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Published: September 22nd 2006
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The big day - Forde Abbey, Near Chard, Dorset
Well, the big day finally arrived. So did the piano player, but unfortunately he forgot to bring the CD of the music he had promised to play for the entrance and exit of the bride... Oh well, luckily we had the laptop and speakers then...
To start from the beginning; Woke up at 2 am extremely nervous with a heart rate of over 100/min, wondering if Jane had given the rings to Andrew, the best man, or not. Contemplated knocking on her door to wake and ask her, but remembered just how scary a bridezilla could be when woken from sleep, so read myself back to sleep (eventually).
Spent a nervous morning getting up and showered/shaved, prior to bumping in to the bride in the corridor (so much for not seeing her before the ceremony). Then myself and the Best Man drove to Chard for a very early lunch in an establishment that was somewhat surprised to see 15 people at 11:30am asking for lunch, but they coped remarkably well.
Next off to the Abbey, where we got changed in a decidedly personal environment (myself, best man, brother James
Bridesmaids
The lurverly Bridesmaids! and usher Tim all squashed into the men’s toilets, putting on a morning suit...). Then into the great hall, where people were already starting to arrive. Piano man turned up late, and without the all important CD, so then spent an even more nervous than necessary few moments trying to arrange laptop and speakers to play the music for the entrance of the bride. Guests now flocking in, myself and best man pacing nervously up the front as camera flashes started to go off left, right and center... Then, to lighten my load and my day, the comedy act of watching the elderly owner clambering up the ladder to light the candelabra took all eyes off me for a bit.
The following next few minutes seemed to drag on forever. Candles lit, comedy over, people were here for the show, which still consisted only of myself nervously pacing up and down the front. Jane's mum came in, and informed me that the bridal Kombi had arrived, so we were effectively in business. Time seemed to stop then, as the news that the bride had arrived at the end of the corridor, but had stopped for photos, was relayed to
Best man speech bingo
Jane explains the finer points of speech bingo to Claire! the nervous groom. I kept telling the best man to play the music to get her in, but whenever he looked questioningly at Jenny, the usher on the door, she just made the camera sign back. After what seemed an eternity we re-entered the normal time-space continuum and Jane arrived into the hall.
The Dress
My first chance to see the long awaited wedding dress, which had been shrouded in secrecy so impenetrable that there were rumours it contained weapons of mass destruction. To put it in simple terms, it looked fabulous, and Jane was quite frankly stunning. I managed to avoid a tear, but only narrowly, as she came down the aisle at a regally composed speed (not the rapid frog-march she used when we practiced the previous day). She was probably delayed by the many layers of silk she had to carry with her. When she did arrive up the front, she looked even more terrified that me by all the attention and cameras going off.
The ceremony itself seemed to be over in a flash. I managed to get a grin out of the nervous bride as I deliberately pronounced that I would take Jane to be my lawful wedded wife (not my awful wedded wife, which was the line I'd used in our brief rehearsal the previous day - an oldy but a goody). Then out to the glorious sunshine and the garden, where our guests got champagne and we got - more photos... These also seemed to go on for ever, to the point where we both decided to run away rather than posing for the millions of couple shots we were offered. We snuck off round the back to look over the Kombi, before being summoned for our reception line duties (probably not something I'd do again, since it took forever and you didn't get to properly talk to anyone).
Then into dinner, and speeches. Finally, as the speeches finished and all pressure on me to remain sober was lifted, the day just got better and better. A chance to say hello properly to all the people present, and also the fantastic opportunity to watch the bride sitting down with my nephews and nieces and talking in a squeaky voice about the properties of helium after sucking down a balloonful. Cutting the cake (thanks again to Trina for its creation / construction). Finally dancing away the night to the magic of DJ Rich with my new bride and all our friends and family was truly fantastic. Thanks to all involved in giving us such a brilliant day!
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Andrew and Katherine
Andrew Griffiths & Katherine Norton
Primate fun
It was an awesome day guys, with not a cummonkey to be seen. Here's hoping K and I will learn from all your wedding "experience" for ours!