The Wedding Day: 25th March 2014
I awoke to the distant sound of a beeping alarm clock in the next room and realising that my own lego
darth vader clock still sat silent by the side of the bed I decided
not to move. I must have closed my eyes because I opened my eyes
again when I heard the same clock going off sometime later. Hearing
a groan and then footsteps I realised that Tony was getting out of
bed in order to get his son set for school. This was the start of a
big day for Tony too and I knew that he wanted it to be perfect.
My own clock started a few minutes
later. I realised it was now 7.00am and I literally sprang out of
bed with excitement. This was the day I had been waiting years for,
my wedding day. I was finally marrying the woman of my dreams and
the adrenaline that was running through me was like nothing I have
ever experienced.
I walked across the landing to the tip
that was his son Kieran's room and popped my head round the door. I
saw a sleeping lump covered in an array of various bed covers and
when he opened his eyes and saw me I got a grunt. No idea what it
was, but it grunted.. I spoke to him for a few minutes and
afterwards proceeded downstairs where Tony was waiting with the most
welcome thing possible, my first cup of tea.
Usually it takes me two cups of tea
before I am able to function but today was different. I found myself
able to open my eyes and have a conversation without having a sip.
Strange what excitement and anticipation can do.
I looked out the back patio door and
saw my sister standing on our decking. I was fortunate that we lived
next to my best man and I had spent the previous evening and night
here, as is the custom. I didn't want to catch even the slightest
glimpse of my bride as I knew that it was considered bad luck. I
spoke to Mandi briefly on the decking and she informed me that
everyone but her was still asleep. This made me smile because I knew
that my soon to be wife Deb had a very busy day ahead of her.
After talking to Tony for a while he
left to drop Kieran of at his mates house because Tony was not going
to be available all day. When he returned we had another drink and
talked some more to pass the time. By 9.30 I knew that Deb would be
down the town as her make up for the wedding was booked for 9.00am.
Jeff turned up just after and once again we talked for a few. We had
a sausage sandwich that was prepared next door and handed over the
fence. I don't normally eat that sort of thing for breakfast but I
knew I needed something as our wedding breakfast wasn't planned until
16.30. At almost 10.00am Tony dropped me at my mum's house to shower
and get into my suit. As I entered her flat I caught a glimpse of my
nephew Michael. He looked smart and a little excited about coming to
our wedding. We exchanged a few words and while Tony was checking on
his dad I decided to shower. I have no idea why because it is not
something I normally do but I spent the whole time in the shower
singing. Cant remember what I sang but I do remember singing. When
I went to get ready after my shower I heard Tony enter the flat and
he was directed into the room where I was so he too could get into
his suit. The suits were very smart. They were a light grey and
were accompanied by a waistcoat and cravat. The shirt was purple and
my outfit was finished with a nice smart pair of black shoes that I
had brought for my wedding. I felt refreshed and after adding Deb's
favourite fragrance, which was Davidoff Cool Water, I felt ready to
face the world. My mum was already in her outfit and after another
cup of tea we returned to Tony's house to wait some more.
I kept taking my glasses off on the
journey as I still didn't want to catch a glimpse of Deb, even by
accident.
A few minutes after returning at about
11.15am another of our friends arrived in the form of Ely, who is
Kieran's elder brother, and Rebecca, who is Ely's girlfriend. She
went round to our house and Ely stayed with us. Everyone kept asking
me if I was nervous or if the nerves had set in and I honestly told
them that there were no nerves, only excitement and anticipation.
They seemed surprised but as I explained I had been waiting for this
moment for years and there was no doubt in my mind that I wanted to
get married, no second thoughts, no itchy fingers, no sweating palms,
nothing. This was the day of my dreams.
We were sitting talking when in burst
Rebecca to inform us of the plan. I was to wait in the house until
about 12.30 after Deb and her dad Bryan had left in the first car. Rebecca would
then knock on Tony's door to tell me it was safe to come out and get
in the second car. Good plan? Well almost. You see there was one
little flaw in it, namely that because Tony was my best man and he
was taking his dad Mick, Jeff, Ely and Rebecca in his car, then he
would have to leave at about 11.45 and the two wedding cars were not
due until 12.30. Rebecca disappeared with this news and returned a
few minutes later with the new plan, namely that my sister Mandi, who
was also Matron of Honor, would knock on the door as she also was
travelling in the second car.
