 I
had always said that the night before the wedding I would
stay at my childhood home and regress for my last single
night! So, following an afternoon of beauty and pampering,
my 3 bridesmaids and immediate family took me out for
a wonderful Greek meal where the wine flowed…and
so did the tears.
My stepmother had put balloons and flowers in my old bedroom
and the rooms where my bridesmaids were sleeping, so we
all started feeling nervous - the clock was ticking away
on singledom!
I woke about 8.30am in my childhood bed, surrounded by
wonderful memories and reminiscing, when my friend Dawn
barged in shouting at me to get up! Dawn was also doing
my hair and make up for the big day so she had a long
task ahead of her to make me look anywhere near beautiful.
I had a quick shower and Dawn started setting my hair
in rollers. Whilst we were waiting for the hair to set,
we tucked in to a scrumptious breakfast of scrambled eggs,
smoked salmon and Bucks Fizz, all courtesy of Janice,
my stepmother. I felt very relaxed at this stage (maybe
it had something to do with the Bucks Fizz), but thought
to myself, can this day get any better?
My bridesmaids disappeared to the hairdressers while Dawn
continued with her mammoth task of getting me ready. The
bridesmaids returned looking stunning. They were brilliant,
they helped each other get ready and put each other's
make up on, which was great for me as nerves were building
rapidly!
It was peaceful for a while, then it went haywire as everyone
started arriving. Firstly my mum and stepdad along with
my aunts and cousins. Then Paul the videographer and then
John, one of the ushers, with all the flowers. There was
panic as we realised we didn't have special corsages for
my respective stepparents, Janice and Brian. Not a major
catastrophe, but panic started setting in, what if anything
else went wrong?
During all this, someone managed to sneak a photograph
of me with rollers in my hair and still in my dressing
gown, very attractive!
It was time for the finishing touches and to finally put
the dress on. It was so exciting. Dawn and my mum banished
everyone from my bedroom for this moment. My mum got all
sentimental on me, especially after she read the card
with the poem and special words I had written in it to
thank her for everything. I had given a card with a poem
in to my Dad the night before and also left cards for
H2B and my mother in law. I didn't realise the words in
them would have such an emotional effect on everyone!
But, I am a very emotional person myself anyway, so tears
were flowing freely.
We put the tiara on, then the petticoat, then the dress
and finally the veil, I felt wonderful, so special, you
cannot explain the feeling of the moment to anyone else.
Time for more videoing in the garden and more photographs.
It was a reasonably nice day, although sometimes the wind
picked up and kept blowing my veil all over the place,
but luckily Dawn was to hand.
Then, walking down the corridor to the garden, I caught
my dress on the bottom of one of the radiators and it
tore the tulle slightly. Tears welled up as my mum and
aunt rushed over. Dawn shoved a glass of Kir Royale in
my hand to calm me down as mum and Aunt Barb arranged
the dress so the tear wouldn't show.
Dress repaired, it was time for the last photographs at
the door with my Dad before we got into the cars. Paul
the video man asked my Dad to smile at me and tell me
how much he loved me, but my Dad and I just looked at
each other, arm in arm, he held my hand in his and said
"I don't need to tell you do I?" That was it,
big lumps in the throat and yet more tears!
We drove down the country lanes to the church, people
smiling and waving, and one passer by yelled "don't
do it"! We arrived 15 minutes early at the church….and
no-one was there, no guests and more importantly, no future
husband! My friend Dawn raced over and told the driver
to go round the block as everyone was still in the pub
opposite! Hmm, not convenient when the church is in the
middle of farms, fields and there isn't a corner to drive
round! Nevertheless, off we drove down more country lanes
while Dawn and Rob shouted at everyone and told them to
get a move on and get over to the church.
We arrived back at the church and this time, H2B was safely
inside and guests were walking up the path. This was more
like it. The bells were ringing, sun was shining and birds
were singing. A few more photos, a fix of the hair and
the veil and…..this was it. My Dad looked at me and
I looked at him and slipped my arm through his. The Reverend
(Alan Harding) asked if I was ready and I nodded. The
organist struck up the Bridal
Chorus and in we went. Because, it's a small, country
village church, every pew was taken; friends and family
smiling at me and saying hello. We got to the end and
Michael smiled at me and said "You look really beautiful"
and I replied "You're not so bad yourself"!
After that, the nerves slowly disappeared, everything
was worth it just for this moment.
 Our
first hymn was "Praise
my Soul the King of Heaven". I had been a bit
worried because it's a small church and there isn't a
choir. Instead, I had organised a soloist who started
all the hymns. With her powerful voice and the church
being full, every song sounded wonderful as everyone sang
to the tops of their lungs.
We then had 2 readings by my brother Stephen, and Mike's
sister Sue. I had let them choose their own readings and
they actually read poems rather than religious readings,
but the words were all about love, which was apt.
