As I left the room I discovered my dress was catching under the front of my shoes a little. This had been fixed when I’d had it taken in but I must’ve lost another inch or so. At this point there was nothing I could do but heave it up and clamp my arm down to keep it from dropping down. Didn’t stop me having a freak out on the stairs and trying to run back up though.
I reached the hall and there was my dad with Amber, who had insisted going downstairs earlier with my mum rather than staying with me. It turns out that as the clock struck 2, that time and date I’d been waiting for for so long, Amber turns to my mum and says ‘I need a pooh!’ Good job I was running late after all!
We had a quick word with the registrar. When she asked my name, I answered, but when she asked my age, I did not have the foggiest idea, and it was left to my Dad to do some quick sums. Then we lined up. My mouth went dry and I inexplicably began to demand a chewy! Even from the poor hotel girl who was only there to open the door! ‘I need a CHEWY!!’ Again it was left to my Dad who was the only one brave enough to say ‘no you don’t, stop it!’
Thank God nobody let me chew up the aisle and through my vows!
As I left the room I discovered my dress was catching under the front of my shoes a little. This had been fixed when I’d had it taken in but I must’ve lost another inch or so. At this point there was nothing I could do but heave it up and clamp my arm down to keep it from dropping down. Didn’t stop me having a freak out on the stairs and trying to run back up though.
I reached the hall and there was my dad with Amber, who had insisted going downstairs earlier with my mum rather than staying with me. It turns out that as the clock struck 2, that time and date I’d been waiting for for so long, Amber turns to my mum and says ‘I need a pooh!’ Good job I was running late after all!
We had a quick word with the registrar. When she asked my name, I answered, but when she asked my age, I did not have the foggiest idea, and it was left to my Dad to do some quick sums. Then we lined up. My mouth went dry and I inexplicably began to demand a chewy! Even from the poor hotel girl who was only there to open the door! ‘I need a CHEWY!!’ Again it was left to my Dad who was the only one brave enough to say ‘no you don’t, stop it!’
Thank God nobody let me chew up the aisle and through my vows!
The string quartet started Pachelbels Canon in D and the doors opened and there was everyone looking at me and cameras flashing. The girls walked in first, Amber was an angel. She must’ve been overwhelmed just the same as me, but she just went with it bless her.
I couldn’t see D from where I was. I’d made a note to take my time and look and smile at people as I walked. I tried, but I couldn’t see. I saw faces and flashes, but the only one I recognised was D who was looking at me with tears in his eyes. That’s the only time I welled up. When I reached him I gave a completely involuntary sob (the registrar handed me a tissue which I shortly passed to Amber to mind) and then we kissed and clung to each other, giggling.
I have to look back on a video my brother took to see what I actually vowed to do. That bit was a blur, but I do remember when D was saying his bit, the little voice of Amber piped up saying ‘give the tissue to Daddy’. The whole ceremony was relaxed and friendly. A family friend did the reading ‘I Do’ by Pam Ayres which had everyone laughing, and as I was putting the ring on D’s finger, the registrar said, in a very solemn tone ‘Is it securely on?’
We had another reading from Captain Corelli’s Mandolin by D’s niece then the signing of the register. I was relaxed again by this time, and thoroughly enjoying myself. We exited to ‘It’s a wonderful World’ and had Pimms, hugs and photographs for the next hour or so until the wedding breakfast.
Our guests were taken through to their seats while we waited to be announced as Mr and Mrs C. A waitress said she would walk in and around to the left and we were to follow. That way she could take us the best way round to the top table. We nodded and fully understood. Then when the doors opened and the girl walked in, we marched blindly onwards, smiling and laughing, until we reached the wrong side of the top table. Only then did we remember we were supposed to follow her. D and I fell about laughing but nobody else realised what we’d done…until we told them all later.
Speeches came first. My Dad, who is a bit on the quiet side, had been worrying about the speech. He’d insisted he would only be able to say a few words, which I was more than happy with. Well, he blew the other two out of the water. D wasn’t nervous about speaking and reckoned he’d wing it, and managed about 60 seconds of thank yous before giving up. The best man, who had practiced his and had it all down on cards in his back pocket, suddenly chickened out and said he’d had one prepared but had lost it! Everyone laughed. The women because they felt sorry for him, and the men because they knew this wasn’t true, they’d been teasing him about the speech all morning.
Anyway, my Dad, the one everyone thought would speak for the least time, had the room laughing one minute, so quiet you could hear a pin drop the next, and the women in tears at the end. He finished his speech with a few words of advice;
Rather than argue pointlessly…agree to disagree…say sorry and mean it if you’re in the wrong.
Treasure the good times, their memories will help see you through the bad ones
Try to keep a sense of humour and where possible, see the funny side of things. And be prepared to laugh at yourself
Share each others experiences, even though you don’t always have to do things together. Listen to what the other has to say; at the same time give each other space. Be Friends
03/06/09
Married since 14th April 2012
Read my wedding report here