After Rebecca and Ely posed for a quick
photo, which I took, all of them left and I found myself all alone in
the house with almost forty-five minutes to kill. There was nothing
for it but to switch on my ipad that I had brought round the night
before. The night before it had been 100% charged, but because I had
been trying to pass time I had spent a fair while playing pointless
games and luckily there was just enough charge to see me through.
The knock on the door startled me and I
realised that my plan had worked and that forty-five minutes had
flown by. I opened the door to see a Mercedes waiting for me with
the door open. My sister Mandi and my mum got in the back and I got
in the front. Debs mum Pamela was the last out of our house and she
was having a problem locking the door. Very kindly the chauffeur
went to help her and we soon found out what the problem was. It's
very difficult trying to lock a door from the outside when someone
has left a key on the inside. Enough said.
It had been raining on and off all
morning and the journey to Leighton Hall was no different. Sometimes
the rain was drizzly but other times it threatened to get heavier.
We had been travelling about thirty minutes or so when I was warned
by the driver that we were about to pass the first wedding car with
Deb and Bryan in it. Quick as a flash I took my glasses off and
closed my eyes to avoid seeing them. Before you say it I don't know
why I took my glasses off and closed my eyes, it was a spur of the
moment thing I guess. Anyway it worked because a couple of minutes
later I was given the all clear and we continued on our journey. The
journey passed quite quickly and before I knew it we were turning in
to the grounds of Leighton Hall. As we drove down the long path that
leads to the hall I could see my best man Tony standing outside
waiting for me as arranged. I had told him that I would be bringing
my stick to help me balance, I lied. All along I had no intention of
bringing it but had to lie to avoid being told off. This was my
wedding day and I was determined to make it through the day without a
walking aid or medication, and I am happy to say I did.
As the car door opened and I stepped
out I was greeted by the lady of the house Mrs Suzie Reynolds who
beamed at me and welcomed me. Telling me that I looked dashing she
then escorted me into the main hall where our usher Paul was looking
stressed. In his hand he held a clipboard with various pieces of
paper including the guest list and instructions if something went
wrong, i.e. dj not turning up, photographer missing etc.. I walked
through the hallway and was directed to what is known as the red
room. Upon entering I was greeted by the celebrant who would be
conducting the service and the registrar who would be filling in the
registry. I was asked a few questions to confirm my identity and
after a few smiles and a little laughter I was told that I could make
my way to the music room, which was where the ceremony was taking
place. It was only a minutes walk and I could hear the lovely sound
of the piano as I got closer.
I entered the room and saw that almost
every chair was occupied. After a small nod to the pianist I made my
way to the front of the room where Tony was waiting for me. I had
arrived a few minutes late to the venue so I didn't expect it would
be long before I finally got to see my beautiful bride. I was wrong.
I was standing there for over ten
minutes and this was where it became obvious that I had no jacket
pockets because according to observers I looked like I was nervously
looking for somewhere to put my hands. To add to this little hiccup
my leg also started to go to sleep on me and so I had to continuously
move from foot to foot to keep feeling in it. I know this must have
made me look like I was doing a Elvis impression and all that was
short was me saying 'aaha'. I was starting to wonder what was going
on or if I was about to receive a message that would break my heart when
Pamela entered the room and took her seat on the front row. This
filled me with relief and a smile appeared on my lips.
I faced forward and a couple of minutes
later I heard the start of the wedding march and I waited in
anticipation. After it had been played through once I found myself
looking out of the corner of my eye to see if Deb and Bryan had
entered. After two attempts I gave up and just faced forward. I
heard a couple of gasps and I slowly turned round.
There coming towards me was the most
beautiful image I have ever seen in my life, or ever likely to. I am
a writer and a poet and I knew right then that no words existed on
this planet to describe how Deb looked. She literally took my breath
away and for a minute I thought I was in the wrong wedding, because
there was no way a vision like that could be walking to someone like
me, but she was. I stood for a couple of minutes as they drew close
to me and I looked deep into the eyes of the woman that was about to
agree to be my wife. In her eyes I could see that there was no
doubt, no hesitation, no second thoughts, this was it.
