairs and set up
to walk in to loud applause.
The meal was absolutley gorgoeus, everyone raved about
it. Then it was time for the speeches. My dad was first!
Short and sweet; he just said how happy he was for us
both and that he hasn’t lost a daughter but had gained
a son-in-law and a pal! Then it was time for Graham’s
speech! He was really nervous but got into the swing of
it! He mentioned that we met on the Internet and how my
dad had got internet access to meet people from all over
the world. Little did he know that his daughter would
end up meeting and marrying someone! He also told of our
first meeting; how I knew what he looked like with the
long blonde hair etc and how I nearly said hello to a
woman, mistaking her for Graham from the back. He said
with great sincerity how beautiful I looked and how much
we were saddened about the fact that Stuart his son wasn’t
there with us. He made a brilliant toast to Christine
and Emma. Then Paul the best man stood up and made the
most hilarious speech. He totally ripped into Graham,
mainly about his weight and his love for food! He was
very complementary about my family and me, and we all
fell about laughing at his jokes! So the speeches were
then finished? NO of course not! I had told the minister
that I was wanting to make a speech too, so I got the
biggest round of applause for standing up. I didn’t
really have a speech as such, but I thanked and gave out
a few gifts to my attendants, dad and Graham.
 After the speeches, we all piled
out to the bar to let the room be set up for the band.
The band played our first song I Wanna Know What Love
Is by Foriegner, then Bette Midler’s Wind
Beneath My Wings and then we rocked all night. During
the band's break, my boys got up! Graham plays in a band
called Age Of Reason so they played a few songs.
They were really loud and the management complained a
few times. Apparently the bass was so loud that it bounced
some glasses off the bar upstairs! The second song they
played was my favourite. Stevie, the singer, did his usual
and forgot the words so I went up, grabbed the microphone
from him and sang the rest of the song! I surprised a
few people including myself. Everyone loved their musi.
The party ended at 11.30pm and Graham and I retired to
the bridal suite with four-poster bed and jacuzzi.
We opened all the presents that we were waiting for us
in the room and I don’t think we got to sleep untill
about 4am!
The next day, it was an open house party at my parents'
house. We got all but two of the disposable cameras back
so we got them printed and took them down to the house
so everyone could see them. My dad drove Graham and I
back to our home in Glasgow the next day and Graham’s
mum and brother had got into our flat and decorated the
place with balloons and streamers with Just Married signs
all over it! You could see them on the window coming up
the road it was really funny.
We set off for Italy the next day and had a wonderful
time in Rome, until the fateful phone call saying that
Graham’s dad had died suddenly and unexpectedely
of a heart attack. We were told to continue with our honeymoon
until funeral arrangements were made. It obviously did
put a damper on the proceedings but we tried to make the
most of it.
Do
Differently: Check EVERYTHING with the venue and get
the pianist to learn the songs properly!
Groom's Comments: A great day, a beautiful wife,
happy memories.
Comments: I loved using WeddingGuideUK.com as it
was so helpful organsing our wedding. |
If
you would like to contact Nikki and Graham, you can e-mail
them.
|
