A report of my intimate, quiet and unconventional wedding!
:happyspin: :justmarried: :justmarried: Well, we have been married for 2 weeks, 2 days and 10 hours actually :lol1: As promised, here is a report of our big day!....it is not a traditional wedding day, it was unconventional and a secret and surprise from our families!!!!.... :heart: :heart: I woke up around 6am on Friday 4th april, after a pretty restless, sleepless night. First thing I did was look out at the weather, it was very grey and so windy....but I honestly didn't care. I had my shower and pampering session, and painted my toenails and fingernails a very discreet ivory shade. Checked and double checked our flowers, the rings, the paperwork etc etc. By 7am everyone was wakened, my husband to be, my 2 daughters and our wee Arran. I phoned my son was was giving me away/best man/witness all rolled into one to confirm he was awake and ready. He had a train to catch at 8.30. He was up and ready to go, catching the 7.45 bus into the city centre. Imagine a flurry of 'bodies' waiting for their turn of the shower (that's why I made sure I was 1st!), hairdryers blasting, radio blaring and Arran trying to watch cbeebies wondering what all the fuss was about! I nipped outside to gauge the weather/wind to be met with a bunch of red heart balloons, and ivory wedding balloons tied to the front door and all around the garden fence and side of the house (my daughters handiwork) It was still grey and windy. At 8.40 my son phoned to tell us he'd missed the train..he's been caught in a traffic jam in the city for 15-20 mins, had got off the bus, tried unsuccessfully to catch a taxi, then ran the rest of the journey. He misses the train by 3 minutes! He was panicking, and close to tears (he's 19 and I last saw or heard him that upset when he was around 7 years old!) He desperately tried to get a connecting train, the next available one that was any use to him was at 11.10....we are a 2 hour journey away..the ceremony was at 12! Plan C..phoned around for a cab to take him to the harbour (we live on an island) 4 different cab firms couldn't guarantee him a taxi until after 9..rush hour etc etc. Harbour is a good 50 mins taxi ride away..so no chance of catching the ferry! We eventually admitted defeat, reassured him everything would be okay, he would sadly miss the ceremony but would still make the meal. a frantic call to the registrar, replaced son's name with daughter's, and arranged to collect new schedule on way to church. PHEW! We left home in our car which husband to be had decorated with ribbon, balloons and flowers..it looked fantastic! A few mins into the journey the wind caught the balloons and ripped them off the car, then the rain started and the wipers caught the ribbon and ripped that off before the wind blew it away! It could have so gone the other way, but we laughed our heads off, all the way to collect the new schedule. We got it, then drove to the church. I stepped out of the car at 11.59 (ceremony at 12 noon!) to glorious sunshine. We quickly realised we had no camera (son was bringing his digital!)..but we did have our dvd camcorder! Our lovely minister was waiting at the church doors, we all walked through and he spoke to us, shaking husband to be's hand etc. My daughter volunteered to catch the ceremony on camera and rushed inside to film us walking in! My other daughter was walking with our wee 3 year old son..the organist started playing 'here comes the bride...and all our plans of walking down seperate aisles, and meeting at the altar went right out the window...my lovely husband to be, took my hand, and very naturally and romantically we walked in together, hand in hand! (2nd post to follow..as this will be so long to read in one session LOL).... :heart: :heart: :howrude:

:heart: :heart: ..then we had the most beautiful, spiritual and meaningful marriage ceremony..the sun was shining through the stained glass window on us, the only people in the church were husband to be and I, my 2 daughters, wee Arran, the minister, the organist..and his wife sitting on a pew..i didn't even see her until the end! I also didn't see the beautiful flower display at the altar until signing the register. At the end of the ceremony, the minster presented us with the bible he had read the readings from, and had hand written a message inside, with our names and date of marriage. It is a lovely leather bound bible, and will make a beautiful keepsake. We signed the register, the organist and his wife congratulated us and told us they have been married 51 years! The organist then played the wedding march..and we joined hands again and walked down the right hand aisle. It felt romantic afterwards remembering we had walked down the left aisle, stood at the altar, married, then walked back down the right aisle. We then went for a meal in a local venue, the staff had decorated a table for us, and gave us a card, flowers and champagne. My son arrived just in time for his starter, and we all chuckled over the mornings events..no point crying over it! We had a lovely meal then rushed off to catch the ferry for our long weekend honeymoon in Loch Lomond. The kids showered us with confetti, we didn't have time to change so went on board in full wedding outfits! Here's another comedy moment...one woman came over and congratulated us..everyone else ignored us..must have thought we dressed like that every day! :lol1: We got to our honeymoon location around 9pm, opened the champagne..put 'our song' on the cd..and had our very own private '1st dance' in our secluded lodge, on the waterfront, with the patio doors open, the stars twinkling in the sky and swans swimming past in the darkness with the moon shining on the loch l....IT WAS PERFECTION! (I know that all sounds a bit mills and boons, but that's exactly how it was..I have such a vivid memory of it!) The cd finished, we lifted the champagne and glasses..and headed to the bedroom. red rose petals scattered over the bed, candlelight.....AND a perfect ending to our perfect day!!!! :wink: :howrude: :justmarried: :justmarried: :heart: :heart: :dh: :dh: :dh: (sorry girls, no official photos, but i am trying to work wonders with a couple of unprofessional photos on disc..please bear with me, it may take some time... (think days rather than hours!) I will try to get one or two on as soon as I can) Rx (aka Mrs F)

Aw it was lovely to read all about your day - looking forward to the 2nd installment!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!! :)

LOL timing! Am about to read the 2nd part...

Wow, sounds like you had a very romantic day! Wishing you a long and happy life as husband and wife! xx

Thanks Dee..just thought I'd carry on..and try not to make it too long and boring for anyone. Also meant to say...that i was so scared of sputtering over the vows or crying with emotion...but we were both word perfect..and i didn't cry, just gripped on to hubby's hands so tightly and smiled all through the ceremony! Hubby told me my eyes looked misty and glazed when I was repeating my vows..but in a nice way!!!! For those who don't know me..this is my 2nd marriage..and I can truly say, i didn't feel so happy and in love before, during or after the ceremony 1at time around.....i reckon I've got it right 2nd time around! :happyspin: (I had the huge white wedding 1st time!) Both our families and friends are so happy for us, and totally agree we did the right thing, with what was important to us. (only my silly moo sister acid tongued me..behind my back..but she was in the minority) OOOh isn't married life brilliant..I'm still grinning like a cheshire cat! Rx :dh: :dh: :dh:

Sounds beautiful and all just perfect. Congratulations on your special day. xx

:sad1: what an absolutely beautiful day. and what loving, thoughtful children you have. heres to many more happy, and now married, years to together. congratulations to both. xxx

oh how gorgeous!! Huge congrats arranrose :) xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

wow hun that just sounds amazing..it shows you dont have to have the 'big white wedding' for it to be perfect..you are an inspiration! xxx

What a lovely day you had. Congratulations xx

What a beautiful day you had. Can't wait to see the photos but your wonderful description paints a lovely picture in my head. Congratulations

Oh what a lovely day you had - brought tears to my eyes reading about it. Congratulations xx

congratulations arranrose - that sounded like the perfect day. :happyspin: Rachie xxx

OMG that's beautiful, I'm so trying to stop the tears!! What thoughtful children you have. Your poor son, I bet he was devastated but at least he got there in the end. PMSL at the people thinking you were in your 'daily clothes'!! Many congratulations. xx