We had a cup of tea in bed and then got up. I ran through a checklist of honeymoon luggage with Mum. We pottered downstairs and while Mum got breakfast I repacked my case. I was taking washing upstairs when, bang on time at 0630 Heidi arrived. She had spotted the helium balloon and the banner easily. She set up and then started on Mum's hair first. At this point I woke Emz and Klara and then headed to Tesco with Dad to get pastries. When we returned Mum's hair was looking fabulous and Emz was deciding on a half-up, half-down style with curls and a plait. The weather at this point was drizzly but there were prophecies of 'rain before 7, fine before 11'.
Emz's hair was finished and Heidi had a quick coffee break before starting on Klara's elegant chignon. She seemed to finish in double quick time and there was a short break before Tabitha arrived. Meanwhile at 0830 Nicole arrived with the bouquets.
They were beautifully feminine and Nicole bound the stems with pink organza. Once Dad's buttonhole was attached Nicole gave me a sneak peak at the beautiful venue flowers in the van before she headed off to Wyck Hill.
When Nicole was on her way I headed upstairs to have a wash. Tabitha arrived and had her hair done in a very similar style to the once chosen by Emz. I meanwhile was checking that I had all my bits and pieces together, although I did later realise that I made two small omissions. Tabitha's hair was finished with remarkable efficiency and then there was another short pause while we waited for Darcey to arrive. She turned up with Sue and Louise for her 0900 slot and very shortly afterwards Helen arrived. Darcey had her hair styled in a miniature version of my hair. Before I knew it I was sat at the dining table with a cup of tea in front of me and it was my turn.
We tried to watch Bake Off while my hair was being done but nobody could concentrate on it so it got switched off fairly quickly. I luxuriated in having my hair done and had a proper shake to check that it was secure, which it was, before my lovely headband was put in. Then my make-up was done while Mum prepared soup for everybody. The next time I looked at my watch it was 1100, the time Helen was supposed to leave, and sure enough the sun was shining! I could see Helen looking anxious so I suggested I start getting into my dress immediately. Mum had earlier helped me into the basque but the suspenders were yet to be tackled. It turned out Helen was an expert and offered the sage advice that the straps needed to go under my knickers if I wanted to use the loo that day! By this point Helen had photographed all my accessories and the girls had all been laced into their dresses, again with Helen's help.
The photographs began once the dress was in roughly the right position. Thank goodness for Emz because at this point Mum announced that the dress was too tight and wasn't going to do up. With a little assistance we managed, although as I mentioned over the course of the day I couldn't quite breathe properly. Once the dress, belt and shoes were in place we went out in to the garden for photos. Helen finished the photos are around 1125 and immediately raced off to the church to catch up with the boys. At this point we were left to check that everything was together. Heidi remained around and supremely calm. I had a call from the car driver who couldn't find us but who was thankfully only a few houses away. When he arrived and introduced himself as Clive, he apologised that in the vintage car (a 1929 Rolls Royce), it would take a little longer to get to the venue so asked if we could leave at 1215. I replied that that was fine but we would prefer to leave at 1200. Mum left just before midday and the Mercedes arrived for the girls.
At exactly 1200 we all left the house and Dad locked up. I was assisted into the car and we were off. Clive OK'd the route with us beforehand. The journey was beautifully picturesque and the sun was shining. We made fantastic progress, so much so that we detoured down a little lane 2 miles from Tredington to make sure I wasn't too early.
We arrived at the church bang on time and were met by Helen and David who captured my arrival as I was assisted out of the car. I caught sight of a couple of latecomers (Ceri you know who you are!) race up the path ahead of me as we made our way up to the vestibule. It was beautifully decorated with flowers. Chris joked that James wasn't there yet and I immediately assumed he was still in the pub! Thankfully he wasn't and neither was Steve, the piper, who also greeted me. We had decided that once Chris had announced my arrival, Steve would process in and then Dad and I would come in with my bridesmaids following me, Klara holding Sam's lead (purple tartan of course).
