The Big Day, Part Two - The Ceremony

We arrived at Winchester House just before midday. I feel I should let people know why we chose this venue, and the number one reason was the balcony and the view, followed closely by the cost (so cheap!). The balcony/verandah looks over Sandown Bay which is one of my favourite views on the Island. The verandah is long and thin though so it meant our guests would be in a long line, rather than the traditional bride's family on one side, groom's on the other, but we didn't have many guests so I hoped this wouldn't be an issue (and it wasn't). The venue is normally a hotel/hostel which hosts school trips and has a playgroup on the side of the building. It's not your standard wedding venue but I loved the view and didn't want a standard wedding anyway. The staff at the house were friendly and helpful, and on the day they really impressed me. I thought because it was cheap it would feel a little bit 'budget' but it really really did not.

The view from the verandah 

Anyway back to the story... 

Lauren, my bridesmaid who had gotten ready separately to the rest of us was waiting outside, along with the photographer. The photographer wanted to grab a couple of bride and bridesmaid shots but the manager of Winchester House was telling me I needed to do my interview with the registrars or they wouldn't do the wedding. I quickly decided the marriage bit was more important than the photos and shot off upstairs to talk to the registrar, telling the photographer I'd be back in a few minutes. Interview done I head back to the entrance for photos to find it completely empty! The bridesmaids and photographers had cleared off somewhere - but I didn't know where. Whilst I was looking for them I didn't realise I'd also managed to lock myself out. Smooth. Luckily Stuart's brother, Kris was having a crafty smoke and was able to let me back in. Once inside I proceeded to get lost for what seemed like ages but was probably only a minute at the most. I finally made my way back to the room where I had my interview to find all my bridesmaids waiting. Now after planning my well timed entrance in my head everything went out the door. The flower girl was desperate to start throwing petals and the next thing I knew everyone was walking down the aisle (I'd decided it would go flower girl, MOH, bridesmaids and then me). Just as I was walking out the door to hit the aisle Paul asked when I wanted the music start. Erm about two minutes ago! With a quick press of play Flight of the Conchord's 'Most Beautiful Girl in the Room' started. 

I had imagined walking in at a certain part in the song, slowly and gracefully floating towards Stuart but alas it wasn't to be. The main thing I remember is walking down with the bridesmaids so far ahead of me, that I turned to some school friends in the seats as I walked past shouting 'It's the shoes, I can't walk fast in them'. Yep the image of serene and elegant bride went straight out the window then, but I wasn't bothered, I never wear heels and had barely practised in my new shoes so I just tried to look as natural as possible!

The bridal party makes it's way down the aisle

Lexi exhibits excellent petal throwing skills 

Getting towards the end of the aisle...

...to be greeted by Stuart.

Now originally the ceremony was the bit I was less fussed about, I just wanted a party, but after attending a wedding where the bride and groom only did the legal parts we decided we wanted it to be a bit more personalised. We started with a reading from the book The Princess Bride. I used to watch the film version of this religiously as a child. It's probably one of the only family tradition we have. Every person I am related to will have been made to watch this, probably many times, and if they didn't love it they were cast out of the family. On top of this, the most romantic thing Stuart has ever done for me (he doesn't do romantic stuff often) was years ago when we moved into a flat above a shop. I was working full time and Stuart was only working part time. I was knackered and fed up having to work all day and then empty boxes in the evening.  I may have moaned at him about how he could help more. When I got back from work later that day everything had been sorted and put away, and on the bed was a bunch of flowers and a copy of The Princess Bride book. It's not much but it showed that sometimes he did listen and notice what I like. He's yet to beat that gesture, mainly because it was so unexpected. So that was why we decided on that reading. My cousin Amy, who I think loves the film and book as much, if not more than me, came up to read it. She was great, she had perfect timing, tone and brought the section to life. I wan't going to bore you by posting the whole thing, but now I think what the hell! Here is the extract she read to brilliantly;

