Our wedding journey started on Friday 22nd August the day before the wedding. We live in Chester so we travelled over on the Friday to my dad’s house in West Yorkshire. We had a good journey as we tested out our wedding “mix cd” in the car to make sure all our favourite tracks had burned properly. In the evening we met up with some friends who travelled up from “down South” to the wedding, who had kindly given a lift to the best man.
C and I spent the night before the wedding together as we didn’t see any reason why we would want to be separated and we don’t stand by tradition for tradition’s sake. I managed to get to sleep ok but got awoken at about 5.30am by a text from a colleague wishing me a happy wedding day. She was on an early shift at work and didn’t realise I’d have the phone next to my head (I was using it as an alarm).
As our wedding was in the afternoon it afforded us a leisurely pace of getting ready. In the morning we gave Daisy the car, my transport to the venue, a bit of primping with ribbon and bows. Daisy is my dad’s 1952 Austin Somerset and she looked a treat and got us to the wedding on time. I also did my primping in a bath with a Lush “White Wedding” bath bomb.
C’s dad came over midday dropping off his mother and sister (my bridesmaid) and picked up C and his best man who was staying with us for the weekend. C’s mum had made some pretty felt heart brooches to put in the ladies’ favour boxes which we finished putting into boxes and tying up with green polka dot ribbon.
We’d taken the cake with the fabulous cake toppers C had made the day before. He made them out of modelling clay and they were the perfect personal touch to the cake. I also put some more polka dot ribbon round the cake because I’m dotty about polka dots. We’d also dropped round the day before a wire cake stand with confetti cones. I made the cones out of cream doilies and filled them with cream confetti. In the run up to the wedding I had an enjoyable afternoon watching the Olympics, crafting favours, tying ribbons and making confetti cones.
With the groom out of the way I was free to get on with the serious getting ready a bride has to do. The makeup lady arrived after 1pm and did a fab job on my face, she was a dab hand with the eyeliner. The hairdresser came round at 2pm and curled my hair with GHDs and put half of it up with loose curls tumbling down. She also attached my veil and tiara comb. Now I was really feeling bridal despite still wearing my tracky bottoms! Upstairs in my bedroom my bridesmaid and C’s mum helped me get into my dress. I was obviously missing my mum helping me but I wasn’t going to let that upset me. My bridesmaid looked gorgeous in a green satin dress from Vivien of Holloway. I bought her a corsage from Etsy.
My dress came from Milly Bridal, a fantastic way to afford the dress you desire without the steep cost. Earlier in the year, before mum died, we went round Chester wedding dress shops and tried some dresses on. They were all so expensive and I found one I liked that had a lacy coat. I wasn’t about to spend £1000 on a dress but I really wanted a lacy coat wedding dress! I found a picture of my favourite dress and emailed it to Milly Bridal in China who made it to my specifications. The dress is champagne coloured and the lace coat is white with sparkly bits on. I also wanted straps as I have a big bust and wanted some support! I know some people have ethical questions regarding the use of facatories in China making “cut price” dresses but after some research my fears were allayed and I had no hesitation in buy my dress from them (I’ll cover this subject another day).
My veil and handbag came from ebay and my tiara comb was bought online from Louloubelles. My jewellery came from Dasha Boutique in America. I think the only things I purchased “in the real world” were my shoes from Evans and my bra from bravissimo. Everything else was either sourced and/or purchased with the power of the internet. That seemed fitting as C and I met online!
C’s dashing three-piece navy pinstripe suit came from ebay and so did his skinny tie. The suit was vintage but completely unworn and cost less than a good suit from a store. He also found some two-tone shoes on ebay.
My dad, my bridesmaid and I left the house at 3.30pm and travelled to the venue in Daisy. Although the wedding ceremony was due to start at 4.30pm I had to arrived at 4.15 to go over the some details with the resgistar. In fact we had to sit in a lay-by for 5 minutes as the traffic wasn’t as bad as we thought and we would have arrived too early otherwise. It was exciting sitting in the front of a classic care in my wedding outfit as people were noticed us, we even heard a “wow” from a passerby.
Mr C and I got married at The Priest’s House, Barden, North Yorkshire 23rd August at 4.30pm.
Our venue was perfect for us; a historic grade 1 listed restaurant next to the ruins of Barden Tower, a former fortified hunting lodge. All this was surrounded by the rolling hills of the Yorkshire Dales. We arrived at the venue at 4.15pm and as I got out our photographer (bridesmaid’s boyfriend) was there to take pictures. He did an amazing job with the photography, I’m so glad we didn’t hire an official one! Debbie who runs the Priest’s House came to meet me and gave me my bouquet. Debbie did the flowers for the wedding which looked amazing. My bouquet was green hydrangeas with creamy white roses.
We went into the bar and the registrar had to check my name and details were correct, I nearly forgot my address as the nerves were beginning to kick in. After a glass of water as my mouth was all dry my entrance music was switched on. I came into Handel’s Hornpipe Water Music. All eyes were then on me! It is quite a bizarre feeling to have a whole room intent on watching you walk through it. I joined C “at the alter” which was actually at the front of the room near a table and fireplace. The ceremony went by so fast yet felt like a long time. A friend who was videoing it said it took 12 minutes but it felt like an age! We had 3 readings during the ceremony:
Union by Robert Fulghum read by my brother
A reading written by C’s father
The Lovely Dinosaur by Edward Monkton read by the best man
My lips stuck to my mouth as I read our vows but I managed not breakdown in tears of joy and I think my voice was loud and clear. Then we were married!
We signed the register to At Last by Etta James. Next we were presented with our marriage certificate and congratulated by the registrar. We left the room to You and Me Song by The Wannadies and were given a glass of Pimms on the way out, yum.
