Ahhhh.. ok probably the entry you've all been waiting for... It's been nine days since the wedding, so I'd better give you the wedding story before I forget some of it.

Saturday the 7th May 2005, at 7am. Mum knocked on the door of the twin room I was sharing with Helen (the one, obviously, not in the white dress). I had been awake for about half an hour before she knocked on the door, and was quite hopeful dispite the threats of showers by the weather forecasters for a nice day. And indeed, as I lay in the bed, and lifted the curtain away from the window to see what it was like, it did look hopeful.

Helen and I got up about 10 minutes later, at about 7.10am. We pulled on some clothes to make ourselves decent, and made ourselves a cup of tea, and generally wandered around til 7.30, when we went down for breakfast. Judith, the lady who was putting us up gave us a FANTASTIC breakfast. I was quite hungry, although not hungry enough to have cereal AND a cooked breakfast like was offered! We all (Mum, Dave, Nan, Helen and I) opted to have just the cooked breakfast. We got some lovely orange juice, and tea, as well as a gorgeous full english breakfast. Lovely. After that very filling breakfast (which must have taken us until about 9am or so to eat... I can't remember the exact times until it got to about 11.30am, and I remember looking at the alarm clock in the bedroom..) I needed a shower that morning, especially since two nights before I had treated my hair for headlice, and the stuff takes ages to wash out.

I took all my nice shower stuff into the bathroom, including some nice Covent body scrub stuff and my new loofah mitt, de-haired myself, and generally soaked the bathroom floor (silly shower guard moved outwards over the edge of the bath and I didn't realise it had slipped... ooops. My nan later pulled me up over soaking the floor)

My Mum was very anxious to start on my hair, as we were already running late for that, so I quickly dried myself, pulled on some clothes, and dried my hair.

Mum started on my hair, which we had decided between us on the hairstyle, one that I loved, and that Mum could easily do... My hair put up in a ponytail, then clipped up with a big crocodile clip, and then the loose hair curled using the curling iron I had. It was fairly simple, but looked lovely...

Part way through doing my hair, Mum spotted the photographer arriving... although mum couldn't remember what he looked like, and then we started getting concerned when we saw him going over to the church opposite the B&B. Eventually he made his way over, taking some photos of the car, and while he was doing this, Helen hurriedly pulled on a top... she'd been drying her hair in her undies!!! Quite funny was that one of the first photos he took was of Helen drying her hair with a top on, but only a pair of knickers on the bottom half!

While Mum was doing my hair, the photographer was snapping away, at me with my hair over my face, or close up photos of the flowers, or my garter, my jewellry, or even of Dave and his bare belly!!! Eventually, my hair was done, and Mum went to have her shower and get ready. Helen and Nicky got ready in their dresses, and the twins arrived with their parents and brother. The girls were half ready by the time I was done hair-wise, and time was getting on, and I wasn't sure when they would be leaving for the venue, so I gave them all their presents then. I gave the girls a locket each, and Helen some drop earrings and a crucifix necklace, and I gave Nicky a two colour gold earring and necklace set. They all looked beautiful, every one of them. Before I knew it, they were downstairs, getting ready to go to the venue, and the photographer took photos of them in the garden of the B&B before they went... Suddenly, it appeared I was on my own in the B&B with Mum (who was still getting ready), my makeup half done, and still in my scabby trousers and cardi, and the photographers somehow keeping themselves busy. I finished my makeup, and then Mum, who had finished as well, got me into my dress while Jim and Jeanette (the photographer and his assistant) waited outside until I was decent.

I don't know how I felt exactly when I stepped into my dress with my hair all done up, my makeup on... I suddenly felt really beautiful. When Mum put on my veil and headpiece, it just looked so nice. Jim took some photos of me and Mum before heading off to the venue to take some photos of Jonathan, Paul and the ushers.

Before I knew it, it was time to get in the car and head to the venue. Conversation was a little tense... My dad in the car with my mum and her partner. To break the ice I started talking to Dad about his work and stuff, which he seemed to feel more comfortable with. We arrived, and I thought we were quite early... I saw a car head into the carpark and was worried that guests were still arriving and we were waaaay too early. Dave pulled up outside the door to the barn, my bridesmaids were milling around, along with some other people. I saw Jonathan in the barn through the windows, and hoped he didn't see me, but later, he said he didn't. We had some photos with the car, my parents and the bridesmaids, before the registrar brought me into the office to talk through the ceremony and what was happening. It was very simple, which was good, as it would have been a pain to get all the wedding party together for a rehearsal.