We stood for a couple of minutes and
the celebrant addressed us all. When it came to the moment where
Bryan released her hand to mine I could see genuine pride in his eyes
and he knew that I would do anything for his daughter and that the
love we shared was special and eternal.
We held hands and I felt tremors go
through me like I had never known. The excitement was immense and I
could not stop smiling. We listened and recited. We stared into
each others eyes and repeated everything that was asked. When it
came to the handing over of the rings there was a tiny hiccup. Tony
had left the pillow in the box and the two rings were so well
attached to it that we couldn't untie them. The entire congregation,
including us and the registrars laughed as Tony struggled to get them
loose. I helped him by saying my vows slowly to give him time to
untie the second ring. The ceremony resumed and when we made our
declarations we were pronounced husband and wife. I was in heaven.
This beauty that was standing beside me was now my wife.
I felt so amazing that I later told
Tony that if at that moment I had been struck by lightning that at
least my life would have been complete before it happened. There was
nothing I no longer wanted. I had the hand of my lovely Deb in
matrimony.
We sat and waited for the registrar to
prepare the register for us to sign. Deb had a bit of a job sitting
down as her train was quite long and kept getting in her way. At one
point the registrar pinned her to the floor by it. We had a few
photo's taken of us doing the real signing and then we pretended to
sign again while family and friends got some snaps. I made deb
giggle because after pretending to sign a couple of times I handed
her the pen and said 'Your turn babes, the pen has run out'
Well we sat for a while longer until
we were given our official marriage certificate and the other copies
which we had asked for.
It was now time for us to leave the
room and we did so to a cacophony of cheers and whistles. Our exit
music played and we made our way into the hall and across the
passageway to wait outside the small chapel that was concealed in one
of the rooms. I didn't know at the time but we had to wait until the
registrars had left before the doors to the chapel could be opened.
All the while Suzie kept asking people if they had left yet as our
vicar Father Damian was apparently waiting for us. After a few
minutes guests started milling past us and other than the selected
ones that were to be in the blessing with us, the rest made their way
into the hall where we had arranged for refreshments to be served.
We entered the Red room and sat around
for a few minutes before we were informed that we could now go to the
chapel. Upon entering we made our way to the front and the close
family took their places. Father Damian had a beaming smile as he
welcomed us and after a short service and a reading from Pamela we
were blessed and both of us felt more married, if that is possible.
We stayed behind for a couple of
minutes so Ashley could take some pictures of us in the chapel while
the rest of the people left.
As we re-entered the hall guests were
milling about and generally chatting and laughing which we were both
pleased to see and also family and friends that didn't know each
other were getting acquainted. Ashley informed us that it was still
raining outside but that he had an idea for a quick confetti shot.
Everyone gathered outside and while avoiding as much of the rain as
possible we stepped out of the front of Leighton hall to be greeted
by two showers, one of confetti and the other of rain. It was a
clever idea and having seen the photo's I can say that it worked
really well.
We also had time to have a couple of photo's taken in the official wedding car, a 1954 Austin Somerset, and it was a thing of beauty.
The next hour or so consisted of us
being taken into various rooms for more photos. Ashley was very
clever and arranged some really interesting shots and angles. The
guests meanwhile were all enjoying themselves and their laughter
could be heard all over the house.
At 4.30 Ashley asked us if we could
just spare another ten minutes before the wedding breakfast for a
special shot that consisted of all the men lifting deb horizontally
and draping her over their arms. It took a few to set up because
Bryan kept messing about and having us all in hysterics. Eventually
we got the shot and a few minutes later we entered the dining area
for our wedding breakfast.
Let me say to anyone who doesnt know
but Deb made all the decorations, from the table names, to the
menu's, from the candle bowl decorations to the crystals all over the
tables. She had even made two message boards. The first one was in
the main porch and was to inform people exactly what they were
attending. This was decorated with flowers and a butterfly and
looked amazing. The second one was a pure work of her brilliant
imagination. It was a fairly big board and on it were stuck the
table seating plans in the order that they were in the dining room.
