So the carts came to take us away. Everything was going smoothly, if a little late. (what bride isn't a little late?!)
THEN.......
I realised I didn't have my vows on me. They were in my bag.
Being the ever reasonable person I am, I made them stop the carts so I could ask my ever efficient organiser bridesmaid (EEOB) where my bag was (all the while, in my head Im screaming & running around with my hands in the air!). My bag, it turned out, had already made its way to the reception. So, being the ever reasonable bride that I was I refused to go any further. What?! It was reasonable! I was NOT going up there, to our gorgeous rainforest setting, where everyone was waiting, without my vows that I had written from my heart. The exact words I wanted to say at the exact right moment. The vows I wanted to make, to my husband to be, in front of all our friends and family. So, NO, I was NOT going any further without them!
Thankfully, a staff member or possibly EEOB's hubby (I think, this stage is rather fuzzy thanks to the almost panic attack I was having!), rushed inside and up to our reception room and grabbed my vows, which were hastily stuffed down EEOB's cleavage, and once again the carts were on the move!
But things still were not going smoothly. Our Mini Miss was chucking the biggest of tantrums! One, even the richest of princesses could be proud of. She was upset that she was not allowed to drive the golf cart herself...and no amount of cuddling, comforting, distracting or reasoning was going to stop her rant! She wanted to drive that damn cart!! But the show had to go on, and so it did, screaming toddler and all!
We arrived at the rainforest. I could see all our friends and family waiting patiently (I hope!) in their chairs, my Dad, pacing waiting for me to arrive, and possibly wondering if I had done a runner, our Pastor, smiling and chatting to the groomsmen, and through the leaves of the trees, my husband to be, carefully being kept in a position that stopped any chance of him catching a glimpse of me!
Cue a flurry of activity as I was helped out of the golf cart, kissed by my emotional Dad, fluffed and straightened and primped by my bridesmaids, given an excited look by Miss Teen and then.....
The music started.
I felt sick. I felt dizzy. I felt terrified. What the hell was I thinking?!! I couldn't do this!
Suddenly I wasn't worried about Dad tripping down the aisle, but me. Suddenly I was worried I was going to faint.....I couldn't breathe.
I focused on the timing of the music. "go..." I said to each of my best friends as their turn came to be the centre of attention for a moment. I smiled at them as they went. Then waited....and there was my cue. With a slight stutter in my step, off we went, Dad & I, arm in arm, walking slowly to the music.
I tried to smile at people. I tried to catch eyes & say thank you with a smile. But all I could really muster was a smile, and possibly a giggle or two. I wasn't clearly aware of who I saw...they were all a blurry mess of smiling faces....then finally I locked on to the one face I wanted to see. Needed to see in that moment. Had I not found him right then, I could imagine, in the the style of The Runaway Bride, me hitching up my dress, turning on my very high heels and running out of there, grabbing a golf cart and taking off! Instead I found his face.
Hubby to be.
And suddenly everything was fine. All the guests disappeared, and for a moment, it was just him and me. All I could see in his eyes was love. For me. True and honest love. He really wanted this as much as I did. THAT, right there was my fear, the cause of all my nerves. I was worried, deep down, that he was marrying me out of some stupid obligation. I had given him a baby, a family, so he thought he'd best "do the right thing".
I
n that one glance, that one moment, I KNEW he loved me as much as I loved him. Maybe more. He couldn't wait to start this next stage of life. With me.
The next 1/2 hour is a blur, tinged with laughter and tears of joy. Laughter as EOB retrieved my vows from her cleavage for me to read. Some laughter and tears of joy as my poor speechless almost husband tried to respond to my vows with his own. Joy and special moments as we signed the register, then, finally, we were announced as husband and wife & we kissed. And we stood there, in front of everyone apparently, but all alone, and just soaked it up. We were married. Joined in front of all our friends, promised and committed in front of God, and blessed. So blessed.
We walked up the aisle as husband and wife. So many people congratulating us and covering us in bubbles (I really love bubbles, so much cooler than eye piercing uncooked rice!) and cheers. There was congratulation hugs and kisses from family, then friends, then some quick photos, then we were off in our carts again, to take some professional shots and really, start the celebrations!
So, a little over 6 months ago, I got married.. Hence the lovely picture at the top of the blog!!!
