Our wedding :)

Just over 4 weeks ago I married the most awesome man on the planet and had the best weekend of my life. In case you're curious, here's how it all played out…

A few of us went down to Surrey the Friday before, mostly to decorate the hall but also to check into our hotels and do a rehearsal. Setting up took a lot longer than anticipated and I am hugely grateful to those who helped (especially mine and Mitch's parents, Mitch's best man and his wife and our long-time friend George), I honestly don't know how we'd have managed without them! After setting up we took a break in the local pub not 5 minutes walk away, where I consumed (a couple of pints and) a deep-fried mac'n'cheese burger. I know it sounds disgusting but oh my god, it was guuuuuud. Bellies full we returned to the hall for a rehearsal before I said goodbye to Mitch and we all went to our separate hotels.

I was awake at 5:30 the next day - part nerves, mostly excitement - and managed a piece of toast at breakfast. I cannot tell you how nice it was to have breakfast with everyone (there was a whole bunch of us staying at the same hotel), it totally chilled me out and I didn't feel worried or stressed at all by the time I went back to my room to get ready. My three beautiful bridesmaids joined me for champagne, make-up and hair (one of them actually did my hair for me!) before my mum arrived to help me into the dress.  Let me tell you: I felt fan-fucking-tastic in my dress. I want to wear it all. the. time. 

My dad's friend, Alan, drives a white rolls royce and v.kindly offered to drive me and my dad to the register office in Guildford and then, after the ceremony, take Mitch and I to the hall in Witley. He'd even decorated the car with ribbons and flowers AND left a bottle of champers for us on the way to the hall. I was and still am so very grateful to him - thank Alan!

I arrived at the register office to find that Mitch was already there (so many bonus points). The lovely people at the registry office had him hidden away so that he wouldn't see me before the little "ceremony". After some pictures in the cute garden at the front of the building and bit of admin stuff for the marriage certificates, it was all systems go! Everyone (I say everyone but it was really only 12 of us in total) went into the room to wait for my dad and I to make an entrance. (In case you're curious, we walked in to this piece of music from True Romance.)

Although the register ceremony was short and concise, I caught myself by surprise and had my first (of many) happy crying sessions of the day during the declaration. I honestly hadn't expected to cry but I think it just dawned on me what we were doing (I know that sounds ridiculous but it's true). We took a few pictures fake signing the registrar's book (you can't have pictures signing the real one for some reason) and then we went outside, took a few more pictures and got into the cars to drive to the hall. Having only a handful of people at this official bit was perfect, it sort of eased us into the rest of the day. It also meant that the party could really start. The drive to the hall in that beautiful car gave Mitch and me a chance to catch-up with each other, it was immensely calming and chilled.

We'd set up the hall so that we could perform another ceremony, that way all our 85 guests could witness what had happened at the registrar's. Of course we were already married but this ceremony was much more personal. This time I walked down the aisle to Eels. Our friend George, who we'd lived with in Surbiton gave a wonderful opening speech and then lead the ceremony before Mitch and I read our own-written vows to each other. It all got pretty emotional :)

We led all the guests outside, with Karen O blasting out in the background. After the ceremony we all hung out on the green next to the hall so that our caterers could set up the tables. Thankfully it was a beautifully sunny and warm day, the local cricket team were even out playing on the lawn. A couple hours of milling about and A LOT of photographs later, it was time to head inside but not to eat. The caterers were running a little behind and I was just wondering whether we should ask them how long they were going to be when two of the wait staff burst into song! Turns out they weren't wait staff but professional singers who Mitch had hired - unbeknownst to anyone - to entertain us! It took me a couple of songs to get into it (and over the shock) but after that I thoroughly enjoyed it. They did a few from Les Mis (pretty relevant as that's what Mitch and I saw on Jan 1st in NYC the morning after he proposed) - I can't deny that my husband is seriously bloody romantic :)

Next, food! Although it was late, it was worth waiting for. Mitch and I had our heart set on a v.causal sit down meal so that's exactly what we did - spicy pulled pork buns with coleslaw and salads, along with veggie and fish options. It felt pretty ace to be sitting there in my beautiful dress, stuffing my face with a messy pork bun! After the chow down the caterers gave out little tubs of ice cream and we settled in for the speeches - my dad first, then the best man and then Mitch. All three were v.different but equally awesome, emotional and funny (thanks guys). Afterwards Mitch and I attempted to go around all the tables to say hello to everyone. We didn't quite manage this as there were just so many people to talk to - a common theme of the day - also, we had one more bit of entertainment to roll out before the evening: Movie Bingo. As massive fans of Jess Indeedy's Musical Bingo nights we though it'd be fun to have a go at a film music one. Mitch created a playlist of movie songs (along with some dialogue from each film to make it a bit easier) and the guests crossed them off on their bingo cards in order to win one of three prizes. Each table got a big bowl of popcorn too!

By the time the bingo had finished the band had arrived so all that was left to do was cut the cake (we had a lot of choice as friends and family had contributed a fair few) and take our places for our first dance. Mitch and I, as may be obvious now, are big film fans and one of our ultimate favourites is Back to the Future so what with having a live band, specialising in 50s and 60s tunes, our first dance couldn't have been anything but Earth Angel from the Enchantment Under the Sea Dance. It was perfect.

The rest of the night was a bit of a blur but involved LOTS of dancing (the music was sooooo good - I think nearly everyone had a dance), trips to the photobooth (completely set up by Mitch and his best man - fabulous IT geniuses that they are), chatting to people and generally having the best time ever. The last of us locked up the hall at about 1ish and headed back to our hotels.

The next day a core group of family and friends stayed to dismantle/clean the hall. I am eternally grateful to these awesome people, I don't know what we'd have done without them, they did such a good job that we were home by about 2pm. That afternoon, once we'd got home, Mitch and I opened everyone's cards which turned out to be an emotional task. Everyone's lovely comments and honeymoon contributions were rather overwhelming. All I can say is that Mitch and I are unbelievably lucky to be surrounded by such a bloody amazing set of family and friends - they, along with Mitch, really made that weekend the best one I've ever had. Fittingly, I think that's what's most important about a wedding, you don't need all that "traditional" stuff or a fancy bar (BYOB went down fairly well at ours I think) or even a stunning location, and it doesn't matter if the chairs aren't the ones you ordered or that the food is late because all that really matters is that you're marrying that ultimate person who you want to spend the rest of your life with, and that all those you love and who love you are there to celebrate and share in that almost euphoric joy.

Mush fest over :) X