Cheers!
Let's not kid anyone, getting married is a stressful and overwhelming experience. I was completely unprepared for how much of my time, energy, emotions and relationship with Mr. T would be tied up for this one incredible day. However, our wedding turned out to be exactly what we wanted and somehow it all came together!
Getting Ready
Having decided that I would work flat out and be completely stressed on the day previous to the wedding, NOT on the day, I found that I awoke in my mother-in-law's home very calmly.
Mr. T's sister (and the best bridesmaid ever!) was so lovely, offering to paint my toes and clean up a 2-hour-long disaster of a manicure performed by a trainee on the previous day (Sadly the trainee had been so sweet I just couldn't bring myself to stop the horror).
We had decided to stretch the wedding budget to include a makeup/hair professional to take care of me in the morning and this turned out to be SO the right decision. I had a great time chatting with Charlotte of NW Makeup whom had (very interestingly) done special effects work in Hollywood before focusing on wedding makeup (which meant she could make anything look REALLY good or REALLY bad :-p). We had a trial previously and I have to say, Charlotte was always very careful with everything, from getting the makeup perfect to cleaning her brushes properly and that is definitely what to look for in a make-up artist! Left in good hands, all I had to do was sit back and sip a glass of champagne.
It's almost a wrap!
During this time, the bridesmaids arrived and worked together to get themselves ready. Having bought in all of the wedding flowers from a wholesaler (which saved a bundle) and assembled almost everything the previous day under the cloud of smoke and whip-cracking that was my ex-florist friend Dan, we only had the bouquets left to be wrapped in ribbon. The gals set to work and they did an amazing job!!
The man of the hour arrives
The last man to share a bed with my husband
Mr. T, meanwhile, had spent a late, whisky fueled night with the best people. They had stayed in the old stable-house of our venue, Ramster Hall, where apparently Mr. T had to share a bed with one of the Best Men (what happens in the stables, stays in the stables...) but he got up in plenty of time to issue last orders for getting if all together. I was told he was a stress case until guests started arriving at 1, but he was cool as a cucumber after that!
Part of the "B (est)" Team!
Mr. T had Best Men and Best Ladies in his party and as a team they were a beautiful sight to behold! While the guys were coordinated with their ties, I gave the girls the same flower hairclips/brooches and colour schemes as the bridesmaids to bring it together a bit and yet let them have their own personalities. I love how there is a connection both to the suiting and ties of the fellas and in the dresses the "Besties" chose. Also, Ali rocks those red gloves!
I consider this the "A" Team
Completely by chance, my girls really came together perfectly with their dresses! I had given them about 4 choices of colours and really let them do their own thing other than that. Somehow, despite coming along from all different parts of the UK and world, they all went with hues of pink! They each received a necklace I had made for them and the flowers to tie it together a bit more, but I just love how they look like themselves, not my own little wedding dolls!
The arrival
We saved a bit of cash by just getting a nice, normal saloon cab to drive me to the venue as, really, no one was going to see me arrive (part of the difference in chosing a single venue for both the ceremony and the reception). I was quite happy with that as it was never a dream of mine to ride in a horse-drawn carriage to my wedding (especially if I was already tempting fate with a white, poofy dress). No horse poo drama, no super slow clip-clopping anywhere and most of all I was even EARLY to my own wedding. I got some time to chill in the bride's suite and just have some laughs with my family and bridesmaids before it all kicked off.
And we're off!...
