The Big Day Arrives

At last! the excitement has been rising, but finally, Karen and Dave’s Wedding Day has arrived.

We awoke early to ensure we could get a space in the shower block on site.  Who knew that women showered at 6.30 on a Saturday morning when they are on holiday! I had to wait!!

Eventually showered, we started to get ready, using the awning as our dressing room, as there just isn’t the space in the caravan.

Having handed Fred over to Sally-Ann and Mike’s care for the day, we headed off to Paul’s Mom’s, where Dave had stayed the night before.

Paul, being the best man, had to arrive early in order to keep things on track.
This was totally unnecessary, as everything was chilled when we arrived.

Keith was already partially dressed, both Paul and I were completely ready and Dave said he would wait until a little nearer the time to change.  He’d even walked to the paper shop for the latest newspaper.  It was only 10.00am.  The wedding was at 2.00pm.

12.30pm soon came round and it was time to leave.  The reason being that Karen had asked if I could lay out the orders of service on the seats and tie the bows and ribbons to the end of each row of seating.

I completed this with Paul’s help, and then we went back outside the castle to meet the other guests as they arrived.

Most were catching their breath after the steep climb up the the entrance!

At the appointed time everyone headed into the Great Hall to take their seats ready for the ceremony.

Karen made her entrance on her Dad’s arm, and I instantly broke into tears! She looked incredible…. A real princess, and if possible, even more beautiful than I expected she would look!

The ceremony began, and all too soon, it was time for me to do my reading.  A piece Karen had chosen from Captain Corelli’s Mandolin:

Love is a temporary madness
It erupts like volcanoes and then subsides
And when it subsides you have a decision to make
You have to work out whether your roots have entwined so together
That it is inconceivable that you should ever part
Because this is what love is
Love is not breathlessness
It is not excitement
It is not promulgation of eternal passion
That is just being in love which any fool can do
Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away
And this is both an art and a fortunate accident
Those that truly love have roots that grow towards each other underground
And when all the pretty blossom have fallen from their branches
They find that they are one tree and not two

Needless to say, I was somewhat nervous about this reading, and despite the look of sheer panic on my face, it did actually go OK I think!

The service went smoothly, and despite a little rain that meant some of the pictures had to be taken inside, the whole event went very well indeed.

Soon everyone was piling back into cars to head over to Drayton Manor for the Wedding Breakfast.

Once everyone was seated, and before the meal was bought out, the speeches were completed, allowing everyone to relax and enjoy the food. Paul did a fantastic job with his Best Man’s speech, and even got a few laughs, which he did not expect!

An incredible meal came out for us all, and before long it was 7.15pm, and the evening guests were due to arrive for 7.30pm.

Music, dancing and more catching up with friends and family, including swapping emails in some cases, and then it was 10.45pm and time for a quick dash back to the caravan site before we were locked out of the site for the night at 11.00pm.

A wonderful day filled with love and happiness.

We love you Mr & Mrs P!

Jo Anne