It was then on to the marriage service and being a traditional
girl I promised to "Love, Honour and Obey".
Mike was so nervous, he could hardly look at me throughout
his vows, but I looked at him throughout mine. We kissed
at the end of them, and the Vicar then finished his speech
and said "this is where I normally say kiss the bride,
but you've already done that"! We kissed again anyway!
Hymn number two was "Give
Me Joy in my Heart", which is an old favourite
of mine from Junior School!
During the signing of the register, the soloist sang Ave
Maria (Schubert) and then Panis
Angelicas (Franck). I was so engrossed in listening
to her amazing voice, I hardly heard a word the Vicar
said as he was explaining where and how we had to sign!
The last hymn "God
of all Living" has alternative wording about
marriage, sung to the tune of Morning Has Broken. By this
stage, Mike and I couldn't help smiling. The Vicar finished
the service by saying the Prayers of Blessing we had chosen.
The organist started the Recessional, Wedding
March from a Midsummer Night's Dream (by Mendelssohn)
The ushers handed round the bubbles,
which the adults enjoyed more than the children! More
photographs & confetti everywhere and then into the
cars and off to the Reception. The photographs went on
forever and we didn't really get much time to speak to
our guests as we were running about 45 minutes late. My
brother and Mike's sister had designed a quiz about Mike
and I to keep the guests entertained.
 The
marquee was amazing and people were commenting on the
cake I had chosen. It had Latin writing and flowers around
it. The Latin stood for "marry for love eternally"
(medius fidius et amare in aeternum).
The meal was delicious, although I could hardly eat. There
was lots of laughing and it was good to see everyone enjoying
themselves. The cameras
on the tables and the kiddie bags for the younger generation
had gone down a treat. All the Loveheart sweets that had
been on the tables (which some people had thought was
an odd idea at first) had disappeared as well!
Mike started his speech with "My Wife and I"
which received a big cheer! My Dad made a wonderful speech
and was very funny. Mike was touched by a few things said
by the Best Man, who is also his Dad! Lastly, it was my
turn. I made a few special thank yous of my own and then
read a Funny Poem to my Husband, 'Yes
I'll Marry You' written by Pam Ayers, which went down
very well.
We just finished the speeches as the evening guests started
arriving. We moved into the bar and then we had our first
dance "You're
still the one" by Shania Twain, followed by "From
this moment".
Everyone else gradually joined us and the tempo lifted.
The dance floor stayed packed all night with bodies gyrating
away. In between dancing, speaking to guests and trying
to go to the toilet (not easy in a big wedding dress),
Mike and I managed to grab a few kisses here and there
and few more dances, especially when "Brown
Eyed Girl" and "Going to Barbados"
was played. Everyone loved our rendition of Grease's "You're
the one that I want". We managed to sit down
for about 5 minutes before someone else would grab us
and drag us off somewhere else.
At 1.00am the disco had to end. Our friends decided to
have a karaoke competition (without backing music), girls
v boys. We were eventually thrown out by the staff and
told to vacate to the hotel bar.
Finally, at around 3.00am, Mike and I decided to be party
poopers and leave them to it and go to bed. Our suite
was lovely, aptly named Barbara Cartland as she used to
stay there. I didn't want to take my dress off, this meant
the day was officially over. But, off it came and Mike
helped take the clips out of my hair. Before going to
sleep, we decided to watch the swans in the lake in the
moonlight, all topped with a glass of champagne and a
toast to our new and long married life together. I couldn't
have asked for a better finish to the most perfect day.
Here are the poems and blessings read in our marriage
service:
True
Love
Where there is Love
Where there is love, the heart is light
Where there is love, the day is bright
Where there is love there is a song
To help when things are going wrong
Where there is love there is a smile
To make all things seem more worthwhile
Where there is love there is a quiet peace
A tranquil place where turmoils cease
Love changes darkness into light
And makes the heart take wingless flight.
Irish
Blessing
Do differently: Absolutely nothing! I had a really
wonderful time. Seeing our guests enjoying themselves
made all the hard preparation worthwhile. It really was
the best day of my life, I wanted it to last forever.
Groom's comments: Alison looked so beautiful, I
had to hold back the emotions whilst saying my vows and
couldn't look at her in case I broke down! I had a wonderful
day and it really was down to Alison's hard work and efforts.
Everything was superb and our guests are still talking
about it now. That says it all really!
Comments: Try and have a weekend away with each
other about 1 month before and don't talk about the wedding!
It helps you unwind before the last minute panic sets
in!
Remember, it's your day at the end of it, so don't be
pressurised into anything you don't want, or as last resort...compromise!
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If
you would like to contact Alison and Michael, you can e-mail
them.
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