The one you've all been waiting for

The reason it has taken me so long to write this is because I have been trying to work out the words to do it justice. I have drawn the conclusion that I don't have them, this was the occasion that instigated the creation of this blog and everything Tom and I have been working to for the last 12 months... Our wedding of course,  and it was out of this world.

It really was like a fairy tale and I don't normally speak like that. I was so worried about the weather and things not working but not one single thing was a problem. We were very, very lucky. I couldn't have done it all without Tom being as involved as he was and the day most definitely wouldn't have run as smoothly if my incredibly well organise and directional friend Nic hadn't taken the bull by the horns and organised the hell out of everyone one the day. She was a super star

This is truly an example of a picture speaks a thousands words, I have to say that I feel blessed and I love my husband more than I ever thought it was possible to love another person 

The building of the masterpiece.  This was so much fun

Such an amazing structure, basically held together by pressure and a little bit of magic I think!

the beginning of the internal beautifications

     

The centre window of the yurt just adds to the whole enchanting experience of the place

  

I was so please with the outcome of the table layouts, I was worried they would look a little bare but the magnificent sweet peas supplied to us by my parents friend; just brought everything to life.  He grows them for competitions and we cleared his stock out the day before.  What a super star

 

Wow, every time I see this picture I remember just how breathtaking the garden was, is and always will be. This was the reason we chose to have everything and home, because no matter where we looked, there isn't a single place that could've been so utterly beautiful and perfect (and free!)

The hairdresser was less than impressed that I was eating croissant and then touching my hair! CRUMBS!!! 

The terrible trio. The incredible Reuben in the middle there. he conducted our ceremony and what an incredibly unique and perfect performance he gave.  He is a wonderfully talented man, so full of life and excitement and the whole day wouldn't have been the same without him.  Tom's bother John on the right, he was Tom's best man and gave an hilarious speech.. he also provided 2 of the three bridesmaids!

Tom's incredible mother.  Her strength and determination throughout everything the world throws at her never ceases to amaze me.  She is someone I constantly look up to and if I manage to be half the person she is in my life then I will be incredibly happy.  She gave a heart wrenching speech that broke the entire gathering, it was straight from the heart and so, so beautiful and there wasn't a dry eye in the house.  Even Jonathan my photographer was welling up! 

 

I love this picture.  When i chose to have a little bistro table for Tom and myself, it was purely because I couldn't fit another full table in.  We weren't convinced it would work but it was so perfect.  it make me feel peaceful when I look at it

My bloody awesome cake, made by my incredibly talented and oh so permanently busy sister.  She was putting the finishing touches to it around midnight the night before.  Because I wanted buttercream icing, the cake has to be made and iced last thing.  She also has a 4 month old baby and 2 lively children to entertain whilst doing this. Amazing 

Her and mum also made a million little cupcakes and iced those the night before. I looked at so many cake designs and I am so pleased I went for this in the end.  I found the silk flowers months ago and the colour and the fit were spot on.

My beautiful sister and a hungry Thomas

And the superstar in blue is +Nicola Renshaw the reason my day went so incredibly well.  We genuinely couldn't have done it without her and the effort and stress it must've taken for her to have so much responsibility and pull it off to perfection, I just cant imagine.  I have so much respect for this lady, we are so, so similar in so many ways and I have never met another female that I have ever felt so easily connected with.  Yet something else I am blessed with. The lovely flowery lady is Lisa, she was the lucky catcher of the bouquet. She is Toms friends, girlfriend and was the first time we had met her and she is a great girl.

My awesome ladies.  I have been friends with these girls for YEARS!! Jo on the far left and Rachel who has the flowery dress and sunglasses on, have been with me since the dawn of time I think.  We have had all the normal adventures that kids have and then some pretty frickin non normal adventures if I'm truly honest. The beautiful Mrs Gibbs in the short flowery dress came into my life through Jo, she is the hugely talented hand that created my wonderful guest board and the stunning Emma on the right was introduced to me through Rachel.  We have all grown so much in the time we have known each other and we have seen each other struggle and come out the other side, more times than I care to imagine. They have brought so much to my world and have shaped my life beyond anything imaginable.  I actually get a little choked up trying to express what they mean to me, words cant explain that, it something you can only understand if you have friends in the same way yourelf.

And what can I tell you about Amy on the left.  Amy is my friend through the stupid hobby that we both share; horse riding.  It is incredibly rare to see Amy out of jodhpurs and with her hair down, so much so, i thought I had a stranger at my wedding when I saw her in the crowd; and doesn't she look fantastic!  She didn't do anything with her hair other than wash it; hands up who is jealous!. I don't have many horsey friends and Amy is the only one I need.  She has helped me out incredibly with the horses I have now and is yet another little blessing in my life.  Sophie on the right, this is Amys best friend and another bloody brilliant woman.  She creates masterpieces out of bones, she engraves them and as a wedding present ot us, she is creating something from the pigs head; I am soooo excited to see this, what a wonderful way to commemorate the tasty, tasty pig that gave his life to feed the masses

Quite possibly one of my favourite pictures of all time.  This was during Toms speech and was just after his toast to his father. We used the port that was purchased for Tom when he was very young; as Adrian couldn't be with us, Tom felt it would be a fantastic gesture and it truly was. This picture reflects, not only relief for Tom (speech out of the way) but a deep and meaningful moment to reflect on the times that Tom has had with his father and what an incredibly huge part of him he is.  

THE BAND!

We looked at a few options for the band, I wanted Irish style as that always gets people dancing.  These guys are outstanding, lovely guys and bloody brilliant too.  So lively and brought the atmosphere I was desperate to achieve.  it also helped that Jonathan, our photographer, knows them and plays harmonica with them sometimes so he joined in for the knees up for a good few songs.

 

Toms button hole.  I made these the night before, one for each of the guys and each one was different.  Toms was special though as we managed to preserve a few of the seasons forget me nots and I used these around the seed head that was the main feature.  Forget me nots are the symbol that the alzheimer's society use so we felt it was another way of holding his dad close to his heart during the ceremony.

Our wonderful little hashtag signs, Reuben is a designer and printer by trade so made us these up. So great for instagram

Some more flowers from the garden, wired up for my hair.  They were brilliant and lasted out the day.

So, back to reality for us now and on to our next challenge..... watch this space!