I made all the bouquets - and that was the look I was going for!!

Here's the wedding report - be warned it's very long!!!

It all started on Thursday night, when I left work for the last time as a single woman, and drove home with my three housemates who I have been living with for the past year. It was a fun journey down, and really got me in the party mood!! We arrived at my parents about 9pm, and after introducing them to my family, we set about sorting out some of the last minute details of things that needed to be done on the Friday and Saturday morning.

Two of my housemates were staying across the road with friends, and one was staying with my family. It was lovely to sleep in my own bed again, but a little strange knowing that I would only be sleeping there one more night as a single woman!! I got really excited when I went to bed because there were two massive boxes of presents that had been sent to my home address, and my wedding dress was hanging up – couldn’t believe after all the waiting it was only two days away. Had a really good nights sleep, but woke up really early. Went to the supermarket to get breakfast with my sister, and then went home. All the helpers (three housemates, two sisters, parents and a couple of friends) had arrived for breakfast and for a briefing on the plan for the day – rather like a military organisation!!!

After breakfast we went to the village hall (where the reception was being held) to start setting it up and decorating it. It looked much bigger than I had remembered, but I suppose that was partly because it was empty. We needed 15 tables, and guess what – there were exactly 15 round tables – obviously it was meant to be!! Once the tables and chairs were out, then it looked a lot more like a reception venue. Then Alan (H2B then, but now husband!!), Sonia (his sister who was a bridesmaid) and Simon (one of Alan’s best friends) arrived to help finish off setting up the hall. Then it all started to happen – crockery, cutlery, glasses and tablecloths arrived, which meant we could get most things organised. One of my friends was an absolute saint and ironed all the tablecloths, which were rather creased from being folded up. We finished laying the tables, and once the glasses were all out with the napkins in them, it looked really good. We had tea lights from IKEA, and my sister painted some vases, which looked brilliant, apart from having no flowers in them!!!

We were all a little tired and hungry by then, so we went home for lunch in the garden, which was lovely until it started to rain – not a good omen for the next day!! The flowers arrived in the afternoon, and then it really felt like it was happening. They smelt so beautiful, and made the house feel like a florist!! So I spent the next hour with one of my friends taking the prickles off the roses, which mean I had little holes in all my fingertips!! Then we had dinner, and that was a really sociable affair, as one of the best men arrived. Very surreal thinking that the next dinner I would have would be at the reception!

Then we went to the church for the rehearsal – I was absolutely stunned by the flowers – they were so beautiful. Mum had said that we weren’t going to have flowers on the pillars, and they had done them in secret. And they had put flowers round the archway into the church that just looked stunning. The rehearsal itself was a little surreal, and while we were holding hands and making our vows Alan kept tickling my hand, so I was laughing all the way through!!

After the rehearsal, the plan was to go to the pub to meet all the friends who had been helping out but weren’t at the rehearsal, but instead I said goodbye to Alan – not as emotional as I thought it would be – and then I went home. We decided that florists were expensive, and so we made the bouquets and buttonholes ourselves. It took me about three hours to make three bridesmaids bouquets and my bouquet, and at the end, they looked stunning, all in a bucket together!! I’d almost finished when my friends got back from the pub, and they helped me finish off the bouquets, and then we cleared up. Stayed up quite late and then realised that I needed to wash my hair as I couldn’t wash it in the morning because of having my hair done.

I actually slept really well – I was a little worried about not having enough sleep, but it wasn’t a problem. I woke up just after 6am, and decided to get up, as I really couldn’t stay in bed any longer!! My Mum came down soon after, so we sat in the garden (it was lovely and sunny) drinking tea in our pyjamas. The flowers still looked gorgeous even though they had been in water overnight, and the florist had given us some spray to help keep them looking fresh, so I sprayed them, and all the flowers for the buttonholes.

I ate quite a lot as I thought I’d probably not be hungry later, and then made the buttonholes. I was clearing up the flowers and there were a few left over, so I made corsages for my Mum and Alan’s Mum.

Then everyone else started to get up and have breakfast, and before I knew it, it was time for Polly (my sister and a bridesmaid) to go to the hairdresser. I decided to go with her, as she didn’t really know what she wanted, and I felt the need to escape the madness at home. She ended up having her hair put up with flowers in it, and it looked stunning. We then went home and I ate more – couldn’t understand my appetite that day!! Then I had to go back to the hairdresser for my hair to be done, which wasn’t too bad as I’d already been for a practice. I even saw one of Mum’s friends there who was getting her hair cut!! Then Hannah (my other sister and chief bridesmaid) came to the hairdresser, and I waited with her. I was looking out of the door, and happened to see my uncle walking along the street. I’ve not seen him for about two years as he’s been working in Siberia, so it was good to see him.