And I still haven't written about it! It was a crazy day, and I have to say for the first weeks after we got married, I would look back on that day and simply see a blur of happiness, joy, tears, people, colours and lights....and in the centre of it all, clear and in focus....my husband.
Now I have had time to process it. Look at photos, both taken by friends and family and our professional ones. I have watched the video and laughed and cried along with it. Now I feel like I can remember enough about the moments to write about it!!
Watch a short 5 min summary of our day HERE!
Our Wedding Day was more like a wedding weekend. Friends started arriving on the Wednesday to help us prepare and get organised. On the Friday night we had a pre wedding dinner with friends and family from all over. I was hoping it was going to be a chance to say hello to everyone and catch up with those I hadn't seen in such a long time. It was. Sort of. Like the actual day, it wasn't long enough. But it was a night full of fun, laughs. Hubby met some of my long lost friends, I met some of his. We all got to know each other. This was particularly helpful for the bridal party who came from all corners of Australia...from Townsville QLD to Melbourne VIC! They hadn't met each other before (well, the bridesmaids had).
Miss Teen and I stayed at Bonville Golf Resort on the Friday night before the wedding, the place of the event. We had an awesome night, just the 2 of us. Having been a single mum for 9 years, Miss Teen and I relived our past, hanging out in a hotel room, being silly, watching tv and talking, eating stuff from the mini and giggling. We had spas (unlike when she was little though, we had them separately lol!), and generally primped and preened ourselves for the big day.
We woke up reasonably early, and headed up to the main house for breakfast. I was surprisingly calm. I had had a good nights sleep, I was relaxed. I was able to eat a decent meal, which was good, seeing as I barely ate the rest of the day! Miss Teen was bubbly and excited! She could not wait to see me walk down and aisle and marry Hubby. She already called him Dad and treated him like Dad, in both the good and bad ways!
We headed back to our room and the girls started to arrive! Then the hair and make up people arrived and the getting ready began! It was so much fun! There was bubbly, there was laughter, these was strawberries dipped in chocolate and a cheese platter, both barely got touched! But the bubbly, well, it got touched....a lot!
We rehearsed our big moment, the Thriller Dance together. My photographer thought it was hilarious that we were dancing in the middle of the guest carpark! In fact, we stopped traffic with our awesome moves....ok, well, we stopped golf buggys....and maybe there was more laughing than awe....but hey, we had fun!
With my hair and make up in place, it was time to put on the ugly, but practical, and very useful "suck in the bad bits" underwear and don THE DRESS!
NOW.....Now the nerves hit!
As my bridesmaids, who were already dressed themselves helped me into my gown, as the tucked in all my bits, grabbed and pulled and shifted my bust, as they held onto me and pulled the ties tight on my corset style gown (which was hilarious to watch, and be apart of by the way!!) the reality hit. This right here, right now was my dream. I was marrying the man I loved with all my heart. The man, whom from the first moment I set eyes on him, stole my heart. The man, I knew from the very beginning was my soul mate. And I was scared! I was terrified! I have no idea why. I guess this is the cold feet they talk about. I felt dizzy, I felt sick (although the bottle of champagne I had already consumed may have contributed to that!). Suddenly, even though I was already 37, I didn't feel like I was ready. But, I also wasn't going to let the man I love down. I wasn't going to leave him standing there wondering what the hell happened. So, regardless of my nerves, I was doing this!! There was no getting out of it, not that I really wanted to.
So rather than let the fear and nerves overwhelm me, I handed out my bridesmaid gifts...they included their jewelry, a special personalised note to each of them, and, of course, a matching doll! Yes, thats right. A doll! These are no ordinary dolls. Those who have followed me for a while, or who know me, know I LOVE handmade dolls. My favorite doll maker Sam from Monkey Hugs had made all my girls, including flower girls matching dolls (she even made me one for me as a special surprise!!!). Another favorite handmaiden, Sharna from Sugar Punkz had also made likenesses of Hubby and myself, and they sat proudly on a table at the reception.
We had photos and suddenly the golf carts arrived to take us to the ceremony. This was it. Step into the cart, step into my new life as a Wife............
To Be Continued....obviously.......
I am going to a small series on this very special day, and our honeymoon, otherwise this one blog would be ridiculously long! I have so much to share, so many funny moments, so many happy moments...and of course, all there is to know about our themed reception!!
