This could be a pretty long post as so much has happened in the last few days – but all in all, it all went well, better than hoped really, completely according to plan and beyond.

We worked our butts off in the last day or two ahead of time, with my parents, Marks’ parents and Tami all pitching in tremendously to get the house ready and get all the details set. And then suddenly it was Saturday and there was hair and makeup to get done, and I forgot how long it was going to take to get help to do up my dress (it’s like a laced up shoe all up the back) and we were in such a rush to get down to the car – but we made it in good time, suddenly everyone was there with loads of cameras and the actual ceremony was going to happen.

Thank god the registry office staff were so brilliant because we’d been so wrapped up in the house preparations that I don’t think we had really thought enough about the ceremony and we were sort of confused as to what was happening and how. But they were fantastic – set up the music and played it for us (Nobody Does it Better by Carly Simon on the way in; Rest of My Life by Sloan on the way out), told us all that was going to happen and put people in their right places, and actually ended up moving us to a different room than we had booked – but it was nicer anyway. The superintendent registrar that conducted the ceremony was efficient but best of all very humourous and brought a complete sense of lightness to it all that I really appreciated. I really thought that in those few minutes in there I would be completely nerve wracked and (as usual) terrified of the public speaking and hating the public display of affection – but it was all fine! I didn’t feel as nervous as I do chairing a meeting at work. Very strange.

So then out of the building to a million camera flashes and about 10 tonnes of confetti (of which 3 ended up landing in my bra, but anyway!). So many people that we hadn’t seen in ages or who had made a long journey from across the Atlantic (US and Canada). We had a ride back to the house and then the best part started from there. The marquee looked great and we had lots of compliments on it. The catering staff were great too, and although Mark and I weren’t all that impressed with the food, we did have many positive comments from guests. The cake was brilliant (edible and attractive!). The drinks started flowing (and didn’t stop) including my small intake of half an excellent Bellini (for the amount of money we spent on peach puree I was damn well going to have one) and a sip of champagne (we saved a bottle for next year when I can have half of it!). The speeches were good, pretty much everything was good and I can’t complain. Oh except about my shoes which killed me during the ceremony so I wore flip flops under a very long (lucky I didn’t get it hemmed) skirt.

I think people really did have a good time and weren’t just saying that as they left. This is what we were mostly worried about so I am glad we accomplished it. There was a big family reunion on my side that everyone had been looking forward to, and I spent most of the night at a table full of my friends which I had been dying to get to during the sit down meal with arranged seating. Voila – a seating chart created by moi:

…among many other things that I ended up doing by hand to save some money. Actually, despite the hard work and back pain, I really enjoyed a short return to the craftiness I once used to engage in all the time. Now for the really hard work – the favour bags. Which ended up containing a few Cadbury Eclairs, a lucky chocolate sixpence and wedding rock candy (representing the UK) and maple syrup candy and Canadian M&M’s (representing you know where). Now for the visual:

So, I had a good time, my friends and family had a good time. Mark had a little too good a time – he was fine up until about the last hour of the night (12am-1am) when he decided he still wasn’t feeling any effects of any alcohol consumed and chugged a few more bits and pieces. Yes he mixed drinks all night. And has been paying for it since – first, with the profuse amount of vomiting early Sunday morning until Sunday afternoon. And, since that time, he’s had barely any voice, a bad cough and a worse throat. Heh heh heh. He’s paying for it. Especially after breaking the rule that said he had to be a good host and not get pissed. But whatever. I didn’t mind being sober because there were so many amusing drunk people – I may have missed really seeing what they were doing if I had been affected.

And the after party clean up:

Unfortunately these are pretty much the only photos I have but I am hoping some nice person that was there is going to email some to me so I can share with others who weren’t?? I just realised that photo has the cat in the back – he’s moved in since it got put up. The dog is afraid of it however. Oooh actually that has been one bad thing about this weekend. She did NOT have a good time at the kennel and has been misbehaving since she got back. It was only two days but we didn’t feel good about leaving her there when we didn’t get to see where she was going to stay, and she was barking like mad (and she doesn’t ever bark). So we are in no rush to put her in there again. She’ll get a lot of quality time next week too on our boating holiday.

Since then we’ve been tidying up, trying to catch up on sleep but also hanging out with Tami as she’s here for another week and there is lots of sightseeing to do. This afternoon we went to Oxford, walked around for a few hours and had a nice dinner. It was a great sunny day too (these Canadians have been very chilled since they got here so I think she appreciated).

Of course, we had to clean up the car before we went…

Anyway, better go, stuff to do, but wanted to update at least a bit to those who have been wanting to know how it all went. More soon I am sure! Actual wedding photos when I get some.