I was asked if I was ready and I said yes. Then Chris opened the doors. All eyes turned to me and I could see firstly my schoolfriends and university friends, but then, amongst her village friends, in a wheelchair at the back, I saw Granny. At this point I finally lost my composure. Steve struck up on the pipes and walked in and my eyes flooded with tears. I said to Dad 'I'm going to go' - meaning I was going to cry, but he took it to mean we should set off. I dragged him back while I took a few deep breaths and then we started. As I reached the bottom of the aisle I first turned to my right and leant down to hug Granny and sob 'I'm so glad you're here' before rejoining Dad. We walked slowly up the aisle towards James who was looking more gorgeous and handsome than I had ever seen him. As I reached the top of the aisle Dad stepped back and I stepped forward and took James' hand. My heart was pounding and I felt as though my dress were going to explode!
Chris started the ceremony by asking who gave me away, to which Dad replied 'I do.' Then we had our first hymn, All Things Bright and Beautiful. During the hymn I handed my bouquet to Emz and then the girls joined Mum and Dad in the front pew. I didn't have an order of service but knew a lot of the words and towards the end someone handed us an order of service anyway. We were invited to sit while Chris gave an address, He was quite funny and asked me if there was anything about James the annoyed me ("many things!") and if there was anything about me which annoyed him ("no comment!"). Then we had the readings. Katy said she was honoured to read 1 Corinthians, and did so beautifully (although I found out later that she'd only just managed to make it to the church after I'd come in following a nightmare journey and Mum had been beside herself at the prospect of Katy not turning up to read!). Robert then read 'Wilt Thou Be My Dearie' and Helen read 'My Love is Like A Red, Red Rose' - both by Robert Burns.
Finally it was on to the marriage ceremony. Thankfully there were no objections, although I did toy with saying 'stupidity'. James and I gazed into each other's eyes. After we had said our vows and exchanged our rings we were declared husband and wife. At this point, to rapturous applause, we shared a lengthy kiss, although I didn't realise until afterwards what a stir it seemed to have caused - we now had video proof that it really wasn't that long! We then went up to the altar for the signing of the register. James and I signed the four copies using his Mont Blanc, but our mothers, who were our witnesses, used Chris' pen. Helen then took photos, especially of Sam, who was up at the front along with Ross, the bridesmaids and our dads. Our rings had been difficult to get on - for mine this was a surprise and an outward sign of my nerves - for James' it had been expected. While we signed the register Julie played Salut D'Amour by Elgar and other lovely solo flute pieces. Everyone else then went back down to their seats and we were left at the front with Chris for prayers and our last hymn, 'Give me Joy In My Heart'. Then the organ struck up Mendelssohn's Wedding March and it was time for us to walk back down the aisle.
At the bottom of the aisle I gave Granny another hug before we left the church. The bells were pealing as we stepped outside. At this point, besides causing a bit of a traffic jam, we weren't really sure what to do. We ended up talking to a number of people before being ushered round to the back of the church by Helen for some photos. I discovered at this point that my dress went down hills easily but struggled to get up them. We had some more photos at the front as guests were marshalled towards their onwards transport. As I'd come out of the church, William had given me a lovely key to carry and we had found Simon outside with a misbehaving Alex. thankfully I'd been completely oblivious during the ceremony!
Once all the guests had set off, I once again clambered into the Rolls Royce for our drive on towards the hotel. James and I were given a glass of lovely champagne to enjoy, which unusually for me I really did. That is until we set off and it started to splash all over my gorgeous dress, at which point I gave the rest to James. We had a relaxing trip to Wyck Hill and once we arrived were greeted by Saint Ben. We had some photos taken with the car, although one of our guests attempted to run Helen over at this point. George shall remain nameless! The ushers were tasked with rounding everyone up in the hall while we gathered at the top of the grand staircase and were rather dramatically piped in to the reception. The reception drinks were whisky and mocktails ( a virgin sunrise).
Fairly quickly we were directed outside for photographs and confetti. James' aunts seemed to have gone astray at this point but as we knew we couldn't hold everybody's attention for long they ended up missing out on the whole group shot, but did appear in time for the family shots which came next.
After a few shots of smaller groups we were whisked away with the bridal party for shots in various locations around the hotel.
Then it was just the two of us. We had further photos taken and continued to enjoy Helen's company as she made the photos easy and fun. We had photos up by the orangery and on the steps and also by some of the rooms in the grounds and under a tree.
