For a long time now, we've been building up to two weddings in our friendship group. We're a close group but we all live in different places so rather than popping over for a cuppa or hanging out on a whim, we have to plan in visits and things to do which is nice as we have something to look forward to but it is a shame that we aren't around more day to day for each other in person.
With two weddings taking place just four days apart, we've seen a lot more of each other recently for hen and stag dos and catch ups.
And this past week, both weddings finally came around.
Hurray!
We've been living and breathing the weddings so in terms of what's been going on lately, this is the main thing I have to share!
I was bridesmaid for the first wedding, which took place near Durham. We were wearing pale pink multi-way dresses and preparations started early on at the hairdressers. The morning flew by and soon there were us four bridesmaids all rushing to get our make up and dresses on before seeing the bride ahead of the ceremony.
I was near tears before walking down the aisle as they bride looked beautiful and I heard one of my favourite songs playing - 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' by Israel Kamakawiwo'Ole.
The ceremony was lovely and we all did a reading for the newlyweds.
The day flew by and we were all so excited and happy to be together and celebrating the special day, dancing the night away in raucous style and posing up a storm in the photo booth area.
The next day, we went into Durham for a big lunch with everyone before heading to a house party of a friend of a friend, who lives in an amazing barn conversion overlooking rolling fields and a castle. It was pretty spectacular to say the least!
Saturday was our day 'off' wedding duties, so hubs, Ethan, my friend Bex and I headed to the Metro centre in Gateshead for a spot of shopping and to see Finding Dori (loved it, of course). I also found a cute new pair of Cath Kidston shoes...
On Sunday, we headed to a village in Yorkshire to have a church rehearsal, get-together with bride and groom number two, a meal and then a slumber party at the venue's private cinema. Only one film would do for us ladies - Dirty Dancing!
Monday came around and it was time for two of our best friends to tie the knot. I was Maid of Honour and after getting ready in the bride's suite and being stunned by how stunning she looked in her elegant gown, I was surprised with the special treat of a VW Campervan that was to take us to the church. It's my dream car and they had booked it especially for me.
Her name was Cali and we drank champagne on the drive back to the venue after a lovely church ceremony, which included a reading from my husband and one about Pooh (of the Winnie variety) which caused a few chuckles.
The rest of the day flew by with a strong quartette playing Disney songs, children's games, mini meal canapes, a jazz duo, a live band, a DJ, a selfie station, a pimp your drink station... the works!
I gave a speech as my friend had done so at my wedding and I wanted to do something special for my two friends. It went well, although I was really nervous, and the whole day was amazing.
I remember the last few songs playing in the small hours of the morning. 'Greatest Day', Take That (a repeat of their choreographed first dance), then 'I've Had the Time of My Life' before 'Never Forget'. We were all in a circle and those three songs sum up how I felt.
Our week of weddings had come to a close and I will never forget those special people or their special days.
To Nat and Stu.
To Lindsay and John.
Love you millions.
Here's the main part of the speech I gave; they're Disney fans and I put together some 30 quotes to create something special for them...
***
Can you feel
the love tonight? I know I can, and it means so much to be celebrating this
special day for these two special people.
And what a
magical day it has been. To see Lindsay finally marry her prince charming.
John, as most of us know him.
They say a
dream is a wish your heart makes. And to say that this day has been a dream for
so, so very long, would be very true indeed. In fairness, we all knew that one
day, her prince would come… come though that is, and get down on one knee and
pop the question.
They say if
you dream about something more than once, it’s sure to come true. We told
Lindsay that sometimes, you have to just keep swimming, swimming, swimming, and
then the dream that she wished for would come true.
Some people
are worth melting for. Or waiting for, in John’s case.
To be here, as
man and wife, is a declaration that you mean more to each other than anyone
else in the whole wide world. In front of your family and friends, and those
who are very much with us in spirit.
As soon as you
saw each other, you knew an adventure was about to happen. Sometimes the
smallest things take up the most room in your heart – and with mini Linds and
mini John, this is certainly true. They just fit together, don’t they?
People do
crazy things when they're in love and your story over the past 12, almost 13
years has taken you from London to Birmingham to Yorkshire to today. And it
hasn’t always been easy but you’ve trusted your heart and let fate decide.
You know that
any day spent with one another is your favourite day. It’s a feeling. Like
“when I look at you, I'm home. You're the best thing I never knew I needed. I
wouldn't have nothing if I didn't have you.”
One of
Lindsay's favourite Disney films is Wall-E. I'd say it's safe to say that John
has found his Eva and Lindsay has found her Wall-E.
I’m sure that
when John laid eyes on Lindsay today at the church, he thought to himself “I
know you, I walked with you once upon a dream.” And Lindsay thought, when
looking at John in his dapper suit, “everything is different, now that I see
you.”
To spend a
life of endless bliss, just find who you love through true love's kiss.
Now, John, you’ve
got to show her you need her, each day do something to lead her, to believe how
much you love her.
And Lindsay,
you’ve made a promise to John that he will be in your heart, from this day on,
now and forever more.
Everybody
wants to live happily ever after. All you need is faith and trust, and a little
bit of pixie dust. (And all the patience in the world!).
Because love
is a song that never ends.
To face the
future with another who means more than any other is to be loved.
A whole new
world.
Adventure
awaits you.
Please raise
your glasses to Lindsay and John, the happy couple, as they begin their happily
ever after.
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