Each one was a flower name and had the names of all the people
allocated on each card. This was then criss-crossed with various
coloured ribbon and finished with decorative butterflies. It was a
sight to behold I can tell you.
Well we sat down to the meal and once
again the room was filled with conversation. The food was exquisite
and I could see from looking around that not one person was
disappointed with it. The wine flowed and there was a lovely
atmosphere, relaxing and serene. The food came and went and the
coffee and chocolates were served. Deb had gone to mingle and chat
to various people and I had the opportunity to sit and reflect on the
day so far. It was hard to describe how I felt right then but seeing
all the guests, here for us. Hearing the laughter. Watching Deb as she
made her way from table to table. It filled me with such a wonderful
feeling that it brought a tear to my eye. She was like an angel and
it still amazed me that out of all the men in the world she had
chosen me and I felt more special that I had ever done in my life.
Well 6.30 soon came and it was time for
the speeches. Up stepped Bryan and straight away the room was rolling
with laughter as he pulled his speech from his pocket. Both me and
Deb had no idea what was to follow, so when he produced a roll of
toilet paper we literally cracked up. All week he had been
threatening to write his speech on toilet paper and here he was
producing it. After the laughter died down he handed it to Deb who
had hidden behind her hands and he produced his real speech.
Well he started by pretending he could
not read it and after messing with the paper for a few minutes and
uttering and muttering he finally started to read out and reveal his
true thoughts and feelings. Deb sat listening and I could see that
she was close to tears with what her dad was saying. He told her how
proud he was of her and he leaned down and kissed her. When he also
welcomed me into the family I pursed my lips and help my hands out.
The room literally exploded with laughter and Bryan made to leave the
room quickly. He finished off with a small story about Debs birth
and then he sat down and it was my turn.
I stood slowly looking out at the
gathered guests and started reading. I did the usual stuff, thanking
guests and staff. We handed out gifts to my best man Tony, Debs
matron of honour Mandi, both mums, Pamela and Elaine, the brides
father Bryan and our usher Paul. I also read out a couple of names
of people that were not there for various reasons, including my late
father and my sister Paula. I then went on to read out a poem that I had written
especially for Deb.
Describe a dream, it may come true
For what was lost, I found in you
Once I was blind, but now I see
A path to follow, my destiny
The grass it shall be greener
And no more blue could be the sky
Than how it is from this day forward
And if you ask the question why
I shall smile and say to you
You are my world, my heart, my life
No more could I want to make me
complete
Today you are my wife.
©Sonofdel 2014
When I finished Deb stood and hugged me
and she was crying again. I told her how much I loved her and when
she had sat back down I continued. It was usual light hearted stuff
about the day we met and it was greeted with small bits of laughter.
Almost at the end of my speech I finally mentioned two people that
in the years that me and Deb had been together had been behind us all
the way and we were both so sorry that they could not be there to
share our special day. We toasted our Auntie and Uncle, Pauline and
Tony Evans and after a few more words I handed over to Tony.
He also started in the traditional way
of thanking us for the gifts, telling us that we were a special
couple etc.... I say its expected but anyone there could tell that
the words were genuine and not just something copied. He was saying
how he felt and you could see it in his eyes. He got a few laughs
with comments about princes and frogs which most people know and
also with little snippets of events that happened in the eight years
we had known him.
Well after the speeches there was just
a little time to talk to some more guests and get a few more photo's
before the bar opened and the night time entertainment started. We
had told people not to buy us alcoholic drinks but if they did want
to then they could put a pound or two in our 'honeymoon' jar which we
had placed on the bar. The evening buffet was popular although we
didn't have any of it ourselves. We didn't lay on a big spread as
the wedding breakfast was just a couple of hours earlier and we knew
people would still be full from that.
The time to cut our magnificent wedding cake was now at hand and we were absolutely stunned by it. It had been made by Janet who was our friend Sarah's mum from Leicester. It was a three tier masterpiece of ribbon, icing and roses and it was on a silver spiral stand that had been personally decorated by Sarah with purple glitter and butterflies. It truly was amazing. Everyone had commented on it all day and when we told them that Janet had never made a wedding cake before it left some of them speechless. We enjoyed cutting the cake once we figured out the proper way to cut it.