Then Hannah and I went home, and we trimmed the bouquets and put ribbon round them. Then we had lunch, and Virginia (my best friend from uni and the photographer) turned up. She’d come with some other uni friends, and while I was out in the street, Alan, Rick (best man) and Suze (his girlfriend) were driving past. Luckily for me, It was so nice having her take the photos as she helped me get into my dress and then we took lots of photos in the garden – it just felt so natural with her behind the camera.

Eventually everyone was ready and we had some family photos in the garden, and before we knew it, the car had arrived. One of Dad’s friends was driving, so that was really nice. The bridesmaids and Virginia left together, and then Mum, Dad and I waited for it to come back for us. Dad has been really ill for a couple of years, and so Mum wanted to be there to help him and to lock up the house, as I was a little useless in my rather large dress!!! Mum took some good photos of Dad and me outside the house, and a brilliant one of my Dad in Mum’s hat!!

The car came back, but we were a bit early – it was only 3.15pm, and the wedding was at 3.30pm, and it’s only a 3-minute walk to the church!! Eventually got in the car and left for the church. I felt like a princess – everyone waved as we went past, and people beeped at us. We got to the church and had a few more photos, and the vicar came out to meet us. The bridesmaids were already there, and had been saying hello to lots of people. We were about to go in when one of my friends, not renowned for his punctuality, turned up!!

THe rest is following in the next thread!

Here's the rest of it!!

Then we went to the door, and waited for the music to begin. I couldn’t quite believe how many people were there, and that I knew all of them!! Seems that my brain had managed to forget sending out the hundreds of invitations!! I just kept seeing more and more friends who were smiling so much, and I eventually got to the bottom of the aisle we’d come in the side door as it’s the normal entrance) and I saw Alan for the first time. He took a while to turn round, but when he did, he had the biggest smile on his face!! I was so pleased to see him, but I did take notice of all the other people who were there. I just couldn’t believe that all these people were there for us, and wanted to celebrate one of the best days of our lives.

The service went without too much of a hitch, although Alan did cry during his vows (I just managed not to) and he dropped my ring – luckily the grating in the floor was far enough away for it not to roll into it!! We just had a wonderful time and the music was just amazing. I felt so at ease and not at all scared, and relaxed in front of all the people who we love and care about.

We left the church, and went out into the most fantastic sunshine, and then I was completely overwhelmed by the number of cameras – don’t think I could cope with being famous!! We got a lot more photos of different groups of people than we’d planned, which was really good, and then we left for the reception in the car. That was one of the best bits of the day – we had some time to ourselves and really enjoyed just being together.

When we arrived at the reception, there were quite a lot of people there already, and it was nice to be able to gradually talk to everyone. We had champagne and canapés, which were just delicious, and well worth the wait. I was so thirsty that I just drank water!!

After a while, people started to sit down, and then the vicar said grace, but Alan and I waited outside and then walked in together, and we got a huge round of applause that was lovely. The meal was wonderful – so much hard work had gone into it, and it was delicious. I didn’t eat much, and in between courses I went round the tables talking to people, as I didn’t want to forget anyone.

Then we cut the cake, and again, I haven’t seen so many cameras. And the cake was stunning – just so simple, and beautiful with flowers on it. And really delicious too!! Then came the speeches. My uncle did the first one, as my Dad has been ill and didn’t want to do one. It was just wonderful – quite short, but really sweet, and he even did some in Chinese (Alan is Chinese and my uncle lived there for a couple of years) so that impressed the in–laws!!! Then Alan did a speech, and it was really good – very funny (all true!) and quite emotional. He was working up to an emotional climax, and then he got my name wrong – he used my maiden name instead of my married one, so that sent everyone into fits of laughter!!! Alan had two best men, whose speeches were pretty good, and not too offensive!!

Then we had a ceilidh, which was just brilliant. Almost everyone danced, which was excellent, and we really enjoyed it. A lot of the dances are the ones where you swap partners, so I managed to speak to most of the men there at least, and Alan spoke to most of the women!! And we had Strip the Willow as our last dance, which was mad, and a little crazy, but just how we wanted it. Then we went outside and I threw my bouquet – one of my closest friends who has been incredibly supportive through all the stress and family arguments caught it, which is just perfect.

Then we left, and went to our hotel, and we spent ages talking and generally discussing the day – it was the perfect end to a perfect day.

Fantastic report thank you!
It sounds like everything was perfect as it should be
Good luck to you both
Love Mrs B x

Alice, the photos look great! Congratulations!

N xxx

__________________
Nikki and Nick married 14/12/02
George Nicholas Smith born 23.9.03
Leo Philip Smith born 20.3.05

"Help!" said Eddy
"I'm scared already.
I want my bed
I want my teddy"



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