I'm Married Now!

So much has happened since I last wrote. Part of the reason I haven't is because a lot has been happening over since September. The wedding preparation went into overdrive. I'd also moved into the flat and didn't have internet until we got back from honeymoon (it was due to having to get it installed and then there were problems with the cabling, which needed to be sorted out).

I guess the actual countdown for the wedding started with the Hen Do, which took place on Sunday, 11 November, six days before the wedding. I've been counting down for the wedding for weeks, but the wedding countdown went into overdrive at the Hen Do. Almost all the ladies from mum's side of the family came, along with Andy's mum, sister and a family friend. My cousin, Amanda, organised a lovely meal in London, at the boat restaurant called the Yacht, which is on the Thames. No one told me about where we were going, and what we were going to do. So it was a huge surprise for me. It was beautiful! I really enjoyed how special it was (I didn't take any decent photos whilst I was there).

My family did most of the organisation and preparation for the whole wedding, with help; they went above and beyond to make it special for Andy and myself. We had the wedding rehearsal on Friday evening, to make sure that everyone knew where to stand and what to do. It was a lot of fun making sure that the whole ceremony went the way it was traditionally supposed to (Andy and I wanted to have the traditional vows and wedding ceremony). When that finished, it was the last time Andy and I saw each other before the wedding ceremony when we stood next to each other at the end of isle.

An interesting family fact, my parents got married in the area in August 1990. They left from a friend's house, in Bolney. This lady said my sister, mum and I could stay with her the night before the wedding (Caleb and my dad stayed else where). It was so special to have that time with my sister and mum before the wedding. My hair was something of an ordeal to sort out and the ladies who came to do it took about an hour and a half to get it done. We'd planned to have it loose, then partially up, before we decided to put all my hair up. Hannah then did my hair before Auntie Jan and mum laced me into my dress.

My Uncle Bob owns a Rolls Royce and that became the wedding car, and he had the honour of driver. He and Auntie Jan met us in Bolney. As did the photographer (who left before my dad arrived, as he wanted to take some photographs at the venue). We then headed to Crawley Baptist Church, where the wedding ceremony took place. The funny thing was that we got to the church on time. I was worried we'd get there very late, or something, but we didn't.

The service itself went so smoothly. It was really surreal, in a way it still hasn't completely sunk in. After the wedding service, Andy and I had a whole load of photos taken with various friends and family. It was at this point that my face started hurting from smiling, but I couldn't stop smiling. I know that Andy was in the same boat in regards to the smiling.

The rest of the day was just as beautiful. Andy and I went to this beautiful park called Milton Mount, to have a few photographs taken, just the two of us. This gave the guests the opportunity to head over to the reception venue and get seated, so when we arrived at the reception, we went straight in and sat down, to applause. Before we started the meal we had all the speeches (as we wanted to enjoy the meal without having to worry about them). We had a DJ come in, in the evening, and once the meal had been cleared away, Andy and I had our first dance. I also made sure that I got my father daughter dance, which was so special! Andy and I had so much fun during the evening, well, during the entire day. When we went to the hotel, where we spent our first night, it hadn't sunk in that Andy and I were married. It still hasn't completely sunk in yet, and we've been back from honeymoon a few days now.

I'll write again soon!