Then came the moment, to walk down the aisle. The twins went first, and then I went with my mum and dad, with Helen and Nicky behind me. It felt so strange having to walk so slow, and I was barely aware of Naomi playing "I Love You" on the piano. All I could see was Jonathan looking at me as I walked. His eyes red looking like he wanted to cry. As I stood next to him, he looked at me with his eyes glistening, and mouthed "You look so beautiful." The ceremony passed so quickly it seemed, and as I was saying my vows, even though I was repeating after the registrar, all I kept thinking was that I'd add an extra word in or leave a word out so it sounded like I had negated my vows. I don't think I did though, but I was just scared I would. Eventually came the part where she pronounced us husband and wife. Jonathan kissed me, and I suddenly became overwhelmed with embarrassment with everyone watching us kiss, and felt like I wanted to pull away almost immediately, but realised that people like a good kiss at the end of the wedding ceremony, so I held on for a bit longer. Not that it was horrible or anything, just really strange doing that in front of all my family, and Jonathan's family. I was aware though, of the thunderous applause that occurred when we kissed for the first time as husband and wife.

There were loads of photos then, of us signing the register with various members of the wedding party around us. There was one very funny picture with parents, bridesmaids and ushers where we were told to wave.... Jonathan (unintentially) stuck his hand right in front of my dad's face and click... ooh dear. :D

After those photos, we went out into the garden, where the sun was shining brightly. I was a bit worried in the morning when I was getting ready, as I looked out of the window, and it was hailing! It was lovely, we did all the bride and groom shots, and then with bridesmaids and groomsmen, and then all the family shots. Once all those were done, we milled around, talking to the guests for a while, and the photographer went around taking photos and got some great zoomed in photos in black and white (which can be converted to sepia of course).

I took a glass of wine from a lady going around, and then spent ages making sure I didn't spill it all over my white dress! By the time it got round to cutting the cake (after the speeches once we went inside and sat down), I was feeling quite tipsy!!!

The speeches went well, and they didn't go on too long. Jonathan was really nervous about his, and then it didn't help that Andrew needed to change the film in his video camera just after Jonathan stood up! He did really well, and nearly made me cry at one point. It was so sweet. Paul's was quite funny, even though I'd heard the main funny story before, the way Paul told it was hilarious (the time being when Jonathan inadvertantly set fire to Paul's mum's living room carpet and then the pair proceeded to put it out with a big bottle of diet coke ready to hand on the living room coffee table..)

The meal was very nice. Quite large portions too, which was surprising. Very nicely cooked, and everyone said their food was very nice. The evening was very pleasant. Everyone who just came to the evening were really surprised that we got married in the barn as well, the disco was good. When Jonathan and I were dancing our first dance (Dido, Thank You), I felt a bit like a caged animal, with everyone standing to watch and taking pictures. I tried to forget they were there, and just enjoy my first dance with my husband, but the flashes kept reminding me they were there. Still, some of the pictures people have taken were nice.

After I'd had a couple of glasses of wine, I was on the dance floor most of the evening. Jonathan spent a lot of the time talking to his friends and work colleagues I think. David and Sue brought their son Michael along. He was cute... and loooooved the disco!

Eventually the evening came to an end. The man doing the disco played a lovely song for the last dance... Thank you, by Dido. Very appropriate - "Thank you for giving me the best day of my life - oh just to be with you is having the best day of my life". The guests trickled out just after 11.30pm, and we were finally in the car at 11.50, on our way to the hotel.

It was such a tiring day... by the time we were in the hotel room (which they upgraded for us as it was our wedding night), my legs were aching so much from all the dancing, and we were both so exhausted, we had to delay our consumating until the next morning. ;-) Still, the bed was very comfy... and very big! It was wide enough to fit three pillows across the width of the bed..

So there you have it... my marriage to Jonathan in a long-winded entry. Hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed experiencing it!