A few minutes after 8.00pm the DJ
announced that we were to do our first dance. We had chosen Savage
Garden's I Knew I Loved You. It was personal to us as I sang it to
Deb on our first date. We held each other close and looked into each
others eyes as we danced. It was magical. As it came to an end we
were encouraged by the Dj to grab others and drag them onto the dance
floor, which we duly did. Everyone was full of smiles.
The next dance was a very poignant time
in the evening because it was the dance between Deb and Bryan. They
had chosen the classic Moon River by Andy Williams. It had a nice
slow tempo and they both waltzed to it. I couldn't hear what Bryan
said to Deb but by the time the record was over she was in floods of
tears, tears of joy and love.
Our first big surprise of the evening
came when two of our guests, our friend Ian and his girlfriend
Pauline arranged with the Dj to do an impromptu version of YMCA.
Everyone had a great laugh and Ian kept it going with snippets such
as 'come on' and 'you know the rest' spoken at a loud volume.
No one die of shock but I actually
decided to get up and dance myself and when the twist came on I tried
my best. I looked out of place but this was my wedding night and
nothing was going to stop me. After this I hung up my dancing shoes
for a while and spent an hour or so just chatting to various people.
Well the second surprise of the evening
came a short while later in the form of cousin Kate who amazed us
with her rendition of Sarah Mclachlan's 'Angel'. It was amazing and
I am sure that everyone who was still there was speechless. She has
a great voice and is currently trying to launch a singing career.
Good luck.
Well time flew by so fast and as it
approached 11.00pm we left the dance floor to get into our leaving
outfits. For me this consisted of just taking my waistcoat and
cravat off, but for Deb it meant finally getting out of her wedding
dress which she had been wearing for almost twelve hours. A few days
later while helping her to put it back into its dress cover I finally
found out just how heavy it was and believe me I was shocked. Almost
dislocated my shoulder holding it on the coat hanger. Well we got
into our outfits and proceeded back downstairs to the dance floor
where the DJ announced our last dance. We had chosen Christina
Perri's 'A Thousand Years'. I knew Deb would sing the lyrics as she
had sung it before but she was shocked when I sang them back to her.
She didn't know but for the last few weeks since deciding on the song
I had been secretly learning the lyrics. Well the final dance ended
and everyone came to hug us and say what a great day they had had.
Pamela approached me and placed an envelope in my hands and told me
that our destination was contained within. This was a nice surprise
that Bryan and Pamela had arranged for us. They said it was
traditional for the bride and groom to stay somewhere other than
there own home on their wedding night.
As we left to everyone's good wishes a
waiting taxi took us to our destination. I opened the envelope on
the journey and found a booking reservation for the Longlands Inn,
Carnforth. When we arrived we had to make our way to the bar because
by that time it was almost midnight and the main entrance was closed.
The receptionist booked us in and gave us a key with a security fob
for getting in and out of reception. We went upstairs and entered
our room which was number 11. Now I have seen king size beds and
queen size beds but this was the biggest bed I had ever seen in my
life. It was a bed for at least four people. I looked around the
room and noticed that there was no phone. As we had just been told
that breakfast was served between 7.30 and 9.30 we realised we had no
way to make sure we were awake. I decided to take a stroll back down
to reception and arrange a wake up call. I went downstairs and after
arranging a 8.00am shout I tried to go back upstairs. In my haste I
realised I had inadvertently left the security tag for the door
upstairs with Deb. I pondered my situation for a few minutes and
wondered how I was going to get through the door without looking like
a prize wally. Luckily at that moment through the glass door I saw
Deb coming downstairs toward me. It turned out that she was thirsty
and had not seen anything to drink in our room, so I was saved from
humiliation. We went back upstairs and finally had chance to sit and
talk about the day and how fast it had gone.
Before we left there had been a little
commotion about Debs stockings not being in a bag in the room we were
to change in and I had wondered what all the fuss was about. It was
only as we sat and talked that the reason became apparent. In the
missing bag with the stockings in, Deb had also secreted a surprise
present for me in the shape of an engraved pocket watch. It was
superb and is a lasting memento of the greatest day in my life, so
far.
Well we lay down and we did what I
think most married couples do on their wedding
night............................We fell asleep in each others arms,
worn out from a most amazing day.