“Buttercup looked at him.
'Don't you understand anything that's going on?'
Buttercup shook her head.
Westley shook his too. 'You never have been the brightest, I guess.'
'Do you love me, Westley? Is that it?'
He couldn't believe it.  'Do I love you? If your love were a grain of sand, mine would be a universe of beaches.  If your love were - '.
'I don't understand that first one yet.' Buttercup interrupted.  She was starting to get very excited now. 'Let me get this straight. Are you saying my love is the size of a grain of sand and yours is this other thing? Images just confuse me so – is this universal business of yours bigger than my sand? Help me Westley, I have the feeling we're on the verge of something terribly important.'
'I have not known a moment in years when the sight of you did not send my heart careening against my rib cage.  I have not known a night when your visage did not accompany me to sleep. There has not been a morning when you did not flutter behind my waking eyelids... Is any of this getting through to you, Buttercup, or do you want me to go on for a while'.
'Never stop'
'There has not been - '
'If you're teasing me Westley I'm just going to kill you'
'How could you dream I might be teasing'
'Well you haven't once said you love me'.
'I've been saying it so long to you, you just wouldn't listen. Everytime you said 'Farm Boy do this' you thought I was answering 'As you wish' but that's only because you were hearing wrong. 'I love you' what what I was saying, but you never heard'.”

In this section, and in the characters in general, I can see some similarities between Stuart and Westley and me and Buttercup, that's why I chose this extract, but I was glad to hear others laughing behind us, and really enjoying the story. To add to the geekiness when we stood up to say our declaration, which we were supposed to end by saying 'I Will' we instead said 'As You Wish'. Yep our geek levels know no limit. We also added in our own vows, I won't post them completely but Stuart promised not to complain, not matter how many times I watch Lord of the Rings and I promised to let him be occasionally right.  

Trying not to laugh at each other as we said our vows, this marriage stuff is serious didn't you know!

After the vows was the exchanging of rings where not once did I make a 'My Precious' comment. I must be growing as a person. Then George came up to do a reading. I found this poem on the Internet but I couldn't tell you who wrote it. George is a great speaker, and I think she probably knows me and Stuart, as a couple best, if only because we (meaning me) don't mind arguing in front of her. Afterwards I even had a couple of people asking if George wrote the poem for us, as it seemed to sum up Stuart and I pretty damn well. And here it is;

He never leaves the seat up
Or wet towels upon the floor
The toothpaste has the lid on
And he always shuts the door!

She’s very clean and tidy
Though she may sometimes delude
Leave your things out at your peril
In a second they’ll have moved!

He romances her and dines her
Home cooked dinners and the like
He even knows her favourite food
And spoils her day and night!

She’s thoughtful when he looks at her
A smile upon his face
Will he look that good in 50 years
When his dentures aren’t in place?!

He says he loves her figure
And her mental prowess too
But when gravity takes her over
Will she still charm with her IQ?

She says she loves his kindness
And his patience is a must
And of course she thinks he’s handsome
Which in her eyes is a plus!

They’re both not wholly perfect
But who are we to judge
He can be big headed
Whereas she won’t even budge!

All that said and done
They love the time they spent together
And I hope, as I’m sure you do
That this fine day will last forever.

He’ll be more than just her husband
He’ll also be her friend
And she’ll be more than just his wife
She’s be his soul mate ‘till the end.

George entertaining us all!

And then we were getting to the end of all the readings, vows, and declarations, there were only two main things left; the signing of the register and the kiss. We signed the register to the sound of 'Life's a Happy Song' from the recent Muppet film. We had chosen our housemates Mike and Laura as our witnesses. They have had the honour of having to live with us, on and off, for the past 10 years, so we thought we better make them legally responsible for the rest of our lives together. If it goes wrong we'll get them to be the divorce witnesses too! We then posed for a few photos and got ready to wrap everything up with a kiss.

And that was it, we were bride and groom no longer, but husband and wife, Mr and Ms. As we walked back down the aisle (to David Bowie's Heroes) there wasn't really enough space to walk side by side, instead seeing this opportunity of a long line of people in front of me I decided to high five people as we went past. Stuart joined in behind me. It may seem something simple but I love the next photo I am going to post, because to me it sums up the whole day; fun, lighthearted, with everyone getting involved. I genuinely felt everyone relaxed and enjoyed themselves. And to think I'd once considered just returning from holiday one year and going 'oh yeah, we got married whilst we were over there'.

To be continued...