Well it is sure the week for wedding fever! And while my own day at playing princess no doubt pales in comparison to the pomp and ceremony of that of Wills & Kate (though we both shared the honour of having a cheeky red haired best man amongst us, if that counts for anything?) watching the wedding has made me nostalgic to reflect on our own special day, some five and a half years before.
To say it had been a long time coming felt like an understatement. 678 days (but hey, who’s counting??) would pass before I would walk down that aisle. Remember that Green Day ditty “Wake me up when September ends” ? Well, that was my engagement theme song. October 1 2005 could not come around quick enough for this excited bride to be!FINALLY, the “Big Day” cometh at long last, but my God, how rapidly it dissolves into a magical blur of laughter, smiles, and tears of joy!
Everything, EVERY LITTLE THING, was amazing… From the constant buzz during the build up that my workmates ensured stayed with me as each day crept tantalisingly closer, to the frenzied pre wedding week mixed with much socialising and last minute organising in Coffs Harbour, to the blissful “24 degree, not a cloud in the sky” day itself, I drank in with a thirst, every complete and utter second of it.
It was always going to be an emotional event. Considering how we came to be a couple (a whole other story for those not in the know), there were tears aplenty. Every step of the way down the aisle, the strains of Bocelli’s Ave Maria reminding me how blessed I was to have my Dad still with us to escort me proudly to my handsome husband to be. The speeches, peppered with laughter, love and of course, tears of gratitude. Our angel, Adam, never far from any of our thoughts, as well as my beloved Pop, who was battling the last ravaging stages of cancer and was too unwell to attend…
I guess the mark of a good wedding is both having a rockin’ (and smoking hot!) Bridal Party, as well as an awesome guest list. The main indication however is how high the final alcohol bill tallies to, and how many people tell you after “you’re wedding is the drunkest I’ve ever been”. (Note, QUITE high and QUITE a few!) I’ll never forget arriving at the Reception only to be told that one beer tap had already been drained dry! We had Chief Bridesmaid Shezza channelling Sonia Kruger, filing interviews for our Wedding DVD, Minolski impersonating (& also offering interviews) as the then Victorian Premier Steve Bracks, and of course culminating in them battling each other in a push up competition on the dance floor.
There was Kel was screeching wildly down the greens of the golf course, threatening to toss Cathryn out the other side, Matty trying his hardest to be serious during the Best Man speech, only to accidentally insinuate he’d been there for “EVERY” first, when it came to the happy couple… Groomsman Damo could not be spotted without two bottles of wine in hand, and lets not forget his and other brother Nathan’s infamous little drunken speech on our DVD to round off the evening…
And what is a wedding without a (not so) fitting finale? Restrictive clothes be damned; the brother in law and best friend’s husband staged a nudie run around the local race course, for the viewing pleasure of those guests last to leave!
What more is there left to say except there could not have been a soul alive that was radiating more happiness than my husband & I on Saturday October 1, 2005? I have never experienced such a myriad of powerful emotions – ecstatic joy, quivering nerves and uncontrollable excitement, coupled with being so overcome at times that the tears would well up and spill over. It was always a given that I would cry (I sob watching a sad story on the news for goodness sake!) and the fact I have shed tears at every single wedding I have ever been to meant it was a safe bet the tears would arrive on our own special day. My Mum said to me that she never once saw me without a massive smile spread across my face, even when there was a haze of tears to contend with… I guess that would be because I was living the day I had dreamt of for so long, I had married my one true love and everything was utterly, utterly perfect.If I could turn back the clock, I would in a heartbeat to re-live our spectacular wedding day. I thought it would be impossible to find someone who honestly did mirror your own soul, but with my lovely husband I have found exactly that. And while Kate Middleton is lucky to not have to hand back the tiara after her extravaganza is over, I know that at least in my husband’s eyes (and etched into my every memory) I too will remain a princess as well…
The photo of your with your wedding party is just so joyous, Donna. Beautiful day. I love a wedding! x
What gorgeous photos and stunning bride and bridesmaids – love the colour of their dresses. What wonderful memories to look back on, you certainly looked like a princess bride with a very handsome prince by your side.
*sigh* I love wedding posts! How romantic! I am completely desperate to relive my wedding day too.
Thanks for sharing!
Your wedding still rates as one of the best I’ve ever been to Donna…. and your speech is still number one!
Must be time to watch the DVD again – happy memories. TD.
I had a lot of fun at my wedding too, and I didn’t stress about things going wrong. That is always my advice for brides – when the day comes JUST HAVE FUN!