All too soon it was 4pm and we raced inside to see the Lord Rissington Suite before everyone entered it. It looked spectacular. The chairs had their purple sashes, the postcards were stood on each place setting. The flowers looked gorgeous and my table plan was intact! We suddenly realised people were filing in so snuck out a side way to make sure we could milk another grand entrance. Somehow we wended up half way down the queue holding an impromptu meet and greet from a doorway. Very informal and very us!
Once everybody was inside we were escorted into the foyer by Ben and announced as the new Mr and Mrs Reid, before once again being piped in. After taking our seats the haggis was brought in and addresses by Hugh, who did a truly spectacular and dramatic performance involving his commissioning sword. I was mesmerised but apparently not as much as Klara!
Once the haggis had been paid our respects Charles stood to say a lovely grace before the first course was served. It came as no surprise that we had haggis, neaps and tatties. Once again the Wyck kitchen did itself proud and it was truly delicious. During dinner Helen asked for our rings to photograph. We required butter to remove James'!
Following a very short break between the first course and the second, our main was served. We had blade of beef with braised red cabbage and mash. It was divine and Ben informed us it had been cooking since the previous evening! I suggested at this point that James and I took a wander. I had meant that we walk around the tables but James interpreted it as taking a stroll outside. We walked to the edge of the lawn and enjoyed the spectacular views of the early evening and each other's company. After a few hugs and kisses we were ready to go back in.
We were served served our sticky toffee pudding dessert and I assisted James in finishing his sauce. Teas and coffees were then served along with shortbread and truffles. Our glasses were charged for the toasts and speeches. Ben announced Dad as the first speaker. Dad gave a largely unscripted, funny and moving speech in which he thanked Wyck Hill for their fantastic handling of our wedding, Hugh for his brilliant address to the haggis and for being a captain in the army and the guests for coming from so far and wide. He also thanked Mum for all her calligraphy (she had handmade the placecards, each containing an interesting factoid to reflect our love of trivia, the table names - all whiskies, the orders of service and the table plan). Sinead received a bouquet of silk roses for her brilliant response to our invitation. Dad also mentioned Myiah's lovely words about about me and Mum and Dad's parenting skills! He talked about the brilliant example we both had of enduring family marriages and explained why marrying in Tredington had been so important for me as it was where I had shared my close relationship with Grandad, how I had been christened there and how Mum and Dad had married there. Dad ended by thanking his winning horse at Newbury and got the biggest laugh of the night by presenting James with a plaque saying:
"husband and wife have a fight. Wife rings her mother and says 'Mum he's done it again. I'm coming to live with you'. Mother says 'No dear. He must pay for his sins. I'm coming to live with you.'"
James was up next and he gave a brilliant speech in which he thanked our respective and wonderful parents for making us who we are and for welcoming us into each others families. He thanked Ross for being such a fantastic friend and for doing such a brilliant job as best man. I then assisted him to hand out presents to our bridesmaids and I ushers but I messed up by forgetting the cards so we had to call them all back. James also thanked me for the fabulously special relationship that we share and went on to recount how we me. The story of my wishlist was mentioned and my initital impression that James was short. He pretended that he didn't tick every box, when in actual fact he does!
Finally it was Ross's turn. He gave a very witty speech, which by all accounts his mother had wanted to write. He alluded to James' past transgressions without giving too much about the transvestite away, compared him unfavourably to a cadaver and had the audience in stitches. I swear his speech gets funnier every time we watch the video!
As soon as the speeches finished we cut our cake. The cake was three teirs, iced in white and decorated with pink roses and purple thistles. Pink and purple ribbons encircled the bottom of each teir and a plaque with C & J adorned the middle teir. Hearts were imprinted on the top and bottom tier and the real showstopper was our bespoke cake topper of me, James and Sam.
We cut the cake and then made a beeline for our room so I could change for the evening's dancing. The relief to be able to breathe and move and go to the loo again once I was out of my wedding dress and in to my monsoon one was amazing. Safely strapped in to my dance shoes and minus tiara I left in search of Granny, who I guessed would be leaving. Helen meanwhile was sewing on one of James' waistcoat buttons. I caught Granny to say goodbye just as Stan was driving her away and then started mingling with the guests. I headed for the cigar terrace, assuming that was where I would find James, but instead found my schoolfriends, Mum, the Tolley's and Zachary and Darcey - not to mention the gorgeous Wyck Hill cat! I was eventually fetched by Ben who said that the room was almost turned around for the evening do. While I waited for them to finish I took Susan, who had arrived for the evening, up to see my original dress. I also chatted to my uni friends out the front of the hotel and started to bid farewell to those who were leaving. Then we were summoned through for our first dance. Prior to t
We danced a rumba to Rita Coolige's All Time High - the words we've had inscribed inside our wedding bands. I fluffed up right at the start but then hit my stride and the rest of the dance went brilliantly - so brilliantly that we have now performed it again in a dance test and been awarded highly commended! The particularly crowd pleasing moves were the dips, ganchos and the straight leg spin. Jill was there with her husband to represent our dance teachers. Afterwards we got the kids to hold up scores of 10 for us!
Next step was to throw my bouquet of handmade silk roses. I failed to aim it directly at Klara as hoped but it made for a good laugh.
Somewhere I bumped in to Fraser and we tried to join in with the third ceilidh dance but had missed the walk through so bowed out gracefully. I think at this point the dinner/ evening buffet was announced so I went through to have a look but was too stuffed to eat. I remained talking for quite a while though, only going back through to help Mum find James. He had asked her for a dance but had disappeared and she, or more precisely Sam, was desperate to get to bed. James eventually slunk out in from the Lord Rissington balcony, reeking and tasting of cigar. The basket dance was announced, but we requested a slower one which was duly performed. I danced with Dad for it.
Next came the basket dance where we paired with Poynter and Sorch but were completely eclipsed by Ross, Emz, Hugh and Klara who were spectacular. The band then launched into covers and James took to the floor with Emz. She looked spectacular spinning around but James looked just as good. I took to the floor with Lyn next and then Oli. Suddenly the band started up 500 miles, which I knew to be the last song, although they did it as a brilliant medley which lasted aged. Like all good things it came to and end and then there was more in store. James and I were ushered into the middle of the floor for Highland farewell. We spun slowly while everybody else was in a circle around us. Finally I shed tears because I was so desperately sorry that the day, our perfect day, had to end. I had composed myself by the end of the song and we all joined hands for Auld Lang Syne. We thanked the band profusely before heading out of the Lord Rissington. At this point I went to the Adams Room to admire the buffet and cupcakes. I sampled a slice of our lovely cake. I think I got the white chocolate layer although it could have been the vanilla - I couldn't tell the difference at the tasting! The chocolate orange layer never got cut up.
Around 1am James and I said our farewells and headed for the bridal suite. As we started to settle in we decided to acquire more water. No-one answered the phone so we went down to the bar. Here Ross and Katy insisted on buying us drinks and we sat down. We were joined by Poynter and Sorcha, who although a little tipsy, had a really long and insightful discussion with me about criminal justice. Finally at around 2am I summoned James in from the terrace to join me in the room.
During the course of the day I think I spoke to around 80 of our 90 guests. Without exception everybody seemed to be enjoying themselves and to be thoroughly complimentary. Everybody seemed to get on so well with everybody else. I think this started out on the coach but progressed to the tables and the mingling. Everybody who spoke to me said how lovely all the people they had met were.
Other things to mention are just how wonderful Sam was. He was beautiful and tolerant and so many people complimented hi exemplary behaviour. Darcey loved him, as did everybody else. By the end of the day he was all cuddled out I think.
Thankfully Sam and everybody else had lovely rooms to go back to. Even the 'basic' rooms seemed to be fantastic and everybody staying was raving about them. Each was huge and packed with individual character. Ian and Amy had the other bridal suite as it was their first wedding anniversary. Our room was so huge I got lost in it overnight when trying to find the loo! The Cameron-Tucker's were planning to have a party in their bathroom it was so impressive.
I truly can't believe how smoothly everything went. Sue sorted a small hiccup with the Stratford taxi. Ben sorted everything else and Katy made it to the church on time! I know I'm biased but it was by far and away the best wedding I have ever been to. Every moment was perfect and it seemed like nothing went wrong. It really was the very best day of my life. I am the luckiest girl in the world.
The Beginning
